(03-13-2013 11:37 PM)Freshy Wrote: My understanding of it is that Banowsky couldn't do a damn thing about four schools electing to believe there was a massive pot of gold at the end of the Big East rainbow (the fact that the pot was full of wooden nickels is a non-starter). When they left, he backfilled to protect the TV contract. I had always thought he went with six because the TV partners demanded it so they would have more inventory to choose from.
I'd be surprised if Banowsky was forced by the networks for inventory, given the situation. I would come closer to believe Banowsky made a rare preemptive move, rather than being forced, as he's typically reactive.
It's no secret Banowsky tried to increase the conference to 16 members earlier before defectors 2.0, only to be voted down by the AD's & Presidents. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that was his plan all along. Just needed the right "crisis" to come about.
It's the total track record of Banowsky... From letting the first round of defectors leave without a fight- or obviously exit fees, even though they were bound legally, it set the tone early on regarding his tenure.
...To never raising a peep about the inequities of the AQ system, even though it was creating an unfair & possible illegal caste system. Even though Cowan at Tulane was fighting, the Utah AG was fighting, even Thompson at the MWC was fighting the unfairness. But not a single word from BB.
To me, this smacks of someone without internal fortitude, to fight for what is right for the conference members-rather than his own interests i.e. his job.
So, his latest dubious actions have to be examined a lot more than the networks made him do so.
He's not perfect, as none of us are, but for 900K per year, I'd expect a little bit more perfection.