Memphis Classy Response re: Randolph Investigation

[Induveca]

Yes it's Zach Randolph but it's exactly how the Wizards should have treated Arenas as soon as the report came out....

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... _randolph/

Great upper management there, they know how to handle PR.

[NbdyBeatsTheWiz]

I thought the EXACT same thing and was looking for a place to post about it. It seemed Gilbert was treated as guilty until proven innocent instead of vice versa, and in my mind it was for something less serious than what Zach is currently accused of. The absence of such a press release did nothing but feed the stances that he is a cancer, a thug, etc.

I'm sure Gilbert is thinking the same thing....

[Ji]

iits because they were trying to get out of the terrible contract

[MJG]

iits because they were trying to get out of the terrible contract

I agree actually. I think we saw a sliver of hope of getting out of one of the league's worst contracts, so we weren't going to muck that up by appearing supportive, which could have come back to bit us if we later wanted to act appalled when trying to get out of the deal. Memphis very likely wants to keep Randolph, so there is no reason at all for them to not support him.

[closg00]

Yes it's Zach Randolph but it's exactly how the Wizards should have treated Arenas as soon as the report came out....

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... _randolph/

Great upper management there, they know how to handle PR.

AMEN 1,000 times AMEN!! Compare how Ernie Grunfeld & the Pollins handled Gilbert to the Randolph situation which appears to be much more serious in-terms of potential jail-time etc. What a contrast in management.

[montestewart]

iits because they were trying to get out of the terrible contract

Probably, but if so, they were holding their cards backwards, and everyone saw their hand. We're not the only ones that read how memphis is dealing with Randolph and wondering. Arenas sees that too, as do other players that might be considering new locations.

[Bickerstaff]

There are so many differences between the two stories, not least of which is that Arenas's incident happened in the workplace and management was fully aware of what happened. We'll see what happens when and if Randolph is convicted, but one story has nothing to do with the other.

[WizStorm]

There are so many differences between the two stories, not least of which is that Arenas's incident happened in the workplace and management was fully aware of what happened. We'll see what happens when and if Randolph is convicted, but one story has nothing to do with the other.

Means nothing to me in terms what the team knew and didn't know about the situation. My objection at the time (and still) is when EG made statements to the media that he did not even acknowledge how much Gil has done for the community and talk up his positives before the incident. I wasn't asking for the team to defend Gil concerning the incident itself. Anything positive would've been better than what management did leaving Gil high and dry, tearing down anything and everything Gil like he never meant anything to franchise and allowing the media have a field day with their typical NBA thug narrative.

[montestewart]

There are so many differences between the two stories, not least of which is that Arenas's incident happened in the workplace and management was fully aware of what happened. We'll see what happens when and if Randolph is convicted, but one story has nothing to do with the other.

Means nothing to me in terms what the team knew and didn't know about the situation. My objection at the time (and still) is when EG made statements to the media that he did not even acknowledge how much Gil has done for the community and talk up his positives before the incident. I wasn't asking for the team to defend Gil concerning the incident itself. Anything positive would've been better than what management did leaving Gil high and dry, tearing down anything and everything Gil like he never meant anything to franchise and allowing the media have a field day with their typical NBA thug narrative.

Yes, many differences between the two stories. The most important difference at this moment is well defined above by Wizstorm. Wizards management and ownership didn't come across to me as moral, ethical, and responsible; they came across as weak and cravenly opportunistic. Regardless of differences, the two stories have much to do with each other, and are glaring in contrast. Still, I have faith that Leonsis will bring a new confidence to the team, and help move past this very unfortunate season.

[LyricalRico]

There are so many differences between the two stories, not least of which is that Arenas's incident happened in the workplace and management was fully aware of what happened. We'll see what happens when and if Randolph is convicted, but one story has nothing to do with the other.

Great post. In Gil's case there was NO DOUBT that this was a felony situation and it was only a matter of time before charges were filed. In fact, Stern instructed the Wiz not to impose any sanctions because he wanted to handle it at a league level (heard/read that from multiple outlets). Stern wouldn't have done that if he wasn't sure that he already had cause to suspend and was then just waiting to see for how long. So with Gil there was nothing to defend because he was already guilty, just a question of how much.

