HEY, WILLIE!
Maybe the Orlando Magic does need a new coach, but the common denominator in the team’s years of ineptness is ownership, which chooses management.
Could it be time for a public outcry for new ownership? I'd bet there's a group of Silicon Valley money people who'd love to have a team. Let's face it, the DeVos people lost Shaq in a heist rivaling Ruth to the Yankees.
Look around the league at the names of former Magic players excelling for other teams right now: Ryan Anderson, J.J. Reddick, Trevor Ariza, Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo are a few.
JOHN B
HEY, JOHN!
You’re not the only person raising your voice about the Magic (mis)management. But as of now, U.S. corporate law doesn’t include a sub-section on firing the owner of a business.
It’s really a shame, because given all the field-leveling financial arrangements in the NBA, there’s no good reason for one franchise to go through such a long stretch of ineptitude.
A reason, yes, but no good reason.
HEY, WILLIE!
That was a nice article on Wes Graham (Sunday’s News-Journal). His cautionary tale also shows the truth in the old adage, “There is no heavier burden than great expectations.”
DON
HEY, DON!
It’s tempting to give Wes credit for pulling the plug four years ago, at 24, and heading out into the real world and succeeding. He can always play golf, and will, but without all the big expenses and pressure.
But then you consider former Stetson golfer Sam Ryder, who’s also 28 and, after a sufficient grind, is a PGA Tour rookie this year. And though he’s yet to get traction (one top-10 in 13 starts), he’s earned nearly $350,000.
HEY, WILLIE!
I was delighted to hear about the new football league debuting next year. Especially when I thought of all the new things they could do to make the game safer for the players and more exciting for the fans.
For instance, 1. Eliminating the helmets to stop spearing and head injures; 2. Allowing play to continue when a player goes to the ground; 3. Allowing any player to kick a field goal at any time; 4. Benching a player removed from the game so that he cannot return to the field …
… Oops, it sounds like I’m describing rugby. Never mind.
JOHN S
HEY, JOHN!
Good one. You had me for a minute. Maybe two.
HEY, WILLIE!
I’m glad you took the time to interpret that jabberwocky from NASCAR (Saturday’s News-Journal). I couldn’t tell what Steve Phelps was saying, but it sounded like an attempt to make sure ISC’s stock prices held steady.
I wonder if Google would be open to an icon in which we “stakeholders” could get the “Ken Willis interpretation” of any NASCAR story. It would be a great help.
RICK G
HEY, RICK!
Stakeholders. Pivot. Granular. Baked.
Phelps’ discussion of a potential new title-sponsorship model for NASCAR had a lot from the pages of the corporate book of jargon. But he failed to wedge in words and phrases like deep-dive, drilling down, deliverables, circle back and, of course, it is what it is.
But you know, at the end of the day, we can’t all be change-agents. I’ll circle back later.
That’s racin’.
HEY, WILLIE!
I really enjoyed reading your column until reading your rankings of the state’s professional franchises (“State of Sports,” April 4). You dismissed soccer from the ranking and then you added a snarky comment while discussing the Magic.
As a journalist, I really thought you would be more open-minded about all sports, not just the ones where the USA excels.
BRUCE
HEY, BRUCE!
I had a feeling someone might be upset at the intentional omission of Orlando’s soccer franchise.
But it’s been explained to me that Major League Soccer shouldn’t be considered “major league” in the same way as the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB, since those long-established leagues are considered the world’s best in their particular sport.
The MLS is way behind the English Premier League – and other international leagues, we’re told. And my source is a big fan of American soccer, by the way. And doesn’t want you knowing how to reach him.
Reach Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com