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Gene Smith, OSU Athletic Director

What the hell is the matter with this guy?

Why doesn’t he:

1.  Clean up the football program.
2.  Fire Jim Tressel.

http://www.thelantern.com/campus/ray-small-tells-all-ex-buckeye-says-he-sold-memorabilia-some-players-don-t-think-about-rules-1.2256503

http://sportsbybrooks.com/ad-osu-benefits-isolated-ex-buckeye-disagrees-29367

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1920867

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=1919246

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/05/26/osu-probe-awaits-bmvs.html?sid=101

http://www.offtackleempire.com/section/ohio-state

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http://www.foxsportsohio.com/05/26/11/Buckeyes-adrift-in-a-sea-of-lies/landing_ohiostate.html?blockID=528862&feedID=3631

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20066000-504083.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/us-crime-anthony-idUSTRE74O7HQ20110525

From:

Armstrong is the focus of public attention, but the investigation is a broader effort that seeks to show the relationship between doping and team leaders, coaches, and associates—not just unmasking the cheaters, but its institutional enablers. The case reportedly began with an investigation into Rock Racing, Hamilton’s last team

And from The Post…

Today there was more:  hints that in the near future more violations by Ohio State, Tressel, Gene Smith, et. al. will come out.  There is speculation that this time (the last one concerned car sales) they involve housing and vacation expenses.  I seldom do this, but it spurred me to put a post here.

Some day soon I will write my opus on why the continued scandals at OSU are so newsworthy and memorable.  To me the real significance is that they just don’t get it.  They will not relent.  They will not come clean.  Until they purge the debris and unequivocally declare that they will be a clean program, the mess will continue.  Denial and avoidance are destructive.  And, make no mistake, waiting hurts.

Oh, by the way, Ohio State is an educational (i.e., teaching)  institution.

This, posted here, is an outrageous sign of what is still going on:

“(Gene) Smith has confirmed that the five-game suspension actually amounts to only a 15-hour suspension — the time during which the Buckeyes are playing games.”

It is utterly absurd.  Gordon Gee, and Smith/Tressel actually think 15 hours is a suitable penalty?  They are living in their own private Idaho Ohio.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/06/17/us-richards-idUSTRE55G6HC20090617

Scott Robson, Executive Director, Evergreen Parks and Recreation District (EPRD)

Here’s a little bit about him and here’s his hiring announcement.

Anyway, the reason I’m suspicious is that he doesn’t respect community rules.  He doesn’t value the law.  He doesn’t understand that it is not optional, and that no one–especially someone in a public capacity–can pick and choose what rules to enforce.  He doesn’t understand the concept that, you hope people will act with consideration and respect for others and, when they don’t, you have to enforce the rules.

Strange, he has an impressive educational background, but he doesn’t seem to have a ‘get it done’ attitude.  His is not an easy job, but it seems he could do it if he wanted to.

This community, Evergreen, Colorado, has a dog/dog leash problem.  Mr. Robson is a key manager of one of a park and recreation system.  He refuses to make the EPRD parks safe and clean with respect to dogs.

Here are the animal control regulations.  “Protect the health, welfare, and safety of…” they say.  Don’t blame it on them, I say.  If there’s a problem with enforcement fill the void.  What are you trying to prove?

THE Home Depot they call it.  Okay.  We’ll continue to see.

• – The district manager (Hanh Pham, 623/606-6415), ten stores, likely a lot of Colorado, called rather promptly this morning.  After her conference call Monday the policy will be adhered to, she said.  Changing the views of some of these people may be hard so I can respect that.  I am not a zealot, she was very nice, and I will respect that.  I look at what actually happens.  It will be worth it to watch.  The only thing that she said that I disagree with is that the store is “not welcoming dogs”; I think that is/was not true.
• – Amanda in Atlanta called this AM and we talked.  Today was her self-imposed deadline for some sort of action and she certainly didn’t mention that.  We just talked.  Any action?  There is no evidence yet, so it too has to be watched for.

This is one of dumbest people I have encountered.    She (Ms. Destiny King, store manager) is the dumbest individual I have come across in a management or leadership position.

Home Depot has a nationwide policy against dogs in stores, and for good reason.  There are at least a hundred reasons why dogs are inappropriate and disturbing.  Here is an instance of a customer being attacked in Colorado and here is a very recent example of an employee being bitten in Ottawa.  Supposedly, after the recent attack in Canada the company has strengthened their resolve to eliminate dogs from stores in the United States.

So this woman, Destiny King, manager of a small, by big-box retailer standards, store in Evergreen, Colorado decides she is going to have a “dog friendly” store (nomenclature is per John Cahill, assistant manager).  Speaking with Ms. King was like speaking to a caveman (in her case, cavewoman).  Her rationale included the following.

• –  In her twenty-some years with Home Depot she has never seen the “certified service dogs only” policy enforced.  (Insight:  I don’t think she is exactly worldly.)
• –  She said Home Depot has a lot to do with contractors and many of these individuals have dogs.  (Question:  Does she really understand the market?)
• –  Some customers dislike or cannot tolerate dogs so, for them, employees will provide escorts.  In my case, when I called this evening, it was suggested that the item I wished to purchase–as if I know specifically–could be waiting for me at the front of the store.  (What?  So I am not supposed to walk through the store and buy more?)
• – “It is a temperature or weather thing,” she said, referring to pets being left in hot vehicles.  Brief research suggests this is probably not a major issue–some pet owners seem to view the experience as being part of the family, exercise, or socialization.  Besides, maybe pet owners shouldn’t bring pets along if they cannot provide a safe, humane, considerate of others environment for them.
• –  Ms. King said the store’s employees “try to enforce” that dogs be on leashes.  At another time she said “they should be on leashes.”  (In other words:  it does happen that dogs are not on leashes.)

My entire conversation with her lasted about 45 minutes and it was one of the darnedest things I have ever experienced.  She has no conception of why the rule is there and, moreover, she believes she can simply override it.  As if I really had to, I mentioned things including narrow isles, biting, intimidation, allergies, urination and defecation, community leash laws, potential lawsuits, consideration for all customers, and the list goes on…  I believe she should know about cases involving injury and the diligence other stores employ to enforce the policy.  She just does not get it.

This may be redundant but I need to repeat it:  most disappointingly, she does not understand, nor does she respect, why the well thought-out rule is there in the first place.

Normally I dislike attacking someone personally, but in this case I cannot hold back.  Ms. King is treating me with disrespect by expecting me to shop in her kennel of a store.  Further, she has, and promises to again, put me in danger (yesterday, in her store, and within about twenty minutes, I was confronted by two, separate, scary-looking dogs about three-plus feet tall).

Organizations and companies don’t make poor decisions, people do.  Destiny King is a fool, and a danger, and she should be fired.

P.S.  I spoke with a Home Depot service representative in Atlanta; she is looking into the situation and promised to contact me tomorrow.  Also, I’m expecting a call from the district manager.  Today I called my local store again–I have had situations where I may need to visit the store and I asked if, for my safety, I could take photographs in the store.  I was told that I can.

(Link to site where the Home Depot photo was obtained.)