Denny Green & KSTP -- Sex Scandal
Craig Hansen
Well, newsgroup buds, I've been anticipating the breaking of this story
for a few weeks now. I have a friend who works at the radio side of KSTP,
and he clued me in. I've kept mum because of the nature of the news, but
now that the story has aired...
It appears Mr Green has been a bad boy. For those of you who don't get
local TV, the story is this:
And to cover my butt, even though this is exactly as KSTP-TV Channel 5's
Robb Leer reported it, let's plaster this recount with the word:
ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY
In his first year in MN, Denny Green and a 39-year-old gal had a 6-month
affair. He got her pregnant, then broke it off. At first unconcerned
about the child, he later decided he wanted her to get an abortion.
He agreed to pay her once the abortion was done...it's possible she never
secured the abortion and had the kid anyway...anyway, he wanted to keep it
hush-hush so as not to damage his career.
As part of the arrangement they agreed upon on the contract, he was to
keep mum on their relationship and never mention he'd been with her. But
then, later on, ANOTHER member of the Vikings staff propositioned her for
sex...when she refused, he mentioned Denny's liason with her. This let
her know he'd not kept mum on being with her, so she demanded the money
due her in the contract for breaking the "silence" clause.
A third member of the Vikings staff is said to have delivered $5,000 to
her---the required amount--and there is some question as to where that
money came from. According to Channel 5 KSTP, Vikings board member
Wheelock Whitney is conducting an audit of all accounts to make sure Denny
did not use Vikings money to pay the woman the money he owed her.
The areas that seem to be of greatest ethical concern are whether Green
used Vikings funds rather than his own to pay his legal penalities to the
woman, AND the use of Vikings staff to conduct personal business matters.
Of course, that is what concerns the Vikings organization. What concerns
some may be Denny's off-the-field antics, which are not exactly "setting a
good example for the younger players."
That's what has been brewing but kept hush-hush for a while here in MN.
But tonight at 10 p.m., KSTP broke the story and it should be safe to
repeat.
And remember, this is all under the banner of:
ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY ALLEGEDLY
So, what are your reactions and thoughts regarding this breaking news?
Questions that pop up in my mind include:
1) Could this be the "one scandal too many" that spells the end of Denny in MN?
2) If Denny IS ousted due to this, under what circumstances would it
become critical enough to merit tossing him out BEFORE the end of the
season? Or can it wait till the season is over?
3) If Denny gets ousted this season, who could we get to finish out the
season? Foge? Billick? Bud?
4) If Denny gets ousted after the end of the season (which I think was a
strong possibility BEFORE this scandal broke, just due to lack of
on-the-field winning), who is your choice to become the new head coach of
the Vikes?
**My vote is for Auburn's Terry Bowden!!**
5) Does this story affect your impression of/enthusiasm for the Vikes?
6) Will it affect your willingness to buy tickets and attend games?
(I am a season ticket holder...I'll keep going because of the players and
because the Vikings are bigger than this one issue and this one coach.)
7) Should this spell "The End" for Headrick as well?
8) How good a season can we expect if Denny stay? If Denny is ousted?
9) What does this do for the general direction of the team in the short-
to medium- term future (i.e., this year and the next couple seasons, as we
select another coach).
10) Finally, how many of you out there still support Denny, regardless of
this and any OTHER scandals the team's been through under his watch?
==============
I know I'm going to get flamed by lots of folks for repeating this story,
even though it's now public knowledge. So let me say this to reassure
some people who think I'm an anti-Vikes philistine:
I admired Green when he first hit town. He produced results, had a good
eye for talent, and trimmed a lot of unproductive fat off the team. I
actually believed we'd found a coach who could take us to the next level.
My interest in the Vikes has increased since Denny took over. I
questioned some of his moves (like signing Jim McMahon) and applauded
others (grabbing Warren Moon). Generally, I'd give his first 3 years a
B+.
But where I've become concerned lies in few areas:
1) A lack of winning in the playoffs.
2) Diminishing results in the regular season.
3) His lack of people skills with players, which I think scares some free
agents away.
