Salazar Speaks Out -- good read

"...but do you really think that I would be showing maturity or class by publicly speaking about the true nature of issues regarding Martin Smith's resignation that the U of O has decided not to disclose? And to do it on an Internet website? Even Phil Knight who is a heck of a lot smarter and experienced than I, chose to not say too much in his article with Bellamy this week. Look at the controversy and hard feelings that came forth when I publicly stated that Galen wouldn't go to the U of O as long as Martin Smith was there. Imagine if I took it upon myself to disclose matters that the U of O has decided to keep quiet between itself, the parties involved and their lawyers. I would love for the full story to come out, and it probably will eventually, but it's not for me to do that. But if you're really so intent on knowing, just go back and read everything that's happened, been printed, including quotes of involved parties, and start connecting all the dots. You're a smart guy, I'm sure you'll figure out what the real "issues" were!

P.S.- Read the Portland Tribune article on Ani Chapa and get some more dots to start connecting. -Al Salazar 2/26/05

...and that's a direct and un-edited quote.

The quote at the head of this thread is of questionable origination.

So, we're left to "connect the dots" and figure out what the real "issues" are.

My hopes are that the incoming sport director has done his/her due dilligence in asking ALL the uncomfortable questions of everyone from Bill Moos, to Dan Williams (Moos' advisor, who recently retired!) to Alberto Salazar, to Sally Harmon, Lance Deal, Dan Steele, Bill Lawson, Phil Knight, Mark Stream, Tom Heinonen, Eric Heinonen, John Gillespie, Noel Paulsen, Mike McGrath, Eric Logsdon, Galen Rupp, Jason Hartmann and Micah Davis. Heck, that's why the hire of someone as high profile as Lananna is taking so long. The person being hired is taking longer to do the backgound check on the University of Oregon than the University of Oregon is of him/her!

If he/she didn't or doesn't ask all the questions and get satisfactory answers, how's the saying go?

You get what you deserve...

...and the school's administration settled with Harmon because they didn't want the gender bias suit to impact the hiring of a new track director? Hello, McFly...I think you've been walking around with you zipper down for months already, just zip it an realize everyone (and I do mean everyone) already thinks you've bungled it!

...pssst, watch this post get deleted.

Personally, I think that there are a lot of ethical people out there who don't consider deceipt and diversion as an acceptable way of doing business. A lot of people still care about ethics and doing things for the right reasons and in the right ways, and then accepting responsibility for actions. I'm trying not to point any fingers here (because I think that the "Ducks Illustrated" article is a fabrication).

webby wrote:

Why do so many people care about this?

Easy. It's a damned unusual situation, a former AR holder conspiring with one of the richest men on the planet (and perhaps the most influential person in sports) to oust an NCAA coach with 4 national titles, in part by manipulating the career of the most promising young distance runner in years...

Even without all these personalities, there's also the very weird spectacle of an NCAA coach being forced out of his job the year his team wins a major conference title and places in the top 10 nationally.

why talk to Micah Davis?

Interesting. It sounds to me more like there are a lot of people here with inside alliances and axes to grind.

If I were a famous coach, I wouldn't want to work for an institution that sold me out based on untruths or mercinary interest -- although it seems naive to think that they wouldn't do it if the coaching decision were costing them money.

Anyway, I'm sure he has plenty of options.

I enjoyed rooting for Salazar when he was a runner, and I'm still rooting for him as a coach. Though if I knew him as well as you all seem to, I suppose I might not. I'll stay willfully ignorant for now, since it's still fun for me to root for Rupp -- and I'm not that interested in the Great Duck Coaching Drama.

"connect the dots"...he was one of Martin Smith's disciples in the formative years.

http://www.dailyemerald.com/archive/v100/3/990430/home.html

The lynch mob mentality of this (yet another) absurd thread is (again) frighteningly peculiar. Alberto Salazar and Phil Knight could have talked directly to Bill Moos and told him to fire Martin Smith and no one would have blinked an eye. Alberto would certainly have admitted to having done so -- neither he, nor Phil for that matter, would have had any repercussions from such an action, after all they were part of the hiring decision when Martin Smith was hired -- in fact Salazar had Smith at the top of his list at the time and helped him secure the position. The fact that they didn't do so only fuels these remarkably foolish conspiracy theories.

I liked Martin Smith alot. The truth is he wasn't a good fit with Oregon's goals (the analogy to a bad marriage has been used accurately.) Everyone at Oregon knew Smith had already established himself as a successful track coach who would be snapped up quickly, and they were rooting for him (as did I). Believe it or not, winning (or potentially winning)the Pac-10 Championship had nothing to do with he parting of ways between Oregon and coach Smith. Both sides now feel like they are better off.

