ESPN: The Cardinals workplace culture

Krangodnzr

Captain of Team Conner
Joined
Jul 21, 2002
Posts
36,497
Reaction score
34,503
Location
Charlotte, NC
MB is a trash owner, and to expect much change from him at this point is pie in the sky.
Embarrassment can change people though.
Some people will defend him no matter what, because there are always those people.
Michael is a turd, still better than his father though, but that isn't saying that much.
We'll remain in the dregs of the NFL as long as MB is owner.
Most likely.
 

ASUCHRIS

ONE HEART BEAT!!!
Joined
Sep 2, 2002
Posts
16,664
Reaction score
14,993
I don’t doubt that they guy is a horrible dude to work for. I don’t know for sure, but you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.
That said, just quit and go work somewhere else. You don’t have a right to work for the Cardinals. You don’t have a right to be happy.
The Arizona Cardinals - horrible lives here, and if you work here, you get what you deserve! Sounds like a fun source of entertainment.

Guys like Sarver and Bidwill suck the life out of towns, and can do it with impunity because short of a well documented cycle of abuse, they are basically untouchable.
 

football karma

Michael snuggles the cap space
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Posts
15,291
Reaction score
14,397
- Michael holding all-hands meetings for both Keim and Minegar to yell at them in front of everyone (including stadium staff on a livestream)
i had no issue with this part

the company lives in the public eye, and its executives need to live their lives knowing this, and

IMO: you can treat executive management differently than "regular employees" simply due to pay grade --
 

Dback Jon

Doing it My Way
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 14, 2002
Posts
82,724
Reaction score
42,742
Location
South Scottsdale
a few thoughts:

Basically the story is that Mike is a total jerk.

I suspect there is context for why the team is uptight about keeping female employees away from coaches and players. Not saying its justified, but this doesn't happen randomly.
I would LOVE to hear a context that makes this remotely acceptable.



Bottom line, there is NONE. Bidwill is a sexist jerk. This alone should make the NFL force him to step away from the franchise.
 

kerouac9

Klowned by Keim
Joined
Feb 14, 2003
Posts
38,626
Reaction score
30,372
Location
Gilbert, AZ
i had no issue with this part

the company lives in the public eye, and its executives need to live their lives knowing this, and

IMO: you can treat executive management differently than "regular employees" simply due to pay grade --
Based on the quotes in the piece, it didn't seem like the employees took it this way.
 

Dback Jon

Doing it My Way
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 14, 2002
Posts
82,724
Reaction score
42,742
Location
South Scottsdale
Getting involved in jury duty requests by low level employees. Good god what a clown.

I mean that’s the real story here. Regardless of his attitude Michael is an absolutely terrible businessperson if he is doing this sort of thing.
Since it is required by law.
 

ASUCHRIS

ONE HEART BEAT!!!
Joined
Sep 2, 2002
Posts
16,664
Reaction score
14,993
"Your negativity sucks the life out of the entire process and erodes our collective resolve to work our asses off for you and this franchise," Minegar wrote. "It's not just me -- everyone in this building is impacted by your constant negativity."

"People who thought they were friends with Mike, somewhere along the way, it sours," the person said. "It ends fairly abruptly."

Several people who have worked with the team as well as state and local governments told ESPN they do not believe Bidwill could get a taxpayer-funded stadium built today, partly because of the current state of Arizona politics but also because he has burned so many bridges.

"You're one of two people," the former ally said. "Either an enemy of Michael Bidwill or a future enemy of Michael Bidwill."

Sounds like a nightmare.
 

football karma

Michael snuggles the cap space
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Posts
15,291
Reaction score
14,397
Based on the quotes in the piece, it didn't seem like the employees took it this way.
if those public shaming sessions were the only thing that happened -- then there is no story or impact on the employee population (IMO)

but, combined with all the other stuff -- it serves as another data point that tells employees who their boss is
 

MaoTosiFanClub

The problem
Joined
Oct 7, 2003
Posts
12,795
Reaction score
6,794
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
i had no issue with this part

the company lives in the public eye, and its executives need to live their lives knowing this, and

IMO: you can treat executive management differently than "regular employees" simply due to pay grade --
Keim should’ve been put in stocks and had tomatoes thrown at him by the entire city and team employees simply for his drafts. I’d be okay with that.
 

Shane

Comin for you!
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
69,467
Reaction score
40,061
Location
Las Vegas
Same poo different day…
 

unseenaz

ASFN Addict
Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Posts
6,941
Reaction score
5,833
Location
Gilbert
"Your negativity sucks the life out of the entire process and erodes our collective resolve to work our asses off for you and this franchise," Minegar wrote. "It's not just me -- everyone in this building is impacted by your constant negativity."

"People who thought they were friends with Mike, somewhere along the way, it sours," the person said. "It ends fairly abruptly."

