panties in a bunch DIARY

It's part of our genetics to forget the bad things in the past.

Like Bo was paid a salary.

Another issue is the general ignorance of what a contract is supposed to do. It doesn't define morality, it defines a business transaction between two or more parties.  

I imaging the WVU negotiation with RR went as such, "RR you have to coach for us, and we'll give you this annual salary for x number of years. But if you leave early, which is likely since we're such a po'dunk school then you will pay of 4 Million to make us feel better, well and to compensate for all the 'in Rod we trust' t-shirts that we were going to sell."

 

From tracking Brian's research, there was an article that described how the University of Michigan put 2.5 Million in holding at a bank back in December or January. In addition they made sure this was public knowledge so WVU knew what the starting point of the negotiation was.And while even Brian concluded that Michigan didn't win anything in the negotiation, they actually did. Instead of paying $4 Million up front, they pay $2.5 Million, and then RR pays $500k starting in 2010 I believe if I'm remembering the Detroit News article correctly.As any lottery winner knows, there's more value in Money Now than Money later.I'm too lazy to dig up my Net Present Value calculation from accounting class, but based on Bill Martin's business experience I'm willing to skip my doubt that he didn't end up with something better than $4 Million NOW.While I don't know if the Coach Selection process is better or worse than Brian projects it, I'm pretty confident that Bill Martin crafted his contract with RR and the issues with the WVU contract with his eyes wide open.I wonder how the press would have responded if Bill Martin had chosen to outbid LSU for Les Miles. I don't think $4 Million up front was going to be enough, and I think Bill, whether on his sailboat or not, knew that he didn't want to get in a price battle with the SEC good old boys.Go back and find Mitch Albom's article on the Les Miles contract a day before the SEC Championship.As a Michigan Alum and a Man, (which would make me a Michigan Man I suppose) I feel a lot cleaner with Rich Rod, than anything to do with Les Miles.

Nice posts turbo and Seattle. I've also been surprised at the level of mistrust of RR in the media and on some comment boards by apparent UM fans. Part of me thinks it's anti-Appalachian bs from the A2 wine and cheese (and "down in front!") set. As an undergrad there in the late 80s/early 90s I definitely noticed that upturned nose at all things Ypsi-tucky. Let's be honest, RR has a southern-ish accent and uses folksy terminology (when he ain't cussin' like a sailor with Tourette's). His wife looks like Tammy Faye Bakker. He unleashed an apparently unmedicated Barwis on us. Lloyd Carr, on the other hand, fired up his troops by reciting Kipling and hosting poet-warriors like Russell Crowe. Herein lies the crux of the problem, I think. The options presented in the media are either "Honorable Lloyd and his Fossilized Band of Run-Run-Passers" or "Snake Oil Rich and the Inevitable NCAA Death Penalty for White Trash Scumbaggery." As with most black/white scenarios, this is a false choice. I for one am a second-generation "Michigan Man" (though I agree, I'm not sure what that means, precisely). I respected and admired Lloyd's integrity but fucking hated his fucking conservative fucking approach to football and his unwillingness to let scheme and misdirection help out execution. I am thrilled to have a true innovator and winner coach the team I love. I will be the first to call him out for integrity problems, but I honestly haven't seen anything worth worrying about yet. Fuck WVU and their lynch mob. Michigan is a better job, and RR jumped at the chance. Fuck Joe Tiller and his spastic colon. Michigan (under RR) was a better fit for Roundtree and he jumped at the chance. Fuck Rosenberg and the high horse he rode in on. Every coach tries to negotiate liquidated damages clauses down, including Beilein. And fuck A2 Camembert nibblers and their classist attitudes. Let's let the man coach for, like, one game before rendering a judgment, 'kay? Harrumph.

That was a very good post. I am also extremely sick of people already making excuses about next season's team. No matter what happens I will always stick by MICHIGAN as anyone who really calls themselves a MICHIGAN fan should do. Also, I am extremely excited to see what the team will look this fall and for every sports reporter in the area to eat their words.

You wanna go back on that "don't get players arrested" thingy? I think Lloyd let that bar slip more than a little. Goota look at the whole picture. Lloyd was not a very good representative of Michigan outside the coccoon of sycophants who continuously stroll down memory lane and end up at the address of the 1997 team. I couldn't be happier that the fuck is gone. And it came at least three years too late.

format!