Friday, February 24, 2012

Frank the Tank

Where to begin? Saying it has been a long time would be a gross understatement. Plenty has transpired since our last post, both in the world of Pirates baseball and in our personal lives. I found it of little use to post information of the free agent signings this offseason as they were not much of a splash nor an aberration from what we've come to expect from this ballclub. I had a good chuckle over the Bucs taking GI Jones to arbitration over $225K and have little insight on the acquisition of over the hill AJ Burnett.

But I could not ignore the latest PR debacle that has fallen upon the PBC:

Team President Frank Coonelly Arrested for DUI.

Pardon the one sentence paragraph; I swear I'm not trying to ripoff Ron Cook.

Not only was Frank Coonelly arrested for a DUI, his citations also included reckless driving, driving with a revoked or suspended license, and driving the wrong way. This account of activities actually leaves us with more questions than answers. But having ZERO journalistic ability, let alone credentials, unanswered questions is the best I can do right now.

On to the questions. First off, what is the substance behind the "driving with a suspended or revoked license" charge and why was it thrown out? DK's original story on the matter didn't even mention this charge, which I would consider to be an egregious oversight. Even if the charge was dropped, why was it submitted in the first place? Was this not FC's first DUI? Without any further information on the matter, we can only jump to conclusions. For all we know, he may have forgotten to renew his license and it was expired. On the other hand, it;'s possible this wasn't Frank the Tank's first Wrong Way Rodeo on the 279 off ramp.

My next question is another that, will also likely remained unanswered for some time: How the hell did this story go two months without seeing the light of day? I have taken into consideration the fact that the Pirates have secretly extended employees in the past  but I also know that there is thing called police blotter. There a number of local outlets that report every arrest made by PD's in the area, especially DUI's. But this story never made print. Did the Pirates PR department squash it or was the Ross PD lax in their reporting?

In my opinion, those are two questions that need answered in order for the fans and public to understand the scope of events. If this was some Joe Lawyer partner of a local law firm, most people wouldn't give a hoot. If it was Stephen Zappala, I would imagine there would be a public outcry for his resignation. I venture to say the Coonelly's status falls somewhere in the middle. While he is not the DA that we trust to put dangerous criminals behind bars to protect us from them, Coonelly is a highly visible public figure working in an office in a ballpark funded by public money. The success of his employer is highly predicated on public goodwill; not only from the players on the field but also the individuals who decide who those players will be and sign their paychecks.

In all honesty, Frank Coonelly seems like a nice guy. But I don't trust him as far I could throw him and considering I'm all of 5'11'' 185 lbs and he's got a good 3 inches and 20+ pounds on me, that wouldn't be a lengthy toss (although still better than the one  Barry Lamarr Bonds made on the Day the Franchise Died). FC has never built up any amount of goodwill among the fans of our dreaded ballclub due to his asinine proclamations and outright lies. That is how he earned his original nickname on the Mutiny, one we haven't backed down from even though it is slander to  publicly call someone a liar if they hadn't actually lied and a.) the Pirates are not above bullying an outfit like ours and b.) we cannot afford to be sued. Given those facts and circumstances, we still feel safe calling him the Lying Liar but our glossary is certainly going to be adding a new alternative nickname.

Considering those same vital statistics mentioned above, Frank the Tank was not merely driving buzzed. A .16 BAC is not merely a few cocktails or a couple beers over a couple hours. For a guy his size, that's a solid 9-10 drinks, according to this chart: http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/edu/0.8PercentUPDATE.ASP. He had to be bombed when they pulled him over and he is damn lucky that he did not hurt himself or anybody else.

While the suspended license and the curious delay of the story's release are the two biggest questions right now, I also wonder how DK got this information. I believe DK to be the best sportswriter in Pittsburgh by a long shot, but I do feel that since his transition to the Trib, he has been far too generous to the Pirates. I have yet to read today's column in it's entirety, but it appears that he is a times coming to Coonelly's defense and more or less making excuses for him.  In other instances, he is scathing in his criticism of FC's choices and the team's mishanlding of the situation.

