Mike Hutton of the Gary Post Tribune writes about his misses in past columns. Highlighted below are those that pertain to Notre Dame:
June 2007
This is why it would be stunning if Jeff Samardzija decides to play baseball if the Cubs kept him on the mound. All I can say is: How would you like to have a 6-5 centerfielder who can run a 4.4 40-yard dash, hit with power, has the best hands perhaps of anyone his age anywhere and has a rocket arm?
Resolution: It’s probably a blooper. No way the Cubs are going to turn Samardzija into a center fielder now. They have too much invested in him as a pitcher. Scouts have told me that it’s time consuming for a guy to get his hitting stroke back if he hasn’t hit every day from high school until the minor leagues. I still like the idea. Can you say Rick Ankiel?
May 2006
David Halberstram just made his name for the worst of all reasons. The east coast executive for Westwood One Radio canned longtime Notre Dame radio announcer Tony Roberts. In a thoughtless move, at least given what we know about why he was let go (very little), Halberstram axed a broadcasting legend. If you were a Tony Roberts fan, you have to believe that in some way, Halberstram is going to pay for that act of insensitivity.
Resolution: I don’t like Don Criqui, the man who replaced Roberts, at all. I have no rational reason to loathe him except he was the guy that replaced Roberts. I doubt very much Roberts’ absence has hurt the Irish football broadcasts, just like Criqui’s place in the booth probably hasn’t made the Irish broadcasts appreciably better. It just proves it doesn’t really matter as long as they are professional. But it matters to me. I won’t listen to Criqui. Probably a groundout to second base.^
February 2007
Don’t, however, be fooled by Charlie Weis‘ message earlier this week about how he is going to rewrite his commitment letter to kids by further emphasizing the part that says, “Honor thy verbal commitment.” Weis’ pointed comments came because he got burned by four verbals commitments who had a change of heart — two of them the day before they were to sign. Weis then went on to say a bunch of silly stuff that is already irrelevant. He equated a verbal commitment to matrimony, saying that you shouldn’t be looking at other woman if you’re married. He said from now on, he’s going to take a hard stance against kids who want to visit other schools but say they’re going to Notre Dame.
Resolution: I got busted by Charlie Weis. Big blooper. Struck out looking. His hard sell (which includes a contract that verbal commits sign) helped him deliver one of the top recruiting classes last year. Most of the kids who signed were in early and they stayed. Weis has effectively, through his message which is picked up by 12 million media outlets, made the verbal commitment more binding at ND than other schools.
Contact Mike Hutton at 648-3139 or mhutton@post-trib.com