My general solution in the past year and a half was to suggest maybe Denny
should become a VP of scouting and CEO of the Vikes (replacing Headrick),
and to put Tony Dungy in as head coach. After all, Dungy is a wonderful
coach with great people skills, and having Denny in Headrick's position
would capitalize on keeping his head for football and eye for talent
within the organization. Now Dungy's in Tampa and that solution is no
longer tenable.
I'm a Vikes fan, a season ticket holder, and I loved the win last Sunday.
Now I am concerned about how this could bullox up the season.
I'll still be there for the remaining 7 home games....hoping I see
something worth cheering for. Any encouragement for me in light of all
this?
Just wonderin' and waitin' for feedback!
Craig
--
=============================================================
++ Name: Craig Hansen ++
++ Address: 3035 Eagandale Place #210, Eagan, MN 55121 ++
++ E-mail: cha...@isd.net ++
++ WWW: http://www.isd.net/chansen/ ++
++ Organization: Rose Creek Web Services ++
++ ++
++ "Why did you just do that to yourself?" ++
++ --Dr. Laura Schlesinger, title of her new book. ++
=============================================================
Craig Hansen
In article <chansen-0509...@pm-4-156.innovsoftd.com>,
cha...@isd.net (Craig Hansen) wrote:
>...According to Channel 5 KSTP, Vikings board member
> Wheelock Whitney is conducting an audit of all accounts to make sure Denny
> did not use Vikings money to pay the woman the money he owed her.
OOPS!! Better correct myself, I believe the board member conducting the
audit is JOHN SKOGLUND, and NOT Wheelock Whitney.
Sorry for any confusion.
Andrew Apold
Andrew stopped manipulating the Magna of Illusion when he heard someone using Craig Hansen's account say:
>
>2) If Denny IS ousted due to this, under what circumstances would it
>become critical enough to merit tossing him out BEFORE the end of the
>season? Or can it wait till the season is over?
If it is as bad as it sounds, it'd probably be immediate.
>
>3) If Denny gets ousted this season, who could we get to finish out the
>season? Foge? Billick? Bud?
>4) If Denny gets ousted after the end of the season (which I think was a
>strong possibility BEFORE this scandal broke, just due to lack of
>on-the-field winning), who is your choice to become the new head coach of
>the Vikes?
>10) Finally, how many of you out there still support Denny, regardless of
>this and any OTHER scandals the team's been through under his watch?
I still like his coaching ability, but am beginning to have a problem with
some of his off-field decisions, especially the support of Soloman...
>and to put Tony Dungy in as head coach. After all, Dungy is a wonderful
>coach with great people skills, and having Denny in Headrick's position
>would capitalize on keeping his head for football and eye for talent
>within the organization. Now Dungy's in Tampa and that solution is no
>longer tenable.
I too wanted Dungy for the head coaching job.
I know that initially when Green came in, the NFL had a vested interest
in keeping him there, especially when the Raiders ditched Art Shell and
he was the only black head coach in the NFL. Now with Dungy in Tampa,
Rhodes in Philly, that isn't as crucial to the league... but that
aside... there are several who I'd like:
Jerry Rhome - he produced great results as the offensive coordinator
in Phoenix until Buddy Ryan came in and ditched him. We then
hired him as our receivers coach, and Chris Carter instantly
went out and had his record season, Jake Reed had his
breakthrough year, and our pass offense, at least, started to
be a thing to be feared. Many people (supposedly including
Headrick) urged Green to make Rhome the offensive coordinator,
but Green refused and kept Billick in place (not that I have
anything in particular against Billick). Rhome then took an
offer to be Houston's offensive coordinator. Since arriving
he took a team that was dead last in offense in the AFC and
has produced increasing results with next to no talent (Chris
Chandler is his QB)...
John Teerlink - well, what's fair is fair.
Joe Greene - he deserves a shot
Terry Bowden - not sure he'd accept.
that guy in Northwestern... not sure he'd accept
Hmmmm Buddy Ryan was once our Defensive Line coach, in the 70's,
taking over after Jack Patera left. But Bud Grant kept him
in line back then. He went to Chicago when they hired our
defensive coordinator (...Patera?). Still, I don't want him
in Minnesota.
Warren?
