Football Fiesta Bowl May Lose BCS Status; Fires CEO After Internal Report

Crush · 03-30-2011, 05:37 AM

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6270459

Fiesta Bowl Fires CEO John Junker

Associated Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Fiesta Bowl will be asked to justify its inclusion in the BCS after organizers for the Arizona game fired president and CEO John Junker for "an apparent scheme" to reimburse employees for political contributions and "an apparent conspiracy" to cover it up.

The Fiesta Bowl released a scathing internal report Tuesday.

The reimbursements, listed as at least $46,539, are an apparent violation of state campaign finance laws and the charter that allows the Fiesta Bowl its nonprofit status. The Arizona attorney general's office is conducting a probe of the matter.

The BCS reacted swiftly, saying it would undertake an investigation of its own to "consider whether the Fiesta Bowl should remain a BCS bowl game or other appropriate sanctions."

The Fiesta Bowl fired CEO John Junker on Tuesday after an internal report revealed numerous improprieties.

The Fiesta board of directors voted unanimously to fire Junker "for his improper and inappropriate activities documented" in the report.

"The entire Fiesta Bowl family is angered and disappointed by what we've seen in the report and by the actions of Mr. Junker," Fiesta Bowl board chairman Duane Woods told reporters at the event's headquarters in downtown Scottsdale. "The Fiesta Bowl is greater than a few individuals, and the lesson here really is that we placed too much trust in a single individual."

Woods did not take questions.

Junker, in his ubiquitous bright yellow Fiesta Bowl sports jacket, had been the face of the event for three decades, leading it from an upstart event to one of the BCS giants. With an annual salary of about $600,000, he had been on paid administrative lead since Feb. 4 after, the board said, he failed to comply with two written directives to cooperate with the investigation.

The board said the probe also uncovered "excessive compensation, nonbusiness and inappropriate expenditures and inappropriate gifts."

Junker's attorney, Steve Dichter, said via email that his client did not have access to the report before it was made public. He said the document was being studied before it was determined whether Junker would have a comment on it.

The 276-page report of an investigation that was conducted by Fiesta Bowl board members and a retired Arizona state Supreme Court justice, was published on the bowl's Web site fiestabowl.org.

The investigators said it found the "apparent scheme" to reimburse at least $46,539 for employees' political contributions.

The probe also found "an apparent conspiracy to conceal the reimbursement scheme from the bowl's Board of Directors and state officials," according to the news release accompanying the report.

The BCS issued a statement from executive director Bill Hancock and Penn State University President Graham Spanier, chair of the presidential oversight committee.

"We are deeply disappointed and troubled to learn of these findings related to the Fiesta Bowl," the statement said. "Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports. It is expected that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise."

BCS leaders said they will appoint a task force to evaluate the bowl's findings and its recommendations. They have also "asked the bowl to demonstrate why it should remain a BCS bowl game. The task force will evaluate the bowl's response, along with the full slate of reforms instituted by the bowl."

“ Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports. It is expected that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise.
” -- The Bowl Championship Series in a statement

And if the bowl remains a part of the BCS, its handling of this matter will be closely monitored going forward.

Bowl officials said the initial, brief investigation of the reimbursements allegations was "flawed." That probe found no evidence of any such wrongdoing.

Woods, head of Waste Management Inc. for the Western Region, played a major role in saving the PGA's Phoenix Open. Now he's got a far bigger cleanup effort.

He said the actions of Junker "unfortunately, have tainted the stellar reputation that the Fiesta Bowl has worked so hard to maintain for more than 40 years. The Fiesta Bowl, however, is greater than a few individuals; it is the product of thousands of dedicated volunteers and exemplary employees who work tirelessly and care so deeply about the Fiesta Bowl and all it does for the state of Arizona."

Woods outlined the time line that began with a report in The Arizona Republic in December, 2009, that five former or current Fiesta Bowl employees had been reimbursed for political donations they were encouraged to make. A brief investigation by former Arizona attorney general Grant Woods, no relation to the board chairman, led the board to conclude there was no credible evidence to support the allegations. Now, the board says that report was "flawed."

