Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
A female reader sent this picture of her thoughts of the Chicago Sun-Times
Never a dull moment. If there is one thing we have learned over the last 15 months it is this…so long as Calipari is at Kentucky, there is no offseason. When one combines the tradition of UK, the rock star personality of John Calipari and an ultra-obsessed fanbase willing to devour any story (or author) they dont like, you have a recipe for a never-ending cycle of news an controversy that will follow the program wherever it goes. For people who run blogs, such a situation is wonderful…with rare exception, there is always something to write about on a given day (and if there is not, the Coach down the road will give us something with his 15 second Italian restaurant encounters). But for the people that are actually involved in the program, it must grow a bit tiresome, as every move is dissected and magnified, even as other coaches are enjoying their summer vacations.
The latest controversy occurred Thursday and Friday with the Chicago Sun-Times. Michael O’Brien, a writer heretofor known primarily by parents in Chicago hoping to see their child’s name in print on his prep sports blog, became the center of a national journalism debate, criticized initially on UK sites and Twitter and later, on national forums such as PTI. O’Brien writes a story for the Sun-Times blog, in which he says Anthony Davis Jr is likely to commit to Kentucky, giving the “local boy makes good” storyline for his ten readers. But then bizarrely, he includes two outlandish rumors nine paragraphs into the piece, one being that Davis and his father are asking schools for money and second, that UK has arranged to give him $200,000. The reaction was swift, with the story going viral and getting killed by anyone and everyone. UK threatens legal action, the Chicago Sun-Times pulls the $200,000 accusation, and later, the entire story altogether. Then, the next day after reflection, the author writes a new story, repeating the allegations and adding that he has spoken to “three unnamed sources” who say that Davis Jr and his father asked for money from schools that were recruiting him. UK responded again, Davis Jr’s father threatened a lawsuit and the Times continued its “no comment” policy, engaging in behavior that it would lambast if it occurred by a public figure instead of a newspaper.
So after all that, the question that continues to go through my mind is what could possibly have been the motive for the Chicago Sun-Times’ behavior? Some UK fans and people on websites have suggested conspiracy theories that Rick Pitino, Pat Forde or some other sinister villian is likely behind all this and it is all part of a larger plot to bring down John Calipari. I have been asked often if I agree with this line of thought and the reality is that I dont. Do I know for certain that there arent greater forces pushing this particular story? No. However when we engage in bombastic charges without proof too often, we are the ones that begin to look crazy. I find it hard to believe that Pitino, Forde, Thamel or the lone gunman on the grassy knoll would use a random high school sports reporter in Chicago to push an agenda in the 9th paragraph of an article on a rarely read blog. Could I be wrong…sure I guess. But I will play the averages.
Instead, what I think is much more likely is that this is a classic case of a newspaper mistake and a rush to engage in “cover your assdom” without understanding or concern for its ramifications. My guess is that Mr. O’Brien (who will become my focus in this next week…get ready my friend) simply was writing a story about Davis Jr and decided to include gossip he had heard in the high school ranks. As part of a general profile, he thought he would include “rumors” of what Davis Jr and his father were after in the recruitment. O’Brien probably never thought twice about it…the conventional wisdom of the area says the Davis family is on the take, he thought he would write about it and since it was on the blog and not in print, no harm done. He threw this tidbit in the 9TH PARAGRAPH, hardly the place that one would put breaking news. My guess is that he never thought this was a real accusation or that it would get attention…if he did, it would have been the lead, not buried deep in the story. If O’Brien believed he was “breaking” a story or a scandal, the headline would have read, “Kentucky pays High School player.” Instead he made a poor decision to go with a rumor, and no facts to back it up.
