Personal Remembrances of The Head Ball Coach

By Jerre "The Music Man" Haskew

Yesterday, Steve Spurrier resigned as head football coach at the University of South Carolina, and it immediately became a major national story. Rival coaches from all over the nation tweeted and texted their positive thoughts about him and there were dozens of national and regional media stories circulating paying tribute to this cantankerous but beloved legend. Here are my own recollections of the old Head Ball Coach from an up close and personal point of view. 

In the late '90's I had the pleasure of playing a round of golf with Coach Steve Spurrier at our world class Honors Course in Ooltewah, TN where I was privileged to be a charter member. He was very engaging during the round with me and the other two members of our foursome but told us on the front end that he didn't want to talk football. Upon meeting us on the practice range before the round he asked our names and if it was ok with us to play from the back (blue) tees. As anyone who's played this most difficult test of golf from the blues will tell you, it can be hell on earth. Since it's inception in 1983 this wonderful Pete Dye designed course has hosted every major amateur event in world golf, including the U S Men's and Women's Amateur, the NCAA Men's and Women's Championships and the Walker and Curtis Cups.Tiger Woods won the NCAA tourney there by one stroke while shooting 80 the last round. To put that in perspective he has shot only three rounds of 80 or above in his storied career. But The Honors literally brought him to his knees that day. Other greats who have played in those amateur events include Phil Mickelson and David Duval. 

By the time we teed off Spurrier was calling us by our first names and asked us to call him Steve. He bought the refreshments for everyone at the turn. As the round began he was very easygoing and casual but obviously a very good golfer who came to the last two holes of this very tough championship course two over par and put up with our many bad shots. I remember him saying to me on the 17th tee, "Jerre, guess I'll just have to birdie these last two and shoot even par." And folks, he did just that barely missing an eagle on 17 and putting his second shot on 18 two feet from the pin. After the round concluded he stopped by the pro shop and thanked the host pro, saying to him, "Please tell Mr (Jack) Lupton (the founder) it was an honor and I really enjoyed the round and shooting even par on his great course. Tell him next time I'll try to do better." 

Then instead of leaving he asked us to join him in the clubhouse for lunch and insisted that it was his treat. He said, "I'm paid a lot of money and the least I can do is buy you boys lunch." We spent at least an hour with him and he never once brought up the subject of football other than to tell this story, in which I paraphrase the Head Ball Coach. As best I recall he said, "You know, boys, I was born in Athens, TN just up the road and my dad was a Methodist preacher. He loved Tennessee football and indoctrinated us kids to bleed orange. When we moved to Johnson City where I was raised, Johnny Majors was my hero and my dad dreamed of me playing football in Knoxville. After my junior year in high school, Coach Ray Mears, the young and brash new UT basketball coach, offered me a full scholarship, the first offer I ever got. He told me that I could play football also and that he'd tell Coach Bowden Wyatt about me. I immediately felt a bond with Coach Mears who told me he was a big football fan and knew I was a pretty good quarterback. There were rumors that UT was going to abandon the single wing and I passed the word through Coach Mears that I'd love to come to Tennessee if they did that. Doug Dickey didn't come to Knoxville until my freshman year in college and Coach Wyatt and Coach Jim McDonald didn't want to switch to the "T" so I didn't go there. Coach Ray Graves at Florida, originally from Knoxville and a great player at UT under General Neyland, recruited me and that's how I wound up at Florida. Since then every once in a while I've wondered what it would have been like if Coach Dickey had come a year earlier. It was pretty ironic that he was a Florida guy and quarterbacked the Gators under Coach Bob Woodruff who was also a Tennessee man and UT AD when I finished high school. After I left the NFL, Coach Dickey gave me my first coaching job, coaching quarterbacks at Florida. So boys that's how I came close to becoming a Volunteer instead of a Gator. But I guess it worked out all right (grinning broadly)." 

One of my regrets during the ten years I hosted talk radio on Sport Talk was never interviewing Spurrier live on air. He had meetings later that day and politely declined my invitation. I learned years later that like Joe Paterno at Penn State he didn't like radio interviews because, " If he did one he'd be obligated to do them all."

