BCT Editorial – 8/10/06

This page was last updated on August 12, 2006.

Good move; Editorial; Beaver County Times; August 10, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“In the local-boy-continues-to-make-good category, congratulations to Penn State head basketball coach Ed DeChellis on having his contract extended for two years.

“The extension means the Center Township native’s contract now extends through the 2010-11 season, a huge plus for DeChellis and his coaches in the recruiting wars. It comes after the team’s best record in five years (15-15, 7-11 in the Big Ten.)

“If ever there was an example of hard work and dedication being rewarded, DeChellis is it.

“This was a good move on the part of the university.”

[RWC] You’re probably wondering how I could critique a nice editorial about someone like Ed DeChellis. Relax. The critique is not about Mr. DeChellis. Everything I’ve read about Mr. DeChellis has been positive and I have no reason to doubt those reports.

This critique is about the Times.

While the editorial tells us the 2005-06 record was “the team’s best record in five years,” it also tells us the contract extension is a reward for “hard work and dedication.” The editorial doesn’t tell us the extension is a reward for a good performance.

What’s the difference? In the real world, we’re rewarded for good performance, as was Mr. DeChellis. It’s safe to assume Mr. DeChellis’ contract would not have been extended if the team’s record had not improved, regardless of how much “hard work and dedication” he showed.

Liberals, though, prefer to reward “hard work and dedication” as well as good intentions because they can’t get rewarded based on the success of their programs. For proof, name a socialist program that could be called a success when you look more than one inch below the surface.