Actually, I think Lincoln was helming the company when they resisted going into compact disc, and it took until he left before they were able to leapfrog.

Lincoln did the initial announcement of the Gamecube, so I assume he was there when they were leaping — he retired in 2000, about a year before it actually was released.

To be fair, that was a MUCH larger change than what we’re talking about here.

True.

On the other hand, I think it’s true that it takes a change further towards the top for new ideas to seep into a sports team….more ego involved, I think…

Actually, I think Lincoln was helming the company when they resisted going into compact disc, and it took until he left before they were able to leapfrog.

To be fair, that was a MUCH larger change than what we’re talking about here. Entire production facilities had to be retooled, software development contracts renegotiated, packaging had to be changed, agreements with retailers regarding shelf space reassessed, etc etc etc.

While this seems huge to US, it’s small potatoes from a comparison standpoint.

It is my hope that is true. It does seem reasonable as the minority owners are from a more tech based background.

Actually not certain other than Armstrong who is actually “old school baseball”.

My .02 goes to DePosdesta. Simply because after USSM his blog is great. The entry regarding Yankee Stadium and taking his 4 year old Son has to create an image of Him as fan friendly and Family oriented.

I totally agree. In addition, I disagree with the sentiment that these executives are incapable of learning from the current fiasco. Given the long time frame they have set forth for hiring a new GM, I think there is ample time for a serious and honest assessment (with the board of directors) of their responsibility for the situation, and of their roles going forward.

After a couple of months for some more shoes to drop, a few deals to go down, and maybe even couple more heads to roll, the time will be ripe for an executive departure under the face-saving assertion that “we have begun the turnaround, and it’s time for some new blood to see it through in the years ahead.”

So, while we think there may be no hope and this “old-school” way of thought runs too deep in the organization… there is hope. Their very own parent company has shown a tremendous ability to evolve.

Actually, I think Lincoln was helming the company when they resisted going into compact disc, and it took until he left before they were able to leapfrog.

I think there IS very little hope….

I think the comments about a new direction are more lip service than anything else. For the club to hire a DePo or Ng or Antonetti, it would take HoChuck admitting that their entire organizational philosophy has been not just wrong, but abysmally, grotesquely, stunningly outdated and completely wrong since the beginning.

For everyone who is afraid that they will refuse to change their “organizational philosophy,” look at Nintendo itself. They stubbornly refused to move into using compact discs as a medium for gaming, insisting that cartridges were the right way to go. The next thing they know Sony and Microsoft have left them for dead in every possible aspect of the console gaming experience. So, what does Nintendo do? They say screw graphics and go so far ahead of what the other two were doing with their motion control gaming experience that they blew them out of the water regarding sales. This leap-frogging of theirs was so industry changing that Sony tried in vain to add on their own motion control at the last second and failel miserably.

So, while we think there may be no hope and this “old-school” way of thought runs too deep in the organization… there is hope. Their very own parent company has shown a tremendous ability to evolve. I expect that Mr. Yamauchi and Co. want nothing less for their on-field product.

So, if they’re following that party line, it means that McLaren is failing to get the best out of the talent on the team, making him the obvious fall guy within the context of what they’ve been saying.

So I don’t think this is a PR stunt; you can question how progressive they’re likely to be with their choice but I don’t think this is a scapegoat situation.