The only other time I saw the HBC in person was in 2011 when he was the featured speaker at a fundraiser for the Sports Committee in Chattanooga. My wife Barbara was a long time admirer of Spurrier and expressed a desire to attend and we were certainly glad that we did. Before a standing room only audience of several hundred he began his 30 minute talk in a self-deprocating manner by asking if there were anyone in the audience who had played for Chattanooga Central and it's legendary coach Red Etter against him when he quarterbacked Science Hill High School in Johnson City? One gentleman raised his hand and after asking him to introduce himself, Spurrier admitted that he was shutout by Central all three years he played them and in his senior year went 0-15 passing with two interceptions. He also noted that Central went 11-0 that year and won the state championship and was Etter's only undefeated team. He then proceeded to make an impassioned and eloquent case for paying a reasonable stipend to college football and basketball players, which in my opinion because of his leadership has now come to fruition. He was at the forefront of that issue long before it became fashionable, articulating that universities were making millions off the players' back. And he stated that since the vast majority of them would never play in the NFL, they needed some money to cover normal expenses because NCAA rules did not permit them to hold part time jobs like other students. Of course near the end of his remarks Spurrier, ever the needler, did inject a few jabs and one liners about his coaching record against Tennessee and Georgia. 

No one like Steven Orr Spurrier has ever coached and graced college football, and the sport has benefitted exponentially from his ingenuity, leadership and strong presence and is far better for it. Enjoy your retirement. You'll always be the Head Ball Coach to us college football fans all over the nation.

Heat Transfer & Hot Shots!

Jerre "The Music Man" Haskew

To begin his epoch masterpiece, A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens penned, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness…."

And so it was with embattled college football coaches Charlie Strong of Texas and Butch Jones of Tennessee last Saturday afternoon. The ebb and the flow, the ups and the downs, the depression and then the ultimate elation. From the agony of another heart-breaking defeat to relief and then the pure joy of victory, the pictures and video worth a million words. As the iconic Voice of the Vols, John Ward, might have again opined, "Nothing more need be said." Beleaguered underdogs Texas and Tennessee rose from the ashes like the Phoenix of old and defeated mighty Oklahoma and Georgia in hard fought border rivalry games. Strong and Jones went from the burning hot fire of near coaching hell to jubilant post-game celebration and back to the proverbial frying pan, while Georgia's Mark Richt and USC's Steve Sarkisian went from that warm frying pan into the hot coals of the edge of extinction- Richt- and being canned- Sark. Such is the life in big time college football. And why not? These guys are paid several million a year not only to produce big rivalry wins but win conference and national championships.

Bravo and hats off to Strong and Jones. They and their victory starved fan bases can at least take a collective deep breath this Monday morning, dreaming realistically of a modest victory streak over the lesser lights remaining on their schedules. Save their encounters with their remaining schedule monsters- the blazing Bears and the mighty Red Elephants- all other games suddenly seem winnable to the point each could conceivably finish 2015 with eight victories. Richt and Sark on the other hand are staring disaster in the face, their once high College Football Playoff and SEC and Pac 12 championship dreams suddenly dashed. With as much talent as anyone in the nation, CMR again underachieved, blowing a 24-3 late second quarter lead against Tennessee, the same old, same old gut-wrenching story for UGA IX and his title starved Bulldog fans. He still doesn't understand that close only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes.

Sark on the other hand was first placed on an "undetermined leave of absence," and a few hours later i summarily fired, having coached the once proud Trojan program to a disappointing 3-2 record, with only one win against a decent opponent, in a drunken stupor. USC AD Pat Haden looked the other way until his coach was a no show for Sunday's practice after an embarrassing home loss to the double digit underdog and toothless Washington Huskies. With Notre Dame and Utah coming next back-to-back on the schedule, Sark has coached his last game at Troy, while Richt has enough accumulated capital to survive another bitterly disappointing season- but barely. Lose again to upstart Florida and/or bitter in state rival Georgia Tech and he could be at Dawg death's door with UGA IX biting him in the butt on the way out.

On the other hand, there are clearly two new "hot shots" of 2015 college football's half season, Jim Harbaugh of Michigan and Jim McElwain of Florida. The Maize & Blue has surprisingly rolled out of the chute 5-1, the only loss being a nail-biter to undefeated and 4th ranked Utah on the road to open the season. Since then the guy who previously resurrected the former doormat Stanford Cardinal and took the moribund San Francisco 49ers to two NFC finals and a Super Bowl, has reeled off five straight winds, the last three being shutouts. And folks he did this with Brady Hoke's recruits! He gets the # 10 and undefeated Michigan State Spartans at the Big House next saturday and Urban Meyer's # 1 Ohio State Buckeyes also in Ann Arbor to finish the regular season. Win those and he likely goes to the CFP in his first year! Much like the hire of Nick Saban at Alabama in 2007, this guy is a huge ego who's won big at other places and is obviously a bargain and sound investment at $6 million a year! Also like "Nicky Satan," he's hated by rival coaches and fans and is big time cocky to boot, but why not? That combo worked pretty well for the G.O.A.T, Muhammed Ali. What do his Stanford and Michigan teams have in common with Saban's at Bama? They both run an out of fashion pro set/shotgun combo offense, pound their opponents into submission with a sledgehammer north/south running game and win with a disciplined slobber-knocking defense and outstanding special teams.

