Council's 2008 Report Card

Eric Patrick Marr is a native Lexingtonian, an Ace contributor, community engager, and organizational architect. Last night, during Council's final full meeting of the year, Eric presented the council's horseshoe with his evaluation and their 2008 Report Card, for their organizational effectiveness and profitability, after attending and observing a great deal of their meetings throughout the year.

You can read it, in full, at TransformLexington.blogspot.com. Comments are welcome.

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Marriott Update

Marriott Update
- from David Schankula

Just in case you missed this news which came out after yesterday's letter to Mayor Newberry (see below)...

portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/reuters/2008/12/09/marriott-cfo-warns-of-tough-2009

Marriott CFO warns of "tough 2009"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hotel operator Marriott International Inc expects "to have to navigate through a tough 2009," the company's chief financial officer said on Tuesday. Arne Sorenson said in a blog posting on the company's website that Marriott's debt levels and timeshare investment spending were expected to decline next year. The company said in October that it expected revenue per available room, or Revpar, one of the industry's key performance measures, to be down at least 3 percent in North America next year, and Chief Executive Bill Marriott said last month that Marriott's business outlook had deteriorated further.

*Consulting firm PKF Hospitality Research said earlier on Tuesday that it expects U.S. Revpar to drop 7.9 percent next year, citing "the initial stages of one of the deepest and longest recessions in the history of the domestic lodging industry."* Sorenson said Marriott's debt levels would decline next year through a combination of solid cash flow and more modest investment spending. He said Marriott was calibrating its timeshare investments to match weaker customer demand, with a goal of timeshare generating cash in 2009.

"We continue to offer financing for qualified purchasers and expect to be able to securitize these loans in 2009," Sorenson said. He added that Marriott's pipeline of new managed and franchised hotels stood at 130,000 rooms at the end of the third quarter. "One half of these are already under construction and another 10 percent, or so, are financed," he said. Shares of Marriott closed down 52 cents at $16.86 on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Deena Beasley)

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The $200,000,000 Question:

Is CentrePointe really coming to Lexwebbington?

from David Schankula & Willie Davis

NUTSHELL: With hotel developments across the country struggling, Lexington's CentrePointe hotel would be a pro-immigration, pro-gay marriage, pro-porn paradise... but who's going to pay for it?

Dear Mayor Newebberry,

It's been a while. How've you been?

The city council voted in favor of CentrePointe's TIF last week, so we figured it was time to read your 90 page plan for downtown Lexington.

We'd like to start by thanking you for the $3,000,000 proposal for "Enhancing Pedestrian Access" -- filed under "Section E." Sure, it's a fancy name for a pedway but at $3 million that pedway is gonna be pretty fancy. And now, due to your foresight and Lexington's deep pockets, we will be spared the indignity of walking on the sidewalk.

But it gets better! J.W. Marriott, the hotel you want installed in CentrePointe supports nearly everything we believe in. They're to the left of Barry Obama, Kathy Stein, and virtually every other liberal bogeyman you could use to scare up votes.

Marriott is pro-amnesty!
J.W. Marriott dropped some serious coin($240,000) lobbying Congress, the Department of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State to loosen immigration laws.

Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO of Marriott, says:
"Our company supports changes in the U.S. laws that not only create a path to legal status for immigrants, but also protect the integrity of our U.S. borders."

Amnesty for all. That's our kind of corporation.

Marriott is pro-gay marriage!
A devoutly religious man, Bill Marriott believes in Christianity's message of brotherly love. That's why The J.W. Marriott Company not only provides its employees with a formal diversity program, but was one of the first in its industry to offer domestic partner benefits. And Marriott opposed California's Proposition 8, the ban on gay marriages! While even Democratic politicians pussyfoot around this issue, Marriott took solid action. Given that Lexington has a very sizable gay population, we think you not only made the ethical choice by bringing them here, but a shrewd business move as well.

Marriott loves porn!
The American Family Council, the Family Research Council and James Dobson's Focus on the Family have all targeted Marriott in their campaign against smut, demanding J.W. Marriott remove pay-per-view porn from their in-room entertainment. Despite some good advice from a trusted source, they decided to cast the first stone. But Marriott cast that mother right back! Using the unassailable logic that there's nothing wrong with videotaped sex, provided the participants are consenting, well-compensated, and reasonably attractive, the hotel chain rejected the calls from the moral police.

Not only is porn still available, now it's coming to Lexington!

Most of us liberal Lexingtonians still think that Centrepointe was a scam invented by the Webb Brothers and that your administration has been a series of gruesome train wrecks, but for your choice of the Marriott, we salute you.