Several people who have worked with the team as well as state and local governments told ESPN they do not believe Bidwill could get a taxpayer-funded stadium built today, partly because of the current state of Arizona politics but also because he has burned so many bridges.

"You're one of two people," the former ally said. "Either an enemy of Michael Bidwill or a future enemy of Michael Bidwill."

Sounds like a nightmare.
Scathing quotes.
 

Outerlimits

Veteran
Joined
Sep 22, 2019
Posts
435
Reaction score
969
Location
Richmond Virginia
Embarrassment can change people though.

Michael is a turd, still better than his father though, but that isn't saying that much.

Most likely.
In many ways he is just like his father it seems. However, I'm not sure his Dad would have quickly fired a GM and HC merely a year after paying them an extension.

One major difference in my opinion is that Michael actually wants the Cardinals to have a winning team but his leadership ability is at times extremely counterproductive to achieving that.

Bill had terrible leadeship and also didn't care that the team sucked every year.
 

ASUCHRIS

ONE HEART BEAT!!!
Joined
Sep 2, 2002
Posts
16,664
Reaction score
14,993
One source said they warned co-workers not to misspell the owner's name or risk getting fired. "I would remember it this way: Michael Bid-Will fire you if you messed this up," the former employee said. "That was literally what I would tell everybody."

LOL. Time to start calling him Bidweell for sure! (ASFN auto-corrects Bidw(e)ll)
 
Last edited:

ASUCHRIS

ONE HEART BEAT!!!
Joined
Sep 2, 2002
Posts
16,664
Reaction score
14,993
One major difference in my opinion is that Michael actually wants the Cardinals to have a winning team but his leadership ability is at times extremely counterproductive to achieving that.
I don't buy this - what about MB screams a burning desire to win? Nobody would employ and continue to employ a guy like Keim that seriously wants to win. MB LOVES being in the club, but other than that, being able to control the people in charge has been more of a priority than winning.
 
Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Posts
10,549
Reaction score
7,536
Location
Chandler
Remember back in the Sun Devil Stadium days when Michael blamed all of the organization’s problems on a lack of a stadium? And these types of stories were a thing of the past now that Michael has taken over the reins from his dad? Mike was going to turn the Cardinals into a modern day football team that could compete. The days of frugality and pettiness were over as long as you gave Bidwill a new stadium.

Remember?
Pepperidge Farms remembers.
 

football karma

Michael snuggles the cap space
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Posts
15,291
Reaction score
14,397
Keim should’ve been put in stocks and had tomatoes thrown at him by the entire city and team employees simply for his drafts. I’d be okay with that.
the total opposite of a Super Bowl parade -- if a team "earns" the #1 pick, the GM and owner have to make the walk of shame
 

unseenaz

ASFN Addict
Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Posts
6,941
Reaction score
5,833
Location
Gilbert
I don't buy this - what about MB screams a burning desire to win? Nobody would employ and continue to employ a guy like Keim that seriously wants to win. MB LOVES being in the club, but other than that, being able to control the people in charge has been more of a priority than winning.
He does love to win, he’s a prideful owner. He’s just too damn egotistical to empower others to run a successful team. He wants to be the one calling the shots. I’m surprised he even employs a GM at all
 

Dback Jon

Doing it My Way
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 14, 2002
Posts
82,724
Reaction score
42,742
Location
South Scottsdale
One source said they warned co-workers not to misspell the owner's name or risk getting fired. "I would remember it this way: Michael Bid-Will fire you if you messed this up," the former employee said. "That was literally what I would tell everybody."

LOL. Time to start calling him Bidwill for sure!
Wait - @Brian in Mesa is actually Michael Bidwill?
 
OP
OP
Ronin

Ronin

In yo city!
Super Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Posts
145,781
Reaction score
67,541
Location
Crowley, TX
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 

Outerlimits

Veteran
Joined
Sep 22, 2019
Posts
435
Reaction score
969
Location
Richmond Virginia
I don't buy this - what about MB screams a burning desire to win? Nobody would employ and continue to employ a guy like Keim that seriously wants to win. MB LOVES being in the club, but other than that, being able to control the people in charge has been more of a priority than winning.
Well, early on with Keim the team was actually successful. The BA years with Carson Palmer had more regular season win than the Kurt Warner years even.(although worse playoffs). Should Keim had been fired then?

The big mistake was giving Kliff and Keim an extension after the 11-5 year when the team imploded at the end of the season. A year later after a terrible season it seems Michael realized the mistake and fired him.
 

football karma

Michael snuggles the cap space
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Posts
15,291
Reaction score
14,397
xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
real question:

what does "racially charged" mean?

had he used a slur or the like, they have reported that. But they didnt.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PJ1

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
556,124
Posts
5,433,581
Members
6,329
Latest member
cardinals2025
Top