Emails in on Leach & steroids

The new emails are in, and steroids dominate the batch. But first, let’s talk Mike Leach.

Larry wrote about the Mike Leach flap: “Tech’s insistence on a reciprocal and symmetrical buyout is not unprecedented. Tech is offering to make a big time (for a school like Tech) financial commitment, and they want to see some reciprocal commitment on his part, neither unprecedented nor unreasonable in light of what has now become Leach’s annual Look-for-a Better Job Tour. Leach flat ignored a request from Chancellor Hance to meet with him privately, since he and Gerald Myers apparently can’t sit in the same room with one another. I understand that he has hired representatives, but Kent Hance is his boss’ boss. When he asks to speak to you, you don’t refuse him the courtesy. And the last thing that should be mentioned in the interest of fairness and accuracy is that Leach substantially increased the testosterone level in the room when he pulled an end run on both Myers and Hance and tried to take his case to the Board of Regents. He was not just rebuffed but admonished for his efforts. That kind of stuff doesn’t fly in west Texas, or much of anywhere else for that matter. He has really ripped his trousers with a lot of powerful people. Contrary to what you hear in the media, sentiment runs both ways in about equal proportion. There are a lot of Tech alums who have soured on Leach’s antics, don’t believe he wants to be there (notwithstanding his professions otherwise) and are ready to just turn a corner and move on. I think most want to see them go into a room together and come out smiling. There’s no question he has done a great job, raised the school’s profile, plus he’s a hoot. But between him and Myers, they’ve managed to ruin what was developing into a pretty good thing for my old school. It’s a damn shame. I do agree that regardless of how this turns out, Myers has to go. He’s a relic who has driven Tech’s athletic program (with the notable exception of the football program) into the ditch. If all this turns out to be just a personality conflict between him and Leach, that’ll be a no-brainer in my view. And I do think one of them has to go, and now.”

Well, that’s about the best slant on the whole mess as I’ve heard. I don’t know how much of it’s true, but it’s danged interesting.

William asked, “What is Texas Tech thinking? Fire Mike Leach? Has Coach Leach committed some unpardonable transgression not made public? No national championships, but from where I sit, the guy has been real success in a very difficult place. Am I wrong in my perception?”

Just read Larry. I think he’s shooting straight.

James wrote, “Something’s not right in Lubbock. I read where Myers wants to impose a $15 million ‘fine’ on Leach if he merely talks to another college without Myers’ consent. Is that true? I think that there are two arrogant individuals out there.”

No, that wasn’t true, and I don’t know about arrogant. You know what I think? I think Tech was trying to take a stand – albeit doomed – in a culture gone mad. Someone has to eventually stand up to football coaches. Why not the Red Raiders?

Gary wrote about the steroids: “The owners elected one of their own to be baseball czar (Bud Selig). They did nothing to stop drug use because they wanted the extra home runs to bring fans back after the strike. What were the owners doing after they got all the drug tests back in 2003? Congress should never allowed an owner to be commissioner. I would pick Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis as the best, then Ford Frick. Our current one is always years behind the problem and wants to be politically correct. Sooner or later Congress will take over.

Well, that will solve everything. As for commissioners, Landis was a racist and Frick was a buffoon. Bud Selig is way ahead of that curve.

Ron wrote, “If you have the time, look up President Obama’s recent speech to the nation and you will find that the president made a statement almost exactly as Mark McGwire made in the Senate hearings about not wanting to look to the past, only to the future.”

Difference is, McGwire wasn’t sitting at the head table.

Jim wrote, “Do you really think anybody in any sport in the last 50 years has not done steroids? In my 70 years I have been around a lot of sports people. I have even known slow-pitch softball players that used them. In these times, Congress has plenty that needs done besides hearings on steroids.”

Actually, I’ve come around on this idea. I think Congress should stick its nose into sports. Maybe it wouldn’t have time to screw up the rest of the country.