Auditor Mike Harmon tweetstorm Re: LAA audit
- Thread starter Ugoff
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Not "surprised" but glad to get hard numbers to confirm the magnitude of the sh*t show.
Someone needs to throw a tent over this circus. We are witnessing one of history's most flawless demonstrations of that classic metaphor about inmates running the asylum.
It's certainly not a problem for Cincinnati's colleges to have 2 professional teams in the city. UC basketball attendance is generally pretty poor, but their arena is garbage. It'll be interesting to see how they do with a new arena. Even with poor attendance you see a ton of UC hats, shirts, flags, etc. Same with Xavier. There's also talk about those two schools in the city, even when the Reds and the Bengals were good at the same time.I guess its just my experience in Tennessee. Half of my family is from Kentucky but I was born and raised in tn. Before the Titans UT football seemed much more important to them. When they're under performing nowadays they always seem to bring up the Titans. I see way less UT signs, flags, hats etc than I did in 1995. Not even close really.
As for Memphis, I wasn't necessarily talking about success, but fan participation and loyalty was muuuch stronger before the Grizzlies. Growing up around the area it was all Memphis Tigers basketball all the time in school and in the city. Fast foward 20 years and most of the tiger hats have been replaced by Grizzly hats. Most UM fans are fairly open about the apathy created by the pro franchise, and die hards feared it in the beginning.
For example, Memphis and Louisville have no love for each other. I visit the biggest memphis basketball message board quite often, and not one thread about Louisville losing a title. 12-15 years ago there would have been a parade.
Indiana sports have nose dived and you'll hear their fans bring up pro sports as a coping mechanism. UCLA basketball is a distant 10th behind every pro team in the state. I look at my own personal experience in Tennessee and compare those situations with Kentucky and Alabama. I think there's some truth to it. UA and UK have one real tradition.
People under 30 set the trends of how these things work. If Kids in Kentucky have a pro team who's competative, they're probably not going to care as much about Kentucky basketball missing the final four. Id hate to see the state become a "there's always the pro's coming up" type of way.
But It would be cool to have a pro team called "The Kentucky Thorkbreds" or something. Id be a die hard day one, regardless. Proving my own point.
The scenarios you bring up probably have a lot to do with the fact that UT dropped off considerably after Fulmer left and Memphis sucked before and after Cal left. If those teams had continued to win, the interest would've been there. I think it'd be good for Kentucky to have a pro team. It may even get rid of a few of the obnoxious fans because they'd have another in state team to pull for.
We are only heading in the right direction if:
1) the YUM lease deal is forced to be renegotiated
2) the UL Athletics Assoc. is forced to undergo a very thorough audit
3) WHEN wrongdoing is found (and it will be), those responsible are held accountable.
I followed both teams. I had an uncle that is a doctor that was affiliated with the Colonels. I watched a lot of games from really good seats.
It would appear that the arena deal and the financial knot that they have created at The Vile' are about to collided and become one. The sad thing is UL fans brag about being the most profitable athletics program in the country. I wonder how long before the government comes in and untangles this mess? These shell games that have been played by Lord Turtleneck and Ramsey and friends usually end up with someone in prison. The only thing is , it normally takes several years to wade through the deceit before they get to start their vacation.
While I agree those would be desired OUTCOMES, I think this audit was the first step in that direction.
We've seen politicians allow UL create this crap deal, then sit on their asses and do nothing since the Yum opened while the situation deteriorated. I see this as nothing but positive.
The reason for that clearly had been the PAST make-up of the political ruling party in Frankfort and Louisville. Back when the YUM deal and the board being packed by donation willing cronies..... one party control of Frankfort allowed this climate of corruption to go unchallenged. But in just the past 3 or so years, control of Frankfort shifted totally, from the Executive to both the Senate and now most recently the house. With the lone exception of the State AG (Beshear) there are a whole lot of new sheriffs in town who are not tied to the cronies that had been allowed to rape and pillage through the YUM deal and via the UofL Foundation.
This governor (a W&L Grad) has no real reason to worry about LilBrothel's athletic prowess. I would suppose not disgracing the state and screwing the taxpayers would be a bigger issue for him and his administration. Once the banner comes down....anticipate a thorough house cleaning. Expect a better deal too for the tax payers in the YUM deal renegotiation.
I appreciate Mike Harmon's work on this matter. If his leadership results in a new lease with Louisville actually paying a fair and reasonable amount of rent, then Harmon will have completely gained my respect.
I think that all would get rolled in with renegotiating the lease. Whomever was involved with letting UL keep seating revenue from Justin Beiber concerts in a taxpayer owned arena should be staying at the graybar inn.
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