Transparency and the public
Less than 24 hours ago, WFU Coach Jim Grobe was on the Two Guys Named Chris radio show. Chris Kelly asked him about offers he may have gotten to coach elsewhere.
"So far nothing's hit me over the head and told me I should be leaving," Grobe told them.
Twelve hours later, reports came out that Grobe had agreed to coach at the University of Arkansas.
Was he telling the truth Wednesday morning -- he apparently interviewed in Fayetteville, Ark., Tuesday -- or is it possible that sometime in those 12 hours he had suddenly gotten so interested in the Razorbacks that they produced a contract, notified everyone who needed to be told, and signed him?
We've gotten used to and even accepted politicians, entertainers and, I guess, coaches shading, spinning and neglecting the truth. I have written about Bob Dylan and his wonderfully open statement: "The press? I figured you lie to it."
The problem is that they aren't only lying to the press; they're lying to everyone who reads or views the report. I can't understand the upside. I can understand someone changing his mind; I do it with some regularity as I'm presented with more information or have the chance to think through an issue.
Perhaps all the speculation will be wrong, and Grobe will announce he's staying today. The spin will be interesting. But I am always surprised that there isn't more negative reaction to the outright falsehoods coming from the mouths of public figures.
Update: We're now hearing he is not going.
Related: Rob Daniels speculated yesterday morning about Grobe rumors at SportsExtra, as did the guys at Radio Free Sports.
Comments (1)
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You should add another post with overzealous news organizations, TV and 'print', publishing gossip labeled as news. It seems like there are even more 'this coach going here' stories proving to be untrue.
Taking the Les Miles case, he had very good reason to lie if he had agreed to take the Michigan job before the SEC championship game. If had come out and said he was leaving, maybe LSU doesn't win that game, and isn't playing for the title. His first obligation is to his players, and they would have been better off believing he was staying, even if it were untrue. As it turned out, it was just another rumor passed off as fact, with minimal repurcussion to the reporter.
Posted on December 7, 2007 1:14 PM