Who knew that sounding off against your former employer could cost you a cool $12 million?
Ex-Cleveland Browns' general manager Phil Savage might find out the hard way. During a meeting with the Gulf Coast Athletic Club this week, Savage reached out and validated rumors that he was slamming the Browns organization behind the scenes.
Of course, the Browns are terrible and everyone knows that. But with a big chunk of his contract still on the table after being fired, he probably should have kept his mouth shut.
Most contracts have clauses that call for a breach when the employee makes negative public comments about the old employer, but it looks like Savage forgot to read that part.
You don't take a lot of solace in watching a place you leave go downhill further
Savage said, according to the Mobile Press Register. But they took what we did have going there and they just dismantled that even further.
Yikes. Never mind, Mr. Savage, that you actually dismantled the team when you took over in 2004. New managerial regimes have a tendency to put their stamp on a franchise, and there really isn't anything abnormal about what George Kokinis and Eric Mangini are doing.
Savage earned his master's degree from the University of Alabama, where he currently serves a radio color analyst for football. Let's hope he can put that degree to work.
There's going to be a big hole in his bank account where $10 million was supposed to land.
ACTA DESPERATION? NOT QUITE
Per tradition, a large number of Cleveland Indians fans are up in arms over an organizational decision.
The Indians named ex-Nationals' manager Manny Acta as their 40th manager in club history at a news conference Monday, after battling for his services with the Houston Astros.
Cleveland signed Acta, a respected leader and proponent of Sabermetrics analysis, to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year.
Regardless of what the out-to-lunch comment posters say, this is a good move for the Indians.
Acta said that he is beginning to search for a coaching staff, and Columbus Clippers hitting coach Jon Nunnally is believed to be a serious candidate for the same position in Cleveland.
Another interesting thing about Acta: he plans to spend the winter in Arizona, tracking the club's prospects and getting a feel for the young talent in the organization.
While other managers might spend their down time on the golf course, Acta won't be trying to lower his handicap.
My only hobby is to play golf and I'm not any good at it
so why would I be out there? he said.
CAN WE START OVER?
The Cavaliers would undoubtedly like to play Tuesday's season opener again.
Facing mounting pressure prior to a season hyped more than any other in the team's history, they seemed poised to make a solid first step into the 2009-10 season.
But that first step was a little slippery.
The Celtics got a superb effort from Cavalier-killer Paul Pierce and used support scoring from Rasheed Wallace to win 95-89.
LeBron James was his normal self, putting up a game-high 38 points and, just like always, getting little to no help from his boys.
Particularly noteworthy was the uninspiring performance of Shaquille O'Neal, who looked about 60 pounds out of shape and scored just 10 points (only two in the second half).
Tuesday's win was Boston's first in Quicken Loans Arena in its last 11 attempts.
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Sports
Rob Mixer
