December 5, 2007
TJ Simers: Sad Saga Of A Hypocrite
We really don't want to write this post, we really don't want to focus on TJ Simers … really, who cares?! But Karl Dorrell is history, and Simer's is still raging about it. And the focus of his rage is DumpDorrell.com. We promised we'd respond fully, so here it is.
TJ Simers is so unapologetically hypocritical you have to wonder what drives him. Obviously he writes to create controversy - that's his schtick. But lately, since his ridiculous sports radio show (with his narcissistic, nasally, grating daughter - who thought sports fans would want to hear THAT?!!) got canned, he has gotten a little ornery, belligerent, nasty. Gone is the humor, the one redeeming trait he had.
It must be because his paper's circulation is in perpetual decline, and maybe his office became a cubicle, and he sits in front of a metal desk with a shadeless lamp. Whatever, TJ is spitting mad and he is lashing out in senseless ways … as he did with his sobbing and grave epilogue to Karl Dorrell's firing:
Whatever he did, though, it wasn't enough for some. The folks at dumpdorrell.com, and you have to wonder about the lives people lead who live to see someone lose their job, were celebrating his dismissal. "We take no pleasure in firing a good man," said the hypocritical unsigned main entry on dumpdorrell.com. "But Karl Dorrell leaves UCLA over $6 million richer in just 5 years. As much as no person likes being fired, Dorrell and his family will be fine."
There's no way to know the long-term blow to Dorrell's self-esteem, or where this might take his family. And while some might say, "give me a $2.05-million severance package and fire me," you have to wonder if they ever had a job they really loved, or if they are operating something called dumpdorrell.com.
Simers knows that Dorrell is just a friggin football coach so TJ is blowing hot air. Big time college football coaches get fired, they get promoted, the take better positions, they get new positions. It's the nature of the business and they ALL KNOW IT. Dorrell KNEW the unsteady nature of the job BEFORE he took it 5 long years ago, boldly pronouncing we might add that he was "the best man for the job" and that he would "win the Pac-10 championship." Coaches get paid millions, with multi-million dollar buyouts … for what?? For coaching a game!! TJ, How do inner city families feel about Dorrell getting fired for a job he loved … and getting $2 million for his pain?? Spare us the mercy choir. If Dorrell loves coaching football he will still coach. We at UCLA love our football team and we love the team being successful as any parent would a child … does our love not count??!!
What's surprising is Simers slinging the "hypocrite" tag at us. This from the guy who COINED the term "Dullard" - we bet Karl Dorrell and his family loved reading that one in the city's NEWSPAPER when they were filling their new house with furniture and starting the new job that he "loved." This from the guy who not 4 weeks ago (Nov. 4) called Dorrell's football program "a joke!" Wonder how Dorrell felt about reading that while he was sweating losing his job - the one he "loved" - on the 2nd floor of Morgan Center. Now Simers is calling us hypocrites?? As you can all plainly see, it is Simers who is the hypocrite and he uses an age old trick of fingering someone else as guilty before everyone finds out that he the the guilty one.
The problem is those pesky thing called facts. We at DD have been consistent from the very first post on our site, and that is probably why a capricious windbag like Simers didn't recognize integrity. Although not everyone will agree with our message, no one can find any evidence that we have not been honest, straightforward, steadfast and open about our opinions. Such evidence doesn't exist.
TJ goes further in emails he sent to DD reader SB, where he goes so far as to make this all a social statement:
"when a site presents only one side–twisting every piece of info to make it weigh against someone—taking genuine glee in a man losing his job—it speaks so badly about this segment of society. That has nothing to do about the Internet, it has to be someone's irresponsibility."
That is a choice quote coming from Simers. The irresponsibility and hypocrisy comes from the likes of Simers who slings arrows at the weak from his quiver of tabloid slime only to stand tall in front of a billboard of sympathy when the crowds have already gathered. We attacked a public official who's highly paid job was also public, and he KNEW it. TJ attacks anyone unawares when it serves his purpose and stands by anyone when it serves his purpose. In the case of Dorrell he did both … and then pointed the finger of blame at us. TJ will never find evidence of our "glee" in Dorrell losing his job. He needs to stop posing on a soap box … especially since he is talking about himself.
