http://www.columbian.com/11122003/sports/90001.html
Commentary: Memo to Price -- Shut up
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
NICK DACHEL, Columbian staff writer
The Restoring Mike Price's Image Tour has hit full speed.
Price, the former Washington State and defrocked Alabama football coach, is
everywhere these days. With the college football job season just around the corner,
Price has decided it's time to re-establish his reputation as an effective, successful
program leader.
Price is willing to relive his version of the story in the Alabama stripper
scandal to just about anyone holding a pen, notepad or camera.
In recent days, Price has become the prominent story in many newspapers. Monday
night, Price told his tale to ESPN's "Outside The Lines." During Saturday's Washington
State-UCLA game, Price worked the Martin Stadium press box like a politician. Perhaps
it was heartfelt, yet it smacked of a guy slumming for pub.
Price is telling people his Destiny is the University of Arizona job, not a
stripper in Florida.
I don't know who is giving Price public relations advice these days, but I have a
little for him:
Lay low.
And shut up.
Price's wound is one that only time can heal. As much as Price wants to rush the
process, as much as wants to tell the world he was wronged, he shouldn't.
Each time he brings it up, Price reminds people of how stupid he was that April
night in Florida. Perhaps the facts were distorted -- and it sure appears that they
were -- but the bottom line is: Price put himself in a position where his morals could
be questioned.
Morals that parents of 18-year-old sons with gifted football bodies will doubt.
Morals that unscrupulous fellow coaches will use against Price on the recruiting
trail.
Morals that college administrators must question about their highest paid employee.
I feel for Price. He is one of the nicest, most decent men I've met in college
football. I know it's killing Price that many people view him as a dirty old man,
rather than someone that's given direction and purpose to hundreds of young men.
There is a time and place for Price to tell his story. It's behind closed doors,
to the people that need an explanation -- the college athletic directors and
presidents with job openings.
By constantly reliving that night with the world, it refreshes a memory that many
have started to forget. Most may be sympathetic to Price, but they'll also be reminded
of a man who showed poor judgment.
And someone who isn't entirely contrite about his actions.
What's worse, Price's story lacks credibility.
In the deposition of his lawsuit against Sports Illustrated, Price says this about
the night at the hotel upon returning from the strip club:
"I don't remember the elevator ride up, walk down the hall, putting the key in the
door. I don't remember that. All I remember is sitting on the bed and putting my head
down. And (strip club waitress Tracy Brigalia), maybe she was in the room then, out in
the hall. I'm not sure."
If Price doesn't know the entire story, how can we?
Let it go, Mike.
Others have. It's a slow, painful process, but the good people get through it.
George O'Leary was run out at Notre Dame for fabricating a college degree on his
resume. Rather than make excuses, O'Leary hunkered down and took an assistant coaching
job with the Minnesota Vikings. While O'Leary is unlikely to ever return as a college
head coach, he's known today as a solid defensive coach, rather than a liar.
Marv Albert was pro basketball's foremost play-by-play announcer when a penchant
for sexual misdeeds sidetracked his career. Within two years, Albert returned to the
job which he lost.
John Lucas wrecked a prominent basketball career with an addiction to drugs and
alcohol. Rather than make excuses, Lucas was proactive about his problem, admitted his
mistakes, and eventually became an NBA coach.
Even former Washington coach Rick Neuheisel is attempting to rehabilitate his
career in a low-key manner.
Neuheisel, fired as Washington's coach this past summer for violating provisions
of his contract, tried bouncing back by becoming a volunteer assistant coach at
Rainier Beach High School. Not exactly one of the state's powerhouse football
programs, Rainier Beach is undefeated and headed to Vancouver on Friday to play
Columbia River in the state playoffs.
Slick Rick is proving again that he's a pretty slick coach.
Which is exactly what Price should do. Tutor quarterbacks at a high school or
college. Become a low-profile assistant coach somewhere.
Price needs to remind people what made him good.
Not when he was up to no good.
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