Recent Emergency Season Ticket Holder Meeting
by killerbeetim on Mar 9, 2009 3:53 PM PDT
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PrintBelow is an account from Citizen killerbeetim about the season ticket holder's meeting that the Clippers held in February. The meeting has been referenced in the media, but this is a first hand account. Thank you citizen, for taking the time to share this here. As we''ve noted before, Donald Sterling's locker room tirade on March 2nd appears in a different light when taken in the context of this meeting exactly one week earlier. ClipperSteve
After reading all this DTS and Andy Roeser talk I have to bring up something.
I was invited to a special emergency meeting for "High Risk" season ticket holders at Staples Center before the game on the 23rd of February against Golden State. The purpose of the meeting was to show how the franchise is working to provide the best possible product on the court. They want something fans can be proud of.
They tried to make this "meeting" as pleasant as possible. There was hors d'oeuvres and an open bar. All high end stuff..because these "High Risk" accounts were people who spend A LOT of money annually on their seats.
This was held in the Wachovia room at Staples Center. It's a conference room in the premiere level. I'm not a "High Risk" account because I will be back next season. I just wanted to see how it was going to be.
There was 3 guest speakers there:
1.) Adam Silver - NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer
2.) Andy Roeser - President and NBA Alternate Governor
3.) Neil Olshey - Assistant General Manager
Ok...I have felt weird talking about this...because I haven't seen anywhere on any message board this subject being brought up. I was thinking, word of the fight club never leaves the fight club......but then I realized that this was just too awesome to NOT talk about. I was so lucky for being there.
To start, Adam Silver was introduced. This guy was COMPLETELY BORING. This emergency meeting (the first of its kind to bandage the relationship to season ticket holders) was about the Clippers. So what does Adam Silver talk about? USA Basketball and Internation Basketball growth.
He did start his nonsense with the Clippers though. He was letting us know that on the "business" side that we're a top 5 franchise in this league. WOW!!!!!! Ok....we knew that. We make money! Season Ticket Holders don't receive any of that money so we DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT!!!!!! We want a winning team on the court!
He then went on talking about his trip to Beijing with the USA Olympic team. He was saying how popular Kobe was there and how proud he was oh Coach K and TEAM USA. Ok.....we weren't there to talk about USA Basketball. Then he went on saying that Basketball is the Number 2 sport in the whole world...and that it will seen pass soccer in popularity. Ok....that was just an ignorant statement....but we didn't want to talk about the growth in the world. We were there to discuss the Clippers.
Once he was done with his nonsense Andy Roeser was presented to the stage for his opening statement. At that time Mr. Silver found something more important to do and left his seat at the stage and the Washovia room altogether. He disappeared never to be scene again even though he was supposed to sit through this difficult Town Hall style meeting.
Andy did his speach, the team is injured. Sterling spent money. The Training Center cost $50million. Blah....Blahh....Blahhh!
Then Neil Olshey was called to stage. He said "Well...Andy just covered everything I was about to say". So we went on to Q&A...
That's when everything went APE &h!t!!!!!! I mean it went NUTS!!!!!! The floor opened for Q&A. There was a microphone to be passed around for the person asking the question. They were to state their name and how long they've been a season ticket holder for. The room wasn't that large, and people didn't want to wait for the microphone. People stated asking questions and making comments.
"Why is Dunleavy still coach?"
"Hey Andy, you overpaid for Dunleavy!"
"Why didn't we trade Baron."
"Why are our players always hurt? The trainer should be fired"
"Dunleavy should be fired!"
"What is going on with Kaman?"
There was much more than that...mostly venting. Some people were saying that if Dunleavy was still there at the start of next season that they will save their $20-30K they spend on seats.
Mostly people agreed that he was great as ONLY the GM, but not as the coach and GM. Andy did answer questions like the one above.
"Why is Dunleavy still coach?"
-The roster hasn't been at full strength all season. They believe that Dunleavy will be evaluated only when the roster is at 100%. After this season his strength as coach will be assessed. They are willing to make ANY changes necessary to place a winning product on the court.
"Hey Andy, you overpaid for Dunleavy!"
-He simply answered "Yes....Yes we did" and shrugges his head.
"Why didn't we trade Baron."
-He said that teams weren't offering value to us. The bids we received were borderline insane and there wasn't a serious offer. We weren't offering a fire sale to save money.
"Why are our players always hurt? The trainer should be fired"
-He blamed it on bad luck. The trainers couldn't stop Elton from his injury. Shawn's injury couldn't have been stopped by any trainer. The list goes on and on as you all know.
"Dunleavy should be fired!"