Duane Woods said that last September, an employee -- identified in the report as Junker's executive assistant Kelly Keough -- came to his office and told him that indeed the reimbursements had been made. That led to the lengthy probe that resulted in Tuesday's report.

Retired state Supreme Court justice Ruth McGregor, one of the three-member investigative panel, said the trio was given full access to everything related to the probe without any resistance from the board.

"We are confident that our report is thorough and accurate," she said. "Although the findings are deeply disturbing, I am gratified that the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors is moving forward with affirmative and concrete steps to address its problems."

The reimbursements go back to at least 2002, the report concluded. The political donations, mostly to Republican candidates and causes, were not required but strongly suggested, several employees told the investigators.

According to the report, when the initial investigation was made following The Republic's story, lobbyist Gary Husk helped guide Woods away from those who had actually been given reimbursements and groomed others who were interviewed on what to say. The Husk Brothers lobbying firm was paid $286,000 by the Fiesta Bowl in 2009, according to reports filed by the IRS.

The board announced a series of steps to reform its operations and operate transparently to prevent any repeat of such problems. That includes hiring a chief financial officer and a general counsel/compliance officer.

The bowl has three years left on its four-year BCS contract, but that might not protect it from the possibility of being booted off college football's biggest stage.

There are plenty of other bowls that would like a chance to hold the highly lucrative national title game, including the Cotton Bowl played at the Dallas Cowboys' lavish new stadium.

Cotton Bowl officials have never hidden their desire to return to elite bowl status.

Cotton Bowl President Rick Baker declined comment through a bowl spokesman.

Among the many expenditures questioned by the report was the 50th birthday celebration for Junker paid for by the Fiesta Bowl at a cost of $33,000 at Pebble Beach, Calif.;, his car allowance and paid membership in four elite private golf clubs. There also was a $1,200 trip for Junker and two others to a Phoenix strip club.

The Fiesta, which also operates the Insight Bowl and many other smaller events, staged the highly anticipated matchup between Auburn and Oregon for the national championship this year.

The seven-member BCS task force investigating the matter will be headed by Spanier and includes Northern Illinois president John Peters, Big East commissioner John Marinatto, Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters, and athletic directors Jeremy Foley of Florida, Bob Bowlsby of Stanford and Richard Giannani of Southern Mississippi.

LiveSteam · 03-30-2011, 05:40 AM

The Huskers Played in the very first Fiesta Bowl
Thats all I got.

Chiefnj2 · 03-30-2011, 05:59 AM

A non-profit Fiesta Bowl, with a CEO who makes $600k a year.

**Bane** · 03-30-2011, 06:04 AM

Yeah WTF?

Frazod · 03-30-2011, 06:14 AM

This part really made me laugh:

“ Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports. It is expected that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise.
” -- The Bowl Championship Series in a statement

Spott · 03-30-2011, 07:16 AM

One football game a year and they have a full time CEO?

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 03-30-2011, 07:29 AM

no way they drop outta the BCS.

suzzer99 · 03-30-2011, 08:43 AM

College football and basketball are rotten to the core.

Frazod · 03-30-2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spott

One football game a year and they have a full time CEO?

It's sort of like Tom Hagen only having one client.

mnchiefsguy · 03-30-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

no way they drop outta the BCS.

i don't know...there is a brand new stadium in Dallas that would love to have a BCS game, and has more seats and luxury boxes. It could happen.

Ebolapox · 03-30-2011, 08:56 AM

fwiw, 'not for profit' does NOT mean NOT for profit... I've worked for a few not-for-profits, and the CEOs for them generally make HUGE bank, as do many of the higher-ups. it's a huge scam as far as I'm concerned.

