Dave Sittler Spin Check

by Huck L Berry on Sep 27, 2011 10:50 AM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

There is a link in this paragraph to Dave Sittler's latest column for the Tulsa World. I have provided that link in the interest of fair play. It's not necessary to click the link, though, because I am going to be addressing his column here. Let's take the column as it comes to us, you know, taking what the defense gives us.

Given Neinas' vast head-hunting experience, he shouldn't need more than a day to identify and sign his successor - Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds.

Dodds has been the Big 12's de facto commissioner from the day the league was officially formed on Feb. 25, 1994. Schools have either played by his rules or went elsewhere.

The conference's original 12 members would still be together if the 11 other schools would have agreed on Day One that Dodds could both be the commissioner and keep his day job at UT.

Instead, the Big 12 is currently at nine members and counting. It's counting on Missouri not bolting like Nebraska, Texas A&M and Colorado.

After all, Nebraska, Texas A&M and Missouri never would have agreed to Dodds holding both jobs. Colorado? Even back then, the Buffaloes were delighted to be followers interested only in retaining their normal Rocky Mountain-high frames of mind.

Dodds didn't demand to officially hold both jobs at the outset because he needed to find a new home for the Longhorns after he helped kill off the Southwest Conference. So he did the next best thing by pushing through his hand-picked choice, Steve Hatchell, as the league's first commissioner.

Steve Hatchell was voted first commissioner of the Big 12 by a 7-5 vote. Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Missouri voted for Hatchell. It's probably pretty important to note that the Big 12 Presidents, not the Athletic Directors, voted on the Big 12 Commissioner. So two of the teams that have left the conference and the one that is apparently still thinking about it voted for Hatchell. We'll go ahead and call this one misleading because I feel like being nice to Sittler.

Hatchell and his successors, Kevin Weiberg and Dan Beebe, always got their marching orders direct from the Austin office of Godfather Dodds. Their only mission was to make sure Texas won every important conference vote.

Only a few who covered every step of the Big 12's formation are still around. Those media survivors can attest that the Big 12's three commissioners did their job superbly, because Dodds remains undefeated when it comes to those behind-closed-doors decisions.

As a member of that motley media crew, I challenge you to name one Big 12 rule or regulation that didn't go Dodds' way.

Well now isn't that funny. Sittler glosses over the fact that Texas and Weiberg had philosophical differences on how to run the conference and that's why Weiberg left for the Big Ten. In fact, Weiberg was the one that tried to get a Big 12 Network up and running, a concept that was voted down 11-1 by the conference members. Nobody has been able to produce the answer to who that 1 yes vote was from, but it certainly wasn't Nebraska as their president Harvey Perlman confirmed when they left for the Big Ten. Of course I already covered how Nebraska was on board with Texas on unequal revenue sharing every step of the way until they left and also on board against a conference network.

As for the last line above, Sittler is obviously intentionally ignoring the tiebreaker vote that went against Texas. Well I guess he could be so ignorant that he doesn't know about it, but who's to say?

And of course the other huge issue that Sittler ignores or is ignorant of is the fact that the other Big 12 schools' representatives such as Perlman had the nice things to say about Beebe because they pushed for him along with Kansas and Kansas State. And, of course Texas A&M and Oklahoma were in favor of hiring Beebe (FWST archives access required) while Texas and Dodds supported the other finalist Jack Swarbrick who is now the Notre Dame Athletic Director. Notice which school doesn't show up anywhere with glowing comments about Beebe when he was hired. That's right, Texas.

No, the recent ruling that UT can't show high school football games on the Longhorn Network wasn't a victory for the Big 12 or a defeat for Dodds. The NCAA made that ruling, and ESPN was the loser instead of Texas' genius AD.

Anyone who didn't think Dodds has always run the Big 12 along with UT's athletic department became true believers last week. Their come-to-Jesus moment arrived when Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech discovered once again that Dodds is the boss of a monster that is a fellow Big 12 member in name only.

