Blumenthal

[ruskin]

Sounds like Mr. DeFilippo didn't get the news about who took Chris Dodd's seat in the U.S. Senate.

Blumenthal has his faults. But I'd bet he would love a starring role on a committee that subpeonas DeFilippo, the BCS commissioners, ESPN and just about anyone else connected to this cluster***k to come to DC to splain themselves. If you don't think Senators have any influence in this ask Pac-12 member Utah if they think the stink made by Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett was helpful. (Yes, I know there are many more important issues Senators should focus on, but. . . .)

Top of an AP story from May 2009:

Utah's senators are worried that the Bowl Championship Series is looking at extending its TV contract by four years, which would lock in a system they say is unfair.

So Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, R-Utah, wrote to the BCS Friday to complain. "We have serious concerns about what appears to be an attempt to preserve the status quo for the foreseeable future," they said.

They complained that exploring extending the current TV contract comes despite "growing concern among elected officials regarding the BCS system, not to mention the complaints of millions of college football fans and consumer throughout the country."

The senators come from a state that believes the undefeated University of Utah football team should have played for a national championship in January. Instead, the honor went to two one-loss teams from more prestigious conferences that have automatic BCS berths.

Hatch has already vowed to hold hearings in the Senate about whether the BCS violates antitrust laws, and the House recently held similar hearings. Hatch has said he may push legislation to encourage or mandate a true playoff system to determine college football championships.

The Utah senators have complained that the BCS excludes about half of all college football teams — all those in conferences without automatic BCS bowl berths — from a realistic shot at the national championship even before the first game is played each year.

"The financial ramifications of these inequities are very significant," they wrote.

 

[RS9999X]

Dick could make things worse....

I thought the Globe was a positive statement.

If WVU and LU leave there's ECU and Houston and SMU (pick any 2 from Texas).

>> The Boston Globe reported the Big East is discussing adding Air Force, Boise State and Navy in football-only moves, and then Central Florida and Temple in all sports <<

 

[jpm25]

You want Blumenthal involved? That would be a disaster in self-promotion, like last time.

 

[UConner]

You want Blumenthal involved? That would be a disaster in self-promotion, like last time.

Yep, If you picked anybody to blame I'd pick Blumenthal

 

[FDNY99]

He was involved once already...and look where we are now. Thanks to his grandstanding pat himself on the back actions in 2004, we are presently in position to be where he was trying to "protect us" from back then! he should stay in Washington and keep his mouth shit this time!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Of course we want Blumenthal involved. Anyone who argues differently wants UConn to fail and/or is a partisan hack who would oppose Christ himself if he had a "D" next to his name.

All we need Blumenthal to do is have a staff lawyer call ESPN's legal department and let them know his staff would like to meet with ESPN regarding the comments in the Boston Globe before reverting this matter to the Justice Department. Blumenthal never has to be in the room or say a word to the press.

ESPN knows that while they may be able to force their own employees to commit perjury, although even that is a longshot, getting the ACC member schools to stay on story is out of the question. No university administrator is going to jail to protect ESPN.

They are cooked, and they know they are cooked because both the ACC and ESPN issued statements refuting Flipper's comments within hours of the story running. The speed of the statements further undermines their position. I would have waited a day or two.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

He was involved once already...and look where we are now. Thanks to his grandstanding pat himself on the back actions in 2004, we are presently in position to be where he was trying to "protect us" from back then! he should stay in Washington and keep his mouth darn this time!

If UConn is afraid to get their hands dirty, our school will lose. We learned today what playing nice got us.

Pitt wasn't playing nice with anyone, and where are they right now? Pitt lead the lawsuit against the ACC in 2003. Your whole post is a FAIL. Keep your political agenda out of it.