Jim McElwain, the rookie head coach at Florida, comes from the Saban coaching tree, having been the offensive coordinator on two of the Tide's national title teams. That's a championship pedigree folks and he's been there, done that. His first half season as the head Bull Gator has been amazing and almost miraculous. Taking a modestly talented and inexperienced group on offense and the nucleus of an outstanding defense, he's waved his OC's magic wand and transformed a previously less than awful offense into a scoring machine, performing better and better each week. After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the Swamp against bitter rival Tennessee, he's coached up a talented but inexperienced redshirt freshman quarterback and run off impressive blowout wins against then 3rd ranked and undefeated Ole Miss at home and a one loss and two time defending SEC champ Mizzou team on the road. At 6-0 he's an official "hot shot" like Harbaugh and now faces the gauntlet of 5th ranked and undefeated LSU at night in Death Valley and the hated Dawgs at the world's largest cocktail party in Jacksonville. Win just one of those and he'll all but claim the SEC East title. Win both and defeat bitter rival Florida State and it's a great shot at the CFP. That's the good news. But Holy Gator, stop the presses! In a shocking revelation today, the NCAA suspended the aforementioned star QB Wil Grier for a calendar year for using performance enhancing drugs. Of couse Florida is appealing. Come to think of it his performance has been "enhanced" big time the past three weeks! And to think, prosperity was just around the corner. Oh well, that's the life on the coaching carousel of big time college football. It's getting crazy around here, fellow fanatics. Stay tuned.

Do the Tennessee Football Program's Problems Start at the Top?

By Jerre "The Music Man" Haskew

Late last night former LSU and NFL star Booger McFarland was literally laughing at Tennessee during his post-game commentary on the SEC Network. I can understand that. Again "Botch" Jones took NO responsibility for this third terrible agonizing loss during his post game "softball" interview with Vol play-by-play broadcaster "Blob" Kesling after once again blowing a two touchdown lead and losing to a previously 1-3 Arkansas at jam-packed Neyland Stadium. Folks this Razorback bunch had lost to the Toledo freakin' Mud Hens and hapless and defenseless Texas Tech at home!! It's becoming painfully obvious to those of us in and outside the media who dare speak our minds that Jones and his entire coaching staff at this point look minor league in terms of scheme and adjustments during big time games and also in coaching their great talent up.

Let me tell you people, this team looks demoralized and has obviously lost it's collective confidence after three gut-wrenching losses that should have been wins. The responsibility lies simply on coaching, preparation and game management. Coach speak slogans such as "brick by brick" can only last so long and with Jones and his Vols laying bricks on the field, they won't carry weight with the fan base much longer. Frankly Tennessee now looks like a 4-8/5-7 team. With an angry, embarrassed Georgia and a rejuvenated and confident Alabama on the immediate horizon, how could any realistic observer think differently? Do you believe that this current group of coaches and players will be favored against much improved Kentucky and rejuvenated Missouri- both on the road? And believe me the Old Ball Coach and his 'Cocks and a seemingly better Vandy are not automatic wins. If the roof caves in and form holds true in close games, are the embattled Vols' only wins gonna be against three non-Power 5 cupcakes and maybe perennial doormat "Candy?"

The brutal fact is the Vols have now led by 13+ in each of their three gut wrenching losses. Under those circumstances the rest of Power 5 Conference college football is 188-5. That, my friends, speaks volumes!! Earth to UT AD Dave Hart, "You'd better have a down and dirty private meeting with your coach before this situation spirals completely out of control and at the very least tell him he must at least publicly shoulder the responsibility for these three losses." As the great John Ward often opined, "Nothing more need be said." But I will anyway. At times it looked like the keystone cops out there on both offense and defense wearing orange last night. The passing game is a sick joke. On the other hand special teams were again excellent except for the FG kicker Aaron Medley's accuracy problems. which may reflect extra pressure and lack of confidence.

For a few minutes relax and take a deep breath, my fellow Big Orange fanatics, it could have been worse. We could have had Hart's first choice, Charlie Strong of Texas, who won't last past this season at college football's wealthiest program with it's rightfully angry richest boosters. Jones will be around for at least another year for several reasons: 1) The UTAD coffers, with one of the smallest reserve funds in Power 5 college football because of past mismanagement, simply cannot afford it. 2) He's recruited extremely well with two consecutive top 7 consensus national classes with another good one on the horizon. 3) His teams have been very competitive. 4) He's done a spectacular job with the team's academic performance. 5) His players still believe in and look up to him. And 6) He can make changes in his staff to save himself. Offensive coordinator Mike "Neanderthal" DeBord's head will likely roll first. But the Pied-Piper act is wearing thin in Big Orange Country.

