OT: Harbaugh strikes again
http://www.theworldofisaac.com/2009/08/jim-harbaugh-likes-his-bathrooms…
Way to go, Jim, way to go. Everybody needs a $60,000 bathroom, right? Especially when your athletic department is lacking funds...
For those who can't access the link:
"This summer, Stanford mega-donor John Arrillaga built a private luxury bathroom and shower for Harbaugh that sources said cost between $50,000 and $70,000.
The Stanford athletic department is facing a multi-million revenue shortfall. Fundraising has cratered. Team budgets are being sliced. More than 20 jobs have been eliminated through layoffs and buyouts, and at least one sport (fencing) is in danger of being cut."
(commentary from worldofisaac) "So let me get this straight....So Jim Harbaugh could feel comfortable taking a huge dump after his team gets blitzed by USC 50-0, 20 people had to lose their job?
Something stinks in Palo Alto...And I don't mean the bathroom either."
August 27th, 2009 at 1:14 PM ^
he's one of those self-loathing wolverines.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:19 PM ^
Can someone summarize the article, the page is blocked for me at work.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:22 PM ^
Got drunk at Hard Rock Cafe, stole a cash register with 60K in it, and used the money to renovate the bathroom in his RV. The he said "Michigan does this thing all the time. I learned how to drink from Gary Moeller"
What a son of a bitch.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:47 PM ^
This may be the funniest thing I have ever read. Kudos to you, sir.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
"This summer, Stanford mega-donor John Arrillaga built a private luxury bathroom and shower for Harbaugh that sources said cost between $50,000 and $70,000."
August 27th, 2009 at 1:38 PM ^
It is a love pentagon about a coach, a cheap hooker, an 8 ball, a lightning rod and a testicle attacking monkey in the foggy underbelly of middle California.
I cried a little.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:51 PM ^
who cares that he got a sweet ass bathroom. It helped the economy and helped keep a guy in business, so we should be thankful
August 27th, 2009 at 5:39 PM ^
"It helped the economy and helped keep a guy in business, so we should be thankful"
Which guy did it help keep in business? Harbaugh's colon? The dudes who built the bathroom? Are they better than the 20 people who were laid off from the AD?
August 27th, 2009 at 5:43 PM ^
About how long will 60K keep 20 people employed? People who live in the bay area, no less.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:58 PM ^
I'm sure it'd keep two people employed. I'm just thinking the welfare of two people is usually better than where the coach of a football team can shower himself off or drop off some timber.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:39 PM ^
You are sure that 60K will keep 2 people employed? For how long?
The point, sir, is that if the athletic department is firing 20 people a cutting a sport, they have more problems than 60K will fix.
Why aren't you pissed at the AD? He's the one who makes these calls. Harbaugh had absolutely no say in the firings of those people or the cutting of fencing from their varsity sports.
My company laid people off about 6 months ago, yet my boss still has 3 Mercedes. That's life.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:01 PM ^
Purely in terms of salary, is what I say, when I say that 2 people could be employed with 60K.
Yes, the AD has many more problems than 60K will fix. I fail to see how a new, lavish bathroom is appropriate in that situation, especially when the money could be donated to perhaps, something, more important? Do you really think that 60K couldn't be put in a better place?
I'm not particularly pissed at either. I have no connection to Stanford. I really don't care what happens in the state of California. But if I had some connection I'd be pissed.
Harbaugh did not have a say in those people being laid off. But you really don't think he had a say in where that money went?
August 27th, 2009 at 7:28 PM ^
Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. But because he certainly had no say in the firings, you can't use that. They are unrelated. Just because you don't agree with this particular donors intentions on how he wants his donations put to use doesn't make Harbaugh a bad person.
The state of Michigan has all kinds of unemployment. Why did the University spend 250 mil to renovate an already existing stadium when they could have hired all kinds of people instead?
August 27th, 2009 at 7:53 PM ^
"Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. But because he certainly had no say in the firings, you can't use that. They are unrelated. Just because you don't agree with this particular donors intentions on how he wants his donations put to use doesn't make Harbaugh a bad person."
Harbaugh could have said no to the donation. Or at least told the Associate AD to keep it away from the media (purely from a smart PR stand point). Harbaugh could have also asked for it to be put elsewhere. Donations with name tags are optional. Stanford could have said no.
I'm not really sure why you're not understanding the connection to the firings. No, Harbaugh is not a bad person because people were fired. However, it is very unlikely Harbaugh does not know the state of the budget in the Stanford AD. If the department is that terribly in debt, then 60K certainly couldn't hurt. Why is it being thrown into something that benefits one person who still has a job?
"The state of Michigan has all kinds of unemployment. Why did the University spend 250 mil to renovate an already existing stadium when they could have hired all kinds of people instead?"
Last I checked our AD operates in the black. Stanford's does not. If the situations were comparable, I could see your point. But as the University moves further and further away from the help of the state (on the academic side that is), something like this will be thought less and less of.
August 27th, 2009 at 8:20 PM ^
Said no to the donation? Turning down alumni donations can be put on the top of the list of great ways to get yourself fired. I still think you're being way too idealistic about this. If an alumnus wants to donate 100K to pay for his name written in diamonds on the wall of Harbaugh's inner office, he can do it. No matter how poorly said AD is doing at balancing his budget. And the head football coach has no say in it.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:16 PM ^
Apparently the terminated athletic dept employees should have gotten their degrees from Michigan. That's the Michigan Difference.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:17 PM ^
your argument hangs on the fact the donor demanded making a new bathroom. and not, you know, the logical solution that, on the donation list of renovations and actions they were soliciting for, bathroom was on it. jeez man.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:15 PM ^
because that 250 mil renovation employed construction workers, leads to further revenue as already proven by the 3-4 mil they will pull in yearly, and was required, in part, BY LAW.
just stop, really.
