Whatever problem the Kansas University athletic department has with a bill it received from the Lawrence Holidome, it has nothing to do with the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce or Downtown Lawrence Inc.
Asking the two community groups - in an e-mail, no less - to take the athletic department off the hook for $6,400 it reportedly owes the Holidome for a canceled basketball banquet is both arrogant and unfair.
The athletic department's rationale apparently is that it canceled the intimate banquet for players and select donors in favor of a parade and public celebration at Allen Fieldhouse. While it's true that the downtown and chamber groups supported having a parade to honor the championship basketball team, it was the athletic department's decision to allow the parade and to tack on the fieldhouse celebration.
And, although neither event would seem to conflict with having a more exclusive basketball banquet, the decision to cancel that event also was made by the athletic department, not the community groups. Their names weren't on the contract with the Holidome. They didn't plan the banquet and they didn't cancel it.
The attempt to pass this bill along only feeds the money-driven image of KU athletics. A $6,400 bill is a drop in the bucket compared to what the KU athletic department spent on travel, salaries and other expenses for the tournament, but it would be a major expense for the chamber or Downtown Lawrence. Is the athletic department's attempt to stick those groups with this bill a way of expressing lingering anger at the community for pressing for a parade to celebrate the Jayhawk victory?
Any way you look at it, trying to pass this bill along reeks of pettiness. The Holidome bill is the athletic department's responsibility. If department officials were unaware that the cancellation would cost them $6,400, that was their mistake, a mistake for which they - not the chamber or Downtown Lawrence - should pay.
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KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…
Very well put. Arrogant is a good word. Of course the mouthpiece for the KUAC is none other than Marchiony who is a horrible, horrible mouthpiece for department.If I were any of the employees (including the coaches) I would be so embarassed anytime this FOOL opens his mouth. He brings shame to the university as a whole. Why Lew Perkins uttilizes this moron as the official spokespeson is beyond comphrension. He does NOT represent the history of KUAC.
toe (anonymous) says…
Do we deserve what we get? Winning at all cost draws characters like we have running athletics and the administration at KU. KU does not have Lawrence in its name, and I guess they want to remind us of that. It may be time to start charging KU more to live here.
TopJayhawk (anonymous) says…
Be very careful what you ask for toe... Be very careful. You got nothing else in your town.. That would just mean more of you would have to hit the road to Topeka to find employment.. Lawrence is in a class all itself when it comes to mindlessly chasing away industry. and jobs
Made_in_China (Paul R. Getto) says…
There is a model for what Lawrence might look like without KU's presence: Eudora.
Keith (anonymous) says…
"TopJayhawk (Anonymous) says:Be very careful what you ask for toe: Be very careful. You got nothing else in your town."Or what? KU's going to pack up and leave for Topeka?
Kookamooka (MJ Browne) says…
The saddest part of this is, and maybe the most ironic part of the story, is that a good percentage of the retail in downtown Lawrence-including current members of DLI-will lose their jobs in the next year or two. The recession is going to hit them hard and there will be many empty storefronts as our "jewel" begins to rust. Every business down there is just hanging on by their teeth. The Athletic department, on the other hand....is FLUSH!When you win a national championship, you get a ton of money. Why can't they share their windfall with the fans that supported them? This is such a greedy move by KUAC. If you are a donor, reconsider where you put your money next year. KUAC will need to work harder for mine!
Rickyonealku (anonymous) says…
Now please write about the events on this issure.1. What date and who called for this event to take place????2. What type contract was signed, or verbal or hand shake?????3. When did the money or down payment need to be applied????4. Now when will a followup article be written???I travel a lot as do other people, you contact a motel to stay on business, or family event. A money trail how one is going to pay for such an event.Now my question to the readers and LJWorld is this????Am I reading all of the facts or just part of the facts?????
monkeyhawk (anonymous) says…
This was a major blunder by KUAC. When they ask city funded entities for cash, they are asking you and me.
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
As an alum of KU, I receive many request for donations from KU. I copy and send them back the payroll statistics for the top earners at KU with a sticky note added saying, "you don't need my money". In 2006 Perkins "salary" was $604,805.80 That is without the perks.
Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (anonymous) says…
Once again, look at the idiot at the top of the heap. Get rid of that degenerate Hemenway and get someone with some integrity.
