Arrowhead anxiety: Turnover off the field causes concern

[Dr. Gigglepants]

Secrecy, intimidation, fear and a watchful eye have become hallmarks of working for the Chiefs, say some current and former employees.

BY KENT BABB THE KANSAS CITY STAR

Todd Haley walked into the public relations office at Chiefs headquarters on a Thursday in early December. Four days before he was fired as the team’s coach, he wanted to talk about what life was like inside this organization. But he didn’t know who else might be listening.

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http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/14...nover-off.html

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This article goes into a lot of detail on the changes that came into effect with the Pioli regime. Sounds like a shitty ass place to work now.

[CaliforniaChief]

When stories like this pop, they either grow and gain traction, or they fade away. Looks like this one has legs. If it really did hit the fan, I wonder what the end result of it all would be. Pioli fired? Clark apology? Where would it lead?

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

You don't think it's a joke that the team is demanding the Star turn over the names of the sources?

If you have nothing to hide, and are operating the correct way, why are the Chiefs so nervous?

You wouldn't want to know where these accusations are coming from?

I sure as **** would. Especially if a lot of what was being said are lies.

And why do they have to be painted as nervous? Because the media said so?

The only head executive that we'd want to hear from who hasn't addressed this situation is Pioli. Because Pioli hasn't talked, that makes them nervous?



Until all the facts come out, and Chiefs defend themselves, everyone is making assumptions here.

[FringeNC]

What I thought was interesting is that Gretz blames Hunt, not Pioli.

Again, I'd have no problem with anything that is going on over there if the unique work environment produces playoff victories. I don't see how secrecy matters all that much in this line of business. This is not Apple Computer.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by O.city

So what about the workers who say its not toxic?

Or the one who says it was the same reaction when Peterson took over?

When they say that they were coached and or are lying, but when employees who were fired say it they don't have somewhat of an axe to grind?

There were employees fired from a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in 20 years and a SB in 40 years. You think Stephanie Melton knows alot about putting a SB winning team on the field?

The workers who said it wasn't toxic spoke on the record and the article said most of them had a PR person present. It's hard to imagine that any of those guys are going to say anything negative. It goes without saying that it's far more interesting that only the current workers who were listed as "anonymous" seemed to have more negative things to say.

If Gretz's accusation is true that the Chiefs were threatening lawsuits for these interviews, that's a really bad statement about the lengths the Chiefs will go to control their reputation. And it makes it a lot harder to really believe their credibility.

Your last point is a fair point. But again, they are throwing out ideas and allowing us to react to them. I don't think gum wrappers and coffees is a big deal--I think that level of accountability is a good thing. There are other things in this article that scare the shit out of me.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

You mean the 2 that didn't have a Chiefs PR person sitting next to them at the interview?

Wow they found 2 people they could trust to not spill any beans. Awesome.

Oh wow. The PR guy was there doing his job. Big Shocker. I'm sure there are PR people around when doing a lot of Chiefs interviews. I'd be surprised if there weren't.

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

When stories like this pop, they either grow and gain traction, or they fade away. Looks like this one has legs. If it really did hit the fan, I wonder what the end result of it all would be. Pioli fired? Clark apology? Where would it lead?

Let's hope Pioli gets fired.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

If Gretz's accusation is true that the Chiefs were threatening lawsuits for these interviews, that's a really bad statement about the lengths the Chiefs will go to control their reputation. And it makes it a lot harder to really believe their credibility.

If these are slanderous statements that are being made, then why would the Chiefs threatening to sue give them less credibility?

Slander is a big deal. Especially for a Pro Sports team. Look at the shit stirred up by this article, yet there is no proof yet that ANYTHING was tapped.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

You wouldn't want to know where these accusations are coming from?

I sure as **** would. Especially if a lot of what was being said are lies.

And why do they have to be painted as nervous? Because the media said so?

The only head executive that we'd want to hear from who hasn't addressed this situation is Pioli. Because Pioli hasn't talked, that makes them nervous.



Until all the facts come out, and Chiefs defend themselves, everyone is making assumptions here.

Wow. A few months ago, I talked about Penn State and the kind of fear of God that university can put on a person trying to blow the whistle. This is exactly why. What you're suggesting goes against everything this country is trying to do to encourage whistleblowing, even when companies are bullying their workers to keep their mouths shut.

