JJ, here.
Wow. I don’t know where to start with this one.
Let’s start at the very beginning…A very good place to start…When you read the Seattle Times, you begin with…W.
Well, the news in the Seattle Times has not exactly been the sweet sound of music to many Husky fans’ ears. If you’re not familiar with what’s going on in Seattle, here’s the very quick version: the Seattle Times is running a series detailing the very criminal recent past of the University of Washington’s football program. You can find all the stories linked on Husky Sports News.
To say the least, it does not paint a very pretty picture of Husky football in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. And Husky fans are not happy (most Husky fans seem to be questioning the timing of the articles, not their veracity)
Now, you can count one former coordinator who is not really happy about the series, either. And he’s taking his anger out on the University of Oregon.
Former Huskies recruiting coordinator Dick Baird weighed in on the series today with Dave “Softy” Mahler on 950 KJR-AM in Seattle and made quite a remarkable accusation.
[You can listen to the entire interview here on KJR's website.]
I’m under no illusion, or delusion, that Oregon, just like any other college football program (or general student population, for that matter), has not had players run afoul of the law. We all know that it happens with every single program.
But why Oregon? What in the world would possess him to throw Oregon under the bus for no apparent reason?
I have to confess I’m struggling here. I would like to call this old bird Baird a couple of choice names. But I don’t think that would serve any purpose. I just don’t understand why he would mention Oregon. Why not Washington State? If this was happening to Oregon, I think most Duck fans would probably try to deflect criticism towards Corvallis, not Seattle. But why mention any other school at all?
The only thing I can think of is that he was trying to make the point that there are players who run into trouble with the law at every school. And I wouldn’t disagree. If that’s what he intended to say, he did a very bad job of doing that.
Unfortunately, I think there’s more to it than Baird simply miscommunicating his point. I hear anger there. I don’t know if it’s anger at the situation or anger towards Oregon. Or anger at himself.
So, where’s a good place to end? For Mr. Baird, he might want to end this by starting to examine himself and his role in this series of unfortunate events.
[You can take a look at one forum's reaction to this interview here.]
Tags: Football, oregon, Seattle Times
Joe Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
maybe in his eyes, and feedback from UW alumni, Oregon is the standard to go by in the NW. We are the example of excellence. we are the other end of the football spectrum in terms of success.
Jay Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Joe -
I don’t think he was being complimentary. But I understand your point.
JJ
sj Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
What a bunch of bull! OK, lets check the “police blotter.” Except for Luke Bellotti, who is (has been) in trouble with the law in the last year. Never mind Derrick Jones and what’s his name for having invalid driver’s licenses, which wasn’t really their fault. Just another Husky trying to deflect their problems on their favorite enemy!
Jay Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
JJ, here.
One thing I forgot to mention is the severity of the criminal activities committed by these football players. The stuff mentioned in the Times is not your usual fair. And to try is equivocate it to anything at Oregon is unbelievable.
Sid Wicks Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
The police blotter in Eugene?
Kids who get into trouble? Sure.
Multiple felons? I think not.
Dick was rambling like a mad man and then pulls out that gem.
Seriously, Duck Fans read the articles. They are serious. Maybe eight years too late, but some of this stuff will turn your stomach.
Jeremy Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Well, Luke did commit multiple offenses with no real punishment.
dsmalley Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 11:36 am
This guy is obviously a clown and I can’t believe he got 5 seconds on the airwaves. He needs to pipe down. I don’t want to hear from him any more.
DuxSux Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Multiple felons, like Luke Bellotti and his insane drunken mother?
Like Bellotti begging a judge to reduce the Felony of Rodney Woods, a murderer.
NIIIICE! Duck fans are bigger dirtbags than Jerramy Stevens.
PSG Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Woods does not apply. He was not a murderer and do nothing to besmirch the UO while he was a student. He quietly graduated and like most students, will likely go on to be a productive member of society.
Dux, have you even read the series?
The shocking part of what was\is going on in Seattle is the depth of collusion. From the lowest level staff member at UW to the highest. From the police officers to the prosecutors office. And judges. JUDGES? WOW! That situation up there is sick. This is all done for wins. What they fail to see is, the fans, players (especially), program, university and society looses. Everyone losses when this is allowed.
Dawgishly Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I would generally agree with you that Baird wasn’t comparing apples to apples on this one. However, I haven’t noticed many Ducks that allow the facts to get in the way of a good shot over the bow of the USS Montlake. Afterall, isn’t the opportunity to throw each other under the bus, as you put it, the whole point of a rivalry?
What a joke... Says:
January 31st, 2008 at 12:13 am
Raping women, Murder, Hit and Run-Crashing your car into an Old Folks home and hitting a lady, Players being paid thousands of Dollars (billy-joe hobert), Attorney’s giving athletes special benifits, Continuing beating women and breaking her arm… Etc.
The UW Administration and the Coaching staff knew of all of this and swept it under the rug…
Talk about ‘Lack of Institutional Control’…
Sorry guys, this is a whole different league. Nice try though.
I’m not pleased with the latest happenings at UO, and I disagree with the way things were handled. But to try and compare the two is outright Idiotic!!!
EVERY school has issues. When your dealing with 18 - 22 year olds, there are going to be some issues with maturity and poor decision making.
I mean even that ‘School of Higher Education’ in CornValley has had their fair share… Friends of football players dieing of Alcohol poisoning on Campus, Racist football players beating up white National Guardsmen, players Trading Drugs for a Cab ride, Drunk players driving around with ‘Stolen Gay Sheep’ and getting a DUI, Baseball players stealing money from family and the University letting said player, play anyway, when they said they would punish said player.
See, we all have Issues. Some are just BIGGER than others…