--
Andrew Apold (mor...@magg.net)
/**********************************************/
/ C/C++, Legion, Blue Oyster Cult, Pink Floyd /
/ Hawkwind, Amtgard, Vikings, and S.A. Spurs /
/**********************************************/
"I was corrupt BEFORE I had power!"
-Random
Matt McCann
> Questions that pop up in my mind include:
>
> 1) Could this be the "one scandal too many" that spells the end of Denny
in MN?
Why should this be the end of Denny, Clinton is still President.
> 2) If Denny IS ousted due to this, under what circumstances would it
> become critical enough to merit tossing him out BEFORE the end of the
> season? Or can it wait till the season is over?
Wait until the end of the season, then evaluate it.
> 3) If Denny gets ousted this season, who could we get to finish out the
> season? Foge? Billick? Bud?
Doesn't matter the owners will totaly screw this up and hire some high
school coach from Alaska.
> 4) If Denny gets ousted after the end of the season (which I think was a
> strong possibility BEFORE this scandal broke, just due to lack of
> on-the-field winning), who is your choice to become the new head coach of
> the Vikes?
Doesn't matter who coaches if the front office doesn't have a clue how to
trade and make deals.
> 5) Does this story affect your impression of/enthusiasm for the Vikes?
If you can still bleed purple after the pre-season, this won't matter.
> 6) Will it affect your willingness to buy tickets and attend games?
Nope, I will still go.
> 7) Should this spell "The End" for Headrick as well?
Who knows what they will do with him..
> 8) How good a season can we expect if Denny stay? If Denny is ousted?
???????? I don't know if it really makes a difference. You would have to
interview the members of the team and get their reaction to it. After all
they are the ones that are playing.
> 9) What does this do for the general direction of the team in the short-
> to medium- term future (i.e., this year and the next couple seasons, as
we
> select another coach).
We could either be the next Dallas or the next Rams..
> 10) Finally, how many of you out there still support Denny, regardless
of
> this and any OTHER scandals the team's been through under his watch?
Once again I go back to #1, Denny is a great coach, and a good guy. Just
because he has women problems is no reason to dish him. Clinton is STILL
President, is previous antics haven't change the way the public thinks of
him. Denny just needs to hire Clintons press people.
> I know I'm going to get flamed by lots of folks for repeating this story,
> even though it's now public knowledge. So let me say this to reassure
> some people who think I'm an anti-Vikes philistine:
> I admired Green when he first hit town. He produced results, had a good
> eye for talent, and trimmed a lot of unproductive fat off the team. I
> actually believed we'd found a coach who could take us to the next level.
> My interest in the Vikes has increased since Denny took over. I
> questioned some of his moves (like signing Jim McMahon) and applauded
> others (grabbing Warren Moon). Generally, I'd give his first 3 years a
> B+.
Craig, you love the Vikes, I don't think that you bashed them at all, just
raised some good questions. The real problem lies with the front office
and management. I strongly believe the only reason that Dallas signed H.
Walker this year was so they could trade him back to the Vikes next year.
With the managment that we have, the would.
-- Matt
Cliff Lamb
Sorry about that!!
Cliff Lamb
I wanted to comment on candidates for a new head coach:
A) not that Bowden would be bad, but I think he could use a bit more
time to develop as a "teacher".
B) my preferences would be:
1) Pete Carroll - Defensive Coordinator from San Francisco, he's a
defensive wizard, good with players, good with the media, and has ties to
the Vikings. For those who didn't know, he was the runner up to Green.
He'd be a fantastic head coach.
2) Willie Shaw - Defensive Coordinator from St. Louis, same story
as Carroll, well respected, defensive wizard, former drill sargent and
Viking secondary coach (when they were the best in the league).
3) As for the college ranks, I think the best NFL coaches in the
college ranks are: Bill Snyder - Kansas State, Steve Spurrior - Florida,
John Mackovic - Texas, Nick Saban - Michigan State (Former Bears DC), and
Tyrone Willingham - Stanford (Former Viking RB coach). All of these
coaches have turned a program around and made them into perennial powers.
To me, that is the sign of a good coach.
Cliff Lamb
John Bjerke
How about Bud Grant...oh,sorry, must have had a flashback...