|
|
Post by theDarkHawkReturns on Apr 19, 2016 9:32:38 GMT -6
The spectacle that is the UWM athletic department was the subject of Bob and Brian's sports segment with Steve Czaban (and Stephanie Sutton sitting in)on 102.9 this morning. The firing, the hiring, Bill Johnson, etc. They took a few callers and overall there was nothing that has not been bickered over on this board--- except that towards the end of the segment Czaban said he received a text from an "anonymous source" saying that there is currently an unnamed group pursuing a freedom of information request related to the AD dept emails related to all of the hiring and firing decisions related to the Jeter/T.J./Jordan situation. If true, that could be very interesting. It is very true....and no, it wasn't me.  |
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Apr 19, 2016 9:36:37 GMT -6
I heard from a couple of sources that it true as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by JG Panthers on Apr 19, 2016 10:12:03 GMT -6
This is on the verge of becoming a full blown witch hunt. Nobody will come out on record about anything. PantherU and Nighthawk continue to allude to more transgressions forthcoming but won't elaborate. This smells very funny to me. Are we trying to access e-mails to see what else we can nail her for so she gets fired, or what's the purpose of the FOIA request?
Jeter was fired with just cause. Lavall Jordan was hired. Who cares what happened with TJ? (coming from someone who preferred him) This has been a debacle. There is no doubt about that. The rest seems to be gossip looking to find a reason to fire her. Is that all this is? We haven't gotten our way yet, so we need to dig up more dirt?
|
|
|
|
Post by theDarkHawkReturns on Apr 19, 2016 10:29:52 GMT -6
JG, are you suggesting that as long as no one knows, nothing bad happened, and we should just assume all is well? Are we supposed to just shrug and say "oh well"? This is an public institution using our tax money, and there is an expectation that this money is being properly used and public employees are conducting themselves professionally and properly.
I find it odd that you would suggest that ignorance should be bliss.
And again, 99.9999% of what is being looked into has nothing whatsoever to do with Jeter's firing. This is something that was brewing for almost 3 years now, and has finally reached critical mass. Jeter's firing was merely the lance of the boil, to torture an analogy.
|
|
|
|
Post by PantherU on Apr 19, 2016 11:02:09 GMT -6
This is on the verge of becoming a full blown witch hunt. Nobody will come out on record about anything. PantherU and Nighthawk continue to allude to more transgressions forthcoming but won't elaborate. This smells very funny to me. Are we trying to access e-mails to see what else we can nail her for so she gets fired, or what's the purpose of the FOIA request? Jeter was fired with just cause. Lavall Jordan was hired. Who cares what happened with TJ? (coming from someone who preferred him) This has been a debacle. There is no doubt about that. The rest seems to be gossip looking to find a reason to fire her. Is that all this is? We haven't gotten our way yet, so we need to dig up more dirt? - Rob Jeter wasn't fired for cause. I think you meant he was justifiably fired, which is certainly a fair argument to make. Just wanted to clarify. - Think for a second. If an FOIA request goes through and they find nothing, doesn't that exonerate Braun? If anything, she should welcome the open records request - it would end all of this stuff once and for all. - Hawk and I know who put through the open records request. Well, requests. Couple media organizations, couple other groups. I had only known about one until last night. - I sincerely apologize for the cloak-and-dagger stuff. We're not the people behind the biggest open records requests - I've put in one, but it's only for some background stuff - and we'd be compromising the efforts of those groups that are trying to find the truth. - In my discussion with a member of one of the media organizations the other day, they told me that athletics administrators are trying to 'black out' and block or delay the open records requests of a different media organization. What does that tell you? I understand why it's getting frustrating. I'm going to try and not be so coy throughout the rest of this. Sent from my SCH-R970 using proboards |
|
|
|
Post by JG Panthers on Apr 19, 2016 11:23:36 GMT -6
Rob Jeter wasn't fired for cause. I think you meant he was justifiably fired, which is certainly a fair argument to make. Just wanted to clarify. Yes, thank you for correcting me. That was an incorrect usage of "just cause". - Think for a second. If an FOIA request goes through and they find nothing, doesn't that exonerate Braun? If anything, she should welcome the open records request - it would end all of this stuff once and for all. I don't actually disagree. I'm not attempting to defend Braun. These are just potential outcomes. What exactly are we searching for is my question. - I sincerely apologize for the cloak-and-dagger stuff. We're not the people behind the biggest open records requests - I've put in one, but it's only for some background stuff - and we'd be compromising the efforts of those groups that are trying to find the truth. I wasn't trying to call you out. It just seems as if though there have been a lot of vague accusations and allusions with very few specifics. At some point the tar and feathering of the department becomes more damaging than the actual misconduct. I, for one, can't wait for this national nightmare to end, even if that means Braun retains her job for the moment. I don't think sweeping this garbage under the rug is the answer. I'm just ready to move on with Coach Val leading the way. |
|
|
|
Post by JG Panthers on Apr 19, 2016 12:11:13 GMT -6
JG, are you suggesting that as long as no one knows, nothing bad happened, and we should just assume all is well? Are we supposed to just shrug and say "oh well"? This is an public institution using our tax money, and there is an expectation that this money is being properly used and public employees are conducting themselves professionally and properly. I find it odd that you would suggest that ignorance should be bliss. And again, 99.9999% of what is being looked into has nothing whatsoever to do with Jeter's firing. This is something that was brewing for almost 3 years now, and has finally reached critical mass. Jeter's firing was merely the lance of the boil, to torture an analogy. You are right Nighthawk. If there is something illegal or unethical being done in the AD office, there should be an investigation. I'm concerned there is nothing to find if what we're looking into is Jeter's firing and the Jordan/TJ fiasco. |
|
|
|
Post by theDarkHawkReturns on Apr 19, 2016 13:04:47 GMT -6
The only way to know is with evidence. Either nothing will come of them, or something will. A FOIA is not, in and of itself, evidence of anything besides curiosity.
