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The Matt Brown Rules?

Being Matt means sometimes having to say you're sorry.

Which Greensboro Coliseum Managing Director Matt Brown did last week, in a written mea culpa to Mayor Keith Holliday and City Councilman Tom Phillips.

Brown characterized the two men's comments about the proposed city purchase of the old Canada Dry building as “sensational” and their inferences about the deal as “outrageous and appalling.”

As he is wont to do from time to time, Brown said something he oughtn't to have, prompting a steamed Phillips to suggest that Brown should resign. Or be fired.

That isn't going to happen. But Brown's passion boils over so often that he finds himself in hot water.

As mad as he still was Friday afternoon, Phillips conceded that Brown probably isn't going anywhere. But he questioned whether any other city admininstrator would get away with such remarks.

"That includes the city manager," he said.

This is Brown's second written apology to the council. Former City Manager Ed Kitchen orderd him to apologize after the criticized the council in 1999 over its refusal at the time to sell naming rights to War Memorial Auditorium.

Brown called the council "short-sighted."

Brown, who is not a shrinking violet, has survived where others may have crashed and burned because he's so good at what he does.

Sort of like Dennis Rodman in his heyday with the Bulls (sans the wedding gown, of course)..

Comments (6)

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diane said:

If Mr. Browwn has been working on this ACC deal for twelve years, as he says, who has been running the coliseum? Maybe the ACC should pay a portion of his salary.

And if, as he says, money can be easily raised for the ACCHOF, can enough money be raised in the private sector to buy the property, clean it up and build the museum?

Or, would investors who want the museum on HP Rd. be willing to lease the property from the city at a price that would justify the purchase and clean-up by the city?

These are just a few unanswered questions about this whole deal.

BTW: The language used by Mat Brown in an e-mail message to the N&R was unnecessary and much worse than anything I have heard or seen written by a member of the City Council who is being slammed for being rude.

Sue said:

It's good to have a Matt Brown who says what isn't always stated the way some would like, but who nonetheless speaks truth to power. He's got the passion and that is so rare.

brian444 said:

I didn't know you could "speak truth to power" while shilling for corporate naming rights. I thought the standards were higher.

jaycee said:

This is the same Matt Brown that went beserk and assaulted another driver in a "Road Rage" incident a few years back, correct?

Allen Johnson said:

That's not exactly how it happened. Brown and another man got into an argument and the man cut Brown with a knife.

Allen Johnson said:

As for Brown's job performance, his work in helping to secure and put on the ACC men's and women's tournaments is magnificent.
Nobody does it better, from what I have seen and been told.
Meanwhile, he has been aggressive ans creative in booking events and trolling for revenue.

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