Attention: The anti-Michael Adams crowd will love this one
Here’s a submission from an unexpected source: The famous Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe loosed a screed against Georgia president Michael Adams on Sunday. Bobby’s point — I’ve known him since 1978, when I was a cub reporter at the Lexington Leader and he’d gotten snowed in on an assignment to write about the Kentucky Wildcats — was that Adams is unfit to be president of the NCAA.
A couple of things here: First, Adams insists he’s not interested in the NCAA, and second, almost nobody believes him. That said, here are the highlights from Bobby’s blast:
Former NCAA president Myles Brand lost a battle with pancreatic cancer last September. A search committee is at work to choose his successor, and while I do not know for sure who should be that person, I have little hesitation in saying that I know who most definitely should not be that individual. That would be Michael Adams, president of the University of Georgia since 1997 and, from all indications, a leading contender for the job.
To say that the Adams reign at Georgia has been controversial is to indulge in vast understatement. Now, the idea of a college president, especially one at a large state university, butting heads with faculty, clashing with the athletics department, or having policy decisions challenged by everyone from politicians to alumni is not uncommon. Some of that almost inherently comes with the territory.
Complicating matters at Georgia is an arrangement where there is a Board of Regents responsible for the running of the entire network of state colleges, as well as an entity known as the UGA Foundation, which oversees investment gifts and pledges, manages investments, and distributes endowment gifts and scholarships, among many functions. Is there inherent office politics? Are there friendships and loyalties? You betcha. Are all the dynamics at the University of Georgia remotely understandable to outsiders such as you and me? Absolutely not.
But here’s something that is easy to comprehend. After being subjected to six years of what its members believed to be serious lapses of judgment and competence, the UGA Foundation engaged prestigious Atlanta law firm King & Spalding to select an independent firm to conduct what is known in the trade as a forensic audit, not of the entire Adams operation, but of seven specific items it believed called into question Adams’s conduct.
Is there more? Oh, yes. Lots.
Start with the idea that he is not really an academic. His doctorate from Ohio State is in political communication. Michael Adams is a spinmeister. He is a clever and ruthless politician. He was once chief of staff to then-Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker. He knows how to amass allies — a power-seeking liquor magnate named Donald Leebern being the most prominent — and he knows how to wield power. He is not a leader. He is a schemer and an intimidator.
And still more:
He pushed out athletic director Vince Dooley, a much-beloved figure in Georgia, a year ahead of schedule and then sold a surprisingly compliant Atlanta Journal-Constitution the entirely misleading premise that it was a matter of Academics vs. Athletics, which was simply not the case. The idea that the newspaper of Ralph McGill would buy into such a phony act is truly sad.
What’s really scary is that the same search firm that delivered him to the University of Georgia is handling the NCAA matter as well. As one Georgia source said, “Don’t ever underestimate Michael Adams.’’
But if the NCAA people want to investigate Adams for themselves, all they need do is pick up a book written by the late Rich Whitt titled, “Behind the Hedges: Big Money and Power Politics at the University of Georgia.’’ (NewSouth Books, Montgomery, Ala.) It’s all there, in exquisite detail.
And here we note — as has been noted before in this space – that the firm in question is Parker Executive Search of Atlanta. And here I must also point out that this newspaper was not “sold” on Adams’ rationale for ousting Dooley. I still bear the memories of a not-entirely-comfortable off-the-record lunch at the Commerce Club convened by Adams in the summer of 2003. (Adams did most of the talking. Shockingly enough, he wasn’t happy with some of the things I’d written.) But let’s get back to Bobby, who’s about to wind it up:
Both [former King & Spalding partner Robert] Miller and [law professor James] Ponsoldt are mystified that the NCAA would even consider Adams as a candidate for its most important job.
“The charges against him all come back to integrity,’’ said Miller.
C’mon, NCAA. Wake up. You can do better than Michael Adams.
Me, I’m guessing Bobby Ryan is about to get an invitation for lunch at the Commerce Club. If I recall, I had the chicken.