We welcome this major corporate voice for Immigrant Rights, Gay Rights, and not just porn but the kind of porn the porn industry is begging for -- the kind you still have to pay money for and can't just get for free over the internet (contrary to what you might have heard, we support free-market capitalism, provided it involves naked people).

Marriott Going Broke?
There is a downside, however, and it leads to an inevitable question we have to lob your way. Where is the $200,000,000 for the CentrePointe Marriott coming from? Turns out, like most liberals (us included), The Marriott is going broke. Just yesterday, a major corporate stock ratings firm lowered itsoutlook on Marriott to "negative." The company's third quarter profits plummeted 28%.

In early October, Bill Marriott told his stockholders, "we reported our third quarter earnings results and also provided observations about business for the rest of 2008 and into 2009. At that time, we expected business in late 2008 and 2009 to decline, but in just the last few weeks our business outlook has further weakened."

Last month in Syracuse, a $31 million, 175-room Marriott Hotel was put on holduntil, at earliest, Spring 2009. The developer blamed problems in the nation's credit market. In Fort Wayne, Indiana a 250-room Marriott -- cornerstone of a controversial $125 million development -- is missing deadlines.

"Because taxes generated by the hotel have already been included in plans to repay some of the city's Harrison Square expenses," the Fort Wayne's News-Sentinel reported, "any significant construction delay could force the city to seek the needed cash elsewhere - further complicating an already tight budget." That hotel's developer blamed the delay on "unparalleled market
conditions."

In Hawaii, Marriott has halted constructionon a $1.4 billion resort project. Marriott's vice president of corporate affairs blamed "uncertain economic conditions." It's unclear when they
might start again. And in Austin, TX, a $275 million, 26-story, 1,000-room Marriott is going nowhere fast. They were supposed to start this year -- now it's sometime in 2009. The Marriott is the biggest of 7 delayed hotel projects in the city.

"The national economic crisis has brought the financing of future hotel projects to a screeching halt," the vice president of PKF Consulting -- a leading hotel-market firm -- told the Austin American-Statesman. That city's paper went on to explain: "The postponement has special irony because of the fierce controversy surrounding the Marriott, which displaced the popular Las Manitas Cafe, a day care center and a folk art store. That set off a citywide debate over preserving local businesses downtown versus the jobs and taxes that development creates." Hmmmm.

The $200,000,000 Question

But you don't need the Marriott hotel chain to teach you about economic priorities, do you Mayor Newebberry? After all, the economic crisis that's crippling identical projects in Syracuse, Fort Wayne, Hawaii, and Austin isn't going to touch Lexington, right?

But wait... your finance minister is telling the Herald Leader, "There's just no way to think that Lexington, Kentucky can escape the financial conditions that are being experienced in the rest of the country."

So what's one option for making up the city's revenue deficit? Layoffs!

And you, Jim Newebberry, are prepared for it. You've already threatened to close five fire stations and layoff 100 cops.

No wonder you're afraid to tell Lexingtonians you're planning to spend $3 million building "pedways" to an empty hotel. Or is it an empty lot? Are you still pretending the hotel will be ready for the Equestrian Games? Progress on this project is moving slower than people caught in the great "pedway" jams of downtown Lexington's thriving Christmas shopping season.

Seriously, Jim: Where is the $200,000,000 for CentrePointe coming from?

Because reckless spending in a lousy economy has so far created massive debt, potential layoffs, and a gigantic crater in the ground where downtown Lexington used to be. So maybe you'll forgive us for not assuming you have a meticulous, well-thought out plan. You might as well tell us now. You'll have to tell the Kentucky state government next month anyway. Unless Marriott backs out before you get to Frankfort.

How is your Marriott the only Marriott in the country immune from the bad economy?

Inquisitively, your loyal Lexingtonians,
David M. F. Schankula and Willie Davis

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15 x 15 x 15

by Eric Patrick Marr

-

At today's UK Athletics Department board meeting, Dr. Lee Todd opened the floor for Mitch Barnhart to unveil his 7-year vision for UK Athletics. Barnhart's plan, as the name "15 x 15 x 15" illustrates, is threefold:

1. Win 15 Conference or National Championships by 2015
2. Be ranked in the Top 15 in the Directors' Cup standings by 2015
3. Serve as a stronger and brighter beacon of light for the state of Kentucky, with possible emphasis on stimulating eastern Kentucky's economy and people

Barnhart also wants the 500 Wildcat student-athletes to have a cumulative/average GPA of 3.0. For comparison's sake, UK finished last year ranked #36 in the Director's Cup race, up from around #49 when Barnhart took office as A.D.; UK has won 15 championships in the last 15 years, making 15 more - in the next 7 years - a bold and aggressive proposition; and UK's athletic body averages around a 2.92-2.95 GPA, currently.

