Dwight Jaynes has an idea of why Penn was fired (and why KP might be next)...

http://www.dwightjaynes.com/a-few-things-im-hearing-about-kevin-pritchard

I don't agree with the last statement about how KP not acknowledging the Penn incident leads to Miller/Allen being thrown under the bus, but I suppose I do understand why Penn was fired (if this story is true).

 

OH, and I do hope Jaynes isn't just talking out his ass, because those are some pretty big accusations on Penn's charcter (which has otherwise been sterling).

 

Still, I don't think it's a fire-able offense.

 

There's a scenario that Jaynes isn't discussing here, that given the way the corporate world tends to work is plausible. (I'm not saying this is what happened, only that Jaynes' version of events still has holes big enough to fill with plenty of speculation.)

Say Penn made the disparaging (probably sexist, chauvinistic, etc.) comment about the female co-worker. It upsets upper management, and I'm suggesting what might have happened - as would happen at a lot of places I've worked - the top managers contact the immediate supervisor (KP) about taking immediate steps. The suggestion is likely that KP fire Penn. KP, hypothetically, refuses. That refusal (which could be interpreted as misguided loyalty to an outgoing underling rather than to the men who sign the checks) could be what got KP into dutch. In that way, it's a situation that Jaynes is correct had "nothing to do with basketball" - but since it's an inappropriate (hypothetical) act by someone's immediate underling, it of course has something to do with KP.

 

Hmmmmmmmm. Yes, this is all speculation but if what you are surmising is true, there is another very big issue. IF Penn made a derogatory remark to a female colleague/subordinate and IF KP was told to fire him for it but did not and IF Allen et al did nothing, there is very definitely legal liability. Because if the remark were construed as sexual harassment, say, management by law must take action (not necessarily firing, of course, depends on what was said/done. Saying "you look hot" would get a reprimand, demanding sex would get a firing) or they could be sued for enabling a hostile work environment. Considering the net worth of the parties, the woman could really go after them in court. Remember Isiah Thomas?

I know, a lot of ifs.

Maybe I am grasping as straws, but I would at least hope that Paul Allen, whom no one could call stupid, a 57-year old two-time cancer survivor, would not be petty enough to can a GM because he got too much praise, or dressed better than the owner (which he does).

 

I call bullshit. I have worked at a lot of companies and it would be a rare occasion when somebody is fired for derogatory statements if it is the first time it has happened. Employees typically get talked to after the first incident and told what is acceptable and not acceptable and to knock it off, and then if they persist, then they are fired later.

 

Depends on what was said. And also whether there was a pattern.

 

Geezus

 

One thing I had aways wondered about......the circumstances leading up to and surrounding KP's involvement with a former Blazer dancer. None of my business, really, but, I couldn't help but wonder if KP got involved with her prior her resignation with the Blazers, as well as prior to his marriage ending. That said, I also kinda wonder if it has a connection in any way to these latest events? Some employers highly frown upon fraternization with other employees...especially in KP's position. In other words, what "may" have happened back then could have been strike 1?

We'll never know, though.

 

If there was a pattern of this sort of behavior from Penn, and KP refused to deal with it, I can see where this would get ugly between KP and his superiors.

If this was an isolated incident.......it is hard to imagine what Penn could have said that would justify firing for a 1st offense. If KP pointed that out and argued for progressive discipline, I suppose that could have annoyed his superiors.

All speculation, of course. The real irony of all these scenarios, is that the one person *not* being really punished is KP. He will get a new job and carry on with his life and career. It is the organization and its' fans who will suffer from losing a competent GM.

 

Not really. I have seen some of the rudest, crudest things said and it not lead to a firing offense the first time. Many times. It doesn't mean that they all go down that way, but in my experience, that is generally the way it goes. Hell most employees are put in leave before being fired anyhow until they figured out what exactly went on.

 

I don't know what the truth is, but I came out the next day after the agents statement and said the agent was unethical for tying KP's name into the Penn firing. Conflict of interest to use one client's personal information to make a point about another client.


Even if the story reported is not true, the agent had no business bring KP's name into the discussion (about Penn's firing) at that point and did his client a disservice. In fact the agent used Canzano as a pawn to run with the whole story.

KP has to be accountable for his agent's statement (or fire him) and his agent's statement after the Penn firing was the Blazer organization sucks and don't trust them. I knoe there might be some truth to it, but you don't come out and call out your employer without realizing there could be consequenses.

 

This actually makes a lot of sense.

The Penn firing has all the hallmarks of of a human resource issue - it was very abrupt, strange timing, and nothing public was said. He obviously pissed someone off and was canned. Or worse, he potentially got the organization in legal hot water.

And if KP was complicit by his silence, and in so doing let people think that his bosses were jerks, he dug his own grave, and stupidly too.

 

You're kidding, right? Jaynes face is one giant butt-crack.

 

Perhaps, you've seen the Jaynes Gallery?

Deleted.

 

In Canzano's article today, he wrote, "Allen's henchmen waited until the day after season-ticket renewals to fire assistant general manager Tom Penn." So the timing isn't strange or abrupt at all. It was preconceived, or that's one helluva coincidence...

 

Who knows if Jaynes is right, but the part that is believable is the part that it has nothing to do with basketball. Many of us have believed that to be the case and not the stupid ass Durant/Oden draft pick to be the reason.