Kent Pavelka vs. Tom Shatel

[49r]

Tom Shatel (like the good Creighton Bluejay fan he is) puts out a snarky hit piece on Nebrasketball - on the day before senior night no less - and KP calls him out on it publicly.  

 

I'm with Kent on this one.  Shatel could not be more out of his element here.

 

Poorly done Tom.  I wish I could say "you're better than this" but after reading your pandering for something like 30 years, I've learned long ago that no.  No, you're not better than this...and it's a shame you continue to collect a paycheck for what you do.

 

 

 

Click on the link below for the whole column (or just read the snip below to get an idea of what Shatel's on about).

 

http://www.omaha.com/sports/shatel-given-the-state-of-husker-hoops-nit-title-doesn/article_ecb2eff2-abe9-5842-9bc3-f944e42b28e7.html

 

The Nebraska men’s basketball team had just won the National Invitation Tournament. I saw it as quite the consolation prize, an underachievement for arguably the most talented team in Nebraska history.

 

Erick Strickland. Jaron Boone. Terrance Badgett. Tyronn Lue. Venson Hamilton. Mikki Moore. Andy Markowski. One era of Husker Hoops molded with another, for one season. One unforgettable season.

 

It was a collision of personalities, expectations and personal agendas.

 

NU was 15-4 after beating Missouri on Jan. 24.

 

Then came the collision.

 

Nine straight losses. The dam officially broke Feb. 3 after a 75-65 loss to Iowa State. I’ll never forget World-Herald beat man Lee Barfknecht and I standing outside the Husker locker room, waiting for coach Danny Nee, who was a little busy.

 

We could easily hear several players shouting at each other and at Nee, who shouted back. Not words of encouragement.

 

The family squabble led to the famous “player walk out” two days later, in which the team did not show up for practice. Instead, players marched to the office of Athletic Director Bill Byrne, who immediately told them to get back to practice.

 

They would, and they would lose six more times. We all thought Nee was going to get fired.

 

Instead, his team got invited to the NIT — and won it.

 

There’s probably a book to be done on that era. There’s certainly a lesson or two to be learned.

 

Me? I used to jokingly call the Devaney Center the “Orchard” for all the “Big Apple” NIT banners hanging from the rafters.

 

Nebraska could use a few more of those now, huh?

 

[Silverbacked1]

Wow, is he coming tonight?  Because I would love to punch him in his fat face!  

[HB]

Strange, I read that column this morning and didn't think it was that snarky.  Or unfair toward Miles.  And I'm pretty defensive and protective of our guys.  

[hhcmatt]

Strange, I read that column this morning and didn't think it was that snarky.  Or unfair toward Miles.  And I'm pretty defensive and protective of our guys.  

 

Does anyone remember the 96 piece about the NIT championship game? I bet KP does. I don't recall it specifically but I do recall Nee remarking how much he though it hurt him. Danny Nee probably gets fired regardless but with the sort of pull that paper had in the 90s it certainly didn't help Nee.  Thus, when I read this article the start was Shatel reminiscing about being a jerk in the 90s and then realizing that today he was a little harsh because today we suck more in comparison. 

[49r]

I remember a little bit of it, and believe me the OWH was not in any way helpful during that time.

 

Shatel is the epitome of frontrunner, always was, when it comes to writing about the Huskers.  Both he and Barfknecht were brutal in their crusade against Nee and the program at the time and it was a totally misguided effort, IMO, considering just what Nee was able to accomplish despite the complete lack of administrative support for the program back in those days.

 

Basically what they were saying at the time was "sure, NU has no facilities, no tradition, and absolutely zero financial support from the AD, but for Danny Nee to NOT win conference championships and make deep tourney runs is beneath us and the fans.  This program is an embarrassment!" and they were hell bent on getting him out.  Which eventually happened.

 

Like dimes said, it may or may not of speeded the process, but it was unnecessary and to this day pisses me off.  KP is totally right when he says Shatel is in no position to write a piece of crap hit piece like he did yesterday.  Which make no mistake it was.  Essentially this:

 

"Remember when Nebraska won that NIT title 20 years ago and how pathetic it was at the time that people had the nerve to be happy about it?  And now consider just how pathetic it is that Husker fan today would be ecstatic just to make the NIT field?  God, what losers...but don't worry, they've got some talent coming back and maybe they can do something next year."

 

Spare me Shatel, life long Chargers and Padres fan.  You should do yourself a favor and just shut it down, it's not like your home town teams have ever done anything worth mentioning.  Enjoy sitting in press row at CLink and with any luck you'll get to write a nice little feel good column about your Bluejay boys and their gutty trek to the NIT.  Ironic, too because as pathetic as Nebraska's lone championship in a national postseason tourney is, it still runs circles around anything the Jays have done in the postseason.

 

 

 

 

 

...not like I hold grudges or anything...  

[jason2486]

It seems like almost every OWH article takes a shot at our boys. It's to the point where you almost expect it from them.

[Huskerone]

Shatel, Dirk, and Barfy make a living with passive aggressive digs at Husker sports under the guise of impartiality.

 

The best way to shut them up is to just start winning.  Change the narrative.  Creighton can't own us like they have the past decade and not expect the Omaha sports scribes not to take digs.  Football hasn't done us any favors either in recent history.  The Husker brand as a whole has been a bit tarnished for about 10-15 years, IMO.

