 Off
the Couch
by
Greg Hall
Landmark columnist |
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For more of Greg Hall, surf to www.kcconfidential.com
Washington being given a fair boot?
Posted
9-2-10
“Missouri is issuing its own justice here in an unnecessary and possibly irresponsible rush to judgment, effectively convicting a man before he’s able to defend himself in court. Washington’s legal team may have a case that Mizzou is polluting the potential jury pool. And if he’s found not guilty, he’ll have a much bigger case than that.”
Sam Mellinger, columnist, Kansas City Star
GH: I have heard a number of voices on radio and in print calling Mizzou’s “permanent suspension” of Washington a rash and unfair rush to judgment. It is my opinion that anyone condemning MU’s decision to boot the former senior captain from the team is just as guilty of reacting without all the facts. Read on.
“Washington had nothing to do with the rest of that stuff (that include Ricky Clemons and other legal issues involving past Mizzou student athletes), of course. The issues should be unrelated but they’re not, meaning a team captain who’s never been in trouble is being indirectly punished for the mistakes of others. How is that fair?”
Sam Mellinger, columnist, Kansas City Star
GH: Mellinger penned a worthy column depicting Mizzou as overreacting due to the black-eyes their reputation took over Ricky, the jailhouse tapes and dem crackers be shakin’ quote – which is one of my all-time favorite sound bites. But where are the quotes from Mizzou officials or Washington to back up Mellinger’s claims of unfairness? What do Pinkel and Mike Alden know that the media has yet to be told about what happened in that apartment at 2:20 AM? I am guessin they know a lot. And that they used this researched information to make a devastating and terminal decision on one of their best and highest-profile Missouri-born athletes.
“We were told that if he (Derrick Washington) cleared his name in the court process, he would be welcomed back with opened arms. … We heard right after the suspension that his locker was cleaned out but his scholarship has not been pulled. Coach (Gary) Pinkel or coach (Andy) Hill would have informed us of that if so.”
Sarah Washington, mother of Derrick, in an email to The Kansas City Star
GH: What I want to hear from Derrick or his mom is how much of an injustice these accusations are – not just from members of the media. Derrick or Sarah needs to get in front of a microphone and scream that this is baloney and vehemently deny the accusations. That’s how I’d approach this if it was me on public trial and I knew I was not guilty. I don’t want to hear how Washington has lawyered up and how Mizzou’s swift actions have left them open to be sued. A court of law doesn’t always determine true guilt. Derrick knows what he did and what he didn’t do. He needs to talk now if he has something to say.
“I have been instructed from legal counsel that it is inappropriate for me to speak in regards to what has happened, and to just let it go through the process,"
Peter Vermes, Wizards head coach, when asked about his recent DUI charge, TV 9
GH: Vermes gets even less love from me than Washington – a lot less. Vermes is a man. I’m not sure if he’s 40, but he is an adult who is supposed to be a leader of young professional athletes and the face of the Wizards’ franchise. Screw legal counsel and all that cowardly hiding-behind-the-legal-system jargon. How about admitting you screwed up, were damn lucky you didn’t kill someone and pledge to never drink and drive again? No, that would be “unwise.” Like being a coward is attractive?
“Kansas City Wizards coach Peter Vermes was recently cited for driving under the influence, court records show. Vermes was pulled over about midnight on Aug. 24 while driving in Gardner, according to police reports. When Griffith asked Vermes whether he had any remorse, he said, ‘With all due respect, I gave my comment.’ ”
TV 9
GH: With all due respect? Respect???!!! That word should be stricken from Vermes’ vocabulary. Vermes still has time to be a man about this and publicly state his guilt and remorse. Until he does, I hope the Wizards permanently suspend his drunken ass.
“Len (Dawson) and I started together on the same day – Labor Day 1968.”
Larry Moore, new anchor at TV 9, 810 AM
GH: Dawson retired last year but Moore continues to show up every night and pull big ratings for Channel 9’s local newscasts. 43 years in local TV news. Damn. How many wrinkled female news anchors get to say that?
Greghall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24
Has Matt Cassel already lost KC?
Posted
9-1-10
“This city is ready to turn on Matt Cassel. I’m not sure I know why.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Season two for the Chiefs’ quarterback has yet to begin but yet there is a growing concern among the media and fans that Scott Pioli’s $60-million man is not the man to return Arrowhead and the Chiefs to greatness. Read on.
“I think (the fans) have already turned on the guy. I think they are going to have to go look for another quarterback at some point.”
Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
“Uhhhh, I don’t know. Being my teammate.”
Jamaal Charles, when asked what he thought Matt Cassel does best, 610 AM
GH: Charles probably didn’t mean for his hesitant reaction and less-than-laudatory comment to demean his quarterback but it did. You kind of hope that for $60 mill you get more than a shower buddy.
“(Cassel) showered in Spandex and ankle socks yesterday.”
Bob Fescoe, 610 AM
GH: And the problem with that is what?
“(Matt Cassel) is in the lower half (of the NFL’s quarterbacks) for me. I need to see him do some things to win some games.”
Todd Leabo, 810 AM
“Brodie Croyle looked a heck of a lot better than Matt Cassel. While it isn’t a big issue right now, it could become one before this season is over.”
Jack Harry, after the Chiefs’ first preseason game in Atlanta, TV 41
“Would this team be a whole lot worse off if Brodie Croyle was the quarterback? I don’t think so. I don’t think you could call (Cassel) indispensible right now.”
Adam Teicher, Chiefs beat writer for Kansas City Star, 610 AM
GH: Teicher’s comment might be one of the more damning when it comes to Cassel’s worth to the Chiefs. Brodie is simply not an NFL QB. If Cassel is his equal, that is not good.