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199 comments Add your comment
Jeff Fitzpatrick
March 31st, 2010
9:18 am
The truth hurts, doesn’t it ? Michael Adams, and his henchmen (The Board of Regents) are a disgrace to our state and our University. It shows just how backward the state of Georgia remains due to ” the good ole boy network” of managing our state university system. I’m a graduate of UGA, and sickened by all this. When are we going to take some action regarding this entire mess ?
UGA Slobberknocker
March 31st, 2010
9:24 am
Crap! Now the truth is out and we have no chance of getting rid of that SOB.
Adams $$$
March 31st, 2010
10:10 am
I heard adams is lobbying the board of regents for a huge raise, after “turning down” the NCAA job!!! What a joke! He will probably get it—he makes way too much as it is for doing nothing.
PALADAWG
March 31st, 2010
2:54 pm
Coach Evans has raised the overall athletic program at UGA since his investiture. Don’t forget that UGA led the nation two years ago in profit for athletics. That pays for all the so-called minor sports, in which UGA has won national championshipships, like equestrions (in which UGA won a national championship in its first year of competitionship) and gymnastics, getting into the finals of baseball. These are’t minor for the guys and womenwho bust their fannies participating in them. Damon Evans made all this possible. I love what Coach Dooley did for UGA, but he never put any emphasis into anything other than football. Coach Evans has done a better as AD. He is priceless.
There is no "A" in Academics at UGA
March 31st, 2010
6:18 pm
Georgia fans are just trashy.http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/uga-tailgaters-warned-to-140564.html….
boots
March 31st, 2010
10:20 pm
The way he stole fraternity houses’ property was criminal. The way he bullied the teachers was shameful, as was the way he treated Coach Dooley. Adams is NOT responsible for the growth of the University. The factulty, students, growth of the state and Hope scholarship are. He should leave, and we will be the better for it.
akadimicks
April 1st, 2010
9:15 am
Fire Adams. Student atheletes don’t need none of that readin’ & ritin’ cramp. It’s a football skool!!!
JacketFan
April 1st, 2010
9:26 am
Had to share …
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f236/cow13/cow13/DOTWU/Adamsdouchebag.jpg
ds
April 1st, 2010
12:28 pm
Please let him leave UGA. I never liked him after what he did to Coach Dooley. It was uglier than many people know and Evans was a co conspirator. Although financially the department has done well under Evans, the ruthless term could have been applied to him also when he became the AD turning on the man who selected him for the job.
Dzerzhinsky
April 1st, 2010
2:18 pm
Ralph McGill was then and is now, so far as I am concerned, garbage.
realistic
April 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
people need to realize that academics come before sports. Uga class of 2009. He is not perfect, but the University has prospered under his leadership…
Hill Dawg
April 1st, 2010
7:18 pm
PalaDawg, you don’t need to get your facts straight, you need the get the facts. Vince is the one that brought in the Women’s Equestrian Team. Nobody else. It was all Vince’s idea and it was a wise decision. He had relatively little expense because of the Vet school and Ag school.It would also add a women sport to keep the Feds off our campus. For some reason I feel that you wouldn’t have given Evans credit for this if it had failed. Give Vince credit for the swim team,too. And diving. Vince did a fine job. Put some great coaches in UGA. Give Evans credit for running a tight ship and for the new basketball coach. Give Adam’s credit for a basketball coach, too. And his son, the professor of basketball. Evans jumped on Adam’s bus and trashed Vince. Hope some day he will try to pull Vince out from under the bus were he was pushed.
Attention: The anti-Michael Adams crowd will love this one | Mark …
April 2nd, 2010
12:23 am
[...] See the original post here: Attention: The anti-Michael Adams crowd will love this one | Mark … [...]
John Littleton
April 2nd, 2010
7:17 am
I think Condalina Rice should have the job at the NCAA..We need a new propective.
JOHNinGA
April 2nd, 2010
7:26 am
If it will get him the {H E L L} out of the great state of Georgia im all for it!!!