Dodds' power play trumped OU president David Boren's attempt to flex some Sooner muscle, and ended the plans of OU, OSU and Tech to jump to the Pac-12 with or without the Longhorns. He proved the Pac-12 really only wanted UT, and would only take the others if it helped get the Longhorns.

Sept. 20, 2011, should go down as the day Dodds proved for at least the 997th time that the Big 12 is Texas' world and the other members should be grateful the Longhorns allow them to live in it.

Hey, the facts are facts. With total respect, I bow in respect to Dodds. Many should join me.

Well, he's sort of right here. Texas is clearly the jewel of the Big 12 from a marketability and desirability standpoint. That was indeed proven recently when Larry Scott jerked Oklahoma around. What he doesn't mention is that the latest events have proven that Texas is the one institution that truly values a relationship with Oklahoma as much as Oklahoma thinks they should be valued. And Sittler should indeed bow to Dodds but that's mostly because Sittler should bow to pretty much anyone that can manage not to trip over their own feet when taking five steps.

It's time to end this nearly 18 years of denial and acknowledge Dodds has been the Big 12's shadow commissioner all along. It will be much easier for those Big 12 schools that can't find a new conference home to finally admit DeLoss is their Daddy everywhere outside the lines of athletic competition.

Dodds can't throw a pass for Mack Brown, or shoot a sky hook for Rick Barnes, so his coaches and their teams are on their own competing against the Little 9 (or 8).

Texas and Dodds tossed OU and Boren a consolation bone by letting it look like it was the Sooners' idea to hire Neinas. Again, if you're old enough to remember when the Big 12 was formed, you know Neinas is just Dodds' latest puppet.

The two men go way back to when Neinas was commissioner of the Big Eight Conference and Dodds was Kansas State's AD. Neinas eventually hired Dodds as an assistant Big Eight commissioner in 1977.

That's right, Dodds once actually worked for Neinas. If you think history repeated itself last week with Neinas' hire, you probably believe those cockamamie stories about how OU and OSU made the decision not to join the Pac-12.

The contention that Texas has run all the decisions around here all on their own is obviously crap as I've already pointed out. Here Sittler just continues to gloss over little things like facts and history. Things like even if Dodds does have a history with Neinas, so does half the college sports world. And also, as pointed out above, little things like the fact that Dan Beebe had previously worked with two Big 12 North Athletic Directors before he was hired. So even if Neinas actually were Texas' choice, maybe that will work out better than the disastrous tenure of Oklahoma and the Big 12 North's choice Beebe.

The 79-year-old Neinas talked a tough game during last Friday's teleconference. He insisted he's in total command as commissioner, isn't some glorified caretaker and is ready to make tough decisions.

Please, Chuck, we know it's not 1977 all over again.

So does Neinas, who has been around so many athletic blocks that he's keenly aware who's really in charge, including selecting new Big 12 members. But he's got the polish and charisma to gloss over the fact that the Big 12's chain of command remains unchanged.

So Neinas should do everyone a favor next Monday and announce his first day on the job is also his last. Then he should introduce Dodds as his permanent replacement.

Shoot, Neinas is so slick that he could charge the Big 12 big bucks as a finder's fee. Several Big 12 schools have already paid him thousands of dollars to help find athletic directors and coaches.

The crafty Neinas knew Dodds was his lucrative ace in the hole when he agreed to the interim title. His experience tells him nobody in his or her right mind wants to replace Beebe.

So Neinas can keep the interim title for as long as he wants to milk the Big 12's bank account.

Eventually, he can tell the search committee Dodds is the only legitimate commissioner candidate. He'll then convince them Dodds will only accept the offer if it allows him to keep his present official and unofficial titles - UT athletic director and Big 12 dictator.

Well now he's not even trying. Just after trying to convince us that Neinas is a Dodds puppet he points out that Neinas has been around the block plenty of times and also that he's worked with several Big 12 schools in the past. And then he goes back to pointing out how he's Texas' puppet.