Then things got out of control. Criticism of the story was harsh, and the accusation quickly disappeared. UK threatened to sue and probably for the first time, upper-level Editorial staff became involved. They cared little about a random blog post before, but now the national sports media was on their case and legal action was being threatened. It was time to regroup. The entire story was pulled, and a gameplan enacted. The Times did not however want to be seen as backing down to a lawsuit threat, so O’Brien called college Assistant coaches with which he was friendly and said, “hey, have you heard that Davis Jr is on the take?” They said yes in a “gossipy” rather than a “newsy” way and he went to his Editors and said, “see now I have THREE sources and we can re-run the story, with more backup and less ‘rumor’ talk.” The Sun-Times then goes with this new story the next day. In the story, they fail to mention the fact that they made the decision to pull the story the day prior, conveniently leaving that part out because…oh well, it makes them look bad. By recasting the entire story this way, they have done two things:
1. Saved themselves from a lawsuit by UK…they retracted the original $200,000 accusation and repeated it only to “set the scene” in the news recap of the events, a cowardly way to handle the situation, but one that probably covers the paper from a suit.
2. Gave themselves protection from a lawsuit by Davis JR. While they went with the “three unnamed sources” quote, if sued they can claim that they werent saying that Davis Jr HAD BEEN PAID, but just that the sources SAID he had been paid. That subtle difference is once again cowardly, but it allows them not to look like they backed down to UK and once again, cover their asses.
From a legal standpoint, it was a smart way to play it. From a journalistic standpoint, it is a complete joke. Rather than admit a mistake, they attempt to cover themselves and act as if they did nothing wrong…refusing to comment to other news sources or even to ACKNOWLEDGE PUBLICALLY that they pulled the original article….a cowardly, but altogether consistent, line of behavior for a newspaper to take when publically challenged.
Now do we know this is how it played out? No we dont. But to me, it is the most plausible explanation and much more reasonable than this being the mastermind of a Rick Pitino/Pat Forde connection. Forde and other journalists are out to get Calipari and I do believe they have engaged in concerted behavior on some stories (like the Pete Thamel New York Times piece on Bledsoe) to try and bring him down…not necessarily always because of personal animosity, but because Calipari is their journalistic Moby Dick. But as far as this particular instance, the much more likely scenario is simply the journalistic malpractice of a newspaper that found itself on the ropes. It will be interesting to see if the Sun-Times or its writers will ever make a public comment on the issue, or whether they will go into hiding in a manner such as a politician, an action they would surely criticize if the roles were reversed. At this point, they have probably protected themselves from any successful lawsuit, and their lawyers performed much more admirably than their writing staff. But their cowardice and lack of journalism ethics cannot be undone by a carefully worded follow-up article.
Like the telegraph, Beta Max VCR and Pager repair shop, newspapers have a predestined ending that they may simply not be able to stop. If that slow decline is inevitable, it is often correctly said that the one real loss (besides the employment of a great many good people) will be a news source whose truth and objectivity cannot be questioned. But if the Chicago Sun-Times fiasco is indicative of how the industry will act during this decline…well maybe we wont lose much after all.
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August 8th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
What a great night. I got to read this amazing piece as well as Doyel’s great work about over-signing. Good job Matt.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
LOL, this picture puts a big smile on my face.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
“Calipari is their journalistic Moby Dick”
~~~Matt Jones
Kenny Banya says, “That’s Gold Jerry Matt… That’s Gold!”
August 8th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
These 3 unnamed assistant coaches must have heard that Davis was looking for money from the story that was originally posted on Thursday.
This jackass writer created news on Thursday and went looking on Friday if there was anyone who may have heard that Davis was lookin to be paid. Of course they heard that. He put it out there the day before.
What a tool.
I think the Davis family as well UK should pursue this matter. I am inclined to believe that this story has roots in Louisville. Forde, Pitino, Massiello, one or more of them have fed this garbage.
I also believe that Forde got his Bledsoe info from Massiello, who got it from Richard Pitino Jr.
UL never recruited Bledsoe and his transcripts were given to Forde from Massielo, who no doubt obtained them from Jr as Florida was recruiting Bledsoe. Why would any assistant coach give another school (a school who was even recruiting Bledsoe) a set of transcripts.
If you don’t believe that there are forces in Louisville that want to knock our feet out from under us, youare fooling yourself.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
“Calipari is their journalistic Moby Dick”
~~~Matt Jones
Kenny Banya says, “That’s Gold Jerry- I mean Matt… That’s Gold!”
