Comments on: Joe Montana creates a controversy by debunking "Rudy"

By: RUSS

RUSS — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 01:48:18 +0000

@ Deb:
You say, “Young . . . FINALLY won ONE Super Bowl and made a HUGE production out of getting the monkey off his back so he could be in Montana’s league … like that would ever happen . . . Steve Young couldn’t clean his cleats”
Geez, what got you all worked up? Joe Montana is one of the greatest. The ultimate clutch player. But Steve Young is certainly in his “league” . .. most rushing touchdowns by any QB ever, highest career passing rating of any QB ever, etc. Heck, Young holds more individual records than Montana; his name is littered throughout the NFL record book.
SF was blessed to have those two QBs on the roster at the same time!

By: JP Ryan

JP Ryan — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:25:29 +0000

They interviewed the guy who wrote Rudy…
Of course it wasn’t 100% accurate. Yes the jersey on the desk scene didn’t happen. But many of the seniors on the team did go to the Defensive coordinator and ask that Rudy start in their place. The spirit of the event was true.
Apparently the Hollywood execs wanted him to spice up the movie by making Rudy recover a fumble for a touchdown… he said he had a hard time not laughing at them.
98% true in a movie based on a true story is pretty damn good and Joe should STFU. The only motivation that I can see for coming out now and trying to do this is to try to get some publicity for himself. -50 cool points for Joe Cool.

By: shawnc16

shawnc16 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:20:58 +0000

This is a money making opportunity. I would love to have a special Joe Montana Commentary DVD of the movie Rudy. I would also like to see a Joe Montana written version of the movie.
Joe Montana is still awesome, greatest QB ever.

By: pga5

pga5 — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:48:49 +0000

Odd. Montana said something different back in the early 90's: http://espn.go.com/page2/s/merron/021202.html Hardly anyone cares about Montana anymore. He's basically out of sports, so he needs to draw attention to himself for more $$$.

By: Hawker1

Hawker1 — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:09:42 +0000

@JHig713
Montana may (or may not be) an azzhole. He lacks a lot of class to have made that remark. But he is most definitely not an overrated football player. I saw the 1979 Cotton Bowl, which could better be described as the Ice Bowl, and he put on what I believe is the greatest one man show in the history of college football. This after suffering a severe case of hypothermia. ND’s Montana led comeback against the University of Houston was unbelievable. Nopr, not overrated.

By: iwuzthere

iwuzthere — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:11:50 +0000

Here’s at least part of the real story:
Yes, fans were chanting “RU-DEE, RU-DEE” at the end of that game. Joe was a freshman on the bench and probably didn’t give a damn about what the crowd was doing during those last moments of the game.
Joe lived off-campus so he didn’t know much about what was going on with other students so he wouldn’t have known that everyone (at least on the South Quad) knew Rudy. He was unmistakable because he was this little fire hydrant of a guy who was always smiling and always in his letter jacket. The other football players were the size of houses (remember this was pre-roid testing days . . .) so Rudy did stand out.
Also, Joe was NOT the star QB. He probably also doesn’t recall that Devine was loathe to start him. ND would be losing games and the crowd would start shouting “Let’s go Joe”. Joe would come in and win the game.
So, yes, the whole spirit of the film was in fact true. It also wasn’t all that unusual for ND where quite a few walk-ons played in big games. The students always knew who the “non-athletes” were and cheered them on.
You were just in a different world then, Joe.

By: Mustard

Mustard — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:45:49 +0000

Daniel Ruettiger only saw the field because of incriminating evidence.
True story.

By: edgy1957

edgy1957 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:44:11 +0000

# FoF says:
Joe was lucky to play for one of the greatest coaches of all time who put together one of the greatest
********************
This mythical QB would be? Joe Montana – 4 Super Bowl wins out of 5 for the entire franchise and besides, your obviously bad math skills of 5 – 4 = 2, you’ve overlooked the fact that it took 5 years AFTER Montana led them to their 4th Super Bowl win that Young led them to their 5th Super Bowl win. FYI, as a starter for those “great” teams, Young was 8-6 while Montana was 16-7 (14-5 with SF and 2-2 with KC) and he won his first two with far less impressive offensive talent.

