Clearly UMaine doesn't get it

So much for the faint glimmer of optimism.

Sitting at the sports bar last night, watching the news. Headline story? Not anything about peace marches or Alberto Gonzalez's lying ass. Nope. Headline story for the local news was the fact that UMaine has sold the rights for radio broadcasts of sporting events to Clearchannel. For financial reasons, supposedly. Never mind the fact that the radio station that held the rights for year did a pretty decent job. Never mind the fact that the owner of said radio station is Stephen King, one of the biggest doners to UMaine. Oh, and apparently Mr. King was rightfully bullshit mad. So long big donor to UMaine.

Pay a little attention to the fact that UMaine has once again sold their soul in a short sighted cash grab. Once again, UMaine is ignoring the fact that they should be supporting local industry, not the media conglomorate with no actual interest in anything local.

You would think Clear Channel bid more at least. Nope. There was no real bid. Just the promise of being on in more areas. That's not the point. Nor is it really the point that UMaine should be trying to get along with Stephen King. Although, for all the altruism that King has shown the University, it wouldn't have bothered me if that was at least a factor. Nope. The point is, as it was with the Coke deal ten years ago, once again UMaine has made an assanine, short-sighted deal, for no real reason.

Looks like President Kennedy is no more forward looking than President Hoff.