 

I guess I'd say, don't buy the paper, don't frequent their advertisers, that’s only way to make a point.  These scribes think they are beyond reproach and do these things to pander to their base (Creighton/Omaha).  The more they are talked about, the more attention they get, the more they love it.

 

I actually did have some respect for Shatel as a writer, more than Barfy and Dirk, but can't say that so much now.  The timing of this article, right before senior night, just doesn't seem right.  Benny and Shavon deserve better.

[PimpMario]

What did kp say?

[brfrad]

Shatel, Dirk, and Barfy make a living with passive aggressive digs at Husker sports under the guise of impartiality.

 

The best way to shut them up is to just start winning.  Change the narrative.  Creighton can't own us like they have the past decade and not expect the Omaha sports scribes not to take digs.  Football hasn't done us any favors either in recent history.  The Husker brand as a whole has been a bit tarnished for about 10-15 years, IMO.

 

I guess I'd say, don't buy the paper, don't frequent their advertisers, that’s only way to make a point.  These scribes think they are beyond reproach and do these things to pander to their base (Creighton/Omaha).  The more they are talked about, the more attention they get, the more they love it.

 

I actually did have some respect for Shatel as a writer, more than Barfy and Dirk, but can't say that so much now.  The timing of this article, right before senior night, just doesn't seem right.  Benny and Shavon deserve better.

Well, timing isn't his strong suit.  The Omaha World-Herald did previews for the Summit League Baseball (UNO), Big East Baseball (Creighton) and Big Ten baseball (Nebraska).  They do these on 3 different days.  So, the Big 10 Preview comes up and Shatel has an article about Creighton baseball in their new league.  I was not very pleased.  If you want to get on your knees for Creighton baseball, then do it on the day of Big East baseball Preview.

[FredsSlacks]

to be fair, what is he suppose to say about the team? back to back losing seasons is never a good look.

 

Miles still has a couple years to straighten things out, and we do have plenty of talent returning. I wouldn't worry about what outside people are saying.

 

Hopefully we actually show up for the big10 tourney and start building for next year.

[colhusker]

Who does Shatel write for?  Enough said.

[AuroranHusker]

Ahhh, I wouldn't get too riled up... it is the Weird Harold (after proir publisher Harry Anderson). The OWH job now is to get clicks. And, boy, did Tom get 'em. Seems that KP & Shatty are back on speaking terms, maybe. ha

 

[hhcmatt]

Seems that KP & Shatty are back on speaking terms, maybe. ha

 

I wouldn't say they were ever off speaking terms. This is way too small of an industry in too small of a state for those guys not to go out and get beers at the end of the day regardless of what the topic of the day was.

[AuroranHusker]

 

Seems that KP & Shatty are back on speaking terms, maybe. ha

 

I wouldn't say they were ever off speaking terms. This is way too small of an industry in too small of a state for those guys not to go out and get beers at the end of the day regardless of what the topic of the day was.

 

 

I know, that was my poor attempt at humor after the debacle on the court.

[Handy Johnson]

Shatel has always been a suck up to all things Omaha. This piece should surprise no one...

[Huskerpapa]

During the pregame last night, Kent said that he and Tom had visited, and all was well between the two of them now.

[Art Vandalay]

Barf, Dirk, and Shatel are all hacks plain and simple, always have been. The World Herald is all about getting clicks, they do more to split the fan base in both football and basketball than anyone else. Sam M is not far behind either, they should clean house in that sports department

[AuroranHusker]

Barf, Dirk, and Shatel are all hacks plain and simple, always have been. The World Herald is all about getting clicks, they do more to split the fan base in both football and basketball than anyone else. Sam M is not far behind either, they should clean house in that sports department

 

Obviously it's working. Why would the OWH separate the Bruise Crew?!

[atskooc]

I think it's funny that people bash on newspapers for trying to get people to read the newspaper.  Newspapers are businesses, and what do businesses do but try to get people to buy their product?

 

I don't normally think these guys are hacks (I certainly don't always agree with them, that's for sure); I think these are guys doing their jobs.  They're not reporters; they're columnists.  Columnists get paid to get people to buy papers.

[Silverbacked1]

yeah well i still would punch him in his fat face.

[AuroranHusker]

yeah well i still would punch him in his fat face.

 

Probably like a silverback punched that window (and broke it!) in the Henry Doorly Zoo exhibit last year, eh?

[Silverbacked1]

yeah well i still would punch him in his fat face.

 

Probably like a silverback punched that window (and broke it!) in the Henry Doorly Zoo exhibit last year, eh?

That was my twin brother from a different mother.

[huskerbaseball13]

I think it's funny that people bash on newspapers for trying to get people to read the newspaper.  Newspapers are businesses, and what do businesses do but try to get people to buy their product?

 

I don't normally think these guys are hacks (I certainly don't always agree with them, that's for sure); I think these are guys doing their jobs.  They're not reporters; they're columnists.  Columnists get paid to get people to buy papers.

 

Yep.

 

And the timing may have been crappy....but our Men's programs haven't exactly been great the past few years.  Can't really fault the OWH for pointing it out ever so often. 

[colhusker]

yeah well i still would punch him in his fat face.

Do I need to get you bail money again?  Momma's going to take the keys again!

 

Easier to just line the bird cage with their columns.

[JayPak]

Bird cage.  I see what you did there.