Tom Compton MIA? (1 Viewer)

[rckymtn3]

What's wrong with heavy-drinking womanizers...?

Absolutely nothing if they're responsible and entertaining. Everything if they're not.

 

[flapjack]

Absolutely nothing if they're responsible and entertaining. Everything if they're not.

I think people, rightly or wrongly, want athletes and entertainers to have values that they would like to impart to their children. So when it is found out that such a person is a womanizer or an alcoholic or something like that, people shy away because they don't want that kind of influence in their child's life. Me, I couldn't care less. I don't even care about the people affected by such behavior as they could walk away, but don't. Be careful of what you wish for, you might just get it. I've learned that one the hard way, more times than I care to recall.

 

[Nick Name]

Jon;
It is great that you come on here and explain things.

 

[Muddy]

Jon, I think you are mistaken about the paper in OKC recovering. Circulation is half of what it was and the paper was sold. Not all because of the story on OU football but it played a part in the continuing decline of the newspaper. Many 100s of OU alumns cancelled their subscription and never renewed. By the way the coach at that time is as admired and well thought of as ever. Perhaps this was not a good choice as an example.

 

[None]

At least Jon Asher gets his information first hand and knows what he is talking about. Can't say that about all the senior writers at CompetitionPlus.

 

[Jon Asher]

John Waters:

Have you been watching the overall decline in newspaper sales nationwide?

I'm not for a second suggesting that the OU expose didn't have a lasting impact on the paper, but realistically, EVERY newspaper is suffering. Many have been sold at huge losses, and far too many have shuttered their doors forever.

Just for clarification purposes, my story about the paper's expose, immediate decline in sales and ad revenues, and then recovery all took place before the current industry-wide decline in newspaper sales.

I wouldn't expect any big city newspaper to be enjoying the circulation it did even five years ago.

Rather than turning to newspapers for news, people are now turning to other sources, from the Internet to TV to even Twitter.

Jon Asher

 

[StockersRock]

At least Jon Asher gets his information first hand and knows what he is talking about. Can't say that about all the senior writers at CompetitionPlus.

I'd be interested to know some specifics. I like to know who I can and can't trust to read. CompetitionPlus is generally never a question to me.

 

[Muddy]

Jon Asher
I'm well aware of the decline of the newspaper industry but this occurred well before the wide spread industry decline. In private conversations I was priviliged to, individuals at OPUBCO admitted they never got close to returning to the advertising or circulation numbers they had on the day before the story broke. As I said it was not all because of the OU story but it darn sure didn't help as they started to struggle.

 

[Gipraw]

Jon Asher
I'm well aware of the decline of the newspaper industry but this occurred well before the wide spread industry decline. In private conversations I was priviliged to, individuals at OPUBCO admitted they never got close to returning to the advertising or circulation numbers they had on the day before the story broke. As I said it was not all because of the OU story but it darn sure didn't help as they started to struggle.

A lot of the decline had to do with it being the worst newspaper in America. (Still is, actually)

 

[Muddy]

A lot of the decline had to do with it being the worst newspaper in America. (Still is, actually)

No argument here

 

[flapjack]

Online publishing is everything these days. The news "papers" that are still doing well have great online content. I've been tempted to pick up subscriptions to NYT and WSJ, as they have good news. I avoid their editorials/opinions, as I don't like it when a news source is politically biased one way or the other. So that means I avoid Fox and MSNBC.

 

[Bullard Anderson]

Personally, Mr. Compton's issue and the NHRA's handling of it is not a big deal in my realm of thinking. I mean this NHRA-thing isn't mandatory. It's entertainment. It's a choice. I enjoy the racing, the drivers and teams. So I'm choosing to watch. The business at hand will be handled in due to time. I'm not concerned.

 

[I was NITRO BREATH]

Barry:

I know this is a waste of bandwidth, but I'll nevertheless respond to your rant.

"Not trying to embarrass anyone?" Not in the slightest. I have no reason to do something like that, and neither does anyone else affiliated with CompetitionPlus.

"...why start the ball rolling?" Our site wasn't the first to post something on the situation with NHRA. In fact, our first post on the subject was far from inflammatory, but merely outlined what we knew at the time, which was very little, but the rumors had to be addressed.

Regarding NHRA's partners and "How is that any of your business?" It's our business because the business of drag racing is our business. Further, as journalists we have a responsibility to report the facts about our industry, regardless of whose toes we might be stepping on. If CompetitionPlus.com limited its reporting to an endless string of elapsed times and speeds we would not be doing our readers justice.