I find it a bit concerning that there appears to be an effort underway by the Athletic Department to obfuscate these requests. Either they just don't like the scrutiny, or there is something they wish not be made public.
It is entirely possible that there are some people at UWM who forget they are public employees, and every email, text and/or call they make while on the job is public domain, with a few exceptions.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrpantherfan on Apr 19, 2016 17:16:03 GMT -6
Let's start with specific donations for a foreign trip that may or may not have been used to buy out Jeter. As a major donor and supporter of Jeter, would you want to find out that your specific donation was used to buy out the coach of the program you supported.
Keep shaking the tree, it will all drop.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pantherholic on Apr 20, 2016 12:06:44 GMT -6
- In my discussion with a member of one of the media organizations the other day, they told me that athletics administrators are trying to 'black out' and block or delay the open records requests of a different media organization. What does that tell you? There are exemptions that are legally allowed to be "blacked out" from requests. Not everything is open record although I'm not sure what does/doesn't apply from a state/federal level. I'm sure there's probably some issues they need to work out with the search firm as I would be surprised if there weren't non-disclosure agreements set in the contract. |
|
|
|
Post by theDarkHawkReturns on Apr 20, 2016 12:30:22 GMT -6
I am not certain, but NDA's typically do not trump state law, and the exceptions to FOIA are pretty well spelled out in the statutes.
Contracts made by government entities, once finalized and executed, are public record (as Jeter's was).
|
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Apr 20, 2016 14:16:10 GMT -6
Q & A with Gary D'Amato with a Panther question.
Q: tom kelley, new berlin wi - why didn't you tell the rest of the Amanda Braun story--Baldwin's involvement in her hiring, past cover up of player @ uw-green bay when she was there, giving Harris Turer a difficult time regarding the Admirals/Arena situation etc. thanks tk
A: Gary D'Amato - Hi Tom. I've heard a lot of things from a lot of people about Amanda Braun, but I must deal in facts, not hearsay. It's my name and reputation that goes in the paper and on jsonline. I've heard the gossip and the stories, but what is true, what is not true and what is embellished? Certainly, there is a lot more to this story. I have no doubts about that. But also, I'm a columnist and not an investigative reporter. I've got to write Bucks, Brewers and Packers columns. I was in Augusta, Ga., for a week. I can't focus on one story for a month. Finally, I would say this: Though a lot of people are angry with Braun, that's at least partially a byproduct of her shaking things up. She is not unlike a CEO who comes into a company and makes changes -- a number of people are going to be upset and feel disenfranchised and angry. I'm not saying they are right or wrong. There are also people who support her and the decisions she has made and is making. I don't think she went about everything the right way and I think her inexperience showed -- and I wrote that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Apr 20, 2016 14:18:08 GMT -6
Q: Ryan - Have you had a chance to talk to the new UWM basketball coach? Is he well aware of the situation with Braun? Were people advising him against taking the job? I am cheering for him and he seems great but what a tough situation.
A: Gary D'Amato - Hi Ryan. I have not had a chance yet to talk to LaVall Jordan. I was at the Masters when he was hired and brought in for his news conference. I hope to sit down with him soon. I can't imagine that he wouldn't have called Rob Jeter to ask about the job. But he also knows that coaches are hired to be fired and that sometimes it can get a bit messy. It's always an emotional situation. In the end, getting a Division 1 head coaching job was a step up and one he probably figured he couldn't pass up. He is definitely stepping into a tough situation and there will be growing pains during the transition, as he works with Jeter's holdover players and brings in his own. I wouldn't hold my breath for a 20-victory season in 2016-'17, that's for sure. But Jordan was a highly regarded assistant, so let's give him a couple years and see what happens.
|
|
|
|
Post by skrapheap on Apr 20, 2016 19:49:49 GMT -6
Wow.
If he wasn't employed by the Journal-Sentinel, you could almost believe he's interested in Milwaukee Basketball.
|
|
