Doug Gottlieb Isn’t Worth Your Time

Jackson Browne once wrote: “Don’t confront me with my failures. I had not forgotten them.”

Doug Gottlieb, who stole credit cards and books from at least eight Notre Dame students in 1996, said something incredibly dumb last night on Twitter.

This was a typical response:

I’m not defending the former Irish basketball player or his very bad take.

But I am going to wonder aloud why Twitter users won’t just criticize Gottlieb’s take without resorting to ad hominem attacks.

In a piece for The Athletic last year, Gottlieb wrote:

I live a pretty public life. I host a nationally syndicated radio show, I’m on various TV shows and I call college basketball games on radio and television. I am also active on social media. Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t send me a tweet or a message calling me a credit card thief.

I’d be lying if I said I loved it. I did a lot of stuff before, and I’ve done a lot of stuff since. I don’t understand how some people can live so far in the past, especially when it’s not their past. It’s been 22 years. Whatever the statute of limitations is on college-age stupidity, I believe I have exceeded it. But I understand there are many people who will never let me forget. That’s reality.

One line — “Whatever the statute of limitations is on college-age stupidity, I believe I have exceeded it” — resonated with me.

I can only imagine if I were judged on my worst day or worst decision. I wouldn’t love tweeting out a dumb take on millennials and having you all remind me of that incredibly terrible thing I did as a teenager.

If you don’t like Gottlieb’s hot takes or you think he’s a jerk, you’re probability in the majority. But here’s the thing: You don’t have to read them, and you certainly don’t have to respond to them. You can mute or block Gottlieb on Twitter and you’ll never see them again unless you actively seek them out.

If Gottlieb said something that’s offensive to you, ask yourself: Why do I care what Doug Gottelieb has to say about anything? (This also works great with everyone else including, but not limited to, politicians and other celebrities.)

Doug Gottlieb isn’t worth your time. He isn’t worth your joy. But, no matter how much of a jerk you think he is, the statute of limitations on hackneyed credit jokes has been exceeded.