Tigers X - Number one Source to Talk Auburn Tigers Sports

Forgetting Cecil Hurt

Kaos

  • *
  • 29017
  • Jeez
    • No, YOU Move!
Forgetting Cecil Hurt
« on: November 24, 2021, 09:47:08 AM »
The death of Cecil Hurt, Tuscaloosa News Sports Editor for more than 30 years, has sparked a wave of fond remembrances and laudatory reminiscing about his work. 

I'll pass. 

1995.  Early in my side job working sports I was assigned to cover the Alabama Tennessee game.  Peyton drilled the Tide which was enjoyable to watch from the pressbox and the field.  Finebaum was there (and he was an ass).  About half the people in the box were watching the Braves playoff game on televisions in the back.  And there was Cecil.  Sitting alone at a table, face in a sheet cake.  Not once did he look at the game on the screen. Not once did he venture to the windows to watch any of the game.  Just sat there morosely digging into the cake, his back to the field.

And still he wrote a piece the next day criticizing Bama's effort and giving some credit to Peyton.  I guess I was just brought up to think differently, but if you're going to write about a game, you need to pay attention to it.  He didn't and I lost any respect I had for his work. 

He was sports editor at a mid/lower level daily, one that has zero state or national impact for more than 30 years.  Why did he never leave?  Why did he not move up?  Why did he not move on to a bigger papers, bigger opportunities?

There were rumors. 

The people I knew in the photographer and writing circles said it wasn't a good idea to be young, male and alone in the newsroom with certain T-News personnel.  I heard a lot of things.  Promises of better assignments in exchange for.... favors... threats of lawsuits that my$teriou$ly went away....other inappropriate pursuits.  Did I ever see any of that personally?  No.  But I heard it from multiple sources and I know guys who quit rather than continue working there. I know he/they propped up the careers of some horribly shitty writers for reasons no one could understand.

I'm fairly confident in the knowledge that early in his career Bama boosters provided him funds to bury some potentially damaging issues and they continued to provide him cover (financial and otherwise) for his entire tenure.  He was beholden to them, bought and paid for.  That's not journalism. 

His writing was juvenile.  He despised Auburn with great intensity.  There was some idea that he and the people who owned him were behind the entire Cam Newton smear campaign.  Wouldn't put it past him.  I'm also at least 75% sure he was involved in the efforts to bring Coach Dye down. Behind the scenes of course. 

Over the years whatever relevance he had evaporated as he stagnated in the one-horse town that is Tuscaloosa.  Without Finebaum dragging his carcass on his show to mumble in monotone fashion and offer no valid insights whatsoever, he would be forgotten vapor. 

I'm never glad anybody's dead. Well, there are exceptions to that Harvey, you miserable fuck.  I'm not going to shed crocodile tears either.  He was, now he isn't.  Thus endeth my eulogy. 
friendly
0
funny
0
like
3
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
Members reacted like:
oldautiger,Saniflush,bgreene,
No reactions
If you want free cheese, look in a mousetrap.

wesfau2

  • ***
  • 13503
  • I love it when you call me Big Poppa
Re: Forgetting Cecil Hurt
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2021, 10:48:09 AM »

I'm never glad anybody's dead.

Shane from Centerpoint has entered the chat.
friendly
0
funny
1
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
Members reacted funny:
Saniflush,
No reactions
No reactions
You can keep a wooden stake in your trunk
On the off-chance that the fairy tales ain't bunk
And Imma keep a bottle of that funk
To get motel parking lot, balcony crunk.

Snaggletiger

  • *
  • 43862
  • My Fighting Pearls
Re: Forgetting Cecil Hurt
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2021, 11:11:41 AM »
Shane from Centerpoint has entered the chat.

Smokin' post.
friendly
0
funny
0
like
1
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
Members reacted like:
Kaos,
No reactions
My doctor told me I needed to stop masturbating.  I asked him why, and he said, "because I'm trying to examine you."

Kaos

  • *
  • 29017
  • Jeez
    • No, YOU Move!
Re: Forgetting Cecil Hurt
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2021, 11:34:47 AM »
Shane from Centerpoint has entered the chat.

Perhaps "never" is not the correct word, eh?
friendly
0
funny
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
If you want free cheese, look in a mousetrap.

wesfau2

  • ***
  • 13503
  • I love it when you call me Big Poppa
Re: Forgetting Cecil Hurt
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2021, 11:41:07 AM »
Perhaps "never" is not the correct word, eh?

The less likely a man is to make declarative statements, the less likely he is to look foolish in hindsight.
friendly
0
funny
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
You can keep a wooden stake in your trunk
On the off-chance that the fairy tales ain't bunk
And Imma keep a bottle of that funk
To get motel parking lot, balcony crunk.

GH2001

  • *
  • 23625
  • I'm a Miller guy. Always been. Since I was like, 8
Re: Forgetting Cecil Hurt
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2021, 11:49:56 AM »
Shane from Centerpoint has entered the chat.

The Chief still makes his annual visit to leave a deposit I believe. The chief takes no mercy.
friendly
0
funny
0
like
1
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
Members reacted like:
Buzz Killington,
No reactions
WDE

Buzz Killington

  • *
  • 22828
  • Bofa
Re: Forgetting Cecil Hurt
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2021, 03:13:55 PM »
Shane from Centerpoint has entered the chat.
Iron clad post
friendly
0
funny
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
Now I may be an idiot, but there is one thing I am not, sir, and that, sir, is an idiot.