Beyond his own failings, Simers doesn't get what this is all about. Of course we are celebrating the fact that Dorrell is gone, we are not celebrating the way in which it came about (his firing). In other words, we are not celebrating what Simers says we are celebrating. This site has NEVER been about Karl Dorrell. DumpDorrell.com is about reversing 2 decades of agonizing mediocrity and getting Morgan Center and Murphy Hall to finally commit to excellence. With Dorrell's firing, there is now a chance for that excellence. That is why we are still posting, to make sure the job is finished. It's not with "the firing of a good man." So when WE say we do not take pleasure in his firing, it is true and it does not conflict with our message in the slightest. Maybe T(ro)J(an) doesn't get it because he is not a Bruin. We ARE!!
Why TJ picks a fight with a blog is beyond us. He has 2 million readers a day. We have 2,000 (8,000 nowadays, but that will settle back down). What is wrong with this picture? As others have pointed out … hacks like TJ are losing relevance, legitimacy and credibility, so he's trying to gain some back by taking us on. He selling to the wrong market.
22 Comments on TJ Simers: Sad Saga Of A Hypocrite
December 5, 2007
Fred @ 8:21 am:
YOU CAN’T NAME A WEBSITE => “DumpDorrell.com” then say “This site has NEVER been about Karl Dorrell.” That’s a bit disingenuous.
Had you named the site “FireAnotherAverageUCLACoach.com” then I’d buy what you’re selling, but c’mon!
Anyway…
T.J. Simers must have a short memory. “FireRonZook.com” played a role in Zook being run out of Gainesville, and look at where Zook is today… Getting his team ready for USC, in a BCS bowl. Zook moved on and did what coaches do, which is find another job and move on.
There were idiots in Gator nation who stated that Zook would never be a good college coach, and there are morons who say the same about Dorrell. Fact is, you can’t brand a guy for life based on how things turned out at particular job.
Simers is doing Dorrell a huge disservice by not moving on. He’s bringing attention to an issue that probably doesn’t matter to KD at this point. OF COURSE DORRELL FEELS BAD! Who wouldn’t?! The guy is a UCLA grad, and former standout receiver. It’s clear his motivation to win at his alma mater was huge. But, life goes on. Mike Shannahan loved KD, and i’m sure he’ll land softly somewhere in the NFL if not at another university.
Diego (aka Bluebruin) @ 8:42 am:
This site has not been about Karl Dorrell. If it was it would be done by now.
Edguardo @ 9:56 am:
TJ Simers hasn’t been a Sports Reporter for some time now, IMO. He left that role when he started feeding us stories about his “Bagger” son-in-law and the rest of his relatives. That’s how weak he is.
In fact, take a look at his column today. Apparently his Daughter, son-in-law and Granddaughter all finally got so fed up with him that they fianlly decided to move too; to Arizona!
It’s probably pretty funny stuff if you live in Omaha, but c’mon, this LA. The number of people who read his column is going down faster than the Titanic. TJ may be the only one laughing while he sits in front of his keyboard writing this slop.
There are many other fine sports writers in the LA area who still work hard to perfect their craft, unlike Simers.
Just pick-up a copy of the Daily Breeze (Mike Waldner), Daily News (Tom Hoffarth) or San Bernardino Sun (Paul Oberjuerge). These are all guys who actually write about sports and could teach Simers a thing or two. (There are many more, but I just decided to list these three.)
It’s really too bad that the Editors at the LA Times haven’t been able to figure out what a liability Simers has become. But hey, there’s probably still a few of Dwyre’s old golf buddies over a Rivera who think Simers is just dope, which makes it hard for him to let the old guy go. I wonder if they plan on sticking with him until their circulation goes all the way down to zero?
We deserve better in LA. Better coaches (UCLA), better players (Dodgers) and better sports writers (LA Times). The bar has been raised and TJ Simers just doesn’t measure up any more.