03-30-2011, 05:37 AM
Crush Amateur Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Casino cash: $2357091	Fiesta Bowl May Lose BCS Status; Fires CEO After Internal Report http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6270459 Fiesta Bowl Fires CEO John Junker Associated Press SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Fiesta Bowl will be asked to justify its inclusion in the BCS after organizers for the Arizona game fired president and CEO John Junker for "an apparent scheme" to reimburse employees for political contributions and "an apparent conspiracy" to cover it up. The Fiesta Bowl released a scathing internal report Tuesday. The reimbursements, listed as at least $46,539, are an apparent violation of state campaign finance laws and the charter that allows the Fiesta Bowl its nonprofit status. The Arizona attorney general's office is conducting a probe of the matter. The BCS reacted swiftly, saying it would undertake an investigation of its own to "consider whether the Fiesta Bowl should remain a BCS bowl game or other appropriate sanctions." The Fiesta Bowl fired CEO John Junker on Tuesday after an internal report revealed numerous improprieties. The Fiesta board of directors voted unanimously to fire Junker "for his improper and inappropriate activities documented" in the report. "The entire Fiesta Bowl family is angered and disappointed by what we've seen in the report and by the actions of Mr. Junker," Fiesta Bowl board chairman Duane Woods told reporters at the event's headquarters in downtown Scottsdale. "The Fiesta Bowl is greater than a few individuals, and the lesson here really is that we placed too much trust in a single individual." Woods did not take questions. Junker, in his ubiquitous bright yellow Fiesta Bowl sports jacket, had been the face of the event for three decades, leading it from an upstart event to one of the BCS giants. With an annual salary of about $600,000, he had been on paid administrative lead since Feb. 4 after, the board said, he failed to comply with two written directives to cooperate with the investigation. The board said the probe also uncovered "excessive compensation, nonbusiness and inappropriate expenditures and inappropriate gifts." Junker's attorney, Steve Dichter, said via email that his client did not have access to the report before it was made public. He said the document was being studied before it was determined whether Junker would have a comment on it. The 276-page report of an investigation that was conducted by Fiesta Bowl board members and a retired Arizona state Supreme Court justice, was published on the bowl's Web site fiestabowl.org. The investigators said it found the "apparent scheme" to reimburse at least $46,539 for employees' political contributions. The probe also found "an apparent conspiracy to conceal the reimbursement scheme from the bowl's Board of Directors and state officials," according to the news release accompanying the report. The BCS issued a statement from executive director Bill Hancock and Penn State University President Graham Spanier, chair of the presidential oversight committee. "We are deeply disappointed and troubled to learn of these findings related to the Fiesta Bowl," the statement said. "Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports. It is expected that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise." BCS leaders said they will appoint a task force to evaluate the bowl's findings and its recommendations. They have also "asked the bowl to demonstrate why it should remain a BCS bowl game. The task force will evaluate the bowl's response, along with the full slate of reforms instituted by the bowl." “ Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports. It is expected that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise. ” -- The Bowl Championship Series in a statement And if the bowl remains a part of the BCS, its handling of this matter will be closely monitored going forward. Bowl officials said the initial, brief investigation of the reimbursements allegations was "flawed." That probe found no evidence of any such wrongdoing. Woods, head of Waste Management Inc. for the Western Region, played a major role in saving the PGA's Phoenix Open. Now he's got a far bigger cleanup effort. He said the actions of Junker "unfortunately, have tainted the stellar reputation that the Fiesta Bowl has worked so hard to maintain for more than 40 years. The Fiesta Bowl, however, is greater than a few individuals; it is the product of thousands of dedicated volunteers and exemplary employees who work tirelessly and care so deeply about the Fiesta Bowl and all it does for the state of Arizona." Woods outlined the time line that began with a report in The Arizona Republic in December, 2009, that five former or current Fiesta Bowl employees had been reimbursed for political donations they were encouraged to make. A brief investigation by former Arizona attorney general Grant Woods, no relation to the board chairman, led the board to conclude there was no credible evidence to support the allegations. Now, the board says that report was "flawed." Duane Woods said that last September, an employee -- identified in the report as Junker's executive assistant Kelly Keough -- came to his office and told him that indeed the reimbursements had been made. That led to the lengthy probe that resulted in Tuesday's report. Retired state Supreme Court justice Ruth McGregor, one of the three-member investigative panel, said the trio was given full access to everything related to the probe without any resistance from the board. "We are confident that our report is thorough and accurate," she said. "Although the findings are deeply disturbing, I am gratified that the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors is moving forward with affirmative and concrete steps to address its problems." The reimbursements go back to at least 2002, the report concluded. The political donations, mostly to Republican candidates and causes, were not required but strongly suggested, several employees told the investigators. According to the report, when the initial investigation was made following The Republic's story, lobbyist Gary Husk helped guide Woods away from those who had actually been given reimbursements and groomed others who were interviewed on what to say. The Husk Brothers lobbying firm was paid $286,000 by the Fiesta Bowl in 2009, according to reports filed by the IRS. The board announced a series of steps to reform its operations and operate transparently to prevent any repeat of such problems. That includes hiring a chief financial officer and a general counsel/compliance officer. The bowl has three years left on its four-year BCS contract, but that might not protect it from the possibility of being booted off college football's biggest stage. There are plenty of other bowls that would like a chance to hold the highly lucrative national title game, including the Cotton Bowl played at the Dallas Cowboys' lavish new stadium. Cotton Bowl officials have never hidden their desire to return to elite bowl status. Cotton Bowl President Rick Baker declined comment through a bowl spokesman. Among the many expenditures questioned by the report was the 50th birthday celebration for Junker paid for by the Fiesta Bowl at a cost of $33,000 at Pebble Beach, Calif.;, his car allowance and paid membership in four elite private golf clubs. There also was a $1,200 trip for Junker and two others to a Phoenix strip club. The Fiesta, which also operates the Insight Bowl and many other smaller events, staged the highly anticipated matchup between Auburn and Oregon for the national championship this year. The seven-member BCS task force investigating the matter will be headed by Spanier and includes Northern Illinois president John Peters, Big East commissioner John Marinatto, Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters, and athletic directors Jeremy Foley of Florida, Bob Bowlsby of Stanford and Richard Giannani of Southern Mississippi.
Posts: 15,298

