Time to do the right thing

I apologize for taking so long to post an update on my blog. I am going on vacation next week to Washington D.C. and I have been really busy at work. Last weekend was really fun. Through my Mom’s work, she had some extra tickets for us to sit in a suite at a Twins game. Unlimited, large quantities of food, unlimited drinks, and a suite in between home plate and the first base line… What a way to spend an evening. After several Coronas and Buffalo wings, I enjoyed a nice 5 – 0 Twins win before retiring for the evening. On Saturday night, I rented the movie Vantage Point. I had heard mixed reviews but I would give the movie a solid B+. It is a bit repetitive but it is an enjoyable action movie that is certainly worth renting. Yes, I am one of only a dozen Americans to not see The Dark Knight. I am excited to see it though. I do not know one person who has not given it at least an A-. Sunday, I went to church, played some basketball, and just relaxed the rest of the day.

1. It’s been very interesting reading about Barack Obama’s big trip to Europe and the Middle-East. I have been pleasantly surprised for a variety of reasons. One, I couldn’t believe how wildly popular Sen. Obama is in Europe. Countries like Germany, Italy, England, et cetera, Obama has a 30 point lead in the polls in those countries which leads me to believe that the public relations of the United States would greatly improve with the election of Obama. Secondly, I was surprised by the how well Americans are embracing Obama’s trip. They are using words like “looking presidential” when describing his meeting with foreign leaders. I never thought about it that way. I just thought Obama wanted to answer questions about his lack of foreign policy experience. But I suppose when he is seen this morning shaking hands with the German Chancellor, and walking with Israeli leaders while deep in discussion does look very presidential. I know it is only July but I am starting to get excited but what I see.

2. Yes, I went to Iowa State and I am and will be a lifelong cyclone fan. Because of that, I have become engrained to loathe the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. This is not about sports though. I legitimately feel that what the University of Iowa Athletic department has done in the past twelve months deserves several resignation letters. If you are unclear of what I am referring to, in October of 2007, a woman was allegedly raped in a dorm by two U of I football players, Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson. (They have left the team by the way.) After the victim went to the hospital for an examination, she and her father set up a meeting with Gary Barta, the athletic director, Kirk Ferentz, and a few other members of the athletic association. The woman claims that she was pressured to keep the case "informal" or within the athletics department. Or basically she was told to keep the rape on the DL. Her mother claims the athletics department said that if the case was a "formal process" it would be "long and arduous" compared with the "swift" informal process led by the athletics department. Basically, they wanted to shut her up and have her not tell the police or the press. Maybe out of fear, she agreed. It took six months before the two players were charged. Funny, they weren’t charged until after the football season and the recruiting season was complete. In the mean time, the girl, who lived in the same dorm with the football team was taunted daily, called a whore, and other such despicable names. Again, the athletic department did nothing to protect her, help her, or speed up the process. By this time, the family was so furious with the University of Iowa that they went to the press, more specifically, a series of stories by the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Fortunately, the board of Regents for the University of Iowa is absolutely furious and probably humiliated. They have called this a “serious breach of ethics and trust.” Hawkeye sports website, blackheartgoldpants has said it best, “Here's the new plan: Resign, all of you. That's non-negotiable. We trusted you with our children and you betrayed us. You've shamed the state of Iowa, the university, the athletic department, the fans, and yourselves. Every day you continue to be employed at the University of Iowa is a day that the UI tells the world that at this school, integrity takes a back seat to PR at all costs. This isn't a football issue, this is a human issue. All of you need to start over, elsewhere, and preferably not in a profession that leaves the well-being of young adults as part of your responsibilities. You don't have to admit that you did anything wrong, just that you're ready to do something right. This must have been a long nightmare for all of you. We don't envy any of you, nor do we know what it's like to be in your position. Further, we do not hold you responsible for what happened to that young woman. This isn't about that. This is about everything after. From the moment the victim personally relayed the incident to you, until now, you've done the wrong thing, every step of the way. How any of you can look yourself in the mirror is unfathomable. You're supposed to be leaders. You're supposed to be educators. You're supposed to be a family. Yet when you had an opportunity to do the right thing, you did the wrong thing. You didn't look out for the victim. You didn't look out for her family. You didn't even look out for the players involved. You just tried to cover it up and make it all go away. You thought suspensions and transfers would suffice in lieu of actual punishment. But that's over now. No more cover up. No more denials. No more "no comments". No more disingenuous prepared statements. It's time to do the right thing. ” Kirk Ferentz is a brilliant coach but clearly a shady individual. He is a man who would rather field a winning football team, then protect a woman who so badly needed protection. Maybe in the SEC Ferentz, but not here. Good riddance.