August 8th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
What happened between Adolph Rupp’s days and the present that gave media so much freedom??? They used to be pee ons and got in everyone’s way etc. But now they have a lot of freedom and they possess the ability to destroy (or at least try to destroy) people, schools, coaches, etc. I think it’s time to shut the door on the media again.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
My biggest fear with the loss of the newspaper is the loss of permanent “on the record” statements. Internet news is too easily manipulated, fabricated and eliminated. Any ten year old can doctor a screen shot. It is something to be concerned about.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I’m not entirely sure, but is “Cover your Assdom” anything like the “Guard your Yard” from the NCAA tourney?
August 8th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Thanks Matt for the great piece and for taking what should be a day off to keep us informed. Much appreciated. I did not like reading that their actions have covered their ass legally. I wish and hope both the Davis family and UK sue them and I want to hear that there will be a likelihood of success. So, on this point I hope you’re mistaken. Thanks again for the work and I look forward to more on this subject this week.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Surely the Davis family can still sue the Times for libel. The Times has yet to print an official retraction in which they say that no member of the Davis family ever received or requested financial payment. Even if the original story was pulled, it was up there for a certain amount of time, and, therefore, a certain amount of damage was done to the reputations of Mr. Davis and his son. As far as the “three sources” are concerned, couldn’t the Davis family also sue these three individuals for slander (spreading vicious rumors to members of the media does, last time I checked, constitute slander)? And if O’Brien refuses to give up the names of those three sources, couldn’t he spend time behind bars or at least face some sort of charge? Matt?
August 8th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
why sue? it would just cause a trial that is ridiculous, causing Calipari and others to be under the microscope and make statements on the record
August 8th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
#11
why sue?? Because their reputation has been damaged!! That is, there are people out there who are going to believe that the Davis family is on the take.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
11, we need to be under a microscope; there is nothing wrong with that. And we need to make statements on the record; statements like ‘we don’t play players and we don’t violate NCAA rules and regulations’.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
#11 Why sue? With regards to UK or the Davis family? If you are referring to the latter, then the answer is obvious: defamation of character. I would, if I were Mr. Davis, absolutely want to resolutely snuff out any such rumors circling around my or my kid’s name. Unfortunately, if things are repeated enough, perception becomes reality (the public persona of Boogie, for example, hurt his draft stock and no doubt cost him $…the differing treatment of Coach K & Calipari, and their recruits, by the NCAA, because of perception, etc. etc.).
“causing Calipari..to be under the microscope”???
You’re joking, right? Calipari IS under the microscope 24/7 because of EXACTLY this sort of slanderous behavior.
“make statements on the record”??
Not much faith in Coach Cal, eh?
August 8th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
#14, “falsity” needn’t be proved by the offended party. The defendant (in this case, O’Brien) would have to prove the veracity of the libelous statement. And if Davis never received payment for his son’s services, then that is a slight impossibility.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Sue the bastards.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Just (what the finger says in the picture) them all. They will go the way of the dinosauer soon enough. As fas as, “on the record” statements….since when is anything NOT on the record during the digital age. There are millions of recording devices at every stop Coach makes….even as he shakes his big johnson….I believe almost every person on the planet has a cell phone that takes pics, movies, records conversations. OFF THE RECORD?? Are you freaking kidding me??