The entire article is either misinformed, ignorant, or my vote - a typical hatchet job by a talentless hack.

Tweet Comment 51 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

misinformed, ignorant, or my vote – a typical hatchet job by a talentless hack.

Spot on, but… Goddammit, Huck – would you PLEASE quit pussy-footing around and tell us what you really think?

by Tex Long on Sep 27, 2011 10:55 AM CDT reply actions

And, for the record, I realize that the likely motivation for this ridiculous column is to keep the pressure on Boren and Castiglione by stirring the pot among OU followers and making it seem like OU is still taking orders from Texas. Sittler obviously wants OU to go to the Pac-12 and he figures it almost happened because of the last time OU reacted to public sentiment about carrying Texas’ water.

by Huckleberry on Sep 27, 2011 10:56 AM CDT reply actions

Yep, that last sentence sums it up, Huckleberry.

by JB on Sep 27, 2011 11:01 AM CDT reply actions

Wow, I thought it would be impossible to out stupid Woody Paige and Skip Bayless. Apparently I was wrong.

It’s nice to know journalism schools are turning out such well formed graduates.

by roach on Sep 27, 2011 11:03 AM CDT reply actions

way to hit the hole Huck…..

by Longhorn Josh on Sep 27, 2011 11:03 AM CDT reply actions

He wins Oklahoma Sportswriter of the Year every year for tripe like this. This is one of the worst examples. When he’s not writing these, he’s browning his nose with Stoops excrement. I don’t ever read his stuff anymore. It’s so pathetic.

by Uh on Sep 27, 2011 11:10 AM CDT reply actions

Huck, why do you go convoluting a perfectly good Sittler rant with pesky things like facts and reality? Tsk, Tsk!

by One flag. One star. One state. One school. on Sep 27, 2011 11:13 AM CDT reply actions

It sure would be nice if there was something out of Bellmont to counter this barrage of negative and irrational spin. But then I remember that Bill Little would be in charge of that…

by Blueshorn on Sep 27, 2011 11:15 AM CDT reply actions

Not to be overly pedantic here, but “schools have … went elsewhere.” Really? Schools have went? Was this piece actually printed in the paper?

by tx2step on Sep 27, 2011 11:17 AM CDT reply actions

a typical hatchet job by a talentless hack.

With respect, Huck, I think you get the genre wrong. The “shadow commissioner” angle is straight out of comic books, with Moriarity et al. in the distant background. It’s actually an enjoyable fantasy, as it streamlines this whole complexity deal into something much more manageable.

by parlin on Sep 27, 2011 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

Whoever said that if Boren started flapping about OU moving to the Pac would result in more stupidity was correct. Too bad the Sooners had to find out the hard way that they need Texas more than Texas needs them… unless they want to go to the SEC, and that would probably be over Bob Stoops’ body. Boren’s demands about the LHN just make him and OU look foolish. Oklahoma doesn’t have enough TV sets. Texas does. And it’s not like Texas hasn’t done anything (like start up the LHN) that we didn’t say we were going to do 18 months ago. None of this is a surprise.

by stevo67 on Sep 27, 2011 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

Reading all the crap about realignment makes me feel like I’ve overdosed on stupidity. I hope it isn’t terminal for me. I don’t see how it can be anything else but terminal for the Aggie and OU writers.

by jerryw on Sep 27, 2011 11:39 AM CDT reply actions

Any article that includes “Shoot! blah blah blah” is not journalism. It’s folksy pandering, at best.

by Really? on Sep 27, 2011 11:43 AM CDT reply actions

This article, along with the last one you write (and the Longhorn Network and Delusion one that I and others have linked) need to be posted OVER AND OVER again in the comment sections of these ridiculous articles claiming Texas is the root of all evil.

by Sasha is a Longhorn Dog on Sep 27, 2011 11:52 AM CDT reply actions

well, one thing i know is that i was right back when all this talk about teaming with the sooners to mutual benefit. i was floored back then but gradually decided that maybe things were really different up there these days. all this crazy stuff just shows that a tiger can’t change its stripes.

really a shame. it could have been a good thing, but there is nothing in the sooner dna that allows them to step away from the peculiar paranoia that makes them who they are.

by yeh on Sep 27, 2011 12:07 PM CDT reply actions

This article is a good example out of a thousand a day of why blogs exist and are destroying traditional media.