-He told us that after the season he will be evaluated as coach. Any changes necessary to produce winning basketball WILL BE made.
"What is going on with Kaman?"
-This was a touchy subject. The organization is geniunely pissed at Kaman and his agent. Due to the clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, players are allowed to get a second opinion from their own doctor (i.e. their agents doctor) and then decide what's best for them.
In this case the Clippers laid out a general window of when Chris will be able to start working out again with the team. Unfortunately, his doctor gave a much longer time for healing, which is why he's still currently not playing. Add that to him getting sick and everything else, he's totally milking the system. This is really sad to me because I've always been a hugh Kaman backer.
They compared this decision to the of Tracy McGrady. The Houston Rockets DID NOT want him to have surgery, they found it unnecesssary. Unfortunately, he has a contract year next season and doesn't want to be injured for sure. So, he followed his agents doctor and got the surgery. The team found out about it in the newspaper. How about that?
With Kaman, I believe he is the player the team is most likely to move during the offseason for this problem. That's what I got out of it. If he was healty they would have unloaded him before the trade deadline, but once again the offers were low.
Neil Olshey sat there most of this meeting frustrated. At one point he interupted another rant on Dunleavy by saying "Listen, I'm here to answer basketball questions....Does anyone have any basketball questions?" There was not really any basketball questions for him to answer.
Suddenly at 7pm the lights in the conference room were turned off. Apparently they were on timer at Staples Center for only how long the room was rented for. At that point it became much louder in there. That was a bizarre ending to a bizarre night.
What I got from that meeting was:
*Dunleavy can be removed at the end of the season. It might be important to replace him to keep the season ticket money happy.
*Kaman is expendable, easily.
*Clippers fans are rightfully upset, and so much more passionate than I ever believed possible.
That is my summary. Sorry it took so long to write this out.....I was debating whether or not it was right. I hope I made the correct choice.
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Much appreciated
Confirmed what I heard about that meeting, including the part about how exasperated the organization is with Kaman.
However, things may have changed since that meeting.
Thanks for posting this.
Yes...
the whole Sterling rant occurred days after this meeting, right? So things may have changed.
I guess it’s a good thing that management is at least listening to the season ticket holders. Whether or not anything is actually done is another story. I guess we can just hope for the best and see what happens.
you made the right choice
all I had previously heard about that meeting was that the season ticket holders were pissed and wanted the club to fire dunleavy. I hadn’t read about it in so much detail though, the funniest part of your description is and talking about overpaying MDSR saying “Yes….Yes we did”. haha. thanks for the info.
by cantthinkofagoodname on Mar 9, 2009 4:10 PM PDT reply actions
dunleavy as GM only is fine to me
he has brought together a talented group of guys. he obviously doesnt know how to translate that into W’s but the talent is there. hopefully thats the call made in the offseason….
But how can that work?
You can’t keep him at GM at that salary. You can try and renegotiate but why would he do that? He won’t. He’s not leaving. It just doesn’t work.
I've heard MDSr's been asked multiple times to cut his salary and leave but he adamantly refuses
by Jax on Mar 9, 2009 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Cut his salary AND leave?
Why the hell would he do that?
If it were cut his salary OR leave, that may be reasonable. He should still say NO. I wouldn’t do that. A contract is a contract. You don’t like the job I’m doing, fire me.
F-Elton!
Sorry, poor use of the English language
I meant agree to a buyout, freeing him up to work somewhere else.
He doesn't have to agree
He gets paid the full amount if he doesn’t get another job. If he does, that job reduces the amount he would be owed by the Clippers. That’s pretty standard. I’m not really aware of any leverage the Clippers have here.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Mar 10, 2009 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions
There's an element of certainty involved in resolving the issues beforehand
Which is why businesses do this all the time.
I didn’t suggest that he has to agree. I’m just letting you know what I’ve heard they’ve been trying to do.
He doesn't seem like the type of guy to do something like that
This is the guy that called out his owner in the press last year. He is pretty damn stubborn.
But, like I said, I don’t it when people like Bill Simmons say he should resign out of decency.
F-Elton!
Dunleavy's choice
I don’t think Dunleavy should be guilted into resigning, both sides made a business decision a few years back and have to honor that agreement. The Clippers should let him go as he isn’t getting the effort out of the team that is required to compete night in night out.
We’re not the first team to deal with injuries but even if the quality of our play is down, the effort should not. Most of our players are fringe NBA players to begin with, they should be busting their ass trying to get that next contract. I’m not sure if I see that effort.