But back to stark reality. folks. The Vols stand 2-3, not 5-0 as they obviously should have been, and are staring directly into the faces of a hungry bunch of Bulldogs and a horde of Red Elephants.  Is anybody out there is the media or fantasyland gonna tell me that the Dawgs won't bite our butts at Neyland and the mighty Red Elephants won't crush us in Tuscaloosa? Is there a faint, faint glimmer of hope in that two of the three "come from ahead" losses are against teams currently 5-0? As a seven decade Tennessee fan since my eighth birthday, I certainly hope Jones and his kids prove the old Music Man wrong.

Today I reached out to an experienced, successful and well-respected source, with mega-credibility inside and outside the University of Tennessee system, and asked him point blank, "You've spent many years in that business and been ultra-successful in wading through these "mine fields." What would you do in this situation?"

He answer surprised me. "Jerre, I believe that UT System president Joe DiPietro needs to have a serious 'come to Jesus' meeting with UT AD Dave Hart and UTK chancellor Jimmy Cheek. We are in serious trouble as an institution in Knoxville and therefore elsewhere. Support for Butch Jones is crumbling, almost in free fall. The team seems to have lost confidence in themselves five games into the season. I don't believe we should fire Butch now simply because the crew that hired him and Donnie Tyndall are still calling the shots, and the likelihood would be great they they would make another questionable hire. Remember Charlie Strong now at Texas was their first choice when Jones was hired. All of this is to say that I think Butch should have a fourth year primarily because he has recruited well, shored up the team's overall academics and is an excellent  representative for and face of the University. However, if this losing pattern continues, he should be placed on notice that new assistants, especially the coordinators, with strong and successful big time championship pedigrees and coaching credentials and not former cronies and yes men from the minor leagues must be hired for next season and allow them to run their respective shows. Second I believe the president should serve notice to Hart and Cheek that their jobs are on the line. We need to be prepared that in the event Butch continues to falter and must go, a full house cleaning of the chancellor, AD and head coach should be the call. We need a new and respected AD and chancellor, both of whom should understand the magnitude of any next coaching change and be courageous and smart enough to secure the best coach at whatever cost. As you know so well, we've got the fan support, the funding capacity both internally and externally and the competitive facilities to be among the elite as we once were. What we lack is quality leadership, and the inadequacy is far deeper than just the football coach. In short, the president, chancellor and/or the Board of Trustees must step up to the plate and evaluate the performance or lack thereof of Hart and Cheek, dictate that Butch surround himself with more credentialed and qualified assistants and be prepared to clean house when necessary. Frankly, I don't think Butch or anyone else can be as successful as we all want them to be until Hart and Cheek are replaced by true leaders and visionaries."

Sound familiar? Bottom line is that mediocre leadership at the president, chancellor and AD levels in Knoxville has "led" this once proud football program to it's lowest level in it's 100+ year history. The Big Orange ox is now is deep in the ditch and there's no strong and highly respected Ed Boling, Joe Johnson or Doug Dickey around to straighten out the mess.  Jimmy and Dave, are you like ostriches with your heads buried deep in the proverbial sand or are you listening? For your own sakes it better be the latter unless you are bigger fools than you seem to be at the moment. Stay tuned.

Is Butch Jones A “Brick by Brick” Shy of A Load?

Sunday, 27 September 2015 

By Jerre "The Music Man" Haskew

CHATTANOOGA, TN- All across the college football landscape, nationally and in the state of Tennessee, the headlines and voices are blaring, "Butch Jones once again snatches defeat from the jaws of victory." The Tennessee Vols and their coach squandered a two touchdown lead to a reeling Florida Gator team in the last seven minutes of the 4th quarter at the Swamp in Gainesville, FL. Folks, to paraphrase the late Peter Finch in the movie "Network," the old Music Man is "mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore." 

Butch Jones again blows a game that he and his embattled team had essentially won and is being skewered by national and statewide media on this Sunday morning. The Vols give up four 4th & longs in the last seven minutes, any one of which would have sewn up the win. He doesn't go for two in an automatic situation after a scoring a TD that puts the Big Orange up 26-14. He goes into an offensive shell in the  last two-thirds of the 4th quarter, plays not to lose and his defense once again looks disorganized and simply worn out. His game management at the end was painfully and obviously horrible. Jones is a great recruiter, program organizer, manager and salesman but he's obviously woeful as an in game coach- especially in the 4th quarter with a lead. His players love him and follow him like he's a combo of Jesus and the Pied Piper. The team's academics are at an all time high GPA. But the fact remains that Tennessee should never have lost this game or the earlier one to Oklahoma, squandering two touchdown leads deep into the 4th quarter in both. Maybe Jones is just a "brick by brick" shy of a load. His post game comments to the voice of the Vols, Bob Kesling, were just awful and made him look even more ridiculous. He took no personal responsibility and spewed the same old, same old repeated ad nauseum "coach speak" drivel. His kids played their butts off and deserved better coaching and support from this staff.

