Weitsman comments

[rrlbees]

How many buildings have AW name on it and how many have Lally’s?

I don’t think anyone is downplaying the Lally’s contributions or who’s donated more. That’s the Lally’s and it’s not close and we will all be forever indebted to them.

 

[Cstate]

He’s pushing for public answers. Let’s see how this plays out…..

 

[cuseincincy]

What I get from all this is that AW is a rich guy that wants to use his money to help SU have a better team because he's a fan and because he'd like to show off some of his wealth and friends and give them a good time too. While the Lally's appear to be a rich family that just wants to make sure every one knows how rich they are and how much they donate to the university. Interestingly the Lally's are the only ones talking about how much they donated. And the Lally's seem to be the only ones that care who else donates and how. I'm not sure any of this sounds very altruistic of anyone.

 

[Consigliere]

I have no idea how a list like that is compiled, but is it possible that company money went to his Dome suite or something like that?

I'm not saying $50K is a small sum of money, but there's a gigantic gulf between $50K and the millions some donors have given for facilities and such.

Not the point. There are posts in this thread that state Weitsman has never donated to athletics. That is false.
And the listing is $50,000 and above. I am guessing that the donors are listed in order within that group. Upstate Shredding is listed 20th out of over 80. I had earlier publications where they were top three.

 

[oldpinepoint]

What I get from all this is that AW is a rich guy that wants to use his money to help SU have a better team because he's a fan and because he'd like to show off some of his wealth and friends and give them a good time too. While the Lally's appear to be a rich family that just wants to make sure every one knows how rich they are and how much they donate to the university. Interestingly the Lally's are the only ones talking about how much they donated. And the Lally's seem to be the only ones that care who else donates and how. I'm not sure any of this sounds very altruistic of anyone.

To be fair when you have a public campaign for a new facility and you are the name sponsor with $25MM, I don’t think that is uncommon

 

[JeffCuse]

The University should publicly state that all donors are welcome and invite Adam back with open arms.

Time to put this to bed.

 

[Consigliere]

Frankly I have heard accounts that have swayed me to both sides of this debate and don’t really have a dog in the fight. Concerning that individuals can post whatever they want in cyberspace, but more concerning that others immediately take it as fact.
Photo attached is from 2018.

Interesting to see Jon Gruden’s name. Assume that’s an ESPN connection.

 

[CIL]

Honest question, did Wesitman actually donate to the program?

There’s a difference between “willing to donate 2 million” or historical donations to the program.

I’d be willing to donate 2 million too. I just don’t have it to give.

 

[Scooch]

Not the point. There are posts in this thread that state Weitsman has never donated to athletics. That is false.
And the listing is $50,000 and above. I am guessing that the donors are listed in order within that group. Upstate Shredding is listed 20th out of over 80. I had earlier publications where they were top three.

I get it, he very well may have donated via his business. But that also may be a pedantic point.

If Weitsman had his company "donate" money to SU for tickets and a suite lease that's a far different thing than donating for facilities, endowed staff positions, etc.

Again, without knowing why his business is on that list of donors, and how much money it entailed, we're left to speculate.

I've asked folks here repeatedly what his money went to at SU, and the only things I've gotten in response were his suite renovation, a premium parking spot, and his early NIL funding. There's lots of folks in the know here, and no one has ever mentioned what his business donation went towards. Maybe that was the suite renovation?

 

[grepal]

A lot of alumni and fans donate a little. I am re-thinking that. I am a proud alum and have had reasonable success in life but not enough to donate 5 figures to anything, frankly four figures hurts. I believe in the education I received and have been a big fan for decades now. Those who are very well-off and donate huge sums, I thank you even if others don't. On a personal note, I think college sports salaries for athletes is way out of hand. Good for the players but the people being exploited now are the fans and without us little guys they won't make a dime. we drive the tv revenue and more.

 

[721Comstock]

Not the point. There are posts in this thread that state Weitsman has never donated to athletics. That is false.
And the listing is $50,000 and above. I am guessing that the donors are listed in order within that group. Upstate Shredding is listed 20th out of over 80. I had earlier publications where they were top three.

You’d guess that, but you won’t actually KNOW that.

Also - Upstate Shredding HAD to make a large enough of a donation for him to qualify to get that high zoot box he had.

Period.

Weitsman himself has said he has “no interest” in football.

And clearly no interest in hoops now that his HOF bff isn’t HC anymore.

Follow the money.
Or lack thereof.

Lally’s have written 7-figure checks.

AW has not.
So, he can shut the front door until he actually does more than talk.

 

[djcon57]

What I get from all this is that AW is a rich guy that wants to use his money to help SU have a better team because he's a fan and because he'd like to show off some of his wealth and friends and give them a good time too. While the Lally's appear to be a rich family that just wants to make sure every one knows how rich they are and how much they donate to the university. Interestingly the Lally's are the only ones talking about how much they donated. And the Lally's seem to be the only ones that care who else donates and how. I'm not sure any of this sounds very altruistic of anyone.

