📡 Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott staying in 3300 sq ft $7500/night room in Vegas (reportedly comped)

[planomateo]

Unbelievable. Kudo's to John Canzano for continuing to write about these things.

Bad decision in my opinion, but hell, I'm not a fan of Larry Scott so my perspective is biased.

Canzano: The view from the Pac-12 Conference’s Imperial Palace lacks visibility

Commissioner Larry Scott is staying in a 3,370-square foot suite on The Strip.

www.oregonlive.com

 

[BamaFan334]

I don't like Scott at all either, but this easily could have been comped. His name, job, and power in that area are all taken into consideration when casinos comp folks. He needs status on the floor, but a celebrity status of sorts gets you a LONG ways in the casino world.

 

[planomateo]

It was comped (reportedly). The point is, do you accept it given all the history.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Larry is a Harvard guy so he is entitled to be a King. Just ask him.

 

[BamaFan334]

It was comped (reportedly). The point is, do you accept it given all the history.

It's tough to say, because I know the casino world pretty well as I go once or twice a month and understand how the system works. I'm a little fish, but still get limo rides, free rooms, free flights, free money, free food, free gifts including TV's, electronics such as iPods and iPads, gift cards, anything you can basically think of.

He probably received a comped room due to a back door deal where he brought a tournament and a lot of traveling fans and others from across the country to Vegas, meaning they get more business and promotions while he gets a cut from that or posh digs like the article states.

I have a family friend that puts on a golf tournament twice a year in Biloxi where he gets free accommodations and a cut of all their gambling for the weekend. He stresses that everyone play on a player's card. Why? So they can be tracked and he can make himself a little once the dust settles.

All that being said, his comment about "be happy you're getting what you get" would have received a right hook from me to his face. I will never understand why people in his position feel they can just be obnoxious jerks to everyone below them. On top of that, with the crappy job he's doing, I cannot believe he still has a job. The Pac-12 is awful. He is a slimy dude. So I can actually see both sides here and really not sure what has happened.

 

[JoshB]

I don't like Scott at all either, but this easily could have been comped. His name, job, and power in that area are all taken into consideration when casinos comp folks. He needs status on the floor, but a celebrity status of sorts gets you a LONG ways in the casino world.

Yes you're right, it very well could have but that is extremely bad optics IMO. Nothing is good about something like this. If he is being comped in Vegas, you know damn well what people are going to say about that.. Just stay away from nonsense like that. And if he's paying for it with the conference's money, while there are already issues with him spending lavishly on himself, its also bad optics and just plain bad business to do that. Why is he too good to stay at the same hotels the players, coaches, ADs, etc. stay at?

 

[planomateo]

^^ exactly

Just a poor decision and a bad look for him. He should have said no thank you.

 

[OldPlayer]

Cities bid on holding these tournaments. Included in those bids are perks for the conference leadership, athletic department leadership and anybody else that the hosting city wants to sway. Don't blame the recipients of the perks. They're getting what they're being paid for.

 

[UAgrad93]

Very poor decision on Scott's part in accepting the comped stay, but we are talking Larry Scott and the PAC 12 and making good choices doesn't go hand in hand apparently.

 

[JoshB]

Cities bid on holding these tournaments. Included in those bids are perks for the conference leadership, athletic department leadership and anybody else that the hosting city wants to sway. Don't blame the recipients of the perks. They're getting what they're being paid for.

Then why were none of the AD's or anyone other than the commissioner staying there? I dont think anyone here is questioning whether the room was comped or even why, its the point of that not being such a great idea for him. He already has a lot of ill will among his own ADs and coaches for the lavish spending he does, while teams are still not truly paid fairly in that conference, and the way he talks and acts towards people. Now, you add the optics of a major college athletics conference commissioner staying in a comped room in Vegas.... the land of gambling... and what do you think the first thing most people are going to jump to in that case?

 

[OldPlayer]

Then why were none of the AD's or anyone other than the commissioner staying there? I dont think anyone here is questioning whether the room was comped or even why, its the point of that not being such a great idea for him. He already has a lot of ill will among his own ADs and coaches for the lavish spending he does, while teams are still not truly paid fairly in that conference, and the way he talks and acts towards people. Now, you add the optics of a major college athletics conference commissioner staying in a comped room in Vegas.... the land of gambling... and what do you think the first thing most people are going to jump to in that case?

The first thing people will think is, "Man, what a sweet deal." There's no assumption that a comped hotel room is connected with gambling wins/losses. I bet that none of the participants (coaches, players, support staff) in the tournament are paying for a room. I'm sure the conference commissioner is using the room to entertain and conduct meetings. If the commissioner sucks and is going to be fire (now or in the future), it won't be because he stayed in a fancy hotel room.

 

[JoshB]

The first thing people will think is, "Man, what a sweet deal." There's no assumption that a comped hotel room is connected with gambling wins/losses. I bet that none of the participants (coaches, players, support staff) in the tournament are paying for a room. I'm sure the conference commissioner is using the room to entertain and conduct meetings. If the commissioner sucks and is going to be fire (now or in the future), it won't be because he stayed in a fancy hotel room.

The fact that you say that, while then in the very next breath mentioning gambling is so hilarious. And no, none of the players or coaches paid for their rooms, but they also didn't stay in $7,500/night rooms...

 

[planomateo]

I'm not a Wilner fan, but this is an interesting read.

The ADs have taken charge of setting conference policy: The inside story of a Pac-12 power shift

An officiating scandal, a heated meeting and a new chair of the Pac-12 board have conspired to change the internal dynamic. No longer is policy being set in San Francisco.

www.mercurynews.com

 

[OldPlayer]

The fact that you say that, while then in the very next breath mentioning gambling is so hilarious. And no, none of the players or coaches paid for their rooms, but they also didn't stay in $7,500/night rooms...

I only mentioned it because of your comment, "...comped room in Vegas.... the land of gambling." Wouldn't the entire conference tournament be questioned for being in Vegas (remind me how many Pac12 teams come from Nevada)?