Barnhart also shared some of the latest information on UKAD's relationships with Nike, IMG College (formerly Host Communications), Gatorade and ESPN, showcasing that even during these challenging financial times, their long-term contracts provide much needed stability. UKAD's current budget of $67M puts them in the middle of the SEC pack. Barnhart also repeated some of the previously discussed information on the new downtown basketball arena, coupled with Commonwealth Stadium's renovations, a new baseball complex, and some updated configurations for the softball and soccer facilities.

Read EPM's full blogs at TransformLexington.

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Rock You Like a Hurricane

posted by Kevin Faris

If I am going to quote The Scorpions I would have preferred "Winds of Change," not the least of which because it features a whistle solo. Why don't more groups feature the whistle solo? Off the top of my head "Patience" by Guns and F'n Roses is the only one I can think of. However, because the Cats lost to a quality team in the Miami Hurricanes, again, and the coach continued to play less talented players, again, there is no change.

Let me start by saying I feel the anger put forth by Eric Patrick Marr. As a fellow Kyle Macy basketball camp alum I can feel the frustration. However, I think the reason for the loss can be narrowed down to two reasons. One of which Billy G. has control over and one of which he does not.
Reason 1: Starting Michael Porter over DeAndre Liggins.
In the post game presser, Billy G. stated what most of us know. The team has a bad habit of getting off to bad starts against good teams. Unlike the rest of us, he stated that he does not know why that is. Whether it is getting the ball to Patterson, not allowing your man to drive by you, or being a legit scoring threat, there is not one thing on the basketball court that Porter does better than Liggins.

I don't like to say a player sucks. Rather, I think it is better to point out what he can or cannot do. Porter is a tough, gritty kid. If I had my head busted open like he did I doubt I would be back out there a few days later. However, when it comes to basketball talent, he is completely outclassed by Liggins, who had some Rondo-esque drives to the basket last night.

Liggins is not perfect and will make mistakes, however most of these appear to be of the mental variety, taking a bad shot, throwing a pass to hard, or trying to force a pass when it is not there. This is something that can be fixed with experience. Porter does not make the same mental mistakes, but his physical ability is far behind Liggins. Porter's defenders will point out he only had one turnover. That does not prove he had a good game, it simply proves he did not have a horrible game. When Porter is booed at Rupp or ripped on message boards and radio shows, I don't completely blame the fans. Billy G. deserves some of the blame for repeatedly putting Porter in a position where he cannot succeed. UK has a lot of problems that can be connected to coaching, but not playing your most talented players is the most glaring and the most easily remedied.

Reason 2: No Ramon Harris.
I am surprised more people have not mentioned this. UK, despite having 20 players on the bench, is not a deep. The loss of Harris hurts. While Darius Miller is a talented freshman, at this point in their respective careers Harris is WAY better at defense and also better at offense. Miller passed up a lot of open shots last night and is only 1-9 from 3 point range on the season. When Miami has a full complement of players, including their star guard who only played 5 minutes in their loss to Ohio State and another key sub who was suspended, they are better than a less than 100% UK.

What was lost last night was not simply a game, but a chance to chalk up a key non-conference win for the post season resume and a chance to rally the fans and help them forget the early season setbacks against VMI and UNC. UK should be 10-3 heading into their game against UL, which, while a better record than last year, falls short of UK fans expectations.

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You Can't Be Serious

You can't be serious. The University of Kentucky did not just lose to the Miami Hurricanes. Is this football? No. This is basketball.

You can't be serious. Patrick Patterson, one of the nation's top 5 scorers, percentage-wise, again does not get enough touches? Only 13? While brick-laying Liggins (6 for 15) and Meeks (4 for 17) both shoot more than a potential NBA lottery pick? And this isn't the first time this has happenend, it's about the 30th time. In 40 games.

You can't be serious. Michael Porter starts? Again? After getting his left eye knocked in, last game? After sucking all season long, at point guard? After sucking last year? Well, that paid off well. He had 5 fouls in just 17 minutes. Porter couldn't guard ME, and I'm slower than molasses.

You can't be serious. Perry Stevenson plays over Josh Harrellson? What about Stevenson's sorry self deserves playing time over Josh's big body? Perry was 3-10, by the way, from the floor, while Josh was 3-5 in just 8 minutes.