03-30-2011, 05:40 AM	#2
LiveSteam The Constitutional Choo choo Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: homeof43conferencetitles Casino cash: $-1564568	The Huskers Played in the very first Fiesta Bowl Thats all I got. Last edited by LiveSteam; 03-30-2011 at 06:08 AM..
Posts: 44,704

03-30-2011, 05:59 AM	#3
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $6664388	A non-profit Fiesta Bowl, with a CEO who makes $600k a year. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,540

03-30-2011, 06:04 AM	#4
Bane C.H.I.E.F.S Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: **** your face Casino cash: $10005055	Yeah WTF?
Posts: 12,621

03-30-2011, 06:14 AM	#5
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-666615	This part really made me laugh: “ Unprofessional, unethical or improper behavior is unacceptable. There is no place for such activities in higher education or in collegiate sports. It is expected that all parties contracted with the BCS will live up to the highest standards. We do not wish to be associated with entities that believe otherwise. ” -- The Bowl Championship Series in a statement
Posts: 121,727

03-30-2011, 07:16 AM	#6
Spott Court Jester Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Orlando Casino cash: $-707600	One football game a year and they have a full time CEO?
Posts: 20,688

03-30-2011, 07:29 AM	#7
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	no way they drop outta the BCS. __________________
Posts: 12,526

03-30-2011, 08:43 AM	#8
suzzer99 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: L.A. Casino cash: $-685716	College football and basketball are rotten to the core.
Posts: 28,358

03-30-2011, 08:56 AM	#11
Ebolapox remember, remember Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: como Casino cash: $-1660097	fwiw, 'not for profit' does NOT mean NOT for profit... I've worked for a few not-for-profits, and the CEOs for them generally make HUGE bank, as do many of the higher-ups. it's a huge scam as far as I'm concerned.
Posts: 26,518