Roy Exum
Every afternoon a talented sports announcer/entertainer, Jim Rome, has a sports talk show on ESPN that is called, “Rome Is Burning” and, when you add in his California-based radio talk show and some other gigs, the guy has done real well at making a buck. Sometimes I listen – depends on who is his guest – and I’ve always thought he was enjoyable for the most part.
Now it appears ole Jim just started his own kind of raging wildfire in Texas. Late last week our sports analyst went on a radio rant after Baylor University threatened a lawsuit against Texas A&M. You’ll remember the Aggies recently announced they would resign from the Big 12 in order to join the SEC but Baylor University is worried that some other big members may follow suit and that then the Big 12 might evaporate.
I don’t necessarily agree with the lawsuit idea and I don’t really care. But as one who found out long ago that when you get mad, it is a senseless waste of energy, I found Rome’s rant to be hysterically funny. He’s an entertainer. This is how he makes money. Obviously he doesn’t like the Bears of Waco, but when he went ballistic over the proposed lawsuit it sent Texas football followers into quite a tizzy.
Let’s dial in and listen to what Jim Rome had to say that was so inflammatory (and funny) and why it is now the talk of Texas, not to mention college football. Here he goes:
“Scrubby little Baylor. Even they have to know they're Baylor. Baylor going Baylor. Baylor, you do know you're Baylor, right? And that nobody gives a (expletive) about you. That you're Baylor. Why would I be talking about Baylor? Its scrubby little Baylor that's holding up this potential seismic shift in college football.
“Texas A&M can't move because Baylor is threatening to sue them and the SEC. And they've enlisted the other scrubs of the Big 12 that are going to get (expletive) to join their cause.
“Don't get me wrong. I know why they're doing it. They're really no different than anybody else; other than they're Baylor. Of course they're desperate. Baylor has a Big 12 lifestyle but a Conference USA resume; Baylor has an AQ (automatic qualifying) crib and a soon-to-be Conference USA paycheck.
“(Expletive) right they're scrambling and looking to sue anything that moves. They're about to lose BCS jack, TV money and the prestige of being in an AQ conference. Baylor is doing what they can to hold on to their piece of the life. Hope you enjoyed it while you had it, Baylor, and I hope you banked some of that jack. It will never be like that ever again. The gravy train is about to end,” spouted the enraged announcer.
He wasn’t finished, either. “You may have worked a few angles to bust out of the SWC. Your AQ party is over because you've done nothing to justify keeping that status; you bring nothing to the table. You are what the name on the front of your uniform says you are. Baylor. There's a reason you're not being mentioned in any of these prominent moves to prominent conferences. You're Baylor. You're 2-28 against Texas and Oklahoma.
“Try to keep A&M from leaving. Try and keep Oklahoma and Texas from bolting. Try and keep the Big 12 together. Go ahead and try and fight a fight that you can't win. When the going gets tough, sue. See you in Conference USA.”
(Right about then a fan in Texas tweeted our on-the-air host with the message: “Baylor needs to go crawl in a hole. When did they matter in college football?”)
Jim Rome’s answer: “Uh, never. Shut your pie hole and go to the WAC.
Again, my point about Baylor is ... they're Baylor. What kind of a stick does Baylor think they have? You do know you're Baylor, right? That's what's so funny about it; they're Baylor. It already worked for you once. Now it's over. Your AQ lifestyle, your AQ crib, the whole thing. It's over. You are what you are and you're headed back!”
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On Sunday the newest Associated Press Top 25 was announced and – believe it or not – the same Baylor is ranked No. 19 this week. With an off week last Saturday, the Bears (1-0) opened the season on Sept. 2 with an upset over then-14th-ranked Texas Christian, 50-48, and will play Stephen F. Austin this weekend.
royexum@aol.com