AW openly admitted he just became a Syracuse fan like within the last 10 years. I think it’s reasonable for connect dots like the Lallys obviously have.

 

[kingtidge]

The University should publicly state that all donors are welcome and invite Adam back with open arms.

Time to put this to bed.

I thought that if they did that, the Lallys said they would take the ball and go home?? (i.e. pull all funding and support?)

That's the rub here. With wealth comes power and that power and that muscle is being flexed, no?

Not saying KS isn't in a tough spot here, but not sure the path of least resistance is really leadership either (or he simply has no choice.) You don't let a $25mil whale donor with his name on buildings walk for a guy that says he wants to donate some NIL.

Either way it's a tough spot and no one looks good.

 

[Cuseregular]

Completely. I would say more but I know there is going to be a news story about it and I don't want to step on them.

Think this fits here(if not, let me know.). I can tell you a story about how I tried to get to them my 1959 national championship football, signed by the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner, and the rest of the national championship team, both attempts failed miserably after much effort on my part.

It’s a long story, but interesting one.

 

[OHIORANGES]

That really pisses me off if it’s true. If the former players aren’t making at least cursory donations, especially those who played in the NBA, what message does that send to upstate locals who aren’t alums about donating? They see many of these former players as having the means—and certainly the emotional investment in the program. But they’re not donating? JB and Julie should be courting every one of their former players and those who worked for the program to donate to NIL.

Do we really know if JB is doing any fund raising?

 

[kingtidge]

Do we really know if JB is doing any fund raising?

Were you expecting him to?

I assumed his position was largely a ceremonial one so he could still have an office on the hill and be out and about in the athletics department when he wanted to, in between his color commentary gigs, etc.

I thought he'd be involved with some fundraising events here and there but didn't expect him to be a 40-hour a week fundraiser.

 

[RedtheGOB]

That really pisses me off if it’s true. If the former players aren’t making at least cursory donations, especially those who played in the NBA, what message does that send to upstate locals who aren’t alums about donating? They see many of these former players as having the means—and certainly the emotional investment in the program. But they’re not donating? JB and Julie should be courting every one of their former players and those who worked for the program to donate to NIL.

It’s a different world with former hoops players. I noticed this when NIL started and people were talking about how UNC and Jordan’s mountains of cash would put them ahead. Nope.

Apparently Jordan hasn’t given that school a dime and has been pretty clear that he won’t so stop asking. Maybe some of that is exaggerated from their fanbase but pretty sure it’s well documented about MJ.

 

[powdersmack]

I’m honestly more upset about Etan attacking the school than AW not donating to NIL. I don’t think this is constructive at all.

That's not what I'm getting at, it's the apparent mafioso-like behavior from the "Powers That Be".

 

[Sherman20]

Do we really know if JB is doing any fund raising?

If he’s not, then what are we even doing here? he’s the face of Syracuse basketball history and has a 60-year investment in the program that was the center of his and his family’s life. If he cares about the program he built, and I assume he does, he should be fundraising for NIL and the program. FWIW, I assume he must be.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

All these mods and not one with the sense to move this steaming pile of crap to the Basketball forum where it belongs?

You could just merge it with the other Etan Thomas being an attention seeking big mouth thread.

 

[Sdot]

All these mods and not one with the sense to move this steaming pile of crap to the Basketball forum where it belongs?

You could just merge it with the other Etan Thomas being an attention seeking big mouth thread.

Lally are big football contributors. This thread was started because of the comments of them and AW going back and forth.

 

[littlereg]

To be fair when you have a public campaign for a new facility and you are the name sponsor with $25MM, I don’t think that is uncommon

Huh it’s almost like everyone is self serving to their own interests, needs, and wants!!!!

SHOCKING development

 

[Doc5120]

If he’s not, then what are we even doing here? he’s the face of Syracuse basketball history and has a 60-year investment in the program that was the center of his and his family’s life. If he cares about the program he built, and I assume he does, he should be fundraising for NIL and the program. FWIW, I assume he must be.

He's also 80 years old, not exactly a spring chicken. If anyone honestly believed his new position was anything more than a way to allow him to hang around as he pleased and pay him a nice sum of money each year into retirement, they're not thinking rationally.

 

[PAcuse]

Every story has two sides and usually somewhere in the middle lies the truth.
If the Lally's didn't want him to be involved in SU sports at all the university is kind of backed into a corner.
SU could lose the $25+ million they have raised or Weitsman potential $1-2 Million a year on Basketball.
It's a no brainer for SU.
If Weitsman truly is a fan and wants the BB team to get better you STILL donate the money without talking to the university...

 

[im4cuse]

Career earnings and current day cash flow are very different things

Etan Thomas' house in Mitchellville, MD

The American professional basketball player who plays for the Washington Wizards in the NBA lives here.

virtualglobetrotting.com

Here’s his house. Think cash flow not a problem. Seems like he could spare some scratch for us. Or at least shut up about NIL.