“A lot of things were encouraging on Friday night (against the Eagles). Quarterback wasn’t one of them. If they want to win eight games, the quarterback needs to play pretty damn good.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
“After listening to the comments of Jamaal Charles and Charlie Weiss, there is no doubt that Scott Pioli has handcuffed his staff and his team with Matt Cassel. There are young and promising additions on this roster and that is a credit to the GM. Unfortunately, he may never see their development because of his first major strikeout from New England.”
Shan Shariff, 610 AM
“If the Patriots decide to place the franchise tag on Matt Cassel, they must have $14.6 million of salary cap space available -- or at least have a plan in place to create that space once Cassel signs the franchise tender.”
Mike Reiss, writer Boston Globe, January 2009
GH: 20 months ago Cassel was considered good enough to receive the franchise tag from the Patriots. Today he is considered interchangeable with Brodie Croyle. This is not good.
“(Cassel) certainly could be as good as Trent Green was. Joe Montana never had a great arm. I think arm strength is overrated. It’s all about accuracy and leadership.”
Jeff Chadhia, NFL writer for ESPN.com, 810 AM
GH: I would take Trent Green good from Cassel. But I haven’t seen the accuracy and leadership from Cassel that Chadhia points to for success. Cassel still throws into trouble far too often and his leadership skills are more little brother than big brother.
“The clock now is ticking on Matt Cassel. If he doesn’t go out there and utilize his tools properly, then Matt Cassel will fail as a quarterback – not only in this city but quite possibly in the National Football League.”
Bob Fescoe, 810 AM
“The issue of Matt Cassel is much better served for January than today.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: Does 810’s contract with the Chiefs expire in January?
“The first thing I wanted to do was help fix the quarterback.”
Charlie Weis, discussing Matt Cassel in one of his first discussions with the media this summer
GH: It appears Charlie still has some work to do.
Bad news for MU
Posted
9-1-10
“According to the report, the alleged victim’s female roommate said she let (Derrick) Washington into the apartment at approximately 2:30 a.m. on June 19. The roommate said Washington was there to see her and was the only male in the apartment during the time of the incident. She stated Washington was in her room for a brief period of time before he told her he would be right back. She said he returned approximately three minutes later, during which time she did not hear any noises such as a toilet flushing, water running or a door closing. She said after Washington returned, he stayed until approximately 3 a.m., when she escorted him out.”
Joe Walljasper, writer, Columbia Tribune
GH: So where was Washington during the unaccounted for three minutes? It appears he went uninvited into the bedroom of the roommate/victim, who happens to also beWashington’s former tutor. What happened then? Read on.
“In the probable-cause statement, University of Missouri Police detective Samuel Easley wrote that a female resident of an apartment at 301 Campus View Drive said she was in her bedroom with the door closed and she ‘woke up from her sleep to find (Derrick) Washington lying in her bed digitally penetrating her vagina.’ ”
Joe Walljasper, writer, Columbia Tribune
GH: When I first explained the details of the rumors surrounding Washington’s suspension to an older friend of mine, he was perplexed. The phrase “digital penetration” left him flummoxed. He immediately cocked his head to the side and paused with an odd look of confusion on his face. “You mean like with a computer?” he asked.
“She ‘stated as she realized what was happening, her body tensed, and she noticed Washington stop the digital penetration and leave the room a short time later.’ She ‘stated she is certain the person who did this to her is Washington.’”
Joe Walljasper, writer, Columbia Tribune
GH: Hope it was good for D. Wash because that three minutes probably just cost him his scholarship to the University of Missouri. You have got to be a very low bro to walk into the bedroom of a sleeping female and take advantage of her vulnerable state. If the allegations prove to be true, Washington doesn’t deserve to where the proud colors of the black and gold this season or any other.
“According to a probable-cause statement from University of Missouri police, detective Samuel Easley stated the alleged female victim said she was in her apartment bedroom the morning of June 19 when she ‘woke up from her sleep to find Washington lying in her bed’ and touching her. When her body tensed, the woman told police, Washington left the room.”
Mike DeArmond, writer, Kansas City Star
GH: In The Kansas City Star’s story on Washington, the “digital penetration” quote from the police statement is left out and the less accurate and to some more palitable phrase “touching her” is used to describe the act. That’s quite a leap and another example of moral censorship by The Star that leaves their readers without legitimate information that can be found elsewhere. It is time for The Star to stop playing parent to their readers.
“We’ve worked real hard to develop and build a program I think that has a very good reputation of being first class and disciplined. And we’ve taken a few hits. The only way you’re going to get that back is to earn it back. That’s what we intend to do.”
Gary Pinkel, on the recent spate of legal issues facing at least three players and one coach, 810 AM
GH: Mizzou is far from alone in dealing with embarrassing behavior by their student athletes and staff. No school is immune to what troubles the combination of young, dumb and alcohol can bring.
“First of all, I’m kind of embarrassed.”
Gary Pinkel, when asked to respond to the growing list of legal issues that have befallen his Mizzou football program, 810 AM
GH: Good for Pinkel. Too often coaches just shrug these incidents off as out of their control or simply state that all the facts are not yet in. Pinkel appears to be taking these issues seriously and reacting like I would want my CEO to react – with accountability. Mizzou will be fine. I can’t say the same for Washington. The former Ray-Pec All-State running back will miss the Tigers far more than the Tigers will miss him. Let’s hope Washington shows the same accountability as Pinkel and moves forward instead of retreating behind a legal curtain of lies and half truths.
Greghall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24
For earlier Greg Hall columns, click here
