A while back, when ESPN's Doug Gottlieb was conducting an interview with former Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora Jr. about Michael Vick, Mora didn't think much of Gottlieb's interviewing skills...and let him know it, while the conversation was still ongoing. And now, out of Michigan State comes evidence Gottlieb's on the bad side of some other coaches, too.

That coach, specifically, is Spartans basketball coach Tom Izzo. Izzo's displeasure stemmed from Gottlieb characterizing his team, which made the NCAA Tournament but struggled to a 19-14 record this season, as "[star guard] Kalin Lucas and a bunch of other dudes." Izzo's rejoinder:

"I don't want to rip him [ed. note: nothing Izzo could have said would have made it more clear he was about to rip him], but it is amazing when you've been a player you should have a better understanding of what goes on, especially being a player that has gone through some traumatic things yourself."

Emphasis ours, because Izzo went there - "there" meaning Izzo referenced the time Gottlieb stole fellow students' credit cards when he was at Notre Dame. (He later finished out his career at Oklahoma State.) Granted, Izzo's was an indirect reference and he phrased it so it didn't sound as harsh as it could have, but that's still getting pretty personal.

Izzo went on to say that while he "respect[s] most analysts," that respect only extends to those who "dig in and really understand the situation." Izzo added, "If I don't get phone calls from someone, they don't know what the hell is going on" - we're thinking he didn't hear from Gottlieb before the latter made his comments.

Really, Gottlieb seems to us like he's ruffled enough feathers that we're surprised his past troubles aren't brought up more often - especially by Mora, who seemed more than irritated enough to go for a low blow during his chat with Gottlieb. Maybe, though, most people just know by now that if you poke fun at Gottlieb for the credit card incident, it doesn't end very well.

[The Big Lead]

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