Blog Wars

[tornado]

Some may recall the discussions about an internet blogger named Merle Widmer, who has criticized Bradley on several occasions, and Jim Les.

Phil Luciano has a column this morning in which he tells a little of the guy, and the over all feeling I get is that the guy is a bit odd and is completely discredited by these latest revealings. Also, Luciano appears to show that Widmer alters some facts and makes up others for his blog entries.

A couple months ago, the local guy who runs his blog, took on Jim Les and criticised him, then tried to tout himself as some sort of basketball expert.
The next day, the guy ripped into those who mentioned his off-the-wall attacks on the message boards.
Some of you might remember those blog entires about Jim Les, Bradley basketball, and the blogger's claim to be an expert, but in case, here are those original blogs.

http://widmer-peoria-watch.blogspot.com/2006_01_15_widmer-peoria-watch_archive.html

http://widmer-peoria-watch.blogspot.com/2006_01_22_widmer-peoria-watch_archive.html

Well, this monrning, Phil Luciano writes a column about the guy, and appears to completely discredit the guy.
Not only does Luciano describe the guy's weird behavior and reckless driving, but he also mentions
"Mind you, this isn't the first time Widmer's actions have been called into question as a threat to public safety..."
and describes several other oddities about Widmer, then points out how the guy's description of facts differs significantly on his blog from what he told Luciano in an interview.
So, just maybe the guy's blog is just fantasy??
here is Phil Luciano's article.

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/030206/PHI_B94NHNDU.041.shtml

[BU fan]

This guy is obviously a Kook, and a bit unstable. Anyone who puts an ounce of validity into anything he says is nuts.

[BradleyBrave]

I only read his take on the Creighton game. I thought Widmer's assessment of that game was right on. I haven't really read much since, so I don't know what else has been written. I really don't care if he drives erratically or what not. There are plenty of folks with personal issues who still know the game of basketball.

[tornado]

Re: Blog Wars

Some may recall the discussions about an internet blogger named Merle Widmer, who has criticized Bradley on several occasions, and Jim Les.

Phil Luciano has a column this morning in which he tells a little of the guy, and the over all feeling I get is that the guy is a bit odd and is completely discredited by these latest revealings. Also, Luciano appears to show that Widmer alters some facts and makes up others for his blog entries.

A couple months ago, the local guy who runs his blog, took on Jim Les and criticised him, then tried to tout himself as some sort of basketball expert.
The next day, the guy ripped into those who mentioned his off-the-wall attacks on the message boards.
Some of you might remember those blog entires about Jim Les, Bradley basketball, and the blogger's claim to be an expert, but in case, here are those original blogs.

http://widmer-peoria-watch.blogspot.com/2006_01_15_widmer-peoria-watch_archive.html

http://widmer-peoria-watch.blogspot.com/2006_01_22_widmer-peoria-watch_archive.html

Well, this monrning, Phil Luciano writes a column about the guy, and appears to completely discredit the guy.
Not only does Luciano describe the guy's weird behavior and reckless driving, but he also mentions
"Mind you, this isn't the first time Widmer's actions have been called into question as a threat to public safety..."
and describes several other oddities about Widmer, then points out how the guy's description of facts differs significantly on his blog from what he told Luciano in an interview.
So, just maybe the guy's blog is just fantasy??
here is Phil Luciano's article.
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/030206...HNDU.041.shtml

I guess we can add another chapter to this story of the blogger, Widmer, who tried to discredit Jim Les several months ago, claiming to be a basketball expert. He ripped into Les, and alleged that he didn't know how to coach and would never be a winner.
Here's Widmer's original blog entry claiming to be somewhat of a basketball legend and expert, while criticizing Jim Les, tho he admits he doesn't go to the games at all.

http://widmer-peoria-watch.blogspot.com/2006_01_15_widmer-peoria-watch_archive.html

Then the blogger somewhat discredited himself with the bus incident that Luciano wrote about.

Now, further followup, as he has discredited himself with attacks and racist statements that he had put on his blog, and has since removed.
The story is in today's paper.
The article says:

"Ouch . . .

Merle Widmer was hot after the County Board's April 7 advisory vote to deny Peoria Disposal Co. the right to expand its hazardous waste landfill. He went home to his computer and typed out a blog entry bitterly severe of the 10 members who voted against it. Widmer said their votes were based on emotions, not fact. But that's not all he said. Without naming names, Widmer, one by one, waxed insults, regardless of party affiliation.

He accused one colleague of being envious of "big business" because he had once gone bankrupt, said another was a "brilliant" attorney who had conjured up "legal blather" that frightened the others, accused another of being merely a "jock" and said some members would have probably voted yes had the applicants been of "another color." The PDC owners are white. The two African-Americans on the board voted against expansion.

But Widmer said that wasn't necessarily what he meant.

"I don't know. Maybe I meant Jewish people, or German, Irish. I don't know," Widmer said.

Local attorney Matt Jones posted on the blog site that Widmer should take down the entry and apologize, particularly for blasting even members within the Republican Party. Shortly thereafter, Widmer did just that.

"It was good judgment to take it down," Widmer said before Thursday's County Board meeting. "It served no real purpose."

Word has it that Democrats may be looking for a candidate to challenge Widmer. It will be interesting to see if his membership to The Optimist Club (as noted on his profile) is also revoked, or perhaps exchanged for a membership to the Nana-Nana-Boo-Boo Club."

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/041706/WOR_B9IBEB44.045.shtml

Is this guy running for office? I had read previously that his stance was that the public (namely you and me) couldn't possibly understand the issues surrounding the landfill hoopla going on in Peoria, because:
"public has been misinformed and mislead about the issues"

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/041106/TRI_B9GIJAA6.012.shtml

I sure am glad we have someone to guide all of us misinformed do-dos.