After numerous motions and delays, a judge has thrown out the case of former Michigan hockey player and coach, NHL’er, and WTKA 1050AM morning host Dave Shand against U-M athletic director Bill Martin. Shand claimed he was wrongfully terminated in April 2007 from WTKA at the order of Martin, who, they argued, pressured station brass to remove the outspoken host. The gist of the complaint: 20. On April 19, 2007, Martin communicated both indirectly and directly with [WTKA station brass] Bolak and Cowen, and informed them that he would not allow WTKA to participate in a planned coverage of a UM charity golf event if they permitted plaintiff to broadcast it. 21. Martin further indicated that he wanted the station to fire the plaintiff, and stated that if they did not, he would no longer allow WTKA to carry University of Michigan football games. It appears as though Shand’s team was never able to present smoking gun evidence of Martin’s direct involvement in the firing. Shand’s attorney Nick Roumel explained via email, “Some of our evidence was hearsay because we never actually had anyone who heard Martin himself make the statements we alleged he said. We argued that the hearsay was nonetheless admissible under certain hearsay exceptions.” Roumel added, “I’m proud of Dave for standing up for his rights.” We…
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Free Press: Miles spoke with Martin, Coleman Friday
Mark Snyder just reported on Freep.com that Mary Sue Coleman and Bill Martin did indeed speak with Les Miles last week. He doesn’t cite any direct sources. Two quotes from the article of interest: Miles had a phone conversation Friday morning with Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and school president Mary Sue Coleman, according to several people with knowledge of the call. …. While the call between the two sides did not identify Miles as the leading candidate for the coaching vacancy, it did give them a chance to interact formally for the first time and to discuss a number of issues previously handled through intermediaries. He did get one slightly interesting quote from one of Coleman’s people: “We’re not going to be discussing anything about recruiting (a new coach) until after the announcement is made,” Coleman’s spokesperson, Kelly Cunningham, said today. While we didn’t see what the question or comment was that prompted this comment from Cunningham, what does she mean by “the announcement”? What announcement? The phrasing is peculiar here because it’s not like anyone is aware of any type of pending decision in this process, thus, an announcement. If this is true, apparently Martin and Coleman didn’t have the LSU AD’s blessing who said today: “I’d be under the assumption that the permission to speak to Les…
