A couple of weeks ago we made mention of a new unauthorized biography on Nick Saban. As it turns out, that book, written by Forbes writer Monte Burke, very much doesn’t sit well with the Alabama head coach. Or, more succinctly, it greatly pisses the Nicktator off.
At the end of a press conference Thursday that included news of a four-game suspension for one of his players, Saban went on a scripted diatribe against unauthorized biographies in general. Specifically, Saban is bothered by the fact that someone else is profiting off of his story, as well as the timing of the book’s release so close to the start of the season that it could be a distraction.
Below is Saban’s animated rant, courtesy of al.com:“I just want everybody to know that I’m opposed to an unauthorized biography on anybody,” Saban said. “If some person that you don’t even know (is) trying to profit by your story or someone else’s story.”
“One of these days when I’m finished coaching at Alabama, I’ll write an authorized book because there’s only one expert on my life and guess who that is ... me. And there won’t be any misinformation. There won’t be any false statements. There won’t be any hearsay. There won’t be any expert analysis from anybody else. It will be the real deal. And I’m not really ready for that to happen and it’s a little amazing to me that the timing of all this happening right when we’re starting camp. I just want everybody out there and all of our fans to know, it’s not going to be a distraction to us and it’s never going to get discussed again.”
“But since I’m not finished yet at Alabama, we’re not writing any books yet. But when we decide to write an authorized book, it will have the truth ― the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
According to al.com, the book’s author had previously told the website that he spoke to Saban both before the writing began after it was completed, and while the coach declined to help with the content he “wasn’t actively trying to stop the project.” Suffice to say, Saban no longer feels as neutral as he once did as there’s something -- or some things -- in the book that he doesn’t appreciate and is bothered by.
As Kevin Scarbinsky hinted at, though, all Saban’s public rant will do is ramp up sales of a book from which he’s greatly distanced himself. And doesn’t want anyone profiting from.