Is that what you want to read about? Only the so-called "good news?" That's not reality.

Based on your statement that seeks to limit what is our business and what isn't, it's but a small step to reach the point where you might begin complaining about our having run the Dixon crash sequence from Gainesville, or the Lamattina crash video from Australia because, you might argue, such exposure is bad for drag racing. That's the kind of complaint that journalists heard from NHRA in decades gone by. Every time any photographer had a crash 'n burn photo published they could count on hearing from NHRA, usually in the person of Wally Parks himself, with complaints about how such photos were damaging to the sport.

If those photos and videos were ultimately damaging, you'd never know it by the way ESPN cuts up every crash sequence and provides it via satellite to any station that wants to run it. If those videos were ultimately damaging Diamond P Sports wouldn't have released that string of top-selling tapes titled "And They Walked Away."

One more thing. What I wrote appeared as an editorial, not a news or feature story. Those words were my opinion, and mine alone.

No one from CompetitionPlus.com is out to "get" or "expose" anyone or any thing regarding NHRA. But it's worth considering that, in your world, where this topic is nobody's business, things like the Watergate break-in that ultimately resulted in the resignation of a sitting president should not have been reported on. In your world the illegal domestic spying by the NSA shouldn't be exposed to the public. In your world the gambling on NBA games by imprisoned former referee Tim Donaghy shouldn't have been exposed. In your world politicians accepting campaign money from the very corporations they may be passing laws about shouldn't be talked about.

That's a pretty darn insular world, and not one that's realistic.

Jon Asher
Senior Editor
CompetitionPlus.com

Jon--- you've gone off on an long response that has nothing to do with the original point. This is not watergate or illegal spying. Or keeping photos of crashes from the public. There is no illegal activity here to expose. Nothing even at this point for a reporter to editorialize about. Compton's away from his job. We have to assume that the powers that be at the NHRA are aware of this and dealing with it in a private way And they have every right to do so. And they will deal with their business partners about this matter. Races are being run. Things seem to be working fine. And then along comes Mr. Asher who writes an editorial about this matter chastising NHRA for their handling of the situation and as far as you have told us you are the only one who has a problem with it !! And in reading your article it seems like your major beef is not with the topic at hand but your disgust of the NHRA. You are ''astonished by their arrogance '' and "their total lack of understanding of how things work in the modern corporate world" . Really?? Lets see , NHRA deals with Coca cola, O'Reilly , Summit , and Toyota to name just a few "modern corporations" that have put their name on races this year. Uhh, you write for an internet magazine and unless you are also the CEO of a large corporation tell us how you make these crazy claims?? And why you are making a mountain out of a molehill?

 

[PJ]

Oh Barry........ If you...ah hell why bother.

 

[vegasnitro]

It is all about the optics. The national event at Atlanta is very big for NHRA to butter up the title sponsor and the big dog isn't there? All of the marketing folks at Coca-Cola must have been wondering what was going on. Maybe the NHRA told them, maybe not, but the point is the boss can't be gone for 2 months without some reasonable explanation. Do you think the NFL could get away with that if Commissioner Goodell vanished off the radar? All it would have taken is a 3 or 4 line press release up front stating Compton was stepping away for a generic reason (family issue or whatever), here is what we are going to do in his absence (interim CEO or plan) and here is when we expect him back. Whether you agree with Jon or not, it is not a good look to let rumors swirl, whether the big wigs in the background/business partners know what's happening or not.

 

[SundayNiagara]

Jon--- you've gone off on an long response that has nothing to do with the original point. This is not watergate or illegal spying. Or keeping photos of crashes from the public. There is no illegal activity here to expose. Nothing even at this point for a reporter to editorialize about. Compton's away from his job. We have to assume that the powers that be at the NHRA are aware of this and dealing with it in a private way And they have every right to do so. And they will deal with their business partners about this matter. Races are being run. Things seem to be working fine. And then along comes Mr. Asher who writes an editorial about this matter chastising NHRA for their handling of the situation and as far as you have told us you are the only one who has a problem with it !! And in reading your article it seems like your major beef is not with the topic at hand but your disgust of the NHRA. You are ''astonished by their arrogance '' and "their total lack of understanding of how things work in the modern corporate world" . Really?? Lets see , NHRA deals with Coca cola, O'Reilly , Summit , and Toyota to name just a few "modern corporations" that have put their name on races this year. Uhh, you write for an internet magazine and unless you are also the CEO of a large corporation tell us how you make these crazy claims?? And why you are making a mountain out of a molehill?

What did Larry Morgan say?

