Clemson Football: Tiger Nation’s least favorite sports personalities

Paul Finebaum

The King of College Football Trolls and Crimson Tide bias, Finebaum is easily the most disliked personality in Clemson Nation.

Finebaum has about four decades of experience in sports journalism and radio, getting his start in Birmingham, Alabama. Not surprisingly, his on-air persona has become one of a Crimson Tide homer.

While he presents himself as an objective analyst and is willing to be critical of Alabama while occasionally complimenting rival programs, it is universally accepted that Finebaum’s product isn’t objective analysis, but instead entertainment customized to a target audience. He is to sports what the Jerry Springer Show was to daytime talk.

Finebaum had little to say about Clemson until they asserted themselves as the #1 team in the 2015 College Football Playoffs. Alabama ultimately won the championship that season, but when Clemson shocked the Tide to win the 2016 Natty, suddenly the Tigers became a focus of Finebaum’s mudslinging.

While Finebaum has no lack of smarmy comments about rival SEC programs like Auburn, Florida, and his alma mater Tennessee, he never fails to find a way to insult Clemson, and Tiger Nation has reciprocated his disrespect.

As you might have guessed, he couldn’t resist the temptation to put down Clemson following the first CFP rankings reveal on Tuesday evening.

"“I’m not impressed with Clemson, I’m not impressed at all with the ACC. We made a big deal a couple of weeks ago when Clemson wins at Wake Forest and then Wake Forest (had a) letdown a couple of days ago. The only thing about Clemson – they have a chance to redeem themselves or be eliminated Saturday night at Notre Dame. That’s a fascinating game. Clemson very likely could lose because they have not been very good this year.”"

I don’t like Joel Klatt, and I have very little respect for him because I think he is a hack. He wasn’t widely liked or appreciated as an objective analyst, and as a troll, he is a bull in a china shop. Klatt is more brawn than brains.

I don’t like Finebaum, but I can’t help but be impressed at how skilled he is at creating and marketing his product. He didn’t just decide to do this last month. He has been building his empire since the 1980s.

No one knows how to manipulate his fans and haters like Paul Finebaum. He is the master, and even though some might not like it, he is one of the smartest people in sports. Every statement is a scalpel, and he doesn’t need to draw a line to know where to cut.

He is also undoubtedly the least popular figure among the Clemson faithful. Other writers (myself included) have written entire articles based on things he says on his show because they know Tiger fans want to see what he has said. What he says becomes the news.

The funniest thing right now is to remind Finebaum about the biggest flaw in Alabama’s resume:

THEY AIN’T BEAT NOBODY, PAWLLL!!!