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Thursday, January 10, 2008
Radio silent vs. transparency
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Editor’s note: Other than the occasional story on ESPN, there wasn’t much on the web yesterday concerning Arthur Blank’s search for a general manager and head coach.
So, our D. Orlando Ledbetter decided to go to the source himself - Blank - and see what he could find out. And with Blank and Ledbetter among the thousands attending the Hawks-Cavaliers game at Philips Arena, Ledbetter seized the moment and approached the Falcons owner.
Got the rare “hall pass” from Mrs. Led last night. Was chilling at the Hawks game - and my friend looks to right, two suites over, and says “There’s Rich McKay and Arthur Blank.”
I go, “Oh (expletive), I have to go to work.” Conferred quickly by cell phone with colleague Steve Wyche and we agreed that while we have laundry list of questions for the Falcons braintrust, that an update on the Pete Carroll situation was our top question.
I exchanged pleasantries with Blank. He said he was just at the game trying to take a break from the search. I asked could I just get that one question in (usually after you get the one, it’s OK to ask for a 17-part follow-up). “Could we get an update on the Pete Carroll situation? Has he called?”
“Have you ever heard of radio silent?,” Blank said.
Looks like Carroll has gone “radio silent” too.
Reached on vacation in Hawaii, Carroll told the Los Angeles Times, “I’m not talking. I’m not responding to anything.”
Carroll’s agent Gary Uberstine wouldn’t take a call from the AJC yesterday and had the secretary route it to voice mail.
The Falcons are trying their best to operate as stealthy as possible, but they might want to consider another approach. Arizona used the “transparency” approach last season.
They brought in candidates, let them meet with the players, even held press conferences with the media. They did it all in the open. The process ended with Ken Whisenhunt getting the job.
Would you like to see the Falcons operate more in the open or does it matter as long as they get the right football people of the job(s)?
Ledbetter will be surfing Websites daily to catch up on what’s the latest buzz. Look for his posting around 1 p.m. Monday-Friday. If you have a Website you think he should check out, send it to him at dledbetter@ajc.com.