And again, most of the stuff in this article is fact. And Mark Donovan or Clark Hunt either confirmed it was true, or defended the practice. Who the **** knows why Pioli chose not to participate. That's the part that continues to be a head scratcher for me.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

The workers who said it wasn't toxic spoke on the record and the article said most of them had a PR person present. It's hard to imagine that any of those guys are going to say anything negative. It goes without saying that it's far more interesting that only the current workers who were listed as "anonymous" seemed to have more negative things to say.

If Gretz's accusation is true that the Chiefs were threatening lawsuits for these interviews, that's a really bad statement about the lengths the Chiefs will go to control their reputation. And it makes it a lot harder to really believe their credibility.

Your last point is a fair point. But again, they are throwing out ideas and allowing us to react to them. I don't think gum wrappers and coffees is a big deal--I think that level of accountability is a good thing. There are other things in this article that scare the shit out of me.

Yeah the lawsuit thing, I get that and tend to think that is a little on the shitty side.


I just think people who hate Pioli are using this to burn him at the stake. Don't get me wrong hte dude has made mistakes, but say we don't lose our two best players this year, Mo and Cassel stay healthy, we win 9 or 10 games, make the playoffs and just beat the Steelers and lost to the Pats.

If all that happened and this article came out, what would be the reaction?

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

What I thought was interesting is that Gretz blames Hunt, not Pioli.

Again, I'd have no problem with anything that is going on over there if the unique work environment produces playoff victories. I don't see how secrecy matters all that much in this line of business. This is not Apple Computer.

Right...and while you're NOT getting rid of Hunt, I hope this is him simply learning to run a franchise and that he adapts over time.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Wow. A few months ago, I talked about Penn State and the kind of fear of God that university can put on a person trying to blow the whistle. This is exactly why. What you're suggesting goes against everything this country is trying to do to encourage whistleblowing, even when companies are bullying their workers to keep their mouths shut.

And again, most of the stuff in this article is fact. And Mark Donovan or Clark Hunt either confirmed it was true, or defended the practice. Who the **** knows why Pioli chose not to participate. That's the part that continues to be a head scratcher for me.

Just curious, but what in the article do you see as so heinous?

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Oh wow. The PR guy was there doing his job. Big Shocker. I'm sure there are PR people around when doing a lot of Chiefs interviews. I'd be surprised if there weren't.

Sitting there like a Soviet political commissar, and you don't think that's a bit weird? And why not with all of them Scott?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

If these are slanderous statements that are being made, then why would the Chiefs threatening to sue give them less credibility?

Slander is a big deal. Especially for a Pro Sports team. Look at the shit stirred up by this article, yet there is no proof yet that ANYTHING was tapped.

There is nothing slanderous in this article.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by O.city

There were employees fired from a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in 20 years and a SB in 40 years. You think Stephanie Melton knows alot about putting a SB winning team on the field?

People on the business side have nothing to do with the players on the field. Its two seperate business operations. The overlap on the two is actually very minimal other than sharing the same building and getting a paycheck from the same place. Pioli's CIA operation is just ****ing stupid. Run the football side if you want that way fine but some of the other bullshit is just that bullshit. Basically it proves that all Pioli has been under is just football. Every level of football is run in a dictatorship type form. Business is not. Stupid thing on Pioli's part is the business side is the people who have to go out and cover your ass with the public for the shitty product you put on the field. They are the ones who deal with the fans every single day. They are the ones who deal with the business owners in the community. Not to mention the Midwest mentality is not to be closed up about anything. Us Midwesterners are friendly people by nature. You might be able to get away with secerts and other bullshit on the East Coast but it won't fly in the Midwest.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Wow. A few months ago, I talked about Penn State and the kind of fear of God that university can put on a person trying to blow the whistle. This is exactly why. What you're suggesting goes against everything this country is trying to do to encourage whistleblowing, even when companies are bullying their workers to keep their mouths shut.

It seems like you think they're threatening to sue because they wanna scare people, when in fact they could be threatening to sue because the newspaper is stating slanderous statements w/o merit.

Your opinion: "OMG, KC STAR, if you write this article and release the truth, we'll threaten to sue you....for what, i don't know, but we will!" -Chiefs

My Opinion: "OMG KC Star, most of this shit is lies, and if you write lies about our organization, that's grounds for a lawsuit" - Chiefs



See? It could go either way. So why assume?