 

[FDNY99]

First of all I have ZERO political agenda! Pitt may have lead the lawsuit in 2004...BUT it was filed in Rockville Superior Court by Blumenthal who along with Calhoun made comments about BC and DeFillipo. Calhoun's comments I liked...Blumenthal had AND ALWAYS will have a political agenda! I often wonder if you have season tickets to any UConn sports with the way you rant on this board. As for UConn getting their hands dirty it seems as though our president is doing that too. I guess I join a LONG line of posters you have told were a failure so I am in good company!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

First of all I have ZERO political agenda! Pitt may have lead the lawsuit in 2004...BUT it was filed in Rockville Superior Court by Blumenthal who along with Calhoun made comments about BC and DeFillipo. Calhoun's comments I liked...Blumenthal had AND ALWAYS will have a political agenda! Again it seems Waylon that if someone goes against keeping the BE together as it was...they are wrong in your eyes. I often wonder if you have season tickets to any UConn sports with the way you rant on this board. As for UConn getting their hands dirty it seems as though our president is doing that too. Let me guess you were a Jeff Hathaway lover and thought he did a fine job. I guess I join a LONG line of posters you have told were a failure so I am in good company!

Oh, it was filed in Rockville Superior Court. That makes all the difference. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Pitt is in the clear now.

So Blumenthal is the one with a political agenda, not you. Also cleared up.

My only agenda is survival of UConn's athletic program. I don't see an appreciation with our Administration of what needs to be done to make that happen. Begging harder has failed miserably, and now the ACC is laughing in our face in the press. Do you still believe the ACC is a realistic option for UConn? Do you think there is a PRAYER they would ever give us a bid after that story today? Those were direct quotes. What else do you need to see?

The Big East is the ONLY solution available. What are we holding out for? Is there a make-believe BCS conference that might invite us? Because all the real conferences have already passed.

 

[FDNY99]

I have ZERO political agenda...not running for office! I agree with you that begging has failed miserably and I also agree with you about having an agenda for survival of UConn athletics. I think part of the problem with the administration is we have an "interim" Ad right now who has no real experience other than as a fundraiser. After reading the Globe article this morning it became VERY evident to me that the ACC was no longer an option for us. What are our options: Pipe Dream: going to the B1G with Rutgers seal up NY/NJ/CT tv market and basically bury BC by taking NE tv market too; look into the B-12 again with Rutgers...also a pipe dream; I guess we have to trust our new president as they try to rebuild the BE..which by the way I have a hard time doing. Schools like UCF, Houston, SMU, the service academies, and even Boise St could make for some interesting football if this is the way they go with the BE. Either way I won't be that fan who tunrs in their tickets and stops buying them...we could end up in the MAC and I will still be at the games. What we really need os for our men's hoops team to throttle any and all comer's this upcoming season...especially in the final four against a team like Duke or UNC (I would also like to see us play BC in the tourny and run them out of the gym).

 

[SAMCRO]

Oh, it was filed in Rockville Superior Court. That makes all the difference. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Pitt is in the clear now.

Pitt is in the ACC now (or shortly), so ya, I'd say they are in the clear.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Pitt is in the ACC now (or shortly), so ya, I'd say they are in the clear.

Exactly my point. The 2003 lawsuit didn't matter.

 

[SAMCRO]

Exactly my point. The 2003 lawsuit didn't matter.

Sue harder!

 

[Chin Diesel]

Blumenthal never has to be in the room or say a word to the press.

.

Right and a fat guy can get skinny by going to McD's every day and ordering salad without dressing and unsweetened ice tea.

Blumenthal is inherently incapable and/or unwilling to do anything without press releases or press conferences. He is the antithesis of the behind the scenes wheeler and dealer that would be needed for your scenario to happen.

As the great philosopher Yogi Berra once said, "In theory there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is". Or something like that.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Right and a fat guy can get skinny by going to McD's every day and ordering salad without dressing and unsweetened ice tea.

Blumenthal is inherently incapable and/or unwilling to do anything without press releases or press conferences. He is the antithesis of the behind the scenes wheeler and dealer that would be needed for your scenario to happen.

As the great philosopher Yogi Berra once said, "In theory there's no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is". Or something like that.

Any argument that begins with some version of "I hate Blumenthal" is immediately flawed, because essentially you are saying that since you don't like Democrats we should not try everything in our power to save the athletic program.

 

[Mr. Hand]

Be careful, if you say his name three times he'll show up looking for the podium and cameras. Sort of like Betelgeuse.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Any argument that begins with some version of "I hate Blumenthal" is immediately flawed, because essentially you are saying that since you don't like Democrats we should not try everything in our power to save the athletic program.

Who said anything about hating Blumenthal. I said his persona and his insatiable desire for camera time is the exact type of person you don't want spearheading any of this.