These are just the most obvious and recent painful losses under Jones where he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Think Florida last season, Georgia the past two seasons and Vandy in 2013. And remember that he's also the coach who lost to the hapless Vols coach Derek Dooley 45-23 when Jones was head coach at Cincinnati. That was one of TWO Division I teams that finished the regular season with a winning record that Dooley managed to defeat during his three years at Tennessee, losing to the other 23. Jones now has the exact same win-loss record as Dooley at this point in their respective tenures. Folks this is a pattern and unless his boss, UT AD Dave Hart, privately calls Jones on the carpet and has a "come to Jesus" meeting with him, it's not likely to change. His "yes man" coaching staff obviously won't challenge him.

Speaking of scheme, how does a team with TWO 5* and TWO 4* incredibly talented wide receivers-Josh Malone, Preston Williams, Marquez North and Juan Jennings- manage to complete just ONE pass to the lot of them? Yet they complete several to guys who barely made the travel squad! How does a defense, facing 4th and 14 at the opponent's 37 yard line with just 1:27 left on the clock, decide to rush only three men against a beaten up Gator freshman QB and allow him the time to look off three receivers and complete a short pass that becomes a game winning 63 yard touchdown? How does a team rush for 254 yards, win almost every statistical category and lose? How does a team and it's defensive staff manage to allow that rookie Florida QB on four 4th and longs and one 4th and short to complete 5-5 passes for 123 yards and a TD? Believe me, it ain't easy, Big Orange fanatics. Lord, I could go on and on and on.

Here's the bottom line, UT fans. Arkansas comes to Knoxville next saturday having lost three consecutive games-  to the Toledo freakin' Mud Hens and defenseless Texas Tech at home and Texas A&M in Dallas, blowing a late 4th quarter touchdown lead (sound familiar?). They're in shell shock and in the same boat as the Vols. People, this is a MUST win for Butch Jones! Instead of being 4-0 and on a confident roll going into the trifecta of the reeling Razorbacks and SEC East favorite Georgia at home and SEC West pick Alabama on the road, Jones and his Vols have their collective backs against the wall and are looking at a season of somewhere between 5-7 at worst and 8-4 at best, with three of those wins coming against "cupcake" teams. Lose to the reeling Razorbacks and the bricks will start flying through windows of stores on the "Strip" and the UTAD. Long suffering Vol fans and the Vols' "Team 119" deserve much better and, believe me, they won't follow Jones' Pied Piper routine much longer if this pitiful coaching and game management continues. On the optimistic side, thank God Charlie Strong turned the Vols' head coaching job down to go to Texas! 

To put it all in perspective, college football teams are 188-3 this season when leading by 13 points or more in the fourth quarter. Tennessee has two of those losses. That's a serious problem. Well, Vol fanatics, it better be solved by Saturday vs the reeling Razorbacks or all hell will break loose. Jones and his coaches and team need to adopt as an attitude and motto for the Arkansas game Wyatt Earp's great line from the movie "Tombstone," "I'm coming and hell's coming with me!!" Stay tuned. 

Jerre Haskew

THE MUSIC MAN'S COMMENTARY ON TENNESSEE'S HISTORIC COME FROM BEHIND WIN VS SOUTH CAROLINA- Subtitled, "The Ol' Ball ' 'Cock' " ain't crowing this morning!! 

By Jerre R Haskew

November 2, 2014

What UT QB Joshua Dobbs did last night may be unprecedented in UT history. Think about this- 301 yds passing & 166 yds rushing and bringing the team from two TD's behind with drives of 75 & 85 yds in the final 5 minutes in his first start of the season on the road!! 3 TD's rushing & 2 passing!! 645 yds total offense- 344 rushing & 301 passing!! And to top it all off, the kid IS a "rocket scientist"- aeronautical engineering major with a 4.0 GPA!! Insightful and articulate post game interviews by him on ESPN TV and on the Vol Network post game.

What's your perspective about his performance in Vol history, great Vol Historian (Tom Mattingly)? And the game's 1,270 yds of total offense and the Vols THIRTY-FIVE 1st downs!! There may have been a few UT records broken. Dobbs was obviously dead tired late in the 4th qtr and overtime yet he led and willed the team to the win with two long drives. The kids obviously love him. This reminds me so much of the Tee Martin succeeding Peyton times.