OTOH, Randolph has merely been implicated in this situation and it's still unclear what his exact involvement was. This could end with him never being charged with anything. That's why Memphis can come out and do this. Heck, I bet their primary motivation was to give his attorney a newsclipping to show investigators what a "good guy" Randolph is to try to make sure he doesn't get charged. There was no opportunity for the Wizards to do that with Gil.

As for the potential voiding of the contract, this is a business. I don't think you can fault business people making a business decision. You may not like it, but it ain't your money.

[montestewart]

There are so many differences between the two stories, not least of which is that Arenas's incident happened in the workplace and management was fully aware of what happened. We'll see what happens when and if Randolph is convicted, but one story has nothing to do with the other.

Great post. In Gil's case there was NO DOUBT that this was a felony situation and it was only a matter of time before charges were filed. In fact, Stern instructed the Wiz not to impose any sanctions because he wanted to handle it at a league level (heard/read that from multiple outlets). Stern wouldn't have done that if he wasn't sure that he already had cause to suspend and was then just waiting to see for how long. So with Gil there was nothing to defend because he was already guilty, just a question of how much.

OTOH, Randolph has merely been implicated in this situation and it's still unclear what his exact involvement was. This could end with him never being charged with anything. That's why Memphis can come out and do this. Heck, I bet their primary motivation was to give his attorney a newsclipping to show investigators what a "good guy" Randolph is to try to make sure he doesn't get charged. There was no opportunity for the Wizards to do that with Gil.

As for the potential voiding of the contract, this is a business. I don't think you can fault business people making a business decision. You may not like it, but it ain't your money.

I usually don't like seeing players or owners trying to get out of a contract, but I understand why the Wizards looked into it. One thing the Wizards have long seemed to lack (in addition to competent medical staff, use of the d-league, etc.) is a good sense of PR. The way they handled Arenas for a number of years speaks to that.

Without consumers, there is no business; consumers are stakeholders in business. I buy tickets, so to a degree, it is my money. I can just choose not to buy tickets, but if it was as simple as that, businesses would be clueless about what consumers want. Emails to management, to the ticket agent, to Leonsis, get this position across, and if they (or at least Leonsis) thinks my money is no longer their money, maybe they respond. If there are more of you, maybe they ignore me. But I gotta say something. Get a PR department, and start projecting a strong and proactive message, rather than the weak and reactive message I've been hearing for years.

Arenas is not the problem. EG's not the problem. Leonsis has to contend with a culture of mediocrity. If he's even partially successful in turning it around, Arenas could return to all-star form and perhaps even show some shades I've never seen, EG might be a competent GM, Blatche, McGee, and Young might grow up, free agents and draft picks might actually aspire to playing in DC, and the Wizards might graduate into perennial contender status. (Maybe Arenas is gone by that time, but Arenas isn't the problem.) With all that's gone wrong and so many things that need fixing, from top to bottom, I'm doing a disservice to my team if I sit back and pretend Wall's here so everything's cool.

[closg00]

^^^^

Your point about the Wizards PR is spot-on, it is very poor. Regardless of what the eventual outcome of the investigation was going to be, I cannot ever recall a major sports organization ever treating their franchise player in such a manner.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Yes it's Zach Randolph but it's exactly how the Wizards should have treated Arenas as soon as the report came out....

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... _randolph/

Great upper management there, they know how to handle PR.

Really nice thread, Induveca.

Nothing to add that WizStorm and others haven't already said well. I agree. Memphis handled Randolph's PR the way I wish the Wizards had handled Gilbert.

[yungal07]

Wait a minute. This is not even remotely comparable. What Gilbert did wasn't innuendo, accusations, or unfounded claims. It happened in the arena in front of a bunch of witnesses. What were the Wiz FO going to say -- "We support Gilbert, regardless of him bringing guns into the arena, threatening teammates, mocking the commissioner, and tweeting about the incident."

Please. An immature multi-millionaire was held ACCOUNTABLE for this actions. God forbid that happens in this country where anyone with money gets away with anything, anywhere from destroying the economy to flat-out murder.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

What the Wizards did BEFORE the statement even bothered me.

