Winnipeg Blue Bomber Report Record: 2–7–0

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Mike Kelly: THE ENIGMA

The Bombers' contradictory coach must dig himself and his boss out of one giant hole

By: Randy Turner

Posted: 17/09/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 34

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

The Bombers’ contradictory coach Mike Kelly must dig himself and his boss out of one giant hole.

It seems as though dumping on Mike Kelly has become a sport unto itself.

Granted, your humble agent has dabbled in this recreational pastime, too. But what are you supposed to do?

One day, the guy is making dubious comments about not understanding why some fans are so committed to the Bombers they'll paint their faces blue. The next he's lecturing about the team's "fair-weather fans" who don't support his club just because it's losing 55-10 at home. Meanwhile, Kelly is lavishing praise on Roughriders fans who gathered behind their beloved team's bench during the final minutes of the Banjo Bowl on Sunday.

So clearly Kelly understands why people paint their faces green. Just not blue.

This is the same guy who, during a press conference Monday, begins by stating that he "doesn't pay any attention to what goes on on the outside." Then he twice proceeds to quote comments on TSN's website. Huh?

You see, it's become too easy to catch Kelly contradicting himself. You could make it a drinking game. Example: We want to change the culture and bring in character players. Oh, and does anybody have Pacman Jones's phone number?

Everybody drink.

Those of us who had the audacity to suggest Michael Bishop was not the long-term answer for the Bombers -- Hello, Milt Stegall, go powder your nose -- were patted on the head and told the grown-ups knew better. A month later, Kelly's telling everybody how Bishop not only misread passing plays during the Banjo Bowl, but running plays, too. Kelly then publicly contemplated starting newcomer Casey Bramlet on Sunday before deciding to stick with Bishop.

Everybody drink.

It goes on and on. Kelly said the Bombers' offence is the worst he's ever been associated with, but then defiantly insists the scheme not only shouldn't be changed, but the possibility of change doesn't even deserve discussion. That's like a chef cooking a meal and then declaring, "That's the worst food I've ever been associated with." So you ask the cook if he might consider changing the recipe and he says, "What are you, an idiot?"

It makes you wonder what Lyle Bauer is thinking. Really thinking, when his head hits the pillow at night. Or when the phones at Maroons Road are jammed with furious fans/customers. Because if Bauer isn't worried about his own employment, or the fullness of his legacy, then I'd be flabbergasted.

Look, I understand that Kelly is only 10 games into this, and he should be given a fair chance to succeed or fail on his own merit, but the level of unrest and anger out there is unprecedented. Say what you want about the Jeff Reinebold, but fans loved him, even felt empathy for him, to the bitter end.

Kelly, on the other hand, has the uncanny ability to turn folks off. He just doesn't say, "Hey, look, I'm just as frustrated as anybody. But I know this system can work. I've had success with it before. Please be patient." And leave it there. No, Kelly says, "Google me, I've had success elsewhere."

"Google me?" Really, Mike?

It's a shame, in a sense. Because Kelly, one-on-one, can be a very engaging person. He can laugh, even at himself. There's no questioning his passion for football and his tireless work ethic. On the field, there's been significant improvement to the Bombers' secondary and special teams, just not the most crucial position on the field.

And for all the tense media scrums, it's not like Kelly has gone all Adam Rita on anybody. Kelly handles the press far better than most, and he's been absolutely hammered.

Yet those positives can be left in shambles with every ill-advised utterance and defeat.

Is it too late for the Bombers to salvage this season? Can Kelly somehow manage to win back the fans he has offended and alienated? Well, anything's possible. But time and chronic missteps are working against them both.

At this rate, Kelly is blowing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After all, it's not like he was some hotshot co-ordinator coming off a Grey Cup appearance when he landed this prestigious gig. He was a professor of sports management of a small American college, after being fired as head coach at a small American college, who spent last year as the receivers coach with the Edmonton Eskimos. His relatively successful days as the Bombers' offensive co-ordinator were some 15 years in the rear-view mirror.

Yet Kelly got a job that hundreds of other football coaches would have brained their grandmothers for, and Bauer handed it to him on a silver platter.

The result so far has been a losing football team and one public-relations disaster after another. And if the Bombers don't start winning, and yesterday, it might only be the beginning of the end -- a frightening prospect, indeed.

But, hey, the locker-room is still tight, the distractions have had no adverse affects on the team, the coach's job is safe and the president and CEO stands by his decision.

Everybody drink.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 17, 2009 ??65535

34 Comments

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Posted by: D Hue

September 18, 2009 at 3:25 PM

You know, for all these people saying they'll never pay to see the bombers until kelly is fired, there sure are a lot of you at the games. That's like saying you won't pay for gas because you need an oil change. Suck it up and support the team, maybe the players will perform better if they see fans encouraging them, instead of screaming at the coach.