Move him to the front office, he does genuinely care about the team and he is a decent personnel guy. He’ll be overpaid but at least he’ll be doing something productive to the franchise. If he does well the next 2 years, maybe he’ll remain the permanent GM. If not, we’re going to be very dysfunctional the next 2 years, he’ll be lame duck coach/gm next summer. He’ll also likely cost the team millions in revenue as the fanbase quits on the team.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 10, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Its not gonna work...
Why would Dunleavy help another coach? Why would he let the other coach look more succesful than him. Sure, because he’s getting paid, but I’m not sure he’ll work as hard as he’s doing right now. He could become another Elgin (although Sterling never did let Baylor use a lot of money)…
It’s also going to be akward since he’s still going to be around our players. One problem, though, is where would we find another GM?
"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.
If you have more than 2 seats...
it adds up fast, especially in the 100 sections. The 200’s still have the 2 for one deal, so I am pretty sure none of those season ticket holders were invited to the little “get together”…myself included.
I have two seats....
I have two seats in the 100 section and have for six of the past five years. I wasn’t invited – and I wouldn’t have gone anyway. Nothing but mea culpa’s from the worst run organization in the NBA.
Thanks KBT...
I almost reached out to you directly. I had a feeling you were at that meeting. It’s good information.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
I was going to write you first....
I was going to write to you about it…..but I bottled it up for a week. Then I decided to write about it for all of Clipper Nation.
Well, maybe you shouldn't dress like a bumblebee!
by killerbeetim on Mar 10, 2009 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow
Really nice post man. Thanks for that. Other than what I’d read here I’d heard from friends of friends who were supposedly there. But definately nothing with this much detail. Thanks.
Yep, superb post man
Really glad you put it up. Gives a great insight to what goes on behind the scenes of the majority of fans.
It makes me wonder if Dunleavy has had his dressing down by Sterling and Rosoer behind closed doors and they have then said that they will back him until he has a full roster and shows what him and they can do. I know that’s just speculation but to me it makes sense as then, when Sterling came in and did his player rant, he backed Dunleavy, making the players think that he’s staying so they need to put the effort in for this coach.
When it comes down to it, I’m glad they held the meeting but again, it’s for all the wrong reasons isn’t it. To keep money coming in. If they made good basketball decisions, the stadium would be full again. To me, get the product right on the court and they will come….
Bingo! Oh me oh my!
Thanks
Yes…it was an amazing meeting to be at. I tried to detail the important parts of the meeting.
Well, maybe you shouldn't dress like a bumblebee!
by killerbeetim on Mar 10, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions
Season Ticket Prices
Has anyone heard what the Clips are going to do regarding season ticket prices for next season? Seems like those who have season tickets should get some kind of credit/reduction for next season as the entire team/organization wrote off this season some time back in December. I doubt Donald “the Greedy Pig” Sterling would allow that kind of decency in an organization he runs.
That might reopen the door for me to get tickets again
But as it stands, there is zero reason for me to renew my tickets. It is great to know that the team is in the top five financially, maybe they should cut back on prices to grow the fan base. Make back the money on volume as more fans = more concession sales and advertising dollars. If they discount renewals to those of us who has suffered through a ridiculously poor season then at least I would feel sympathic towards the team. Right now I just feel like we are getting duped into supporting this team year after year.
FA in 2010.
Re- up for tickets?
When there selling my seats for 23. a pop, then they better arrange something because I feel totally ripped off this season.
I feel totally ripped off too
It hurts to keep getting emails for all these great deals on better seats for less than what I paid. I really can’t justify renewing next year. On a side note my rep did hook me up with some free tix to the awful Memphis game, where all the players seemed to keep looking at DTS in disgust while cruising around the court playing even worse than before his “meeting”. He got me courtside at the last minute (as no one in their right mind is going to pay for courtside seats for any Clipper game, much less against Memphis!) I think he’s trying his best to keep me, which is great considering I only have a 200 seat. But with all these “deals” I think I’ll take my chances next year, on a per game basis.
How many other STHs gonna drop next year?
I'm dropping
The discounted seats are pissing me off too. They should really just offer to upgrade me for free to earn some good will. Instead they just keep reminding me that I was a sucker to buy a plan to begin with.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 10, 2009 1:09 AM PDT up reply actions
Re-Up?
Hey, it gets worse. A few years ago I went to renew my seats in a 100 section (not cheap), and was told they already sold them and I was out of luck! I was third from the front and was looking forward to moving up, the best they could offer was the 17th row in another section. Which I took because I love the NBA, but they also acted like they were doing me a HUGE favor. Then they’re selling better seats for 1/3 of what I paid for mine.
My rep. hasn’t even contacted me. I don’t blame him, he must feel like shi* working for this organization.