As for Alberto only coaching Galen Rupp, please, please, please, read a little about who the state champions have been recently in Oregon and who the athletes of the Oregon Project are and who they have faith in (I really don't care if you like him or not -- people having been hating him since the early '80s when he would say things like, "I think I can get the world record." or "I think I will win New York." He's always struck people as a braggert.)

What running breeds are odd people. Salazar is an odd guy, has been for as long as I've observed the sport. If I were a parent, I'd be more likely to let my kid spend time with Michael Jackson (well, maybe that's a push.) As a coach, I wonder how knowledgable he really is. I mean, come on, this is the guy who thought that at the 1984 Olympics he'd deal better with the heat if he cut holes in his singlet. Odd people attract ... Knight and Salazar are perfect for one another. U of O is done as long as these two are pulling strings. What I'm pleased about is that one of the countries best coaches got out of that situation and will hopefully develop great athletes in the midwest.

Does it Matter: "The truth is he wasn't a good fit with Oregon's goals".

Oh really? So just what were Oregon's goals? Were the goals to,

1) win Pac 10 titles and,

2) be competitive at the National level and

3) show high academic achievement?

These were the goals that were presented to Smith on his contract by Bill Moos. These were exactly the goals that Smith met and exceeded. So, what "fit" were folks other than Moos looking for? Do you suppose the fact that Smith met all is goals had something to do with the $.5 million settlement?

I think if some folks would answer the question honestly...what fit?, they might be a little embarrased at themselves.

Smith acted like a dictator..he was called out and in the end it came down to live by the sword die by the sword..everyone in life is replaceable..all of us...and Smith was replaced...hopefully he will learn his lesson and thrive

Smith's demeanor should have come as no surprise. I spoke with one of his Oregon coaching colleagues and we agreed that his "dictator-like" actions were no surprise.

Trite sayings like: "live by the sword..." are lost on this thread. Those who know have already met the ante and not only will see you but raise you in your B.S. game.

Dismissing his departure as "we're all replaceable" is again a typical response from those who were caught with their collective foot in their mouth. Don't give us your trite commentary.

The fact is Smith wasn't one to practice the secret Eugene handshake. Oh, he made mistakes. We're all awarew of them. None were any greater than either of his predecessors. Fortunately though they walked the Eugene walk and talked the Eugene talk.

As has been stated: Smith met and exceeded his assignment and that sour taste in your collective Duck bills is not going away fast.

If y'alls continue your line of B.S., we will continue to remind you of your failures.

Shut the heck up and we too will shut up.

We're quick to forgive and forget...are all y'alls Ducks?

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...we'll see you and raise you because we know your bluffing and the hand your holding is bereft of value.

Remember you're talking to a fairly well connected and educated public opinion. Your undies need to be changed. Best to just change them and move on...

(I love baiting self-righteous distance geeks)

``<"3) show high academic achievement?"%%>

Sorry, I meant to add this: THANK YOU for the above comment. You are the only one to have mentioned it that I know of and it is SOOOOOO rare to see anyone mention academic achievement. Martin Smith had NO peer when it came to this. His athletes were excellent students and model citizens. If we had more coaches and collegiate fans who recognized the importance of this I would be absolutely delighted.

Are you on acid..?

Not meaning to take this thread on a tangent, but no one considered Ron Hill an odd bird when he did (essentially)the same thing to his singlet.

Having met Ron Hill on several occasions, he was a great guy, that EVERYBODY considered an odd egg.

Let's put all this in perspective:

1. Martin Smith is a good coach.

2. Key alumni wanted Oregon to go back to being a distance program.

It was simply a difference of opinion. What makes it shitty is the character assassination and innuendo and other bullshit.

Like it or not, putting Galen Rupp in a Smith-led program would have been like tossing a gold nugget into a bucket of shit. That's the bottom line.

What would help is if Salazar would come clean on this shit. This article is nothing but spin. Al should just come out and say what I did. They wanted a return to distance glory. Why apologize for this?

Out.

[K]ilgore wrote:

What would help is if Salazar would come clean on this shit.

YOU CRACK ME UP. This is a line that could have been used with Alberto during his own running career.

Nice blog. Can you just expand on the similarities between the New York Times and the LR front page? ("The front page can be crammed with a lot of stuff, but it is worth your time to read it. It reminds me of the front page of the New York Times.")