The Jimmy Haslam Thread

[The Oi]

Prison gift ideas for the man that has everything?

Vaseline. Soap on a rope. And syrup.

 

[I.K.W.T]

He did not sound too confident in his latest press conference. Sad. Can't believe this is happening.

 

[DDJ7777]

So the whistle blower has to be the Pepsi guy, right?

 

[Soda]

So the whistle blower has to be the Pepsi guy, right?

Not if the investigation was going on in May of last year... Now, if they needed a whistleblower, they could've tried to roll him because he doesn't have much emotion invested into the company.

 

[Lee]

Anyone know of any updates on this situation? I know we spoke to Goddell. Maybe I am just being impatient. Definitely has me nervous as this is looking really bad for Haslam and I would hate to go through what the 49ers had to go through 15 years ago or so.

 

[MDLT]

Anyone know of any updates on this situation? I know we spoke to Goddell. Maybe I am just being impatient. Definitely has me nervous as this is looking really bad for Haslam and I would hate to go through what the 49ers had to go through 15 years ago or so.

It's going to be a slow process - you're not going to hear anything definitive for a long time. They (the feds) are going to take they're time to make sure all their ducks are in a row before going forward. Guarantee the NFL is looking at legit contigency plans though.

 

[MalTalm]

Anyone know of any updates on this situation? I know we spoke to Goddell. Maybe I am just being impatient. Definitely has me nervous as this is looking really bad for Haslam and I would hate to go through what the 49ers had to go through 15 years ago or so.

So far neither Haslam or Pilot J has been charged with anything officially. My guess is everyone is waiting to see what crimes the FBI chooses to pursue, and who specifically is targeted.

 

[Chardon]

Joe Hadan's twitter:

#TeamHaslam

 

[DawgOnKing]

It's going to be a slow process - you're not going to hear anything definitive for a long time. They (the feds) are going to take they're time to make sure all their ducks are in a row before going forward.

That's what the Feds do before they raid the largest trucking company in America. Not after. They got everything they needed according to the affidavit. The only thing that keeps Jimmy out of prison are his political connections and settlements with the customers he stole from.

That still might not be enough to avoid charges. It's the charges and subsequent trial that could take YEARS.

He's fucked.

 

[KU_216]

Joe Hadan's twitter:

My God, Haden is one ugly dude.

 

[MGMT]

Haden isn't ugly. He's a muffin loaded with stud. You know who's legit ugly? Steve Bucsemi. You stahp right right now.

I doubt he was even getting gas. He was probably just blitzed and bought a hunny bun and chocolate milk.

 

[Sly]

Anyone else wondering if he got that gas on the "Good ole boy" card?

 

[DDJ7777]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/apr/27/shadowy-figures-8212-one-a-mole-8212-were-key-to/


Apparently the mole lives really damn close to me. Find his address, X. I'll drop a flaming bag of poo on his porch.

 

[Sly]

This may be bad for the Browns, but if he really did rip off honest, hard-working people, and then laugh at them behind their backs, he deserves what's coming. It sucks, but it can't be ignored. Hopefully the league will step in if it gets bad, since they saddled us up with this mess in the first place.

 

[AZ_]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9251873/cleveland-browns-owner-jimmy-haslam-apologizes-fans

Jimmy Haslam apologizes to fans
Updated: May 7, 2013, 10:18 PM ET
Associated Press

WESTLAKE, Ohio -- Embarrassed by a federal investigation of fraud inside his truck-stop company, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam apologized to Cleveland fans and promised to bring the city a winning team.

Haslam, who bought the Browns last year from Randy Lerner, was the featured speaker Monday night at the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation's 25th annual scholar-athlete banquet. It was one of Haslam's first public appearances in Ohio since the FBI raided the headquarters of Pilot Flying J, his family's business, last month as part of an investigation into an alleged fraud scheme.

From a dais that included Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and former Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel, Haslam spoke to a packed banquet room and then held a brief news conference afterward offering his regrets about his recent legal troubles.

"I apologize to the city of Cleveland, Northeastern Ohio and all Browns fans because the last thing we ever wanted to do as a new owner was detract from football and the Browns and just what a great football area this is, and so I apologize for that," Haslam said.

"We feel badly about it and we're very comfortable we'll work through this situation."

After the speech, Haslam did not answer any questions during a 10-minute meeting with local media members. He was pressed about his knowledge of the purported fraud at Pilot Flying J, a company founded by his father 54 years ago, but politely declined to answer.

Haslam spoke with a few Browns employees, exited the building through a rear entrance, climbed into a waiting SUV and left the banquet facility more than an hour before the event concluded.

It has been a trying few weeks for Haslam.

Federal agents raided Pilot's headquarters in Knoxville, Tenn., on April 15. A few days later, the FBI released a 120-page affidavit that alleged members of Pilot's sales team deliberately withheld rebates to boost profits.

Haslam said he was unaware that any of his employees were scheming customers and was deeply troubled by the assertions, calling them "sickening."

Haslam reviewed the steps he has taken while the probe continues and reiterated he's doing all he can to gain back the trust of Pilot Flying J's customers. He said he has personally spoken to "between 250 and 300" trucking companies and that some customers have been paid money they were owed.

"The important thing is to get it right," Haslam said. "I'd like to get it wrapped up by the end of the month, but if it takes until early June, early July, we're going to get the numbers right and if we owe X, Y, Z trucking company, we'll write them a check on the spot. "

An NFL spokesman said the league has no plans to ask Haslam to relinquish control of the team during the investigation.

During his remarks to open the banquet's program, Haslam praised the Browns' new coaching staff headed by Rob Chudzinki and raved about the team's recent picks in the NFL draft. Haslam was at the team's facility during the draft and was pleased to see how well his new front office of CEO Joe Banner, general manager Michael Lombardi, assistant GM Ray Farmer and Chudzinski interacted.

"I know there have been some comments that maybe it's not great teamwork but I've never seen four people work together in a positive manner better than those guys did," he said. "It was great to see it. And it wasn't all agreement. There was a lot of disagreement, a lot of conversation going back and forth."

Haslam told the audience he was excited about the upcoming season, and vowed to turn the Browns into contenders.

"I want to win because we're competitive and anybody that's competitive wants to win, but having been in this area, I want to win more for you all, the fans of Cleveland, because I've never seen fan support like this in the Cleveland area," he said. "It's incredible. I pledge to you we're going to do everything we possibly can to bring a winner to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio because this area deserves it."

Later, Haslam wouldn't make any predictions for 2013, but expects the Browns to make significant progress.

"I think we'll have a better football team this year," he said. "We're going to do this the right way. It's not going to happen overnight. You don't go from winning 14 games in three years to winning 14 games in one year. But we will have a better team this year and we'll be better in 2014."

Haslam plans to return to Cleveland later this week, when the team will hold a minicamp for rookies and undrafted free agents.