Also: Conspiracy, generally speaking, is a tool used by dumb people to make sense of the world. It keeps things simple, it assumes that there’s “a Plan” that we’re all pawns in, and it keeps you from having to do a lot of mental lifting.

Journalism is hurting right now and the journalists have only themselves to blame.

by Scipio Tex on Sep 27, 2011 12:10 PM CDT reply actions

good example . . . of why blogs exist and are destroying traditional media

particularly cogent observation. newspapers once answered a huge need in the world, but they have been bypassed and have been relegated to clinging to a melting chunk of ice floating somewhere in the dark night where the sun never shines.

by yeh on Sep 27, 2011 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

Nice work. The hypocrisy coming from the corn huskers in particular is simply amazing.

by Walker on Sep 27, 2011 12:25 PM CDT reply actions

The picture from the article is great. DeLoss Dodds demonstrating how to keep one’s pimp hand strong and allow for ring kissing.

See here: http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2011/20110927_ddoddsb6.jpg

by Drew Dunlevie on Sep 27, 2011 12:29 PM CDT reply actions

Yep, journalism stopped being serious and started ‘reporting’ based on hearsay because they thought that would sell papers. What they didn’t understand was that the internet is a much better venue for reporting crazy shit. People who want their conspiracy theories will head to the internet before a newspaper because they will find a conspiracy completely tailored to their biases rather than the stock conspiracy they get from a newspaper. Those of us looking for fact or honest reporting now have to seek it out on the internet.

I actually thought sports journalism had generally fallen the least of all the genres, but then they probably had the shortest drop to the bottom.

by Ricky on Sep 27, 2011 12:29 PM CDT reply actions

My vote is on talentless hack. And it’s only a hatchet job if the affected reader comes off feeling pissed off by the end. I just feel like it’s 15 minutes that I won’t get back. Next.

by Mr. Orange on Sep 27, 2011 12:30 PM CDT reply actions

Maybe the Okie Hillbillies should take a hint and stop fighting nature. End their dreams of owning a West Coast cement pond and instead join their natural brethren in the SEC cesspool. Cheating is in their bloodlines.

If we end up going P16, better to take our cohorts in Texas and perhaps Kansas. With the Sooners gone to the SEC, that only increases our leverage in negotiating with the P12. Not buying the ‘secret talks with the B1G’ nonsense from the disreputable Northwestern board troll, since Dodds specifically said that UT had no contact at all with the B1G in this latest realigment go round.

by Springtime for Sittler on Sep 27, 2011 12:38 PM CDT reply actions

He writes for the Tulsa World. Not the Washington Post or the New York Times like Pete Thamel or anything.

Oh, wait…

by I Must Be Old on Sep 27, 2011 12:39 PM CDT reply actions

all this crazy stuff …

… is possibly an indication that the “crazy” is morphogenetically linked with the XII itself. The departure from these regions of agy may well increase the pressure of “crazy” on the remnants (a certain amount of “crazy” still available, but fewer hosts to carry it). The article in question here is evidence of that, and we would do well to prepare ourselves for the possibility that the agy departure may also increase the “whiny” and “illogical” dimensional outbreaks.

by Tex Long on Sep 27, 2011 1:02 PM CDT reply actions

You know what it reads like? Remember that guy at your frat party who decided to get wasted then solve the world’s problems with a combination of rhetoric and hate mixed in with some over the top comments meant for comedic relief? Like how to deal with the “mexican problem” or welfare? Meanwhile you and your friends listened closely only to laugh and occasionallly egg him on?