Butch Jones has to be counting his lucky stars today- hopefully bowing and repeating, "God bless you, Joshua!!" His bullheadedness about not playing Dobbs over Justin Worley from the get go has likely cost his Vols one or two wins, and I hope he knows, accepts and learns from that. This offense of his REQUIRES a dual threat QB!! I know this is not a popular stance but it's the way I feel. Don't get me wrong I'm a Butch Jones fan overall- just hope he learns from this and gets rid of the dictatorial sideline arrogance which is painfully obvious. I rest my case on his look of shock and dazed relief at the end of that incredible game. He knew he was luckier than a dog with three "unowut" to win. Jones also lost his composure on the sidelines several times during the game- e.g., cussing out his defensive coaches over and over in a red faced rage- just an awful sight- when it looked like the game was getting away from him. Some of his coaching decisions were just bizarre- e.g., two 40+ yd FG attempts on 4th & short against a strong head/crosswind were just stupid IMO. Also Coach "Jake's" "east/west" run calls in the OT, when "north/south" runs with Dobbs amazing ball handling/faking skills had been shredding the 'Cocks' defense all game long.

And I sure wish we had Pharaoh Cooper!! He and his "cousin" Amari torched us for 450+ receiving yds between them the past two weeks and "Ramses the Great" threw a TD pass as well as running wild from the wildcat for another TD!! But all that being said….the 'Cock ain't crowing this morning and the Old Ball Coach didn't sleep at all last night. He was dazed and confused in his post game interview. They've lost THREE games- 2 at home- this season after leading by two TD's midway through the 4th qtr!! UT's 11 OT wins now tie us for the most in NCAA history- 11-5 overall and 3-0 vs the 'Cocks.

UT vs Mizzou now shapes up as a huge game for both of us. Mizzou will likely be playing for the SEC East title and we'll be trying to become bowl eligible (assuming we can tame the 'Mildcats the week before). Our daughter Bonnie (UT grad) and her husband Mike & grandson Matt (Mizzou law school grad & senior student) will be there as will Barbara and me (UT grads). I just hope the Vols don't wear those s*%&&# gray unis………. Lastly being the front runner that I am…..

GOOOO VOLS!!

Jerre

Imus Firing Height Of Hypocrisy And Irony

Imus Firing Height Of Hypocrisy And Irony
Jerre Haskew
IPS Features Syndicate International
April 18, 2011

To describe controversial and eclectic long-time radio/TV icon Don Imus, we need to look no farther than a couple of key lines from Kris Kristofferson's great song, The Pilgrim:"He's a walkin' contradiction partly truth and partly fiction....Takin' every wrong direction on his lonely way back home." Those two lines are Imus in a nutshell.

After 40 plus years on morning talk radio, syndicated and simulcast to millions of listeners and viewers across the nation, Don Imus has been unceremoniously dumped and vilified by both CBS and MSNBC. His undoing and dismissal resulted from his impromptu characterization of Rutgers' Women's Basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" in an on-air banter with other members of his show. What was apparently intended as a humorous exchange produced instead an unfunny, offensive and disgraceful put down of some of the nation's top women athletes, which also made it a national sports story.

Ironically this event actually gave far more positive exposure to NCAA women's basketball than it's own Final Four tournament in which Rutgers was defeated by Tennessee in a fiercely contested national championship game, the observation on the TV broadcast of which led Imus to make his untimely and shameless remark. A member of the Broadcast Hall of Fame and an acknowledged media genius, Imus established his following by stirring up controversy and persistently supporting causes in which he believed - from helping hundreds of kids with cancer through his Imus Ranch in New Mexico to supporting and raising millions of dollars for better facilities for disabled vets. However, his media clout and his charitable efforts were blown away by the firestorm that his comment generated across the industry and the nation.

Amidst a media firestorm that began on YouTube and within 24 hours became so intense and large that it put the Iraq war and Anna Nicole Smith's baby's paternity controversy on the back pages of mainstream media storylines for the past ten days, Imus will now grace the cover of this coming week's Time and Newsweek, along with countless other national publications. Millions of people who had never even heard of this media icon now will. Is that not the height of irony?

Then into the media frenzy as usual Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson forced themselves into the spotlight to take over the "discussion" and dialogue without portfolio, the same two men who a year ago figuratively lynched three Duke lacrosse players in a media kangaroo court. The players, of course, this week were cleared of any criminal acts or misdoings, with no apology from either Sharpton or Jackson.

As Jason Whitlock, the great columnist of the Kansas City Star, who happens to be African-American, said this week in his columns and on radio and TV appearances (paraphrasing), "Who gives these two media 'ambulance chasers' the right to speak for black people, when the real issue is 'us' and our tolerance for the vile words spewing from the mouths and pens of black 'gangsta' rap artists, degrading women in the most baseless and cruel ways imaginable."

