The Community Word

It’s been a long time since I heard such strong criticism of a PJS sports reporter. Bradley basketball fans are still chatting about Kirk Wessler’s column calling Bradley basketball a “renegade program.”

While Wessler didn’t actually call basketball players “renegades” on the Hilltop, he did repeat the charges from a blogger many are calling a “nobody.” One fan asked, “Why repeat something you saw on the damn internet?” Another said the Wessler column reminded him of when Phil Theobald raked Jim Molinari over the coals for his coaching skills. A third fan wanted to know what Wessler’s coaching background was and a fourth lamented that it was a cheap shot at Jim Les.

I don’t agree with all of the criticism of Kirk Wessler. It’s tough to write a column each day. I think the guy was desperate for story ideas and turned to the internet for help.

Since I’m on Bradley basketball, I might mention WMBD-TV sports director Kurt Pegler had to apologize after ridiculing the CBI basketball tournament. In reporting the Bradley victory over Cincinnati, Pegler uncharacteristically panned the event as a tournament of losers. The next night he apologized to Bradley and its players for his demeaning comments.

HILLTOPICS

Have you seen the latest issue of “Bradley Hilltopics?” The cover is a watercolor of the playing floor of Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse by Jack Simmerling. It’s great except a little unauthentic since it shows players jumping for the ball at center court without a referee. There is one in the watercolor print, but he’s off to the side of the floor wearing what looks like suspenders. It could’ve been Ed Murphy.

Inside the magazine are some outstanding articles including a feature about well-known artist and B.U. graduate Bill Hardin. Also spotlighted is the personable Ken Goldin, business manager. Ken is probably best known for his quips at basketball luncheons.

There is, of course, a feature on the Fieldhouse. No offense to Austin Phelps, given the job of writing about the campus and community landmark, but he failed to really capture its history.

This unique and unusual structure was made possible by David Owen. As president of the university, Owen provided the fund-raising leadership by selling five years of advance season tickets to Bradley basketball. That was the primary source for the revenue needed to buy the structures that came together as the Fieldhouse, so says Bradley graduate and historian, Pete Vonachen. After he graduated, Vonachen was hired by President Owen to be in charge of the concessions. To this day, some call him “Hot Dog” Vonachen. Pete remembers with fondness the building that rocked with not only Bradley basketball, but also Caterpillar. As the wrecking ball moves closer, the walls still hold the sounds of cheering crowds, the voices of coaches like Stowell, Anderson, Vanatta, and Versace, along with the golden, rich voice of P.A. announcer Bob Leu, a true broadcast professional. Those were days when we had multiple stations carrying Bradley basketball with announcers like Chick Hearn, Mort Cantor, Hank Fisher, and Tom Kelly. Remember too, Cary Robards and Rox Bucklin on the organ and the Bradley band led by Larry Fogelberg.

However, the biggest omission by writer Phelps is his failure to acknowledge the team that brought fame to the Fieldhouse, the university and Peoria. I’m talking about the 1949-1950 Bradley Braves that played for both NCAA and NIT championships. Slighted were the sensational and nationally recognized Brave team of Squeaky Melchiorre, Billy Mann, Aaron Preece, Mike Chianakas, Bud Grover, Joe Stowell, Jim Kelly, Dave Humerickhouse, Paul Unruh, Jack Hill, Elmer Behnke, Clarence Christe, Dino Melchiorre, Freddie Schlictman, Don Alford, Don Schnake, and Dick Mize. There have been many great basketball teams playing for Bradley on the raised floor at the Fieldhouse, but none will ever match 1949-1950….ever…..

ELECTION COMMISSION ON THE WAY OUT?

Speaking of the City Election Commission, it appears another clever move to conquer the city commission is underway. You’ll recall former County Clerk Mary “Harkraider” led the referendum effort to eliminate the City Election Commission. Harkraider failed, but then got fellow Democrat, Judge Richard Grawey, to appoint her as an Election Commission member. She fired Republican Jeanette Mitzelfelt as Executive Director and then fired the Commission’s attorney, Republican Bob Day, Jr. Both were replaced by Democrats. Now Democrat Steve Sonnemaker, the new County Clerk, has apparently followed in Harkraider’s footsteps by suggesting there should be a joint County and City Election office. Voters rejected plans to eliminate the City Election Commission. The margin was 2 to 1. That’s a large rejection. So why the desire to resume the battle? One can assume Sonnemaker would like to merge the offices in the County Courthouse. The next question calling for an answer is, “Where do voters park?” Certainly not around the busy Courthouse. Oh yes,. there’s free parking next to the City Election Commission on Walnut.