This seriously reads just like that. Read it again but imagine instead of a fat, ignorant writer from Oklahoma imagine it is Clipper Cooper drunk out on the patio chain smking and ranting about Texas.

by Newy25 on Sep 27, 2011 1:12 PM CDT reply actions

Scip-

Hanlon’s (Heinlein’s) Razor- Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

Huck- You’ve been crushing these posts like a hungover Hulk. Keep it up.

by Bateshorn on Sep 27, 2011 1:14 PM CDT reply actions

It’s the best I could do.

RE: Big 12 dictator Deloss Dodds the only real candidate for commissioner‏

A bit over the top and dramatic, but we’re so close to Texas-OU that my fuse has gone short.

1:34 PM
Reply ▼
Colby Adams
To dave.sittler@tulsaworld.com
Mr. Sittler,

I guess you were in the Pac-14 or SEC camp then? Because spewing this kind of populist diarrhea played its part in eroding support for the Big 12. I’ve linked a much more informative, interesting, and well-written article for you. WARNING: It does require mental lifting.

Based on what I’ve gleaned from your article, you are nothing more than a hack, and a liar. I wonder if you’re capable of recognizing the truth?

http://barkingcarnival.fantake.com/2011/09/27/dave-sittler-spin-check/

Sincerely,
Colby Adams
The University of Texas at Austin, Class of 2002

by Colby on Sep 27, 2011 1:39 PM CDT reply actions

DeLoss Dodds demonstrating how to keep one’s pimp hand strong and allow for ring kissing.

by ACE on Sep 27, 2011 2:05 PM CDT reply actions

Time for a BC post featuring a compilation of all of ACE’s conceptual art.

by Colby on Sep 27, 2011 2:08 PM CDT reply actions

“Also: Conspiracy, generally speaking, is a tool used by dumb people to make sense of the world. It keeps things simple, it assumes that there’s "a Plan" that we’re all pawns in, and it keeps you from having to do a lot of mental lifting.”

Well said…too bad we’re completely surrounded by dumb people.

by TXPride on Sep 27, 2011 2:23 PM CDT reply actions

Great stuff, Huck and you even gave him a break on the bullshit about how Texas destroyed the SWC. How in the name of walking talking Jesus Christ can anyone conjure up a rational argument that we took the SWC down? I’ve seen it in print a lot lately, but with no explanation whatsoever. It self-destructed—-period! Just another example of the groupthink that has infected all of journalism, but especially sports.

You also have to wonder, in light of Boren’s continued grandstanding, what’s going to eventually become of Castiglione. He would be a significant loss to OU, IMO, but you wouldn’t blame him if he decided that he has no future there against the dynamic duo of Boren/Stoops. He’s been relegated to Bill Byrne status, if not lower.

by Jake Lonergan on Sep 27, 2011 2:54 PM CDT reply actions

Jake -

This is admittedly a bit crazy, but what about Castiglione as the permanent commissioner of B12? Does that shut OU up in terms of ‘every commissioner is UT’s puppet,’ or does it simply confirm in their whacked-out heads that Castiglione was a puppet all along?

by tx2step on Sep 27, 2011 2:59 PM CDT reply actions

oh, baby, ace, that was great. nothing short of.

by yeh on Sep 27, 2011 3:07 PM CDT reply actions

“Journalism is hurting right now and the journalists have only themselves to blame.”

I rarely read something in a paper that doesn’t make me think remedial English courses are in order. That is particularly true of sports journalists.

I can’t remember the last time I read something in a paper that was well written.

