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College basketball insider Jeff Goodman appears to have inserted himself in an odd online beef this week, allegedly making threats to an independent film maker.
A series of screenshot direct messages seem to show Goodman threatening legal action against a YouTube account called “Big East Films.”
Goodman is a longtime reporter, previously working for CBS, FOX, and ESPN. He’s currently employed by The Messenger as a senior basketball insider.
The reported feud revolves around a documentary called Divine Providence, the first installation of an 11-part series focused on Big East basketball.
Providence was the first team on the schedule, a group that’s been through a lot over the last year. Most centers around the departure of head coach Ed Cooley, who bolted for conference rival Georgetown at last season’s end.
Cooley’s decision was a focal point of the documentary.
A thread posted by an account called “BlueDemonDegen” laid out the supposed interaction with Goodman on Monday. BDD claims to be the creator of the film.
The field of 68 guys *really* didn’t like it. Here’s what @GoodmanHoops DM’ed me after it came out. Nice threats, man. pic.twitter.com/zJz8tfVzED
— The Blue Demon Degenerate (@BlueDemonDegen) January 29, 2024
The photo seems to show Goodman insinuating legal repercussions for the production, though it doesn’t exactly lay out why. Copyright? Defamation?
“You will be getting sued.”
“How do you look in orange?”
At one point in the documentary, an interviewee compares Cooley to Hitler while insinuating an extramarital affair was the ultimate cause for the change of scenery – both dubious and unsubstantiated claims.
Still, Goodman’s presence makes little sense as those would appear to be the Big East’s, or more specifically, Ed Cooley’s issues to address.
Goodman’s Field of 68 podcast partner Rob Dauster is also said to have gotten involved.
Another zinger from Rob Dauster. Funny, they have the same source. pic.twitter.com/CuiZs1gEpD
— The Blue Demon Degenerate (@BlueDemonDegen) January 29, 2024
Subsequent responses from Dauster on his X feed make the situation all the more confusing.
Yes, I do, actually.
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) January 30, 2024
As for the film maker, he says that while Cooley was painted as a villain to Providence, most of the feedback received from Friars fans was positive.
“PC fans came out in droves and told me it captured the PC mentality well.”
He also made it clear that views expressed in the documentary were not his own and that the film didn’t endorse any opinion over another.
“It attempted to show how people around the departure felt, more specifically, in Providence.”
The feud gained further exposure after a few of Barstool Sports’ biggest personalities hopped onboard.
Dan “Big Cat” Katz was one of the first to bring the BDD post to light, focusing on that “Do you look good in orange?” comment. Jack McGuire added on.
Even Dave Portnoy gave his insight after watching the film.
Just watched the @BlueDemonDegen doc. Very well done. https://t.co/nStOYf5ETf
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 30, 2024
The entire situation is just bizarre, coming straight out of left field in the middle of an exciting college basketball season.
Jeff Goodman’s unusual association makes it all the weirder as it seems an odd hill for him to die on.
In the meantime, the alleged beef has created an all-out war between the insider and Big East Twitter, with many coming to the film maker’s defense.