Yahoo Sports, Wetzel and Robinson 1 - Me 0: Ohio State Admits to Violations
by Maize n Brew Dave on Mar 8, 2011 8:35 PM CST
in Michigan Football
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PrintI said I'd do it, so here it is.
To Dan Wetzel and Charles Robinson:
My apologies. I was wrong about your source. You were correct that Ohio State and Jim Tressel committed major NCAA infractions by not reporting knowledge of other infractions in April when Tressel learned about it. You were right. I was wrong and I apologize.
Dave
**********************
Personally, I can't believe Jim Tressel was that stupid. Perhaps that's what colored my view of what was reported initially. The man's been Teflon coated since day one at Ohio State, so I assumed that he'd remained that way. He didn't.
Here comes the caveat to the above. I stand by my criticism of Wetzel and Robinson. If they had the information in their possession (emails) that made their case, they should've said so. There is nothing, and I repeat nothing, in their article that would make a reader believe that they possessed anything other than speculation and the word of an "unnamed" source to support their article. Hard evidence obtained through a FOIA request should've been disclosed in their article in support of their premise. It wasn't. It was a case of "trust me". If they had someone close to the investigation, they should've said so. But they didn't say that. They said they had a concerned party, a phrase that can mean anything. In the future, irrespective of the "Leak" as OSU termed it, they need to be far more specific.
I'll say again, my issue was not with the information reported. It was with the manner in which it was reported. I still maintain that it was inexcusable for Yahoo to give less than 24 hours notice of a story like this. If Ohio State schedules a press conference, fine, then publish your story before the press conference. The ends do not justify the means on this. I have a significant problem with the main stream media publishing unverifiable accusations without any evidence to support their claims. Read their piece again, I mean really read it without your own prejudices involved, and tell me how this is verifiable other than the name plate above. There is nothing in that piece other than accusations and a rehashing of past events. My complaints are with the process, not the results. But that's neither here nor there at this point.
They were right. I was wrong. I stand by my criticism, but in hindsight I was wrong. For that I apologize to Yahoo Sports and its writers.
******************
Moving forward I don't have a clue how this unfolds for Ohio State. Sadly, Tressel's press conference left more questions than answers, and it's perfectly clear that he played ineligible players with full knowledge of their transgressions. I don't know how Ohio State can avoid a full vacation of its 2010 season. I really don't. All five players played in each game. Pryor in particular directly affected the outcome of each game. A two game suspension of their coach isn't going to cut it with the NCAA.
Sadly, in reading Ohio State's self reporting document.... yeah.... there's no defending Tressel on this one. Three emails detailing issues germane to NCAA relevant violations, including one initiated by Tressel himself. Then there's Tressel telling investigators he didn't know anything about it. This isn't a phone call gone unheeded. This is a full blown cover up.
Frankly I'm shocked. I can't believe that this is the way it went down for Tressel and Ohio State. We've all joked about the shadiness and questionable recruiting at OSU for years. Yet Tressel's come off smelling like a rose. But this. This boggles my mind. He was warned about it. He took proactive steps about it. And then he lied to the NCAA about it. I'm shocked. There's no other word for it.
Well... at least for one summer the NCAA will focus its attention on Columbus rather than inexplicably on Ann Arbor. Thanks for that, Jim. Say hi to the investigators for us.
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Hokemania scared them away
He has enthusiasm unknown to mankind. He bows to no man, no ncaa investigator!
What? Harbaugh’s coaching the 49ers? I cant use that pun? SHIT.
Seriously, Senator Sweatervest had a rare fuckup. Besides offering Maurice Clarett a scholarship.
He should be suspended as long as his players.
by LincolnParkWildcat on Mar 8, 2011 9:07 PM CST reply actions
These guys at Yahoo are pretty good.
They dug up a ton of stuff about the NC agent fiasco last summer.
In the deed, the glory.
Corn Nation!
*Those
In the deed, the glory.
Corn Nation!
by Aaron Musfeldt on Mar 8, 2011 9:08 PM CST up reply actions
Considering the NCAA was fine with the 5 game suspension for the players involved I can’t believe that Tressel would risk major sanctions, but who knows what goes on in the mind of the vest.