You can't be serious. Darious Miller is 0-6 from the field? DeAndre, as well as he played, is 0-8 from threeland? As a team, we are 2-23 from behind the arc? Meanwhile we allow them to go 8 for 19 behind said arc?

We let yet another no-name program come into hallowed Rupp Arena and show us up? Like they're our daddy? On national TV? AGAIN?

YOU. CANNOT. BE. SERIOUS.

After the game, Gillispie blamed the loss on:

• Not carrying out assignments
• Not pushing the pace
• Not moving the ball, swinging it fast enough, against their zone
• Not doing what we're supposed to do
• Not playing inside-out
• Not moving, just standing around
• Not enough passion

I blame it on coaching, plain and simple.

These are basic, fundamental basketball principles we all learned at Kyle Macy's basketball camp, back as kids. This isn't rocket science, and there's no legitimate reason why our Kentucky Wildcats should even come CLOSE to playing so pathetically. One of the first things low post players are taught is "hold the ball high, where the birds fly. Don't go low, where the guards go." Yet what does UK do, when the game is on the line? Patterson, at 6'9", tries to dribble from the top of the key like he's Dwayne Wade... he gets picked... they run out and shoot an open 3 to take a 9 point lead, with just 2 minutes to go. GAME. OVER.

SOMETHING. IS. WRONG. Something is dead, dead wrong. With our coaching, with communication, with our leadership. With a lot of things. It. Is. OBVIOUS.

It pisses me off. Some of these dudes don't deserve to wear Kentucky on their chest. My Tates Creek's squad of 1991, who finished 2nd in the State, could beat this team. Darrin Horn (now the coach at South Carolina), Keith Willard and John-Mark Stuart played REALLY smart. These Wildcats often look like they've never seen a 2-3 zone before.

-- Eric Patrick Marr writes at WhiskyTown and Transform Lexington (when he's not irate beyond comprehension.)

(photo from Alex Orlov)

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College Kids are... Kids

-- Kevin Faris

Update: Ramon Harris was released from UK's Chandler hospital today, in good condition. He's listed as day-to-day, as far as basketball goes. Michael Porter received 10 stitches last night and is also day-to-day.

After UK’s 103-61 victory over Lamar last night, former UK great Kenny Walker was probably correct in calling it the kind of game everyone can feel good about. The starters played great, the subs played great, the offense was great, the defense was great, and seriously, what about Darius Miller’s slam in the 2nd half!?!…..well, you get the idea.

However, for anyone who watched the game at home, or sat in the crowd at Rupp Arena, it is clear that game was not great for everyone. The Wildcats’ most complete performance of the year was marred by a violent head on collision between starters Michael Porter and Ramon Harris about half way through the first half, during a loose ball situation. Although the viewers at home may have seen the replay, the crowd at Rupp did not. During the 10-20 minutes that both players lay on the floor a silence fell over Rupp that, for me at least, drove home a point I often forget. These guys aren’t guys. They’re kids.

Let me be the first to admit that over the course of my life I have cussed, cursed, stomped, yelled, and flat out refused to believe that certain players were on the court or the field. Whether it was Saul Smith, Sheray Thomas, or Michael Hartline, their mere presence ticked me off. Although I never booed a college player, there were plenty times I wanted to. This year, for a lot of UK fans, Porter and Harris are those players. Two highly ranked freshmen, DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller, are sitting on the bench ready to sub in for these guys, and despite the fact that Porter and Harris have given 100% effort to the team, a lot of fans are ready to kick them to the curb and play the kids. In our desire to win we sometimes forget the people we boo and curse are 18-22 year old kids. They are college students who put in ungodly hours of physical and mental work on the court and in the classroom. They are college students with parents who still worry about them, and in Porter’s case a wife. Do you remember when you were in college? Do you remember all the time you wasted doing nothing, times that are probably some of your best memories? These kids don’t have that luxury. And when they do, the constant threat of one stupid action that leads to an arrest, one stupid picture that ends up on a website, or one stupid decision that lands them on the front page of the LHL hangs over their head. If these kids did what I did during the Winter semester of my junior year at Centre, they would have not only been kicked off the team, but they could face possible deportation (don’t ask).

Anyway, hopefully, as Porter and Harris received medical attention, we all were reminded that the kids who wear the blue and white for the University of Kentucky are not highly paid professionals, but in fact college students and people. The good news is that Porter returned to the bench with 10 stitches over his eye and reports from UK are that Harris is doing fine but is being kept for observation and testing.

So, the next time a kid screws up, and trust me it is going to happen a lot, remember we root for the University of Kentucky. A college full of college students.

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