By: thetruth

thetruth — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:51:59 +0000

I can tell you precisely why Joe made these remarks… because Rudy tells the story of how he talked Joe out of leaving ND during his freshman year. In doing so, Rudy is basically taking credit for Joe’s career. And I know this because I spent a summer in South Bend making a documentary about Rudy to help him sell his story. I told Rudy that we should use the story in the doc and he resisted – but I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t the only person to whom he’s told the story.

By: emac17

emac17 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:16:10 +0000

DITTO In&Out Burger!!! Well said!!
Rudy still a great inspirational movie.
GO IRISH!

By: BSofSF

BSofSF — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:07:12 +0000

Oh, quit the belly aching about Montana. He was answering a question on the Dan Patrick show, for God’s sake. Patrick’s schtick is stirring up the faux controversy for fun. Blown out of context. For those angry Bengals fans, sorry Joe stuck it to you twice.

By: bigfranky75

bigfranky75 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:51:01 +0000

i love how everyone posting on here knows somebody that was on the staff or team… gimme a break. Rudy sux and so does Joe – the drug addict – Montana!

By: Mrsteve

Mrsteve — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:41:45 +0000

Joe Montana is really Barry Manilow
Stay classy Barry

By: 1NDFan

1NDFan — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:09:26 +0000

Enough about ND football! When are they going to do a movie about USC Football and Pete Carroll and Reggie Bush (Push) and OJ Simpson, and Heisman Trophies returned and NCAA Sanctions and dont forget Matt Leinart? This is a real movie in the making. “Cut and print it baby”

By: Pastabelly

Pastabelly — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:59:23 +0000

It is funny that people have a problem with an athlete who actually tells the truth. I would believe Joe even if he told me that Bonds and Clemens did steroids.

By: National

National — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:35:00 +0000

Damm Joe,
I always liked you…
Now put on a pair of your “Shape-Ups” and kick youself in the butt for ruining the movie….
So was Forrest Gump ever a shrimp boat captain too? Or did LT Dan fake the wheelchair requirement ???
Let it go Joe…..

By: Gelardia

Gelardia — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:28:39 +0000

WOW, the movie is not 100% accurate? I’m stunned!

By: Kit

Kit — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:43:15 +0000

All I know is, they played Rudy for the Wisconsin football team the night before the 1994 Rose Bowl and the Badgers then went out and beat UCLA at Camp Randall West in front of 75000 Badger fans. So hats off to Rudy, and heck, Joe Montana’s a good guy and a great QB too, so this is just sports talk stirring a tiny teapot tempest.

By: antneejay2

antneejay2 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:35:40 +0000

Notice that a-hole Montana didn’t have anything to say about the USC game? That’s because it was he who made the travel plans for the team to go to South Carolina. Rudy was the only one who had a clue. Remember how he went to L.A. and handed the Trojans’ asses to them all by himself? For you youngsters who weren’t born yet or were still on the pipe, it’s a hunnert percent true.
Joe’s just jealous cuz he didn’t save the entire universe from eternal damnation (against 33 to 1 odds) like Rudy did.

By: trippen

trippen — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:31:10 +0000

what’s the big deal Florio, you do know it’s HOLLYWOOD right? Florio, we all know you’re not this much of an idiot – you are the one drumming up this “controversy” so that web site you sold out to NBC can get more clicks

By: melikefootball

melikefootball — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:54:58 +0000

Sad comentary on life when a HOF dishes on what may be a lift for many that have not experienced all the victories of life as Montana. We all will remember RUDY RUDY RUDY! I will not look on Montana in the same light again.

By: coacheskid

coacheskid — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:49:21 +0000

My father was an assistant coach at Notre Dame when Rudy was in school. I was in the stands sitting with my mother during the “Rudy” game and I remember the students chanting and asking her what they were saying. The chant eventually moved through the stands to where we were seated and we could then hear and understand what was being called out. It was “Rudy”.
My father has also stated that parts of the movie were not accurate. The players laying the jerseys on the desk was one part which did not happen. But the underlying theme was true.

