It Doesn't Help When Reputation Is for Hire

It Doesn’t Help When Reputation Is for Hire

By Mal Florence

Dec. 17, 2001 12 AM PT

Under the headline, “White Will Pay for Failing to Be Leery of O’Leary,” Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune writes of George O’Leary’s hiring and quick resignation at Notre Dame:

“The real problem is Athletic Director Kevin White, who has committed the worst sin imaginable in the eyes of people at Notre Dame. He has embarrassed the university.

“His other deadly sin--fiscal irresponsibility--is costing the school a large amount of cash.... Any way you look at it, White blew it. This is the only hire that matters at Notre Dame.

“Academics is the school’s body, but the football coach is its public face.”

More O’Leary: Mark Bradley in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Where does a 55-year-old go to rebuild a reputation?

“Where does a man who stood, however briefly, at the pinnacle of his profession turn when that pillar is knocked from beneath him?

“Today we gawkers look toward O’Leary and ask the question Bob Dylan made immortal--’How does it feel?’--even as we hope we never actually know.”

And, this from Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union: “When O’Leary was hired by N.D. to wake up the echoes, I don’t think resume doctoring was what the administration had in mind.”

Trivia time: What does a batter’s box in baseball have in common with a standard hockey net?

Fan frenzy: Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press, commenting on Denver Nugget Coach Dan Issel: “Well, OK. Let’s fire him. After all, he did use the word ‘Mexican.’ Can’t do that. So out he goes.

“Just one more thing. Along with firing Issel, we get to fire the fans as well.

“Any fan who screams the word ‘Mexican’ or ‘black’ or ‘Irish’ or ‘Jew,’ has to lose his job. Any fan who uses the n-or k-or c-word is fired, too....

“You know what? Half the stands would be empty.”

Needy golfer: Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Tiger Woods is trying out the revolutionary new Nike irons. Isn’t it comforting to know that some of our finest scientific minds have devoted their lives to helping Tiger overcome his swing problems.”

* “The wave has pretty much gone out of style. But I hear the Cleveland Browns’ fans do this: Starting with the stadium’s top row, fans stand up one row at a time, turn around, raise their arms and get frisked by the row below them. It’s called the Crime Wave.”

Are they welcome? The Times’ T.J. Simers writes that the San Diego Chargers are considering relocating to Los Angeles.

If so, they would be returning to their roots. The Chargers’ initial season in 1960 as an American Football League team was in L.A., where they won their division with a 10-4 record.

Looking back: On this day in 1967, the L.A. Rams defeated the Baltimore Colts, 34-10, to finish the regular season with an 11-1-2 record. However, the Rams didn’t advance in the playoffs, losing to Green Bay, 28-7, in Milwaukee on Dec. 23.

Trivia answer: They’re the same size, four feet by six feet.

And finally: Bud Geracie in the San Jose Mercury News:

“Six weeks after being arrested with 213 pounds of marijuana, Nate Newton was arrested with 175 pounds.

“At least he’s cutting down.”