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Former Texas Baseball Players Defending Harmon...

  • & slamming Bohls...below are letters to the editor from former players about Tommy Harmon after a Bohls article that may or may not have been accurate...more in the link

    - Below from Seth Johnston

    "I woke up Thursday morning absolutely stunned." Not stunned by the content of what I was reading, but stunned because I couldn't believe that Kirk Bohls had crossed the line again."

    "I understand that Kirk has a job to do, and I respect that. But in every instance, there's a line that shouldn't be crossed, and Kirk consistently crosses that line. It is unfortunate that Kirk has the platform that he does. It is a shame that he can write whatever he wants without repercussion."

    - Below From Huston Street

    "I would like to firmly defend coach Harmon as a person, coach, friend and mentor. I have no clue what went down, and do not mean to interfere or opine with business as my respect and admiration for the University of Texas runs as deep as any."

    http://www.statesman.com/sports/longhorns/letters-to-the-sports-editor-ex-horns-defend-2396623.html

    This post was edited by mcb0703 on 6/9/2012 at 9:57 AM

    mcb0703 ●

  • Good thread.............as a whole sports writers (or most members of the media) have very thin skin and they feel like they don't have to answer to anybody. I wonder, if offered, would Bohls (or other writers) go on a talk show and answer questions about his story?

    For me players and coaches have to answer questions about how they do their job.........shouldn't media members have to do the same thing? I would add umpires or referees to the list who should answer questions about how they do their job when mistakes are made.

    This post was edited by austinr on 6/9/2012 at 10:06 AM

    "Leadership is wisdom, courage and great carelessness of self"

    austinr ●

  • Definitely a players coach and as I've said in other threads, he's a terrific baseball coach

    Beast 512

  • Problem is we haven't been doing too well. What should happen? A decision has to be made in certain situations and untouchables are like vacuum in nature. Doesn't exist. I wonder where Bohls got all the inside quotes though. If there is anything to frown on, it is sending the man off with a bad "obituary." Did not have to happen that way.

    horn4life1

  • austinr said...

    Good thread.............as a whole sports writers (or most members of the media) have very thin skin and they feel like they don't have to answer to anybody. I wonder, if offered, would Bohls (or other writers) go on a talk show and answer questions about his story?

    For me players and coaches have to answer questions about how they do their job.........shouldn't media members have to do the same thing? I would add umpires or referees to the list who should answer questions about how they do their job when mistakes are made.

    Yes ... Kirk would

    Lead Writer Hookem.com___EMAIL:atrubow@statesman.com___TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/aTrubow

    Alan Trubow

  • Alan Trubow said...

    Yes ... Kirk would

    Alan I don't want to continue to bash Bohls but I am sure with the 2 radio stations in Austin both of them would offer an hour. He has yet to appear..............he makes the slash and burn comments about coaches and then hides. I know it sales papers but he has become the boil on the butt of Austin..........for many reasons.

    This post was edited by austinr on 6/9/2012 at 2:23 PM

    "Leadership is wisdom, courage and great carelessness of self"

    austinr ●

  • I don't understand what Bohls said that was so bad. Harmon was definitely a polarizing figure in the locker room.

    This post was edited by Heisenberg on 6/9/2012 at 9:36 PM

    Heisenberg

  • Heisenberg said...

    I don't understand what Bohls said that was so bad. Harmon was definitely a polarizing figure in the locker room.

    Try to understand that you don't have a clue what you're talking about.....

    Beast 512

  • Alan Trubow said...

    Yes ... Kirk would

    But who really cares what the man has to say? He's an idiot.

    Beast 512

  • he'd do it, if only for the attention. he's a poor man's richard justice and skip bayless rolled into one.

    mcwast

  • Beast 512 said...

    Try to understand that you don't have a clue what you're talking about.....

    Well, I played under Augie and Harmon, so I think I might have a little clue...but you're the expert, so carry on.

    This post was edited by Heisenberg on 6/10/2012 at 5:09 PM

    Heisenberg

  • Any chance Harmon goes to Longhorn baseball radio?

    textex ●

  • From: Buck Cody
    Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 4:49 PM
    To: 'sportsletters@statesman.com'; 'kbohls@statesman.com'
    Cc: 'ddodds@mail.utexas.edu'; 'butch.worley@athletics.utexas.edu' 'rtijerina@statesman.com'; 'jwangemann@statesman.com'; 'cgolden@statesman.com'
    Subject: Tough Love -- Coach Tommy Harmon

    Kirk, Cedric,

    This morning the Austin American Statesman missed an enormous opportunity.