JOHNinGA
April 2nd, 2010
7:29 am
If it will get him the (H E L L ) out of Georgia im all for it!!!!!
college dude
April 2nd, 2010
7:59 am
Not sure why Bob Ryan would be “surprised” by the AJC just regurgitating what they have been spoon-fed. Hasn’t been any real reporting done in that paper in 30 years.
rightofcenter
April 2nd, 2010
10:34 am
Let’s not forget Adams most astounding feat – you know, looking the other way when your biggest booster (Leeburn) takes up residence with his girlfriend (as opposed to his wife back in Columbus) who happens to be the highly successful gymnastics coach. Family values, anyone? Oh, and did you hear about the big birthday party Suzanne threw The Donald, complete with strippers? Ask Dr. Adams – he was there, of course.
ED
April 2nd, 2010
10:37 am
UGA ALUM 1978, I CANNOT BELEIVE WE CANNOT GET RID OF THIS IDIOT! I TOLD UGA WHEN THEY CALLED FOR MORE MONEY, THAT I WOULD NOT GIVE ANOTHER PENNY UNTIL ADAMS IS FIRED. NOW HE WANTS TO RUIN TAILGATING. LET’S RUN HIS ASS BACK TO OHIO!!!!!!!!
J
April 2nd, 2010
10:42 am
Seems like Mr. Ryan from all the way up in Boston, Mass has picked up on 2 things most Georgians seemed to be complacent on: Michael Adams is a controversial and often arrogant abuser of power (a person who must see himself as the center of the universe in the realm of ethics – of which he doesn’t seem to have any) AND the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (aforementioned as the the paper of Ralph McGill) is genuinely blind on any issues in the State of Georgia, be it Michael Adams or the apparent blind abuse of power going on under the Gold Dome in Atlanta! Cudos Mr. Ryan, well said!
Robert Dunn
April 2nd, 2010
11:02 am
Fire Adams! Some of you webpage gurus need to start a Fire Michael Adams webpage.
HanDAWG
April 2nd, 2010
11:09 am
read http://www.bighairyblawg.com
mexdawg
April 2nd, 2010
12:30 pm
Hey Al what the hell.You must be on crack.This guy has become the most hated man in Georgia since Sherman.I’m an alum 78,my dad law school 56,my sister 79 and we all have one thing in common we hate this idiot.I say fire this bum now and if the regents won’t do it I say fire them too.Do you remember the reception he recieved at the Sugar Bowl.This guy needs to go NOW.No more of my money until we get rid of this jerk.
mexdawg
April 2nd, 2010
12:34 pm
Hey Robert I agree with you buddy.That’s a great idea.
OSCAR
April 2nd, 2010
7:17 pm
I LOVE MICHAEL aDAMS!!!!
dawgwood sandwich
April 2nd, 2010
9:39 pm
Why can’t we just have an idiot basketball coach like Tech? An idiot president is not good. And don’t look now, but by Monday there will be charges filed in the taxi-gate episode. At least one of the perps were on the varsity, according to a source in the police dept., but it’s not clear if the others are on practice squads, on scholarship, etc. The couple and one witness is reliable, but the taxi driver is not cooperating so far. It’s going to be bad, so we need to brace ourselves.
endoftheworldasweknowit
April 2nd, 2010
9:51 pm
Good riddance if Adams leaves. The NCAA is messed up enough already, he can’t do much harm there. Now we have bigger fish to fry. Richt or Evans or the Dir. of Football Ops or somebody has got to get a handle on the discipline problems in the football program. Word from Athens-Clarke Cty PD is that there will be charges filed in the taxi assault case. The four accused “have ties” to the football program including the varsity roster, though no names have been released yet. They basically bullied the couple and their friend and made a lot of sexually derogatory comments, including threats of sexual violence. Hitting and slapping the couple may not be the worst of it. Absolutely no excuse for UGA student-athletes, or even just UGA students to behave in such a manner. I am sure Richt will respond quickly and harshly, but it is just too damm late. Someone needs to put in a ‘lifeskills’ program to teach these boys how to become men without becoming a**holes.