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:43:56 +0000

Stellaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!
Sigh … football history is so underappreciated.
@Duan …
Montana is one of only two QBs to win FOUR Super Bowls. The other is Terry Bradshaw.

By: In & Out Burger

In & Out Burger — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:37:40 +0000

@Maltese Raider
Yeah, I’m sure you have plenty of personal experience. I went to grade school and high school with some of Montana’s kids. I’ve met and talked to him several times, although rarely about football, and even been to his house. He is a very soft spoken, quiet, individual. He isn’t desperate for money, he didn’t seem bitter or resentful or anything. Maybe had I talked about football with him more I could have seen a different side, but from my own experience, he is a very nice guy.
@FoF
@Moe Lester
I’m going to deal with you both at once since you are both so stupid. First, Moe, you clearly don’t know what you are talking about. If you actually knew your football history, you would know Joe won two Super Bowls before Rice was on the team. Second, FoF, Joe won four Super Bowls, Young won a single Super Bowl. Also, Joe won one of his Super Bowls without Bill Walsh on the team. The implication that Joe only won because of Rice, or Walsh, would make one think that any QB that has good WRs or a good coach isn’t nearly as good as they seem.
@Deb
I urge you to go listen to the interview. MDS is trying to make it seem like he is acting bitter. To me it just sounds like, (and Joe isn’t the first Notre Dame player I have heard say this) it was kind of like a “oh my god he actually did something” type of carry not a “this is the most inspiring story of all time” carry.
But thank you for correcting those geniuses. Obviously I think Montana is the greatest of all time because of his ability to be clutch (most post season comebacks, highest winning percentage, best Super Bowl stats, tied for most Super Bowl wins). He was fortunate enough to get chances to make all those comeback wins, but he thrived in them. Having watched every post season game he has ever played (on extreme tape delay) I can’t imagine anyone I would want more on my team. Ben Roethlisberger, your teams QB (I’m assuming based on some of your other posts) actually reminds me a lot of Joe’s style of play in the post season. Obviously, Ben isn’t going for the pinpoint, west coast style, but he is going for that, ‘win no matter what when in counts’ style.

By: Terrell Blowens

Terrell Blowens — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:35:37 +0000

I liked the movie. Of course, there were a couple of factual exaggerations, but “The Blind Side” was the same way. Montana sounds like an ass for saying this

By: Irish76

Irish76 — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:33:46 +0000

I was there, and Dan was a classmate. The movie’s depiction of the game was startlingly accurate from my recollection. I know for a fact the senior section of the student body was chanting “Rudy, Rudy” – but I don’t remember if anyone else was. It took Dan 15 years or so to sell his story – and I’m glad he did, because it’s nothing if not inspirational… Go Irish!

By: Hovenaut

Hovenaut — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:30:37 +0000

Say it ain’t so Joe……….
ND might want to suit Rudy up if he has any eligibility left, not sure who’s gonna stop Robinson Saturday.

By: imongo

imongo — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:29:40 +0000

How about if Charlie Wiess would have won a national championship…and the team would have had to carry his fat ass off the field. No-one would forget that.

By: jachter

jachter — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:28:49 +0000

Well actually Mr. Actlikea2yrold that guy your talking about is my dad and for you information he wasnt a bench warmer. If you would take some time to look at his background history you would know that he was the state of Michigans prep player of the year and was recruited by every big school in the country. Out of college he was drafted to play in the pros so i dont know many “bench warmers” who do that. I grew up hearing stories about the Rudy story and most of the movie is true and it means alot to alot of people. Joe Montana isnt just a quarterback he is one of the greatest in Notre Dame history so when he talks people listen.

By: Duan

Duan — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:28:02 +0000

Joe Montana has three super bowl rings
has a gazillion dollars in the bank
now he comes out to crap on someone who wasn’t blessed to have the kind of success he has received in his lifetime?
Talk about low class and shoddy?
I just lost a boat load of respect for Montana in regards to this.
Well let’s call his son out that is now playing at Notre Dame wearing number 16