The ideal person is a low-key, behind the scenes, mover and shaker.

And that isn't Blumenthal.

There's plenty of other politicians in Ct with a "D" next to their name that would be better suited for any negotiations than Dick.

 

[Hoophound]

Who said anything about hating Blumenthal. I said his persona and his insatiable desire for camera time is the exact type of person you don't want spearheading any of this.

The ideal person is a low-key, behind the scenes, mover and shaker.

And that isn't Blumenthal.

There's plenty of other politicians in Ct with a "D" next to their name that would be better suited for any negotiations than Dick.

True. Blumenthal is way too self serving and smarmy for this task. Give me a Bill Clinton type for this job. Do we have even have any charming politicians in CT anymore? I don't live there so I don't see much of them on tv. Somehow, I see Blumenthal on national tv regularly, he always seems to find a way to get his nose in everything. p.s. left leaning indy

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Malloy clearly can't cut it, and Lieberman doesn't care. Our choices are limited.

Maybe we don't need a politician at all, just a hitter that is a fan of the school. Not sure who that would be.

 

[Pudge]

You missed a big point in all this. The lawsuit pissed them off (and Mike DiMauro gets a column a year off it); but, it is NOT why we are verboten. We are the Devil because WE can dominate New Enland & we are damn good at sports.

Nelson is right: Blumenthal is a crucial point person for us.

 

[ruskin]

The folks who have listed Blumenthal's faults in this thread are 100 percent accurate (camera-hog, self-promoting, etc.). Those are also faults of Orrin Hatch. BIG difference between the leverage held by a state Atty. Gen. and a U.S. Senator.

 

[jpm25]

Of course we want Blumenthal involved. Anyone who argues differently wants UConn to fail and/or is a partisan hack who would oppose Christ himself if he had a "D" next to his name.

All we need Blumenthal to do is have a staff lawyer call ESPN's legal department and let them know his staff would like to meet with ESPN regarding the comments in the Boston Globe before reverting this matter to the Justice Department. Blumenthal never has to be in the room or say a word to the press.

ESPN knows that while they may be able to force their own employees to commit perjury, although even that is a longshot, getting the ACC member schools to stay on story is out of the question. No university administrator is going to jail to protect ESPN.

They are cooked, and they know they are cooked because both the ACC and ESPN issued statements refuting Flipper's comments within hours of the story running. The speed of the statements further undermines their position. I would have waited a day or two.

I have no doubt in Blumenthal's ability to identify and seize upon an opportunity

 

[WestCoastHusky]

I sure hope Blumenthal is involved. It is time for Blumenthal to look into ESPN's unfair practices. They are trying to screw over CT's state U and that alone should be call for action. ESPN simply got too many fingers on all things college football. They are a monopoly that need to be shut down.

 

[CT93]

Blumental no longer cares. He got what he wanted, his Senatorship.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Blumental no longer cares. He got what he wanted, his Senatorship.

How long does this guy last before he is banned?

 

[CT93]

Here we go. Everyone gets to bash BCU, the ACC etc. As soon as we start asking question back, we get banned!!

 

[Pudge]

You BC people are unfreaking believable ... and I won't ban you cause I love to see you wrap you around in your "ethics" course.

Remember Saint Ignatius Loyola was famous for his "Examination of Conscience". What does it say for the Jesuit priests & professionals in authority that they would SCREW ... let's leave UConn out of this point ... Georgetown, Seton Hall, Saint John's, Villanova, Marquette and DePaul. (leave ND aside) You are killing Athletic Departments of CATHOLIC institutions. Is that Turf protection too?

 

[CL82]

Oh, it was filed in Rockville Superior Court. That makes all the difference. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Pitt is in the clear now.

So Blumenthal is the one with a political agenda, not you. Also cleared up.

My only agenda is survival of UConn's athletic program. I don't see an appreciation with our Administration of what needs to be done to make that happen. Begging harder has failed miserably, and now the ACC is laughing in our face in the press. Do you still believe the ACC is a realistic option for UConn? Do you think there is a PRAYER they would ever give us a bid after that story today? Those were direct quotes. What else do you need to see?

The Big East is the ONLY solution available. What are we holding out for? Is there a make-believe BCS conference that might invite us? Because all the real conferences have already passed.

...until the official one get made.