    As a baseball player at the University of Texas we had three rules: “Do what’s right, do your best, and when your best isn’t good enough, do your best again.” A concoction of relationships, trust, and best effort is the glue that holds the program together, and I could line up former players from here to Omaha, Nebraska who were not only in a state of disbelief following yesterday’s news, but were also thoroughly disappointed by this morning’s coverage of it.

    While the Statesman staff chose to focus on the tough, former players, those of us who have been in dugouts and on busses all over America with Coach Tommy Harmon, spent yesterday afternoon calling him, texting him, and stopping by his house thanking him for his love.

    Contrary to Kirk’s article, Coach Harmon’s job was not to “send proven hitters to the majors”. Coach Harmon’s job was to educate, influence and have a meaningful impact on a bunch of arrogant, self-centered, naive 18-22 year old boys who were smack-dab in the middle of growing up. I know; I was one of them. His job was to teach us how to win, how to overcome adversity, and how to fight and claw and stand up for ourselves when something was not going our way.

    This morning the Statesman challenged its readers to quickly name an ex-Longhorns player currently in the Big Leagues. My first thought, similarly I am sure to many of the readers, was Huston Street. Immediately upon hearing the news yesterday Huston reached out to Coach Harmon from literally inside the clubhouse at Petco Park to let him know that he was thinking about him and that he was “one of the most influential people” in Huston’s career.

    A more appropriate challenge from the staff at the Statesman (and believe me, it would not have been much of a challenge) would have been to ask the readers to quickly name an ex-Longhorns player who has used the values that Coach Harmon instilled in us to become a partner in a law firm, a budding entrepreneur, a selfless Little League coach, a responsible father, or a better or more loyal friend. As 18 year old boys my teammates and I, and many others just like us, packed our bags and left everything we had ever known to come play ball at The University of Texas. Three or four years later, we left as men.

    This is not about yesterday’s firing. I, probably better than most, understand the unfortunate nature of big-time collegiate athletics and the “what have you done for me yesterday?” mentality. This is what keeps the lights on for you guys as writers and is paramount in keeping the Athletic Department at Texas (and those who strive to beat Texas) competitive.

    What I cannot for the life of me understand is how after twenty three years of service, and after so many successes on (and as or more importantly off) the field, no one up there thinks to write an honest tribute or feel-good story about Coach Harmon’s impact on the program, or how well the former players are doing, or how much respect everyone that I know who knows Coach Harmon has for him.

    His former players are emailing and calling around trying to decide when it is that we can all get together to toast to Coach Harmon, his success on the field, and his undying friendship off of it. It sure would have been nice if the same paper that has covered him and his successful endeavors for almost a quarter century to have shown some consideration and tact and done the same.

    Regretfully,

    Buck Cody

    2002-2005 University of Texas Letterman

    Beast 512

  • With all due respect to Alan & Dave, it's now become clear that Kirk Bohls can no longer be trusted by The University of Texas. Simply, he has crossed a line he should've never come close to, and in the process has hurt and tarnished the reputation of the Austin American Statesman.

    I have no doubt he and his actions will be defended by others in the media; too late. His unprofessional conduct has reached a new low and for the sake of the Austin American Statesman, it's time for Kirk Bohls to move on. Whether that's creating obituaries, compiling high school statistics, or reporting on neighborhood road projects, the Austin American Statesman, as well as The University of Texas, deserves better than Kirk Bohls.

    mcb0703 ●

  • The statesman should be embarrassed IMO.

    Beast 512

  • Kirk has held a grudge against Belmont going back a few years since Mack limited access to the program. in Kirk's estimation, he is the senior press voice in Austin and thus is owed greater access than anyone else. If you'll notice, any reason he can now find to try to throw in a backhand at UT, he readily does so. A & M readily jumped into the void created when Kirk's readymade source of stories dried up. The last twelve months he's parroted whatever Loftin and Byrne threw his way. He's proven himself to be very petulant.

    thebeeve ●

  • Alan Trubow said...

    Yes ... Kirk would

    Then why doesn't he?

    I don't believe that no one asks.

    GPie

  • Bohls'. Job is to get readers and clicks, get attention and increase revenue for AAS.

    Seeing as how all these ex players are chiming in and all, it seems he's doing his job. If it's his opinion that Harmon underachieved then he should write about it of that's what the paper feels will aide in their success.

    Harmon may be a great guy, but UT baseball hadn't hit for shit in years. A change was needed badly and more changes might be as well.

    Prometheus7

  • there's not a radio show in austin who would confront him and ask him the types of questions you guys want asked, so it's a moot point. it's a small community of sports media and they aren't going to cross one another.

    roger huerta

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