I’m reasonably certain 2010 will be wiped for the Bucks, anything more than that is just gravy. Delicious gravy.
Woody and Bo are turning over in their graves.
I’m saddened by this. As much as I despise OSU, I respect them. Michigan is the better school. I believe that in my heart. But until Tressel, I never thought OSU lacked integrity. Say what you want about Cooper, he had integrity, but the pattern with Tressel is clear. Antionio Pierce to Maurice Clarrett, to Terrel Pryor. I hope and pray that if Michigan had hired a guy like this, that success on the field not withstanding, we would have realized we sold our soul and demanded his ouster as a fanbase. The biggest disappointment I had in RR was the NCAA investigation into Michgan’s program. We are Michigan, and one reason I’m so proud to be a Wolverine is that being a Michigan Man means something. It implies integrity. It implies excellence. And it does not sacrific the former for the latter. The reaction to this news by the OSU fanbase will say a lot as to whether they are honorable or not. Fucknuts they will always be, but if the OSU fanbase doesn’t respond with revulsion, it might just ruin the OSU-UM rivalry for me, because whatever the score on the field, integrity always wins.
For every complex problem, there is an answer that is simple, easy to understand, and wrong.
I still say...
Yahoo! journalism sucks. But, indeed…
Wetzel, Robinson, Y! Sports- 1
Me, Dan, and everyone else damning them- 0
scooping a school at their own self report doesn't make you edward r. murrow...
“at least for one summer the NCAA will focus its attention on Columbus rather than inexplicably on Ann Arbor.”
…or South Bend where a student actually died and the coach kept his job.
Never Question Yahoo
seriously, all of our fears should be that Yahoo reports some corruption in whatever your favorite school is. they always seem to be right on these kind of things. i cant remember one report on this kind of thing that yahoo has ever done that ended up being complete crap.
seriously, they are better at it than the NCAA is, and i dont think thats even an overstatement
by justsomehawkeyefan on Mar 8, 2011 11:20 PM CST reply actions
Long & short of it
Stretching the Truth
2 games
Just a little extra stretching
3 years
I can't believe you're still going after Wetzel & Robinson!!!
Here is what happens if you give Ohio State 24 hours (or more than 3 hours) to respond:
You give them more than 3 hours, and they’ll work dilgently to screw over Wetzel and Robinson.
Why would they not?
You think Ohio State is going to work their butts off to ensure that Yahoo! gets a big feather in its cap?
What they’re going to do is get a sympathetic rival, say an OSU alum at ESPN, and get a positive story out.
What do they always say about bad news?
You want to get ahead of it. It’s classic PR 101.
By giving them 3 hours, you’re not only being fair but you’re ensuring that you keep your scoop.
3 hours, in this internet/blackberry/iPhone/Twitter age, is like the equivalent of 2 weeks in 1950s time.
3 hours is plenty of time.
You may say that it’s disingenous on Yahoo’s part.
But EVERY journalist with a scoop does this.
It’s Journalism 101.
It would be absolutely stupid to give 24 hours to a source to come up with a defense (a la Jim Tressell today). Why give them the opportunity to burn you?
The NY Times gives limited time to respond when exposing a company, organization or individual.
So does The Washington Post and the LA Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Yet because Yahoo! is a freakin’ search engine, you look down upon them, even though Wetzel and Robinson have a track record of being thorough dependable reporters (on ESPN’s Around the Horn today, everybody was like, “these guys are the real deal.”).
If they don’t have a response in 3 hours, they don’t have a response.
We live in a 24-hour newscycle anyways, so Ohio State (as they did today) had a chance to get its side of the story out.
by lalalalalalalala on Mar 9, 2011 12:14 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
Sorry, I just wanted to add a few more things. I might be getting a little repetitive, but I want to take you into the mindset of Yahoo!
For Wetzel and Robinson, their lifeblood is getting scoops. That’s what they live for.
But in this internet age, it’s easy to lose a scoop.
For instance, the NY Times can report a story at 9 pm, and the Washington Post will see it, call up a few people, and have the same story within an hour.
Fox Sports will break an NFL story, and ESPN will see it, do their own reporting and have its own story up within an hour.
Variety will have a story, and the Hollywood Reporter will see it, call up a few people and have a story up within an hour.