2011Dawg
April 2nd, 2010
9:57 pm
I love the Dawgs, living in Athens, and the university. I am getting sick of these recurring, embarrassing criminal and behavioral episodes on and off campus perpetuated by the same athletes we cheer on gamedays. It is time to stop the entitlement and hero-worship of these immature bullies. They are not fit to wear the red and black.
2011Dawg
April 2nd, 2010
9:59 pm
Someone had better start talking (the taxi driver, the thugs, someone who knows who the thugs are) or this thing is going to drag out. It would look a lot better for the university to be ahead of the curve, to be ahead of the police and press for once, in addressing one of these events.
dawgwood sandwich
April 2nd, 2010
10:01 pm
It’s going down on Monday, if not before, and it’s not going to be pretty. The police did not report the incident until after someone who knew the perps came forward.
tienoggwad
April 2nd, 2010
10:06 pm
Society and young folks in particular are getting too wimpy. The white or asian kids who complained about the brothers having a little fun with them in the taxi is a classic example. More baseless allegations against athletes with better things to do than be nice to groupies.
2011Dawg
April 2nd, 2010
10:13 pm
Enter your comments here
2011Dawg
April 2nd, 2010
10:14 pm
UGA is better and bigger than Michael Adams and 300-lb sociopaths in taxis.
Babsishot
April 2nd, 2010
10:22 pm
Let’s face it, people. We all see a lot of folks on autumn Saturdays who we tolerate or even indulge simply because they are wearing the red and black and will be cheering for our Dawgs. They weren’t students, much less athletes, and they generally act like the trash and drunken rednecks they are, including leaving a lot of debris around campus and treating our guests inhospitably. But that’s OK, they’re Dawg fans and we can pick up after them and clean up their mess and apologize for their crude behavior. What I can’t brook is when our coaching staff recruits criminal-athletes and bully-athletes instead of student athletes.
WinderDawg
April 3rd, 2010
9:16 am
Adams needs to go I can sum up Adams in two words NO CLASS! since the Dooley forced retirement his reign has had the Harrick scandal and has shut down the campus for alumni on games days. He needs to look at Dooley for leadership skills and CLASS.
Don Vito Leeburn
April 3rd, 2010
9:34 am
Bradley, never tell anyone outside the family what you are thinking again, ever.
You will sleep with the fishes.
Dr. Phil
April 3rd, 2010
11:33 am
While at UGA, Adams’ income has exceeded a million dollars a year plus all he could steal from the foundation and all the perks he could amass. I don’t know why this creep would need more money, but he certainly has his eye on NCAA $$$. Adams has just about done all of the damage he can do to UGA, and certainly an honest new governor will can him and purge the BOR of Lebron and Sonny’s stooge appointees. The NCAA actually deserves Adams, but maybe he will just slink away in the next year.
Snoop
April 3rd, 2010
11:36 am
I am sure that a one-game suspension (Louisians Lafayette) will put the fear of God into those puppies. It looks like another good year for orange jumpsuits.
Big D Dawg
April 3rd, 2010
12:25 pm
Paladawg, are you kidding? Vince hired Perno for baseball, the equestrian team was started while Dooley was AD. The expansion of facilities for all sports all started under Vince’s watch. what exactly has evans accomplished?
Tech fans
April 4th, 2010
5:07 am
Mark Bradley, what a liar.
You come running in here to tell us that Michael F. Adam$ was mad at you for what you wrote about him.
What the AJ-C said about Michael F. Adam$ is a matter of record, as the Boston Globe points out.
You told us the donations are up. You had a meal on Michael F. Adam$ with MY MONIES I donated to him to get DONATIONS to UGA, not to buy you a fancy butt lunch.
Chicken costs one dollar.
How much does Adam$’ expense report indicate it cost me for you to have it there ?
You faithfully toed the line, obviously.
You failed to make the point that the Boston Globe DID FOR YOU, that Adam$ is a cheat.
