im in ur mag, twistin ur notez

Check out today's hilarity from the Register. Doug Gottlieb talked about his Alford firing rumor (you know, the one that mysteriously showed up under Andy Katz's name for some reason), and he's not backing down. Or he is kind of.

Gottlieb added: “Just so you know, it was edited a little bit stronger than the note I sent in to ESPN The Magazine, that Steve Alford may be in trouble.”

So the rumor that Alford is out was Andy Katz's, then it was Doug Gottlieb's, then it was some rogue, unnamed editor misrepresenting all over the place? Just admit that you fucked up, ESPN:TM. At this point you're just making Alford look good.

ESPN: The Magazine drinks Haterade

Here's a brief synopsis of the Alford firing rumor and ESPN: The Magazine's subsequent treatment of it.

ESPN announces Andy Katz's article will say Alford's out.
Alford and Iowa AD Gary Barta call bullshit.
ESPN says the article should have credited someone else at ESPN for the rumor, because that's where it came from.
Alford: "Doug Gottlieb? Fuck Doug Gottlieb."

Big props, Captain Hair Gel. Though I want you to stop coaching my favorite team, I admire the fact that you recognize that Doug Gottlieb, like bird flu or SARS, is not a threat to be taken seriously.

The actual bullshit article is here, and I recommend you read it, if for no other reason than the picture they found of Alford makes it look like he aged about 20 years over the past couple days.