One of my failings as a journalist is that I have an addiction, bordering on pathological, to believe that people are telling me the truth.*As somewhat of an expert on Animal House this is not the word used as Bellamy had to clean it up for a family newspaper.The first time I read it and without the correct word it just did not ring true!
It's an occupational hazard, and you'd think that after more than 30 years in the business I'd have gotten over it, but I haven't.....
when athletic director Bill Moos says he's leaving Oregon to go spend time with his family and raise cattle in Eastern Washington, and when Dave Frohnmayer sings his praises, it doesn't occur to me that my first question should have been to ask the University of Oregon president just how much Moos is being paid to go away.
Turns out, close to $2 million, over 10 years.
I apologize for not asking a question that clearly needed to have been asked when Oregon announced Monday that Moos is resigning, effective the end of March.
Because the settlement agreement is the smoking gun:......
"Moos and University agree it is in the best interests of each for Moos to end his employment with the university ..." before the expiration of his contract in June 2008, the resignation agreement said.
.....You wonder if, as they left the press conference, Frohnmayer or Moos thought of the line from "Animal House," filmed at Oregon: You screwed* up. You trusted us.
And they're surprised that reporters get so damn cynical.
(To read the rest of the column click on the title above for a link)