Conspire with him.
Vince was against going around the Admissions Office for Tony Cole.
Adam$ gave Tony Cole his Presidential Admit to UGA.
Vince was against and had already removed Jim Harrick Senior from his list of candidates for UGA men’s basketball coach.
Adam$ insisted Vince hire him because he had worked with Jim Harrick Senior at Pepperdine, where Adam$ was NOT president.
Vince refused to go against the state of Law of Anti-Nepotism for Jim Harrick Junior.
Adam$ hired Jim Harrick Junior then said at the Press Conference you did not report Mark Bradley, “How was I supposed to know what is going on in the classrooms at The University of Georgia.”
Mark Bradley you are JUST a liar.
You did NOT report on the real facts of this scumbag.
And, now today you try to make it sound as if you WISH you had said what the Boston Globe DID SAY about the sucker.
Who cares what the name of the Executive Search Firm is Mark Bradley.
The AJ-C most assuredly DID and still DOES toe the line on Michael F. Adam$.
If you want to read what an article looks like that proves that the AJ-C is NOT SOLD still on Michael F. Adam$, read the Boston Globe story, or any of mine by direct comparison.
Big L
April 4th, 2010
9:56 am
I’m glad somebody said that the academic standards at UGA are high. I have a friend who is designing bio diesel plants . He graduated with a degree in literature , with engineering as a minor. Those techtards sure do howl about something that is just as good from UGA. Ooooooooh, FACE!!!
Adams T
April 4th, 2010
5:27 pm
Adams get trashed more in the AJC than UGA’s North Campus after a big day of tailgating. What gives???
GoDOGS1
April 5th, 2010
7:09 am
PALADAWG: Really? Men/women’s Tennis…Womens gymnastics, swimming, and BBall..Men’s swimming, baseball, and BBall. ALL Vince.
Nothing personal against Damon, but he is under Adams’ thumb and realishes it for his career path. I’m pretty sure Vince presented Damon as the heir, and tutored him in the ADept.. Damon now has image of being Adams’ pet and throwing VD under the bus….whether that is accurate or not.
ozzfest
April 6th, 2010
8:10 pm
BOB IS DEAD ON ABOUT RUTHLESS & GUTLESS MICHAEL ADAMS….BUT HE ALSO CORRECT ABOUT THE AJC….EQUALLY AS GUTLESS.
Dixie
April 6th, 2010
9:15 pm
u(sic)ga and michael adams, a match made in heaven!!!!
Chiquita
April 6th, 2010
9:37 pm
Adams runs the biggest party school in the country, and the athletic office keeps busy full-time bailing out semi-literate thug-athletes who are out of control.
And someone thinks he can run the NCAA. Give me a break.
Wreckmaniac
April 7th, 2010
10:13 am
We may well be somewhat narrowminded as a group here, but I think the NCAA job would be right for Mike. You never read about him unless there
is something to do with UGA sports. Being pres of a major university has other duties dosen’t it? Do we ever hear about those. If Mike leaves, then UGA could get a real president which would be one that delegates the full atheletic program to someone else and spends his time on the right topics which are interfacing with key industry and govt figures to obtain more research grants, bringing imminent scholars to the faculty, critically reviewing the cirriculum so that improvements can be made. This group probably dosen’t want to read this stuff but a prominent pres concentrates on these matters. Dr Barker set the goal at Clemson 10 years ago to get Clemson into the top 20 public universities as rated by US News and he has done it. This is what the best presidents do.
Bigstack O' Pancakes. It is an Irish name.
April 7th, 2010
1:37 pm
Sure hope the NCAA takes him and then we can get a university president who isn’t a slimeball Boss Hogg ripoff.
The Boston Globe takes another swing at UGA's Adams | Mark Bradley
April 8th, 2010
9:22 am
[...] but the flagship paper of New England has hammered Georgia’s president again. First it was a scathing Sunday column from the famous Bob Ryan. Now comes an actual editorial regarding the NCAA’s search for a new [...]