Now that Dorrell is gone it’s time to strike the band and start the “Dump TJ Simers” chant.
Bruce Nagy @ 10:01 am:
I e-mailed TJ a note last night…won’t go over it all here. But I did note that as a transplant from PA and a season-ticket holder for BOTH UCLA and USC, I considered myself reasonable. I also told him that I really like the UCLA fans including those on DD…that UCLA fans LIKE KD and wanted him to succeed. I pointed out that I found his statements about KD’s class and dignity to be ironic since he nicknamed him “Coach Dullard” in the first weeks of the 2003 season. I did get a reply from TJ. It read: “He was dull in 2003 and in over his head, he developed and on the day he was fired I was the only writer he invited to his office.” Well, okay TJ…..kinda like Caesar inviting Brutus to his office on his last day.
Fred @ 11:54 am:
Diego (aka Bluebruin),
Just because the conversation has evolved doesn’t mean the site wasn’t about Karl Dorrell. To say this site has “NEVER been about Karl Dorrell” is not true. A better statement would have been, “this site isn’t only about Karl Dorrell.”
Sure there is also a broader context here, but the reality is once you slap the man’s name on the site and begin to dissect his tenure, it’s absolutely about Mr. Dorrell.
DumpDorrell @ 2:09 pm:
Fred … you’re wrong. We don’t care about Dorrell. Notice he is now irrelevant. He is out of the way of our goal now. This site is and was never about him, he was a symptom not the disease. Doesn’t matter what the name of this site is. We chose the name to get attention to our cause. We could have chosen MakeUCLAFootballExcellent.com … doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
Tyler Lyon @ 2:36 pm:
Consistent with the information in my post yesterday, Simers is trying to save his own job by showing how “supportive and positive” he is/was with Dorrell. Simers is bragging now about being “the only reporter” invited to Dorrell’s office after Dorrell was fired. (Bully for you T.J.!!! That’s what sports reporting is all about.) T.J. feels, however, that this will bring him a certain amount of cache with his bosses at The Times and Tribune (the execs who want to can him). His recent about-face with “Coach Dullard” is an entirely calculated attempt to save his own job which became much more important since he was fired from his radio gig. If you talk to people “off the record” who work in the LA Times Sports Dept., Simers is seen as a bozo with virtually no real reporting or writing ability who is hanging on to his job by the skin of his teeth.
Louis Miranda @ 2:58 pm:
T.J. Simers is not to be taken seriously. He is a joke. Not very funny either.
ROBERT @ 3:42 pm:
I think that Simers won’t be with us too much longer. His act is old and tired and he just keeps re-cycling the same old schtick.
That the LA Times continues to pay him for this garbage is what really surprises me the most. I’m sure that once the Tribune company completes its overhaul of the paper he’ll be dumped outisde along with the rest of the trash.
yooklafan @ 5:45 pm:
F TJ Simers, the site is only going to present one side because thats what this blog is about, what a tard. This blog was a petition in a sense for people to band together vent, and seek justice… And comeon he has Kstreet, Keiser and his own verbal hypocritcal diharea to spew. I feel really sorry for a coach getting to get paid a couple million and sit on his ass for a couple years. F TJ your fng next TJ I am coming for you I am purchasing the domain right now!!!
DD this may just be semantics but I believe KD was the disease and UCLA football was the symptom.
Jim @ 6:02 pm:
D. Walker is part of the experiment that DG created. He, as was KD, has no head coach experience. How do we explain the defense failures at Utah, Wash. St. etc. Rick is my choice. He can rouse a team, has P. Carroll enthusiasm can recruit and has offense savvy.