But DK's initial report adds another question to the pile, along with whether FC's job should be safe. This is a question that has existed long before this DUI fiasco: Why does the local media seemingly give the Pirates a free pass?

20 comments:

  1. Glad to see the site back.

    That Tard Smizik is a waste

    Signed

    PittPanthers90

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  2. Wow, it only took 4 months for another entry.

    Can't wait til July for the next one.

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  3. I'm glad this blog is back too! I was beginning to think it was dead.

    How 'bout the fan refusing to talk about the subject yesterday. I personally don't listen to the fan, but whan I found out about it, I just laughed, shook my head disgust and thought to myself how typical. But the Pirets didn't have anything to do with that decision. Again, how typical of the sports media in this town.

    Yes , for whatever reason the PBC gets a free pass. This frustrates me probably more than most because I'm a Pitt man and clearly Pitt doesn't get a fee pass from the same sports media types who give the Pirates one. Win a National Championship or you're a bunch of chokers. Kind of high standards to put on University with a small fan base, that puts Academics before Athletics don't you think? Why aren't the Buccos held to this lofty standard? Why is reaching .500 an acceptable goal? When a Professional franchise (in any sport) main goal should always be to win a championship.

    I suppose I'll continue to root for the Pirates, but that gets harder and harder every day! And of course playing winning baseball would cure that, but that just doesn't seem possible with the team they have assembled for this upcoming season. Hopefully the division sucks, because IMO that's the only hope we have of getting over the hump this year.

    Steelfan

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, it looks like the "blog is back". It's about as alive as the boycott of the Pirates.

      Delete
  4. I am not surprised by any of this regarding Coooooonelly.
    He comes across as a smarmy, smug bastard.
    He bullies small business owners.
    He fires $50/day kids (pierogis).
    He lies.
    He hides contract extensions.
    He has a sever case of foot-in-mouth disease.
    And those are his good qualities.

    Why was he doing this at a team function?
    Why did they not call him a cab?
    Why was this not reported for 2 months?

    If this was any normal person, it would have hit the papers within a few days.

    Frank has to go. For all of his ineptness as a President, for his bullying tactics to those who dare disagree with him, and for this DUI. And I dont believe this is his first, either.

    In honor of the 20th losing season coming up, and proudly sponsored by Dos Equis.......
    Stay Losing MY Friends!!

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  5. He once built a dynasty, in his own mind.

    He once authorized the trading away all our MLB talent and got nothing in return.

    His "weapons" couldn't put the fear of god into an ant.

    One man's trash is definitely his treasure.

    He once drove a car completely bombed the wrong way on 279 and lived to tell the tale.

    Free agents are so impressed with the way he does business thay turn down 8 million dollars and retire.

    He has a dog that likes to bark... alot.



    He is simply the worst President in the history of Major League Baseball.


    Stay losing my friends

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  6. Let's be clear about one thing when it comes to Bob Nutting.....He could care less.
    He could care less about Pittsburgh, he could care less about the freshness of the food he sells at PNC Park, he could care less about the signs he puts up in RF, and he (especially) could care less about what type of team he puts on the field.
    The only thing he cares about is being bothered in regards to the 16 year fiasco of losing that he has perpetrated with the franchise once known as the Pittsburgh Pirates.
    As mentioned many times, he works with a complete and total "in your face" mentality.
    As for the latest news....He could care less about his supposed President roaming the wrong way on a Pittsburgh street, high on alcohol, without a license.
    He obviously received the news a couple days before Christmas, and passed it off like a bad cold.....He could care less.
    As for his PR Department, I personally doubt that it even exists.
    The only PR Department I'm aware of that works for the Nutting Regime is the half dozen or so Propaganda Sheets that the Regime feeds garbage info on a daily basis.
    In return, they receive a "meet and greet" at Pirate fest where they can sit and talk about draft pool numbers, WAR figures and how many steps it takes to field a ground ball in the hole, on a rainy day. They're able to sit with Nutting Regime members that grin and bear it for an hour or so before they beg off for dindin at the Capitol Grille.
    The PR amateurs are assured tickets to a few day games, complimentary programs and a season long ducat for free coffee. They're sent back on their merry way to blog their faces off about how everyone that questions the Regime wears tin foil hats and hang out with the fools on Smiziks blog.
    When one gets too loud, they laugh and call you a conspiracy monger.
    In reality, they know all too well that Bob Nutting wouldn't know a conspiracy if it poked his cheek like a hot needle going through an uncooked sausage.... Because he works.... In your face.
    Make no bones about it, Nutting conducts his self appointed interviews during training camp with the precision of Richard Nixon. He may not be as savvy as Nixon, but he damn sure is as tricky.....Case in point, the recent round of softballs thrown to him by hockey (?) expert Rob Rossi.
    Bob Nutting will let the Coonelly Incident pass no differently than a worker at Heinz will concern themselves with a passing car on their way to work this morning on Rt. 28.
    It means nothing to him.
    He'll collect his money bags and check them into a safe somewhere south of the PA border, and from their.....Such is life for another day......End of story.