Who called police in the first place? Who told Gil to bring the guns back into DC? Crittenton's gun sure never turned up. What discussion and cooperation did Gil do that he didn't have to? (Just like Lawrence Taylor he talked to police and didn't first retain an attorney).

yungal, the Wizards management made tons of money off Arenas and through him under the bus. He's done a whole lot more in his years in DC for charity than Randolph did in his one year with the Grizzlies. However, the whole point of Induveca's post and others that followed is the Wizards PR needs work. They got too negative too soon, before the guy even had a chance to go before a judge. They told the league in essence they hated being associated with Gil, and thus made him untradeable.

Most of all, they didn't even wait before flying off in the media. They would have bee FAR BETTER OFF doing just what the Grizzlies did for Randolph. Support the player publicly until the facts come out.

[montestewart]

Wait a minute. This is not even remotely comparable. What Gilbert did wasn't innuendo, accusations, or unfounded claims. It happened in the arena in front of a bunch of witnesses. What were the Wiz FO going to say -- "We support Gilbert, regardless of him bringing guns into the arena, threatening teammates, mocking the commissioner, and tweeting about the incident."

Please. An immature multi-millionaire was held ACCOUNTABLE for this actions. God forbid that happens in this country where anyone with money gets away with anything, anywhere from destroying the economy to flat-out murder.

Spare everyone the hyperbole. The two ARE comparable. Note that "comparable" and "identical" are not synonymous. Since no one has claimed that they are identical, what exactly is your point? That since the two situations are not identical, there is no room for criticism whatsoever regarding the way the Wizards ownership and management ran the team, managed their players and personnel, mishandled the situation and, over many years, generally mishandled PR?

PS: A little more precision regarding the difference between "innuendo, accusations, or unfounded claims" and "happened . . . in front of a bunch of witnesses." In every case, the defense says the former and the prosecution says the latter.

[montestewart]

^
PS: None of the above should be taken as an apology for any of Arenas' behavior, which has been appalling at times. I haven't liked how Arenas has conducted himself, and he is a spoiled millionaire, but he also is not malicious and is a pretty giving person (that's pretty well documented) and it's his maturity that's been his downfall. I expect more from him, and I expect more from management. I feel like they both let us down.

[Bickerstaff]

the Wizards management made tons of money off Arenas

Yes, and he made tons of money off of them. More importantly, he continues to do so, despite having been convicted for his crime. Also, I've defended Gilbert from day one of this, but to act like the Wizards did anything wrong in the way they reacted to his idiotic behavior is kind of offensive. Gilbert's the one who f'ed up here. He should be thankful the people who hold his contract even want him to play for them. You're trying to turn it into a conspiracy theory, but it looks to me like management was really angry at the time of the incident, and the Pollins were sensitive after the death of their gun-hating husband and father. People react in the moment and tend to calm down once reality sets in. You're convinced everyone's as mad as they were five months ago, but that seems extremely unlikely to me.

[Bickerstaff]

PS: A little more precision regarding the difference between "innuendo, accusations, or unfounded claims" and "happened . . . in front of a bunch of witnesses." In every case, the defense says the former and the prosecution says the latter.

Oh please. The crime Gilbert was convicted of was the same crime he admitted to from the start. It was also a much different, much more unusual crime for the world of pro sports. Athletes are accused of sexual stuff all the time. We also don't know what details the Grizzlies know. So, no, these two cases aren't comparable other than they both involve basketball players, but I guess if tying them together somehow lets you better express your irrational hatred for Ernie Grunfeld, then don't let me stand in your way.

[closg00]

the Wizards management made tons of money off Arenas

Yes, and he made tons of money off of them. More importantly, he continues to do so, despite having been convicted for his crime. Also, I've defended Gilbert from day one of this, but to act like the Wizards did anything wrong in the way they reacted to his idiotic behavior is kind of offensive. Gilbert's the one who f'ed up here. He should be thankful the people who hold his contract even want him to play for them. You're trying to turn it into a conspiracy theory, but it looks to me like management was really angry at the time of the incident, and the Pollins were sensitive after the death of their gun-hating husband and father. People react in the moment and tend to calm down once reality sets in. You're convinced everyone's as mad as they were five months ago, but that seems extremely unlikely to me.

Precisely, and they responded in a very unprofessional manner by lashing-out through the media in eyebrow-raising fashion. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it from a professional sports org.