 

[StockersRock]

It is all about the optics. The national event at Atlanta is very big for NHRA to butter up the title sponsor and the big dog isn't there? All of the marketing folks at Coca-Cola must have been wondering what was going on. Maybe the NHRA told them, maybe not, but the point is the boss can't be gone for 2 months without some reasonable explanation. Do you think the NFL could get away with that if Commissioner Goodell vanished off the radar? All it would have taken is a 3 or 4 line press release up front stating Compton was stepping away for a generic reason (family issue or whatever), here is what we are going to do in his absence (interim CEO or plan) and here is when we expect him back. Whether you agree with Jon or not, it is not a good look to let rumors swirl, whether the big wigs in the background/business partners know what's happening or not.

Agreed. They could've handled this quickly and efficiently and the only questioning would've been left to the general public (as is apt to happen in our society today) on boards like this, blogs, and social media.

 

[JB3]

It is all about the optics. The national event at Atlanta is very big for NHRA to butter up the title sponsor and the big dog isn't there? All of the marketing folks at Coca-Cola must have been wondering what was going on. Maybe the NHRA told them, maybe not, but the point is the boss can't be gone for 2 months without some reasonable explanation. Do you think the NFL could get away with that if Commissioner Goodell vanished off the radar? All it would have taken is a 3 or 4 line press release up front stating Compton was stepping away for a generic reason (family issue or whatever), here is what we are going to do in his absence (interim CEO or plan) and here is when we expect him back. Whether you agree with Jon or not, it is not a good look to let rumors swirl, whether the big wigs in the background/business partners know what's happening or not.

Chris ... we see eye to eye a lot of the time. But to me, rumors are really only being circulated by members of this site and Editors of limited readership, drag-centric online magazines. The rumors are within the inner circles. Its funny how this site wants NHRA to be a BIG corporation when they feel it applies, then the same site will tell everybody how NHRA has to stop trying to be a big corporation because they will never be one. It can't be both ways. When comparisons to the major sports are made, everybody cries that its not the same. Now we want to compare the commissioner of a multi-billion dollar sports league, like the NFL, to Tom Compton and NHRA out of convenience?

To me this is a private matter in a private company. NHRA is not a company like Coke or Toyota and under no legal obligation to share private matters. Does anyone not know that the Legal teams of NHRA and its corporate partners haven't talked behind closed doors and this is the way it is to be handled? Don't care who thinks they know somebody on the inside sharing detail with them, because that isn't happening. In my opinion, everybody needs to move on and stop thinking you are entitled to more than you feel you are getting.

 

[SundayNiagara]

Chris ... we see eye to eye a lot of the time. But to me, rumors are really only being circulated by members of this site and Editors of limited readership, drag-centric online magazines. The rumors are within the inner circles. Its funny how this site wants NHRA to be a BIG corporation when they feel it applies, then the same site will tell everybody how NHRA has to stop trying to be a big corporation because they will never be one. It can't be both ways. When comparisons to the major sports are made, everybody cries that its not the same. Now we want to compare the commissioner of a multi-billion dollar sports league, like the NFL, to Tom Compton and NHRA out of convenience?

To me this is a private matter in a private company. NHRA is not a company like Coke or Toyota and under no legal obligation to share private matters. Does anyone not know that the Legal teams of NHRA and its corporate partners haven't talked behind closed doors and this is the way it is to be handled? Don't care who thinks they know somebody on the inside sharing detail with them, because that isn't happening. In my opinion, everybody needs to move on and stop thinking you are entitled to more than you feel you are getting.

WP is spinning in his grave.

 

[Nick Name]

Chris ... we see eye to eye a lot of the time. But to me, rumors are really only being circulated by members of this site and Editors of limited readership, drag-centric online magazines. The rumors are within the inner circles. Its funny how this site wants NHRA to be a BIG corporation when they feel it applies, then the same site will tell everybody how NHRA has to stop trying to be a big corporation because they will never be one. It can't be both ways. When comparisons to the major sports are made, everybody cries that its not the same. Now we want to compare the commissioner of a multi-billion dollar sports league, like the NFL, to Tom Compton and NHRA out of convenience?

To me this is a private matter in a private company. NHRA is not a company like Coke or Toyota and under no legal obligation to share private matters. Does anyone not know that the Legal teams of NHRA and its corporate partners haven't talked behind closed doors and this is the way it is to be handled? Don't care who thinks they know somebody on the inside sharing detail with them, because that isn't happening. In my opinion, everybody needs to move on and stop thinking you are entitled to more than you feel you are getting.

If I was a MEMBER of Coke or Toyota, I would want to know.