20 February 2006

Escalation

MLS Launches Review of Nowak Statements [Updated Below]

Well, we're in for it now. MLS has announced that they are conducting a review of Nowak's alleged racist comments during the RSL-DCU game. The obvious inference is that Ellinger filed his complaint, but I'd like confirmation on that. If he did, then I damn well hope he has additional information to impart.

Now that Don Garber has put MLS into this situation, I hope it is handled strongly one way or the other. MLS should either determine that Nowak said "back to Africa" and suspend him for the year (and then DCU should fire Nowak) or they should determine that Nowak said "back to hospital" in which case they can suspend him for a few games for unsporting behavior (or not, if they believe he wasn't ordering that a player be roughed up). The worst thing they can do is look into this situation, and then pass with a statement like "we find no conclusive evidence that Piotr Nowak uttered racist commentary." If they do that, while it allows them to let everyone off the hook, it still tarnishes Nowak's reputation by letting it stay out there that he might have said it, only no one knows. MLS must make a determination on what was said for this to be fairly resolved, and publish openly the results of their inquiry. I do worry that they will look at the situation and punt. That would be the worst of all possible outcomes.

UPDATE 4:55PM DC United responds. They seem very confident in their language, predicting not only won't just punt on the issue, but instead "they will find that no such comments were ever made" or find the negative. I would imagine they wouldn't say that unless they were damn sure of themselves. And I hope they are, the league finds accordingly.

5 Comments:

At 20 February, 2006 16:41, Anonymous Anonymous said...

If Ellinger filed a complaint...

then one of the two coaches should be suspended depending on the outcome of the investigation.

If there is no evidence...

Ellinger for making an unsubstantiated and very damaging claim.

In fact I'd like to be Nowak's lawyer...or at least see PN and Ellinger in a cage match.

If there is evidence...

Nowak is suspended then fired....

 
At 20 February, 2006 17:18, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The DCU release is from yesterday. It was on BigSoccer Sunday morning, at any rate. Here's a link.

 
At 20 February, 2006 17:55, Blogger D said...

Matt: I'm still not sold (yet) that Ellinger has done anything over the line, even if I might think he has handled it poorly. But it's not clear to me what he complained about. For all we know, he complained about "to the hospital"

Belly: Actually, I think this is more recent, given that it refers to the MLS statement and is dated today.

 
At 20 February, 2006 18:03, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are probably right...Ellinger is pretty well respected.

I hope you are right...it wouldn't be a shocker if the MLS officials were overreacting..

 
At 20 February, 2006 18:20, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You're right. It's updated. I only looked at the first line - which is identical to yesterday's release. Last line is the same too.

MLS officials are covering their asses. I'm sure they don't want to be perceived as dismissive in any way of these issues.

 

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