We’ve had a bad run here in Fresno with our athletic program. Our former basketball coach, Jerry Tarkanian, built a winning program and the world’s 20th busiest arena, but left under NCAA sanctions. His successor, Ray Lopes, violated NCAA rules regarding contacting recruits, and a star player was convicted of murder. Drugs were rampant in the program, and drug tests routinely doctored or ignored. Although football and baseball were spotless, the entire athletic program was under a cloud.
Three longtime female athletic department employees – two coaches and an administrator, were fired under former Athletic Director Scott Johnson. The firings were handled poorly and three gender discrimination lawsuits were filed against the university. All three probably had some merit, but the latest, a $19 million judgement against the university in favor of ousted basketball coach Stacy Johnson – Klein, was excessive.
Now State Senator Dean Florez(D) Bakersfield, best known for his opportunistic, arrogant grandstanding on a variety of issues, has called for the President of CSU Fresno, John Welty to resign. We can debate the merits of his arguments all day long, but my question is this, to the Senator:
Where the hell are you on the real problems afflicting this State? You’ve helped run the State’s finances into the ground, again, and created a $10-20 billion dollar deficit, again.
Earth to Florez – you were a part of the original Gray Davis mess. You are a part of the bad sequel under Arnold, and your energy is devoted to CSU Fresno, a university not even in your District? Solve a real problem, Dean. This community doesn’t need your advice on President John Welty or CSU Fresno. There is a Board to deal with that, and you aren’t on it.