Even though I’m a huge fan of the Clippers (players) and the NBA if this isn’t made up somehow I’m not renewing.
by eastie Rich on Mar 10, 2009 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
So both camps were represented
Why is Dunleavy still here?
Why is Baron still here?
I doubt that both will be gone next year, but I believe that one or the other will. They are a bad match. I’m more inclined at this point to keep Baron and replace the coach.
As for Kaman, I don’t care either way. He is productive, but he will probably never be a guy that can take over a game at either end of the floor. So perhaps trading him is the best course.
F-Elton!
Thanks
Great post, very helpful.
So we can connect the dots. The STH (season ticket holders) are in an uproar. Roeser and Olshey go to Sterling and describe the meeting. They also relay the information to Dunleavy, unvarnished I would imagine. Dunleavy gives his standard gruff response, undaunted, says that we can’t judge the team without a full roster. Maybe DTS talks to Dunleavy, maybe he just rolls into the locker room for his tirade.
It seems like there are 3 significant pieces here:
1. It sheds a little more light on the Kaman space-time continuum, with the agent involved. The original timeline for his return, which was about two or three weeks, must have been set by the team. In consultation with his own doctor, and his agent, Kaman decided to give up on the season and give himself over two months to heal.
So now, knowing that he set his own timetable, we can confirm what we suspected about Dunleavy’s comment about players and agents and coming back from injuries—it was about Kaman.
It should be mentioned that it may be true that Kaman didn’t make the wrong choice for his own career. And the Clippers were off to a bad start, and by the time he had been on the shelf for two or three weeks things weren’t appreciably better. There’s also the idea of showcasing Kaman before the trade deadline. Basically, after getting hurt and feeling significant foot pain, Kaman decided he was going to take a whole lot of time to come back and play it safe.
But there’s obviously team good will, and Kaman seems to have squandered a significant portion of it. Part of the issue is that Kaman’s timetable might be the right one for him in the second year of his 5 year deal, but it is really bad for Dunleavy’s timetable, and of course for the STH. Kaman went from being a bad deal to a good deal to a bad deal in a short span of time. It can probably swing back.
Roeser’s frustration with Kaman (and his agent) does at least show that the team wants to present a solid, competitive lineup to the STH and the fans.
2. Part two is trading Kaman and Baron Davis. The point here is that the Clips aren’t just going to give them away, a la the Nuggets and Camby, even if they had an opportunity to dump salary. This is all so interesting, and it could work itself out in all sorts of different ways.
3. Dunleavy. This seems to add creedence to my suspicion that Dunleavy’s going to get a short window here at the end of the season, when he can have a healthy lineup, to show that the team can play well with him as a coach. Baron Davis may undermine that effort, but it would be tricky and Dunleavy’s probably not going to let him. Nothing has been decided. But the likely result is that, as GM, Dunleavy hires a coach during the offseason, and at the same time they play with the roster based on how the team performs over this last month of the season.
Chris "the pendulum" kaman
"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.
by cliptakular on Mar 10, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions
I like it
I’m not sure exactly how it fits, but it has a nice depth and resonance.
Excited about the 2009 debut of The Pendulum tonight.
by citizen zhiv on Mar 10, 2009 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Ah yes
Guiding your basketball team by the wishes of rich dummies from other industries.
What is unclear is if this is better or worse than 20+ years of Clippers tradition.
Get me BD and 75 and I'm in
Rich Dummies?
I’m neither and I spend hard earned money on my tickets. Are you saying any one of us individually or all of us collectively would do worse than what we’ve been stuck with?
Yes
I think that is what he’s saying. Not for nothing, but every fan thinks they would make a better coach/GM/owner than their favorite team.
by Michael White on Mar 9, 2009 7:00 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
In this case they couldn’t do any worse, now could they. John R thinks everyone’s stupid but he and MDSr. That post is offensive to all of us. John R obviously has never held season tickets. He has nothing to say other than putting down those who actually spend their money.
Zhiv, I appreciate your post, but there are some facts that you perhaps have overlooked.
First, they want to get rid of Kaman. This really isn’t something where he squandered a bit of good will. They want him out.
Second, management wants MDSr out. Period. They do not have those feelings about BD. Until very recently, DTS thought the same. Things may have changed as evidenced by the tirade, but I’m not one hundred percent certain of that.
Third, and this is really the key, the team has to give something new to the season ticket holders next year. Giving MDSr more time is probably not going to cut it. Perhaps they can look at the financial situation this way. If they keep MDSr, they save the $10 million, but they will lose millions in season ticket holder revenue, gameday concessions, parking, etc.