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Posted by: Krystyn

September 18, 2009 at 12:08 PM

I too, wonder what Bauer is thinking at nights before (and after) his head hits the pillows. Seriously, I wonder if he is even thinking at all. The guy has been pretty quiet throughout this whole fiasco of a season, the only time speaking up is when he said he stands by his man. Just wonder how long he will continue to stand by his man. Just hope we don't have 2 more seasons of Kelly to put up with.

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Posted by: scooter

September 18, 2009 at 5:05 AM

Here's what I & probably the majority of fans would like to see from Mike Kelly. 1. Fans are entitled to their opinion if the coach sucks. Ticket paying fans ARE entitled as this has truly been a terrible year-SO FAR! It is NOT your perogative to bash the fans because they think you're doing a horrible job; am I wrong or is it actually 7 & 3? 2. THE TEAM: bunch of misfits goin' nowhere FAST, ditch the jocularity if you continue to suck this bad. Be serious, YOU'RE LOSING at most everything you've been doing thus far. Kelly, give 'em hell if they aren't taking this seriously. 3. Mike, you either open your mouth & admit that most everything going these days isn't working or you keep it closed & take your lumps like any good coach should. 4. Leave the team/players exactly AS IS and work on getting them to play nice together-painful, punishing daily workouts to make them understand they are paid to win or at least make it respectable. 5. The SMUG ATTITUDE-it's gotta go and stay far far away as none of your past seems to be working nor is it relevant. 6. I didn't "Google your name" as it's apparent we just have to open up the daily FP to see how bad the team is and someone in management better have their head handed to them on a platter if it don't improve and soon! 7.-LUCKY NUMBER 7.....Uh, Mr. Bauer, what do you have to say about this whole mess other than standing beside Mr. Kelly and probably thinking he's the best thing since Grecian Goatee Formula For Men? Reply R.S.V.P!!!

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Posted by: Mr Fu-G

September 18, 2009 at 3:48 AM

My main concern with coach Kelly (outside of his losing record) is what kind of role model he is being. His complete lack of respect for bomber fans is unnerving. One interview he's talking about his dad sending him out to fight some kid. Another he's telling some fan to go back to playing his madden football game, another that he must be happy his mom got him a phone in the basement.
I use to let my 12 year old son listen to the call in show but coach kelly's unprofessional behavior and comments put an end to that one.
Perhaps Milt would be interested in bringing back some class to management. He was a class act and truely someone a kid could look up to.

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Posted by: KaosAgent

September 17, 2009 at 11:52 PM

It's a shame that this hasn't been made into a TV reality show. It's entertaining as it is, just reading all the columns and posts and listening to MK stir the pot daily, so why not roll the cameras too? But to really rock, we'd have to find a way to get Paul Teutul Sr. as our GM....

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Posted by: bobganason

September 17, 2009 at 11:06 PM

To answer the question of those players cut by WBB who are unable find suitable employment, here are some of my thoughts. Lack of maturity on Kelly's part by making poor decisions. He doesn't stop and think before making a move. Kelly has made his players look so bad to others. When Bomber stocks are reduced to zero there is no financial stability at all for the football organization. All responsible employees of WBB should be made accountable to the community. It's easy to make decisions with OPM (Other Peoples Money). People management is a art by itself and Kelly doesn't have that skill.

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Posted by: dagostino

September 17, 2009 at 9:25 PM

You forgot yet one more contradiction. Didn't Sir Kelly say most strongly that one thing he hated about last year's team was seeing players joking and laughing on the sidelines during bad games. So who was that I saw laughing on the sidelines during that nightmare Banjo Bowl? None of us will live to see the day when Sir Kelly will ever practice what he preaches.

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Posted by: craig

September 17, 2009 at 4:47 PM

This has been the worst year for me. I'm now an ex-fan thanks to Bauer not firing this idiot! I will not go back to another Bomber game until both Bauer and Kelly are gonzo.

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Posted by: Chris

September 17, 2009 at 3:57 PM

Is this what the press in Hamilton did for all those years? Finger-wag, incite and give everything a negative spin over and over? Stir things up week after week and do inane things like beg fans to send in rants? Why report on football - just keep throwing another log on the fire. Easier to be snide than supportive right?

And to those giving up their season tickets - nice way to support the lads on the field.

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Posted by: Oly

September 17, 2009 at 3:44 PM

Great artilce and I am glad you pointing one of your fingers Lyle Bauer! Exactly what was he thinking and this is a business so maybe it is time to look at a new business leader!

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