Louis Miranda @ 6:36 pm:
The coaches that should not be considered are Steve Mariucci; runs the west coast offense, please enough of that crap. We need a coach who can deliver an exciting high scoring offense, maybe an Oregon version of the spread offense which emphasizes the running game. Another coach that should not be considered for obvious reasons is Dewayne Walker. No more experiments please. Forget neuheisel, Pat Hill. Dennis Green or any coach who runs the wco. Chris Peterson can stay in spud state. What a jerk he is. I hope we schedule Boise St. someday soon and kick his ass.
realist @ 10:03 pm:
DD you may be right MakeUCLAFootballExcellent.com would not have the same ring to it but by naming it Dump Dorrell you make it personal, regardless of your true intentions.
When I saw this site I was appalled and I really don’t believe tha this site is all about making UCLA Football better, if it were it wouldnt have this name. By your rationale those people with the impeach Bush bumper stickers are only trying to make this country better and not exhibiting dislike/hatred for the president.
I have not problem with people voicing their opinion, and if you don’t like Dorrell as a coach so be it, I think there are better ways to present your point of view.
I have been a Bruin fan since I was 10, and I would love nothing better than to have UCLA a football and basketball powerhouse, but I think you do need integrity as a coach I have a lot of respect for Dorrell, but he was the wrong man at the wrong time.
I hope that UCLA can get their act together and hire a good recruiter as well as a good coach. Despite what many of you think, without talent a program can’t win and to combat USC you need talent and depth which was lacking in that last game.
Jesse @ 10:45 pm:
Who the hell is TJ Simers? Didn’t he do a radio show in Los Angeles years ago? With some local NBC sportscaster and some girl that claims she was his daughter? Name rings a bell but I can’t place the face. Must have been a nobody.
DumpDorrell @ 11:16 pm:
realist … If you think there was a better way then why didn’t you or anyone else take it?! Of course Dorrell would take our site personally but he accepted it when he took the job and the $1 million per year salary and $2 million payout. Enough with the weeping for Dorrell. He will be working again soon enough in the field he “loves” although he can retire off what UCLA paid him for only 5 years of work … work that didn’t meet any of the goals set out for him. Did anyone weep as much for Toledo when he lost his job??!! Please.
December 6, 2007
MME @ 12:52 am:
Jesse, you mean the daughter with that FUNNY ASS laugh?!
MME @ 12:59 am:
By the way, I’m thinking the most powerful message we can send to “TJ Sim(m)ers in his own stew cuz he’s a hack” is not to address him at all. He’s still spinning his wheels, and I say let him! I’m never going to acknowledge, read, or refer to “sim(m)ering in his own stew” Simers ever again….DONE WITH HIM!!!! HAAAAAAAAAA
Bluebruin (aka Diego) @ 7:11 am:
I refuse to read simers. It isn’t because of his position on UCLA’s coaching issue, but because he’s a parody. I didn’t care for his radio show, and he was nothing more than schtick.
Just don’t read the guy. If the L.A. times calls you, don’t say it’s cuz you hate TJ, just say that the team of writers isn’t good enough.
BuckeyeBruin @ 8:36 pm:
Horns and halibuts!!! Why shouldn’t I mention TJ the Trojan when the LA Times makes their weekly call begging me to renew my subscription? He’s at the top of my list of LA Times atrocities.
Simers is a pernicious, wishy-washy charlatan, and I shudder to think what the Times is paying him for his drivel. I don’t blame his family in the least for moving to Arizona and putting hundreds of miles between themselves and him.
realist @ 9:59 pm:
Without making this a flame war, I think its disingeuous to sit there and say this site is not about Dorrell but about making Bruin football better with the name that was chosen and apparently you agree this is more about Dorrell than about the program
BuckeyeBruin @ 10:11 pm:
Oh please! This isn’t rocket science:
The long-term goal of DD is to resurrect UCLA football out of the quagmire of mediocrity. The first step to achieving this goal–fire Karl Dorrell. Now that this has been accomplished, it’s on to the next step: bring in a proven, experienced head coach with excellent leadership skills.
December 8, 2007
EssexSims @ 6:57 am:
So let me get this straight. It was okay for Simers (and Plaschke) to get “Googleboy” DePodesta fired by the Dodgers but it’s wrong for the bloggers. Ironic, considering DePodesta’s track record was arguably far more impressive than Dorrell’s.