August 27th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
then let Harbaugh eat cake!
August 27th, 2009 at 1:27 PM ^
The only difference between him and a piece of shit is the smell.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:29 PM ^
This bathroom was likely paid for by a donor.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
The article said is was paid for by a donor and gave the impression that the donor built the bathroom rather than just giving Stanford the money.
Based on the article, I think you have to question the donor's priorities not Harbaugh.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:37 PM ^
Don't you think Jim could had said to the donor, "You know, there are probably some better things that money could go towards."?
August 27th, 2009 at 2:00 PM ^
If JH said make my throne a THRONE, JH is at fault. Otherwise it's not Jim's responsibility.
My old firm has a glorious entryway full of ornate stonework. Why? Because a deadbeat client ouldn't pay his bill in cash but did have excess materials and labor to provide as a setoff against his bill.
I suspect the donor here had some particular advantage (tax/inventory) to obtain from the specific direction of his gift to this project. After all, wouldn't you rather but your name on the new practice facility or endowed scholarship than to create the John Arrillaga gilded head football coach pooping facility?
August 27th, 2009 at 2:10 PM ^
question the donor's priorities? this is a slam dunk to have the coach remember your name. "i paid for the place you go to shit and shower!" you think paying for 350 footballs is going to get the same response?
no, this speaks to the AD and VERY likely Harbaugh because it had to be put on a list of facility needs that the donor then picked from. it'd be very odd for the school/Athletic Department put such a thing on the list without insight from, you know, the guy who uses it.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:33 PM ^
shit?
August 27th, 2009 at 1:35 PM ^
I imagine the bathroom from Scarface with the recessed hot tub in the middle of the floor.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:38 PM ^
If I spent $60,000.00 on something, it would be the room that I take a shit in!
August 27th, 2009 at 1:39 PM ^
I really can't stand this guy anymore. He has just gotten so annoying.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^
When Harbaugh leaves Stanford, the bathroom stays!
August 27th, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^
Holy shit!
August 27th, 2009 at 1:41 PM ^
until this guy takes over for Rodriguez in 10 years.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:58 PM ^
Harbaugh was once a very good bet to eventually be the coach at UM. Now, he is building too large a record of bridge-burning and hypocrisy to even be considered by a school like UM. At this rate, he will be coaching D-2 if at all in ten years.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:14 PM ^
Wait until Stanford is a contender in the Pac 10 in a year or two and I bet you'll be singing a different tune.
August 27th, 2009 at 5:48 PM ^
If you look at Stanford's record last season, it really is no wonder they went 5-7. Their wins against Washington and Wazzu were, well, easy, since those two teams collectively went 2-22. SDSU is a PAC-10 MAC equivalent. Their two most impressive wins, OSU and Arizona demonstrate the same kind of glimpses of hope for Harbaugh's career.
However, I think it is far from a foregone conclusion that Stanford will be an absolute contender. Possible? Yes. But not a guarantee from the returns so far.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:21 PM ^
Not that I personally believe this to be true, but there are a lot of people from West Virginia who feel the same way about our guy on the sidelines.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^
Tater, how many MGoPoints do you want to bet that Harbaugh has Stanford in a bowl game this season?
All in?
He'll get to a bowl this year, continue the uptick he has already started in recruiting to Palo Alto and be a major hot commodity on the coaching market for years to come.
Everyone here just totally overreacts to anything he says. However, he is only going up in his coaching career.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
have you even looked at their schedule?
Stanford could EASILY lose their last 5 games (Oregon, ASU, USC, Cal, ND) and, before that, play an underrated Arizona, Oregon St and UCLA.
i'd definitely go all in with my MGoPoints
August 27th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
I heart Toby Gerhardt.
I think they beat ND in the finale to become bowl eligible and qualify for the Las Vegas Bowl.
August 27th, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
Man, I'd love to be able to bet MGoPoints. Could be a nice twist to this board. Gotta do something with all these points we're accumulating, right?
August 27th, 2009 at 3:43 PM ^
definitely kick the entertainment value of the site up a few extra notches. it could really force people to put up or shut up with their predictions, wild-ass theories and what if hypotheticals.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:38 PM ^
I am thinking about this.
Maybe not a betting of MGoPoints....but of doing some sort of weekly pool surrounding mostly the michigan game of that week.
I'll throw some stats on the board....i.e. Minor Over/Under 125 yards....and let folks pick over and under.
Right now, the stakes would be mere pride, but I could probably come up with something else for the winner.
Thinking weekly winner, but also since it will be a recurring thing, doing an overall too.
Maybe it would be easier to just pick games?
My first thought, though, was something unique.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:47 PM ^
over under for first fumbled or muffed kick/punt
August 27th, 2009 at 1:46 PM ^
Jimbo is becoming very disappointing.
OT check out what Pete Carrol is doing to the buckeyes at EDSBS.
August 27th, 2009 at 1:54 PM ^
OK, so a donor gives a money to the school, usually he decides how it's spent. If he doesn't the HC does NOT get to unilaterally decide how the money is spent. How is this a knock on Harbaugh?
August 27th, 2009 at 2:02 PM ^
Harbaugh beats his chest and loudly declares his concern for the student-athlete, then allows something as excessive as a private 60K bathroom to be built for him? The money should have gone to help student-athletes study if he is that concerned.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:05 PM ^
what this biased article fails to mention is that the bathroom involves two stalls with a partition so that Harbaugh can mentor a student while they bond and the player may learn all while the natural act of defecation takes place.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:11 PM ^
Did you process what WolvinLA said above? I don't think you did.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
Thank you, Timothy.
August 27th, 2009 at 7:30 PM ^
This place gives me a headache anymore. One more week...