Imus subsequently apologized many times on the air during the next few days for his terrible and insensitive remark, accepting full responsibility and asking on and off air for forgiveness from and a meeting with the Rutgers women's basketball team and it's coach, which again ironically occurred subsequent to his firing at the New Jersey Governor's mansion. My question is why couldn't the execs at NBC and CBS have waited until after that meeting took place and it's result to take whatever action they deemed necessary?

Countless nationally known politicians, entertainment and media types foamed at the mouth to guest on Imus' show, largely because of the influence of his audience, heavy with decision makers from all walks of life, or to promote their books, CDs or agendas. I must admit, that I was a huge fan of the show, which I watched almost without fail on MSNBC from 6-9 AM EST each Monday-Friday. Somehow Imus could interview guests in a way that they would let their hair/guard down and speak plainly on issues. Some high-profile pols even made their announcements to run for President on Imus' show! Does THAT tell you something?

Where were the vast majority of these people when the firestorm hit? I'll tell you where- hiding shamelessly in their rat holes and bunkers to avoid any comments about their appearances on the show or to show support of their "friend" Imus- like it was an epidemic of the bubonic plague. You would think the man had committed mass murder. The subsequent hypocritical utterances of Barack Obama and the disappearance of Harold Ford, Jr, whom Imus fiercely supported in the recent Tennessee senate race and literally brought to the national stage, speaks volumes about them and countless other guests who benefited by the exposure of appearing on Imus' show to promote themselves or express their opinions on critical issues of the day. A few like the aforementioned prize-winning African-American columnist Jason Whitlock courageously stood tall and spoke the truth.

Big & Rich, Delbert McClinton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Martina McBride, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and countless other big-time music artists accepted a union scale pittance to perform for two hours plus on Imus' show- for the positive EXPOSURE! Also included on that list were some relatively unknown artists to the current generation like The Blind Boys Of Alabama or the '60s-'70s legend Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), who just happen to be African-American. Why did Imus invite them to play his show? Because he thought it was the right thing to do to give exposure to powerful and diverse artists people had seldom seen on national television in recent years.

So this "two-headed monster" is now gone with the wind, with NBC and CBS licking their wounds and direct competitor CNN's commentators reveling in his firing, ironically just after having dumped their own morning anchors who had been on the air for years because Imus was eating their lunch in the ratings. That, folks, is the core of the issue of Imus firing. He was the wrong target. Simple as that. He has his obvious flaws, and the original two week suspension without pay by NBC/CBS was warranted, but those three foul words he uttered were originated and popularized on CD and video, as well as in sold-out concerts, by the "gangsta" rap artists and culture that are abusive to black women and women in general beyond the pale. What is being done about that- the real issue? Zip. Nada. Zero. Nothing. A bit of talk here and there from all the talking heads on national and cable news that will quickly fade away. But have any record labels canned or banned these "gangsta" guys? Or MTV? Or BET? Or the actual Oscar award winning "gangsta" rap song/video "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp," which contains unfathomable lyrics so profane, vile and degrading to women that they make Imus' remark tame by comparison? Nope.

Imus did a great wrong but paid far too great a price in the rush to judgement that followed his baseless utterance by the knee-jerk reactions of NBC/CBS execs and national advertisers. See it wasn't really about black and white- rather it was and always will be about GREEN! The Rutgers women accepted Imus' apology and forgave him. So do I. How about you? Bring back the "IMan." I miss the cantankerous old coot with the heart as big as the Western USA that he so dearly loves. Then hopefully Imus would see the light, cease and desist his own constant degradation of women and instead use his giant forum to expose and bring to the surface the racism that still divides the nation and promote long-term discussions on air on how to go about eliminating this terrible blight on our American society.

And I could do with a great deal less of Sharpton, Jackson and all their "wannabes." On second thought...just ban those hypocrites. Ironic isn't it?

__________________________________________________________________ OPINIONS FROM READERS


I totally agree with Mr. Haskew's comments concerning Don Imus. While I deplore Don Imus' comment, those young ladies get called far worse names and get slandered repeatedly in the music they listen to and some of the movies they see today. And they pay for the privilege of hearing those names and being slandered. It makes no sense to me to fire Don Imus for what seems to me to be nothing more than an idle comment, not meant in any mean or hurtful way. We need to get a grip on ourselves in our society today and stop all of this 'witch hunting' if someone even remotely expresses an opinion or utters a remark that offends someone or some group. This so called 'political correctness' has gone way too far. If we don't stop this foolishness, it's going to get to the point where no one can say anything without fear of being fired or held up to negative public scrutiny. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Where and when did we lose it?
Bill WestFlorence, Al.* * *