We could all use a little more information such as how many city voters actually went to the Courthouse to vote? Let’s be honest. Do you move mountains and hyperventilate to accommodate a handful or two voters who don’t know where to vote? Another simple solution is to provide the County Clerk’s office with city ballots. After all, city taxpayers can pay real estate taxes at either the County Treasurer’s office or at the City Treasurer’s office in City Hall.

LYNCH MOB MENTALITY

The rush to judgment after basketball player Danny Ruffin was arrested was amazing. I always thought Peorians believed that one was innocent until found guilty. The arrest brought an immediate suspension by Bradley. Then columnist Phil Luciano foamed at his computer as he chastised B.U. fans for wearing red sweaters. He went so far as making a dissimilar comparison with the now famous Duke lacrosse case. Even the director of a local half-way house weighed in with some irrational and moralistic judgments about what Ruffin did or didn’t do. Unnamed callers had their opinions printed condemning Ruffin. Contrary to Luciano’s contention, there were many similari ties to the Duke case, including the rush to judgment. That rush in the Duke University incident will wind up costing the school millions in defamation awards for the players.

I don’t know if Danny Ruffin is guilty. I don’t know if the alleged victim is telling the truth. Importantly, neither does Luciano, Wessler and all the others pointing fingers at the Bradley player. The court will decide, if, and it’s an important if, the case ever reaches trial. If it doesn’t, members of Peoria’s lynch mob will have egg on their faces and Danny Ruffin will try to recover.

TAXES AND MORE TAXES

Apparently, Peorians love taxes. Over 70 percent voted approval for an increase of their real estate taxes to pay for a new library and renovation plans for existing facilities. Now we’re told a survey reveals taxpayers are eager to see another increase to pay for a new museum. Look for another increase as county officials consider construction of a new nursing home to replace Bel-Wood. When I was on the County Board, the one consistent message I heard was, “Don’t raise our taxes.” Voters in the city and county must be different today as they apparently love to see their real estate taxes go up as the value of their dollars go down. I’ll admit it. I don’t get it. The only valid survey comes at the ballot box. When the issue winds up on the ballot, we’ll see how many vote to increase taxes for a new museum.

RECESSION CONFUSION

Ask the average man or woman on the street in New York or Peoria, “Are we in a recession?” and most would say, “Yes. Certainly.” Ask, “What is a recession?” and I’m willing to bet none would know. The media, national and local, has done a good job of convincing people the U.S. is in a recession. Even the financial experts can’t agree. We just know gas is up, housing has slumped, the stock market is down and the media is filled with negative economic stories.

Writing in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, reporter Anne Kates Smith says in the April edition, “..if politicians get some spending money into consumers’ pockets and companies’ coffers quickly enough, a recession that seems a sure thing to the majority of Americans may yet be averted. I underlined “may yet be averted” to point out the belief that we are not in a recession. Smith later defined a recession “as a significant drop in economic activity for several months.” Another economist explained that a recession is negative growth for two consecutive quarters.

I think one thing we can all agree on regarding the state of our economy, we have a problem because of greed. This was so well described by Fred W. Frailey, editor of Kiplinger’s magazine. He said, “Out of greed, mortgage bankers made home loans to people with poor credit histories. Out of greed, Wall Street’s investment bankers packaged the same loans in ways that earned the securities undeserved investment- grade ratings, then sold them to eager clients.”I might add, out of greed, people applied for home loans with adjustable rates that were low, and when those rates went up, they couldn’t afford the houses they purchased beyond their incomes.

But the biggest greed? The fat cats who put this country in the housing and credit mess we’re in. Do you know that Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley took losses in the tens of BILLIONS of dollars and then along with Goldman Sachs handed out bonus payments to executives totaling $39 BILLION at the end of 2007? Can you believe it? That’s like rewarding the company treasurer with a bonus after he’s been caught embezzling. You can read all about it in Frailey’s column in the April issue of Kiplinger’s.

BASEBALL IS HERE

April signals the start of the baseball season and just in time. Fans will begin to ignore the political campaigns in favor of the Peoria Chiefs, Cubs, Cardinals and White Sox. It provides us all with a breath of fresh air.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way; if you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” —Anon.

Tags: Bradley, University,, Jim, Les