1.
by Jax on Mar 9, 2009 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Better than Dunleavy
Yes, I think I can coach better than him, and why not. Maybe John’s not up to the task so he’s projecting. I for one know I could do better.
Fair enough
What you say makes some sense, but we know that things never seem to add up in the Clipper universe.
On Kaman: okay, they want him out. But why? Is it something that happened before the season? Last season? Or just the controversy mentioned, that he got a second opinion from a doctor and decided to sit out until after the all-star break. Do they believe he just wants the money and has no interest in playing and winning? Does that seem true?
by citizen zhiv on Mar 9, 2009 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Re Kaman - as I understand it
it’s because of his inability to focus or be the focal point of the team.
Kaman
We all know our coach, he’s probably still pissed the Chris played in the Olympics.
It's been a bad year...
For the Kaman-MDsr relationship. MDsr has obviously been a big supporter of Kaman from day one, giving him big minutes, fighting for his contract extension, etc. But he didn’t want him to play in the Olympics and he doesn’t think he needed to stay out so long with this injury, and he’s been fairly loose lipped about it. It will be interesting to see what happens next.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Mar 10, 2009 8:43 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm a little confused...
…as to who “they” are. As in, “…they want to get rid of Kaman….” Is it the coaches or the upper management that wants him gone?
At this point it’s becoming like one of those Hong Kong action movies where a bunch of guys are standing around with a gun in each hand, pointed at two of the other guys. Only in this case, there’s no hero we can root for…
Awesome
This thread slept well last night. First “The Pendulum” up above, and now a brilliant comparison of Clippersville to a Hong Kong action movie where everybody seems to be making up the plot as they go along. Perfect.
I feel good today. I love playing these top teams from the East at home. Call me Optimistic. That’s a shocker, I know.
by citizen zhiv on Mar 10, 2009 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Unrelated, but interesting
Steve Soboroff got interviewed before the Phoenix game. I liked his justification for remaining a Clippers fan.
http://www.downtownnews.com/articles/2009/03/06/opinion/doc49b1d45e18c83776344046.txt
by RichardSP on Mar 9, 2009 6:18 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I think he summed up why I'm still a clipper fan
The thought of a new clipper owner and Tiger Woods, Damn it..Too good to be true.
I love the incite on the meeting, if it’s true about Kaman that is disappointing. I can only hope Dunleavy re-evaluates himself and sees himself unfit for Coach.
We are 107days, 21 hours from the Draft. Start the count down.
The draft
Would we go after a Blake Griffin? Nice combination with Grodon on the perimeter.
Watch Out
I’ve had the Clippers dangle the great draft angle at me year after year. It won’t mean anything without a new coach.
I don't want to be a downer
but we get high draft picks every year… and still not so much in team success.
"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.
by cliptakular on Mar 10, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions
True
but blake has a low Basketball IQ, when i say low, its very low
Eh?
I don’t get the impression his basketball iq is low. His father was his high school basketball coach, I’m sure the kid of a coach got a heavy dose of the fundamentals when he started playing.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Mar 9, 2009 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions
....
From what I understand, the meeting was for “High Risk” accounts. These accounts were considered “High Risk” after answering a recent survey. I didn’t get to see that survey, but I’ve seen them in the past.
Well, maybe you shouldn't dress like a bumblebee!
thank you season ticket holders
first time poster, long time clipper fan, was put onto this blog by a fellow clip head
Im not a season ticket holder, but did buy the “superstar” package this year (section 106 standupppp, although alot of the times I feel surrounded by the away team’s fans lol), I figured IF we werent going to be good (based on our history of “bad luck”) I might as well go to games where I can see some elite teams (like tonight being able to bare witness to the King).
I just wanted to say thanx to the season ticket holders who are voicing their opinions with such authority against the organization. One of the frustrating things about being a Clip fan, which Im sure you all can relate to, is that feeling that your interests, as a fan, are no where to be scene or heard, that the team is purely around for Sterling’s wallet.
Anyways, just wanted to say thanks to the season ticket holders that are pressuring the organization, and also for this account of what happened at the meeting.
Welcome to the blog
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Mar 10, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Awesome CS!
Thanks for the insider info. I’m not a STH so I would’ve never known any of this without you posting it.
"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.
Also...Thanks Killerbee!
"This kid is the best new talent in the league right now, and I don't care who else you mention." -Suns Coach, Alvin Gentry, on Clippers rookie sensation, Eric Gordon.
Thanks
I’m happy to share now that I know it shed light on this subject.
Well, maybe you shouldn't dress like a bumblebee!
by killerbeetim on Mar 10, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
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