It's my opinion that Don Imus had a mental lapse that is not uncommon for us older folks so early in the morning. Even though the remark about the Rutgers women was degrading and uncalled for, I seriously doubt whether it was made in the context that many media people along with JJ and AS pertained (and I thought ministers were suppose to preach forgiveness). The only class act that surfaced in this ordeal was the Rutgers women basketball players. Apparently they rose above the situation by weighing his apology and all of the good charitable work Don Imus has done against a stupid remark and forgave him. Someone should take the time to compare Don Imus's charitable work against JJ and AS.
Bob GreerEnglewood, Fl.* * *

I couldn't agree with you more, unless I was to bring up other examples, other than gangsta rap.1. Chris Rock - Constant use of the term "Cracker." Pretty much the same as "nappy headed ho's," except not sexist. Why isn't Al and Jesse, or the black journalist in an uproar over these kinds of statements? Don't get me wrong, I love Chris Rock and I think his "cracker" characterizations are hilarious.2. Where is all the media coverage of the actual number of people who disagree with the firing of Imus? CNN ran a poll during all this which asked the question "Has Imus apologized enough?" It was running about 83% to 17% Yes. Can you equate those answers to the question "Should Imus have been fired?" Probably not, but where is the poll? My guess is it would be 65% to 75% in agreement that he shouldn't have been fired.3. Part of the problem, besides "Green" is the white liberal guilt trip we've been on for 40 to 50 years. The guilt was probably good for race relations at one time but now it is getting in the way of the kind of dialogue us, as nation, should be having.4. Al and Jesse are a prime example from the "left" as to why politics/activism and religion don't go well together. We have enumerable examples of hierocracy from the "right" as it relates to religious figures but it's new to recognize the hypocrisy coming from the left. Jess and Al, religious figures, ex preachers, or was that all a guise to pump up legitimacy for their future rants on everything related to race? How can you be a preacher of all things "Jesus" and not recognize hypocrisy? If you tell your flock that Jesus said "let ye among you without sin, cast the first stone," meaning punish, or "judge ye not, less ye be judged," then shouldn't you practice what you preach?5. Why aren't GM, Sprint Nextel, American Express, PG, Verizon, Bigelow Tea, GSK, Staples, Dodge, Ameritrade and Pet Medical Express more worried about the majority of folks who think the firing of Imus is too much, rather than the black journalist? The reason is organization. They realize there is not a concerted effort to organize on the behalf of logic vs. the decades long sentiment of "Oh my god, look at all the wrong society has heaped on black people; we better offer reparations of some sort to appease our guilt.6. You are so right. This wasn't about race because if it were we'd be following the dialogue further.7. I wrote to Barack Obama as soon as he made his statements supporting the firing of Imus. I told him he'd just lost any support he might have gotten from me. Here was another politician I wanted to believe had the goods to be a leader. If anyone had the opportunity to lead this country in a dialogue on race issues, I thought Barack might have been the one, but his fear of saying the wrong thing over shadowed his opportunity to lead. As usual, there are no leaders in politics, only hypocrites.We, as a nation, blacks, yellows, whites and browns are never going to solve the race issue until we all admit to being racist, even if to a small degree. Unless one has developed total transcendence there will at the least be some hint of racism in our thoughts, actions and perceptions.I can tell you that the above mentioned companies will never knowingly get my support, again.
Mark HagerColumbus, Ohio* * *

There are an incredible number of people in the media who offend me, but I don't think they should be fired. Should Jesse Jackson be banned from media coverage because of his "hymie" town comments? Should Ann Coulter be banned from media coverage for her jokingly referring to John Edwards as gay? Should Bill Maher be fired for his offensive remarks about McCain last week or his crude pictures of the Abu Garibe naked bodies? Should Rush Limbaugh be fired because he offends any one with an IQ above 100?Should every Christian preacher be jailed for propagating the lie that Jesus Christ was a real being?Hopefully you see where I'm going. It's ok to be offended but to fire someone is an over the top punishment.I'm occasionally offended by Bill Maher but, please don't take him off the air. His commentary and comedy is more often the best. I'm always offended by Rush Limbaugh but I've never called for his ousting, just prayed that all his fans someday wake up.I can understand being offended by Don Imus but to be fair, if you believe he should have been fired, would you be willing to allow me to choose your punishment for some wrong you have committed in the past.Look what brute force has got us in Iraq.My point all along has been that firing Don Imus is a set back for race relations and for furthering the understanding of race related issue. I mean, of what are we afraid? Fear and condemnation only drives people further into the closet and it's pretty hard to have an honest and open conversation from there.Don Imus's situation was fueled by media coverage. The media are the real "ho's." On TV right now the media is showing pictures of the VT killers dorm room, while the students plead with the media to get out of town so they can grieve in peace.
Mark HagerPowell, Ohiomark.hager@sbcglobal.net