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“Pelowski took special delight in blasting the Board of Regents and the athletic department in his remarks. He compared the regents to ‘the House of Lords — they have nice titles, a nice place to meet and don’t do anything …’ Pelowski called the $2 million buyout of the contract of basketball coach Tubby Smith ‘an obscenity.’ Athletic department officials calling that buyout an investment in the future is ‘an even greater obscenity,’ he added.”

Tee-hee. Well, state legislators can’t do anything about these two, uh, power centers of the modern American university, so in desperation you sometimes see them – here it’s a guy from Minnesota – issue these sorts of statements. The mental image you should have accompanying Pelowski’s remarks is a frustrated one-year-old kicking his feet against a wall. Except that in this case all-grown-up Gene Pelowski has very accurately and eloquently identified the sources of his frustration.

It’s only frustrating, though, if you think your state university system should be – by some non-athletic standard or other – good.

And why be angry at the idea that spending that money on Tubby is an investment in the future? In the future, the University of Minnesota will be even more strongly – perhaps someday to the point of exclusivity! – associated with basketball.

Margaret Soltan, April 28, 2013 5:37AM
Posted in: sport

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2 Responses to ““Pelowski took special delight in blasting the Board of Regents and the athletic department in his remarks. He compared the regents to ‘the House of Lords — they have nice titles, a nice place to meet and don’t do anything …’ Pelowski called the $2 million buyout of the contract of basketball coach Tubby Smith ‘an obscenity.’ Athletic department officials calling that buyout an investment in the future is ‘an even greater obscenity,’ he added.””

  1. JND Says:

    I sure with they had kept Tubby. Now we are stuck with him at Texas Tech. I wonder when Texas Tech will buy him out?

  2. Bill Gleason Says:

    I went to hearings chaired by Gene Pelowski at the state capitol.

    Gene is a high school teacher at Winona High School and a very impressive guy. It was thrilling and a pleasure to see him in action.

    There should be some changes at the University of Minnesota. And Gene will be one of those who deserves major props should this occur.

    For a touching glimpse of Mr. Pelowski please see:
    REP. GENE PELOWSKI RECOGNIZED ON RED WING HIGH SCHOOL WALL OF HONOR
    link: http://bit.ly/ZomTuA

    People like Gene Pelowski make this country great.

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