August 8th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
I think the sun times just wanted the kid to go to de Paul.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Looking forward to learning more about Mr. O’Brien from Matt.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
19) dont hold your breath,they always say this or that is coming but more often than not you never hear it again,,,examples,,didnt they say big news for site be announced today?,,,,Orton story,,,,,it goes on and on,,its a great site but they its obvious theres a bit of lets make the people click refresh button to up our hits factor,,,i foresee that this post is deleted
August 8th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
I think part of the story is true: Anthony Davis’s father really did ask the three assistant coaches for $200,000. I think that when the rumors started to surface that his father was demanding money and that he had chosen to play for UK, the other coaches were happy to confirm that his father had asked for the money because they had sour grapes. However, stating that UK actually paid for the commitment is total BS and everyone knows it.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
20- In the case of the Orton story, Matt said he didn’t put the story up because he found out some of the info he had wasn’t proven true, and was possibly only a rumor. He didn’t want to tarnish the reputation of a teenager just for his own personal gain. Go figure that a blogger practiced better journalism ethics than an actual journalist.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
I think the new poll should be what Matt Jones has a better future? Matt Jones with the new tv station or Matt Jones the new Bengals receiver
August 8th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
21) agree, the father probably did try and see what he could get,,,maybe a new car,,maybe 200k ,,who knows,,but NO school would actually get involved in that IMO. that is just way out there. and why would Cal or Uk pay anyone at this point? with the options Cal has there is no way he risk any violations,,,,
August 8th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
22 – yeah i saw where he said that about Orton and i respect him for it but he didnt make a post saying it,,,,he just left us hanging,,,that i dont respect or feel is right,,,he often reveals things on radio that he doesnt say here,,,,its just very obvious he uses the wait and see tactic to get hits,,,thats why the site doesnt update automatically on new post,,,,you have to hit refresh,,,this another hit
August 8th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
#25 that’s not why we do that at all. B leavig site caches longer, it saves bandwidth an keeps site from crashing…which if it did crash, you would complain about that as well. Te announcemet also wasn’t today, it’s next week…as I said. You complain all the time and if you don’t like the site, feel free not to come here.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
26.
he’s just trolling…
it worked though, look what he did to your spelling! :-O
August 8th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
hey matt,,,love the site and work u do,,,i guess i can see why you think i complain a lot but i actually tell everyone i know to go to your site,,,i manage people who are super smart on the tech side of things so i just assume some things when it comes to your site,,sorry if my assumptions are not right,,keep up the good work bud and ill try not to complain so much,,,,,even if your are a liberal:)
August 8th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
HUGE U.K. fan. Love the site. Been coming here for 4 plus years now.,, but it’s crazy, the narcissism from Jones is too much to digest. Seriously man, reflect on Kentucky sports, not yourself.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
This ain’t a case of awkwardness. The Boys are good, they plant these seeds in fertile ground and see what grows. The newspaper is a tool, they need the exposure. While we’re guessing, any idea what the next story to sprout will be?
August 8th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
#28 *cough* You’re
August 9th, 2010 at 12:08 am
#31. Don’t make his “super smart” staff come after you.
August 9th, 2010 at 12:21 am
If the NCAA and agents don’t destroy Cal then the media will.
August 9th, 2010 at 12:28 am
I guess the Chicago Sun-Times was just…wrong on purpose.
August 9th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Jesus, what a bunch of unappreciative a**holes.
Love the site, Matt. Thanks for the hard work that you put into bringing free UK-related info to the masses.
August 9th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Let me tell a story which isn’t in your history books. Back in the late early 50s Lyndon Baines Johnson was running for the senate in the state of Texas. He found out that late into the race that he was losing badly in the poles. So what he did was have his people “leak” a story about his opponent, saying that rumors had it that he was gay. His opponent wasn’t, but in the words of Johnson was “Hell I know the boy ain’t queer but he needs to show and prove to the Texas public that he ain’t”…..Johnson won the senate seat. This is what I feel about the Bledsoe and Davis stories, someone’s throwing out nasty rumors and it’s up to UK to rectify. So if this has to come to having to sue, or if nothing else find out who’s throwing out those rumors it’s going to be a long long tenure for Coach Cal at UK……..GO CATS!!!!!!!!
August 9th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
So here is my take on this.
WHAT IF…
The real question isn’t about whether or not this is true. Just the printing of the story and attention it gathered from national media has put a stigma on “Davis to UK”. Maybe there is a law suit and maybe there isn’t, but I say the damage has already been done and due to the horrible effectiveness of the legal system it doesn’t really matter if it’s true or not. Any lawyer will tell you that a court case isn’t really about truth, it’s about proof and perception. So whether or not it is true or goes to court, it’s already made Davis retract his statement that he chose a college. Also, if I were the “powers that be” I would be asking Calipari just how important is this recruit anyway? It would seem much easier to let Davis go elsewhere and just let the story die. So, whether there is any truth to this accusation or not, the damage has already been done and it’s entirely likely that this was the desired effect to begin with. If I were an NCAA investigator, I would be looking for connections from Depaul to the Sun-Times to find out if Davis’ second visit to depaul that same weekend was related to the “story” that was published the ensuing days.