So Wetzel and Robinson’s goal is to publish the story without a whiff of it getting out.
Thus, that’s why they gave OSU a reasonable 3-hour deadline.
In my opinion, though, Wetzel and Robinson helped out OSU by publishing their story Monday night instead of Monday morning.
That gave OSU a whole night, morning and afternoon to get a story together (remember Tressel brough notes with his “story” to the press conference).
If released Monday morning, OSU would’ve had no excuse but to respond without sleeping on it.
By repeatedly slamming Wetzel and Robinson, you seem to be implying that they’re basically silencing OSU without giving them their chance to respond.
But of course, they had a chance to get their own spin on the story today.
But what would you rather have first — OSU’s spin or Yahoo’s spin? (Hopefully it’s the latter.)
by lalalalalalalala on Mar 9, 2011 12:40 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs
What a Joke!
2 games? If he knew in April, 2010 and those 5 players were some of the more instrumental players, wouldn’t the whole season be in jeopardy? What U-M was flagged for is NOTHING compared to what I’m seeing many schools are getting away with so far. The NCAA better come down hard on these schools like OSU, Auburn, Oregon, etc.
How about that white background that OSU had during there joke of a press conference, real good TV, makes a viewer’s eyes squint, I bet that was no coincidence. Tressell looked so guilty to me, he’s obviously so full of shit. They better come down hard on him too, but I don’t want him to get fired, I want Hoke to whoop his ass a few times before they kick him out the door with his tail between his legs.
Your point is still correct
Just because what Yahoo reported ended up true, it does’t mean it was good journalism. All they did was report a tip. Their “two month investigation” didn’t turn up basics like 1) OSU notified (not self reported) the NCAA in early February about the voilation; and 2) OSU was in the process of self-reporting the violation.
nailed it
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Mar 9, 2011 10:56 AM CST up reply actions
Thanks for the follow up
Most people who trash the media don’t actually write the follow ups they promise. It’s a little more contrite than I would expect, but we’ll just agree to disagree on the quality of Yahoo’s reporting.
by mac b from tennessee on Mar 9, 2011 10:13 AM CST reply actions
Works for me
When I’m wrong i’m wrong. I have no problem saying so. They had a legit source and I didn’t think they did.
Like you said, we’ll agree to disagree on the rest of it. I’m always cool with that.
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Mar 9, 2011 12:36 PM CST up reply actions
Could Be Worser!
And I think it will be worse. Remember the OK State player who lied about being with some NFL players? And that isn’t even an infraction, lying is. Those bastards banned him from the NCAA, didn’t they? Oh, that’s right, he wasn’t a coach. The NCAA has habit of letting coaches off. Tennessee Hoops anyone? Tressell could lose half a season, or more, and who knows if the players suspensions won’t be revisited. The more I learn, the more troubling it all becomes. Talk about your atmosphere of non-compliance. And not seeking counsel about it. That wasn’t only terribly stupid, it could have been dangerous for his players had this thing taken a turn where the players might be implicated as witnesses (or worse) of the drug inVESTigation. (I’m trying to look at the recruiting advantages here! "Coach T doesn’t watch out for his players safetly? Their is an angle to attract mom’s attention.)
What confuses me most of all this is why hurry with the press conference? Why not stick to whatever timetable you had planned, Yahoo be damned? So what if you had a leak? I won’t say the rushed press conference makes them look guilty because that would be simpleminded, but it is suspicious, very suspicious. Why giVE STrength to everyones doubts? I guess they didn’t haVE STomach enough to deal with it all. And I don’t feel like they told me. . . let’s say . . . enough. They can’t tell us everything, but they didn’t say enough. Nice touch with the college prez there with his bow-tie. He was the cheerleader and that was him pompon, I guess.
But should we make light of this traVESTy of justice? Should we harVEST fun and glee from others dispair. Or do we have a VESTed interest in helping our neighbor to the south repair any VESTage of dignity from this onslaught from a bunch of Yahoo!s? Shouldn’t we inVEST or time to other pursuits?
Bah, let’s have fun. Nothing we can do one way or t’other.
by PreachinTotheChoir on Mar 9, 2011 10:56 AM CST reply actions
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