    Daquido Bazzini

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  7. Let's be clear about one thing. Daquido bazzini is a complete idiot. He knows absolutely nothing about baseball and even less about the Pirates. Perhaps your beloved anti movement would actually be alive if the handful of people involved actually had an IQ above 50.

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    Replies
    1. Eloquently put. And spot on.

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    2. the above two anonymous posters did not have their meds today, and had a very difficult ride on the short bus. You will just have to forgive them, folks. But they have very, very clean windows..........

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    3. Actually Roger the above 2 posters seem to be the only ones with a brain that have posted here. You have proven yourself to be completely incapable of comprehending the written word, but yet you are criticizing those who correctly point out how pathetic Bazzini is. You couldn't be more of an idiot.

      Delete
    4. Frank is so lucky to have 2 wonderful employees such as you. One of you should have volunteered as a DD for him, then your master wouldnt have gotten that Drunk Driving charge.

      By the way, is Frank's alcohol bill included in the PBC expense report? Or does it count against player salaries?? LOL

      Delete
  8. Let them run their braindead yaps Roger. All they're are doing is alienating customers and costing their boss money.

    The Pirates have so turned me off to their product that the odds of me ever spending another dime of my money on them is slim and none and slim just left town. Their behavior on these blogs is stunning to say the least.

    On the bright side, Seven Springs has snow!! Yipeee!!

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    Replies
    1. The ownership, management and the fans of the PBC are hurt beyond belief for you deciding to not spend your money on the team.

      Oh no, what will we do?!

      Who gives a s**t.

      You are not a fan. Never was, never will be.

      Delete
  9. Anyone else notice this annoying little insect buzzing around here? I don't know about the rest of you, but in Carnegie we step on bugs and squash them.

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    Replies
    1. Smashing insects and smoking crack. A day in the life of a Carnegian.

      Delete
    2. Ah yes, here we have further proof that these people aren't Pittsburghers, Pirates fans or even free men. Just convicts who have nothing better to do than start trouble on blogs.


      Get a life loser.

      Delete
  10. "
    BRADENTON, Fla. -- Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett has a fractured orbital bone around his right eye and will have surgery Friday in Pittsburgh.

    Burnett was injured Wednesday when he was struck in the face by a batted ball during a bunting drill. He flew to Pittsburgh that night and was examined today by team doctors.

    Typically, the recovery time from surgery to repair Burnett's type of injury can be four to eight weeks. Once the injury has healed, Burnett will need several days to get back into pitching shape.

    The Pirates acquired Burnett at the start of spring training in a three-player trade with the New York Yankees. The right-handed had been expected to be their Opening Day starter.



    Read more: Pirates' Burnett needs surgery to repair broken orbital bone - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_784326.html#ixzz1ntO9HwsM"


    Man, you just can't make this stuff up. I have to admit I figured the Bucs would get at least 4-5 starts from this cancer before he hit the DL. Probably won't see him pitch now until sometine in May, if at all.

    Stay thirsty my friends

    ReplyDelete