Citizen_X (anonymous) says…
The vast majority of Lawrencians love the Jayhawks, love the quality student athletes that play for our sports teams and represent us, and have supported them throughout the years - win or lose. However, the KU administration appears to have an unquenchable thirst for money. Having just won the National Championship and all the millions of dollars in revenue that comes with such an accomplishment, the KU hierarchy turns to its hometown and asks for $6,400 more. The public outpouring of affection for the team is of no concern for Mr. Hemmingway, Mr. Perkins, and others - they want their money. This question of $6,400 exposes the greed that is at the core of these individuals relationship with KU. Too much is never enough. KU's demand for the taxpayers of Lawrence to pay KU an additional $6,400 - on top of the money already spent on law enforcement support for the parade and the clean-up afterwards, has done more to damage KU's relationship with its hometown and its Alumni than not having the parade at all. Greed of this nature will lead only to a division between the University and the citizens, fans, and Alumni that support the school and its teams year after year.
can8iv66049 (anonymous) says…
Also, what about the pay for all the extra police officers that were brought in for the 2 games:.? Should the City of Lawrence bill KU for help on campus, Allen Fieldhouse and Jayhawk Boulevard, let alone downtown:..or is that too bad because that darn University booked the games and they had the nerve to win!!!! 2 Sides/opinions to every story
localgirl9 (anonymous) says…
I have to say that I find it very petty of the University to ask the Chamber of Commerce or the DLI to foot this particular bill. At any time during the week before the parade KU could have asked either of those groups to help defray costs of the parade itself. But as has been pointed out, the decision to cancel the banquet was KU's decision alone. Regardless of the Chamber's or DLI's interest in having the parade downtown. Yes, both of those entities exist to promote downtown and local business. Yes, the parade promoted downtown Lawrence. I would not say that the parade day itself was a big monyemaker for most of downtown though. More likely it was a chance to make an impression on all of those people, hopefully enticing them to come back when they didn't have to hold their parade spot and actually enjoy all of downtown. Now, for the doomsayer that thinks all of downtown businesses are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. You are happily mistaken. There are plenty of businesses that are thriving and that will be able to ride out this recession. I see the traffic (pedestrian and other) downtown everyday. I work downtown. Downtown will be fine as long as folks enjoy it. People love to spend money, whether they really should or not. As long as the community works together to keep downtown viable, we will all be fine.
ksuone1 (anonymous) says…
what is the problem? I am sure in Manhattan they would be glad to do that for the university....Part arrogance and part stupidity.... But how many times do you win the national title ...so how do you plan for any of this....you k u fans and Lawrence "fathers" are the arrogant onesso get over yourself....I guess the answer is in staying at a Holiday Inn to be smart enough to figure it out...
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
This sad city made more than $6400 from the 100,000+ visitors who showed up to support the team. After the city and the chamber screamed about wanting a parade for the fans, I think they should pay the athletic department. As usual, the city and chamber created a ton of negative publicity for KU (complaining about not having a parade planned, complaining about moving a game to KC), yet they don't want to foot the bill after KU pleases them. Typical.
DBAWalt (anonymous) says…
ksuone1you wrote:you k u fans and Lawrence "fathers" are the arrogant onesso get over yourself:.I guess the answer is in staying at a Holiday Inn to be smart enough to figure it out:*************You make me sad that I was a KSU student and fan.I hope you get to stay at a Holiday Inn Express so you can get a clue, as you don't seem to have one now.
iloveyoutoo (anonymous) says…
Confrontation: "After the city and the chamber screamed about wanting a parade for the fans, I think they should pay the athletic department. "I don't see how this is the city's problem, nor is it the chamber's problem because at the end of the day the athletic department AGREED to have the parade. They could have stood their ground and said no altogether or they could have said no, we already have a banquet scheduled for that day and they could have suggested a different day. No one forced them to have this parade. They ultimately agreed to it and now they're creating bad publicity for themselves.
Yeoman2 (anonymous) says…
What happened to all that profit from the two "home" football games in K.C. (OU and MU)??????? Whatdidja do with that cash, Lew????????
Puff_Dragon (anonymous) says…
No one said these guys are schmart. I mean even a cave man could do it. They didn't want a banquet 'cause it's just a bunch of crackers with more money than looks or machismo that want to go somewhere and act impotent an' sh*t. That's who would be at the 'banguet (intimate dinner) with their 'trophy botox ho's:" haha........the players didn't want the freekin dinner that's why. Boys took the money an ran home to the homeys an took their people out for a celebration....they didn't want to sit around in Kansas and look at a bunch of pasty rich honky di8k$.
BrownDog (anonymous) says…
Ditto. Arrogance, though an apt description of the recent actions and attitude of the KU Athletic Department, is still too mild and generous. I prefer to think of it as naked shamelessness. Remember that KU Athletics (aka Marchiony) initially balked at the very idea of having a parade, like it's an unimaginable and awful thing to even consider. And then Marchiony sets a lower low by trying to unload a $6400 bill (which should amount to chump change to KU) on Downtown Lawrence. Does the man have no self-respect? Or does he dutifully leave it at home every morning, before heading to the office? He's just someone else whose character and better sense is for sale, and KU's buying. But let's not allow the recent tastelessness of Marchiony et al. make us forgot what Coach Self and his awesome Hawks have acheived. What they have done for KU and the community it which it resides, the community called Lawrence. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
eddiez (anonymous) says…
Do they still teach classes at KU, or is it just Accounting and Bas-e-ball?