We've already linked to George Dohrmann's story in SI. Nestor and gbruin have shared their thoughts. We've already posed some questions that someone should ask Ben Howland. We already know Chianti Dan's thoughts, because they're in the article:
UCLA athletic Director Dan Guerrero, who through a spokesman declined SI's interview request, told ESPN.com in January, "I need Ben Howland. Why would I even think about looking at someone else." He added, "By his own admission, he [Howland] made mistakes. But I'm going to work with him. I'm not going to crucify him for his own mistakes. Because BH is one hell of a coach, and anyone who understands basketball, anyone that's been around him, that understands the game, has the utmost respect for what he does as a coach....We need to turn it around, and we all get that. But we will."
Remember, Chianti Dan was in denial about the football program up until the very end. As for Howland, although we have plenty of questions, others have already come to their own conclusions:
Throughout the story, Howland is made out to be a man fully aware of the problems within his program, but one also afraid to face them head on.
From Jim Rome:
Dudes baking before practice? Showing up on X? Not good. But what may save Ben Howland is the fact, that if he goes, the AD may go with him.
With that, questions for Chianti Dan (or Chancellor Gene Block) during today's press conference:
The men's basketball coach is ultimately responsible for everything in his program, right?
And Ben Howland, the men's basketball coach reports to you?
As the Athletic Director, are you ultimately responsible for everything in the Athletic Department?
There have been suggestions that some of the incidents in the Sports Illustrated article could constitute NCAA violations. Do you intend to self-report to the NCAA? Will you self-impose any sanctions? What further steps will you take to investigate any potential sanctions arising out of the article or related issues?
When did you first find out about fistfights on the basketball team?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
When did you first find out about drug use on the basketball team?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
When did you first find out about players urinating on other player's clothing?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
When did you first find out about players coming to practice drunk or high?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
When did you first find out about players intentionally injuring other players?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
When did you first find out that Ben Howland refused to punish players who were "performing"?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
When did you first find out that Ben Howland was verbally abusing staff, managers, and players?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
When did you first find out about the New Year's Eve 2008 rave incident?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
What did you do when you found out that Howland did not punish players who directly disobeyed his orders?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
What were the results of the drug tests that arose out of the New Year's Eve 2008 rave incident?
When did you first find out that basketball players were using masking agents before drug tests?
Why didn't you find out earlier? What specific steps did you take in response?
We've heard reports that UCLA has one of the most lenient drug policies out there. Is UCLA's drug testing policy more lenient than than the rest of the Pac-12?
How many players currently on the team have failed a drug test? What percentage?
How many players have failed a drug test since Ben Howland became head coach at UCLA?
Please describe in detail what happens when a player tests positive for the first time?
The second time?
The third time?
There have also been reports that the football team has had a drug problem during the time you have been the athletic director. Is the drug problem at UCLA a direct result of the leniency of the testing policy?
The UCLA football program and UCLA basketball program have performed below historical standards in recent years. Do you agree that this is because of the drug problem at UCLA?
You hired a crisis communications team once you learned the article was about to come out. Shouldn't you, as the Athletic Director take steps to avoid scenarios such as these in the first place?
Would you allow your children to play for a dysfunctional team, rife with drug and alcohol abuse run by a verbally abusive coach?
Would you allow your children to play on a team where players intentionally injure other players and urinate on other players' clothing?
I'm sure you can imagine that many recruits' parents wouldn't allow their children to play for a team where these types of things happen. Given that, isn't the dysfunction of the basketball team going to be a significant detriment in recruiting?
The reaction the Sports Illustrated article has overwhelmingly been that the UCLA basketball program is suffering from a lack of accountability and discipline and the overall diseased culture of the program raises serious questions about whether Ben Howland will ever regain the success he had years ago during his Final Four runs. You've allowed all this to happen, and the results on the court have been subpar over the last several years. Given all of the above, isn't it true that you have failed as an athletic director?
Given your numerous failed coaching hires and the suggestions in the media that you go down if Howland goes down, don't you have a serious conflict of interest in this matter?