I frequent BC because it’s obvious that all the writers can think and a few can write like JM Coetzee. Well, like Coetzee if the man had a sense of humor.

by roach on Sep 27, 2011 3:07 PM CDT reply actions

Colby,

Well played, good sir, well played.

by TexanNick on Sep 27, 2011 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

Great follow-up to “Realignmentality,” Huckleberry.

by Joetx on Sep 27, 2011 3:20 PM CDT reply actions

“yeh said:

September 27th, 2011 at 10:15 am

good example . . . of why blogs exist and are destroying traditional media

OR, perhaps journalism has always been shit, and it’s only now that the internet helps shine a light on the fact. I don’t know. Just thinking out loud.

by Team Dirty Leg on Sep 27, 2011 3:21 PM CDT reply actions

Drew Dunlevie said:

September 27th, 2011 at 10:29 am

“The picture from the article is great. DeLoss Dodds demonstrating how to keep one’s pimp hand strong and allow for ring kissing.

See here: http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2011/20110927_ddoddsb6.jpg"

While wearing his gansta’ track suit.

by Team Dirty Leg on Sep 27, 2011 3:23 PM CDT reply actions

“Conspiracy, generally speaking, is a tool used by dumb people to make sense of the world. It keeps things simple, it assumes that there’s "a Plan" that we’re all pawns in, and it keeps you from having to do a lot of mental lifting.”

The black helicopters of the Trilateral Commission are circling your area as you type, my friend. Guard your seven Holy Holes!

by lurkerinthedark on Sep 27, 2011 3:30 PM CDT reply actions

Got Damn you’re on fire lately.

by maninblack on Sep 27, 2011 4:38 PM CDT reply actions

Sittler is from a mudhut on the nebraska plains…………he longs for the days when Big Ate had unlimited partial quaifiers and Corn & Swooners and their inbred little borthers, could go raid the slums and jails to fill out their semipro rosters of " STUDENT ATHLETES"

by Senator Blutarsky on Sep 27, 2011 4:49 PM CDT reply actions

Damn, we just rid of stupid aggie jokes and now we have stupid ou jokes.

by jerryw on Sep 27, 2011 4:52 PM CDT reply actions

Conspiracy, generally speaking, is a tool used by dumb people to make sense of the world.

Scip, you and I both know that people with means and motive actually do conspire, Occam’s Razor notwithstanding. So I don’t know that it’s fair to dismiss conspiracies, generally speaking, as merely the “smokescreens of the ignorant,” any more than one could argue – for example – that “gratitude is the guilt of the unworthy.” ;-)

Now I would agree wholeheartedly that dumb people imagine conspiracies where none exist, and don’t let evidence (or lack of it) get in their way.

by Alan Couchman on Sep 27, 2011 5:41 PM CDT reply actions

And ACE is the ’shop king. I love your work.

by Alan Couchman on Sep 27, 2011 5:43 PM CDT reply actions

ACE > Banksy

by Drew Dunlevie on Sep 27, 2011 6:05 PM CDT reply actions

The funny thing to me is, Texas is only one vote, you would think if these other schools were so unhappy they would have pulled things together and made the changes that would have made them happy. Sounds like none of them ever talked to each other , so it was easy for Texas to gather up votes individually. It does make me wonder what Beebe did to draw a salary.Nothing against Beebe personally, but he wasnt sailing the boat.

by MONTY on Sep 27, 2011 10:48 PM CDT reply actions

Cultures need villains and bogeymen. That’s why we have HenryJames and Chooky.

by Drew Dunlevie on Sep 27, 2011 11:39 PM CDT reply actions

Facts are that there is not one single decision in the history of the conference that affected UT negatively in any material way. Meanwhile there have been PLENTY of decisions (ones voted on and ones not voted on) that have helped UT big time.

Hats off to UT for working the system to get everything to go their way every single time. However, if you are in a circle of friends and you somehow always end up going to your favorite restuarant, favoriate bar, golf course, watching your favorite team…. even if you managed to diplomatically get the group consensus on those decisions… eventually some in your circle of friends are going to find a new group to hang out with.

That’s what we are seeing here, in a very public way.

by CharleyAtkins on Sep 28, 2011 8:04 AM CDT reply actions

Charley: Great, incisive analysis. Love the folksy analogizing, it’s an effective teaching tool. One bone of contention though: Our respective schools were never friends.

by Colby on Sep 28, 2011 9:56 AM CDT reply actions