Soap opera at Ball State

Bob Cook · Aug 15, 2007

Biglead, I also notice commenters on earlier coverage noted that there have been rumors that Ball State's president hired Thompson in hopes of greasing the skids for a president's job at a Big East school. That would be worth checking out. It certainly would explain why the prez was so quick to hire and defend Thompson. I've got to say, the Ball State Daily News has done a very good job with in handling the story, especially with a reduced summer staff.

slappy4428 · Aug 15, 2007

Bubbler said:

Flying Headbutt said:

Would love to see Wilbon, who I like as well, answer that one, Bubs.
Click to expand...

So would I.
Click to expand...

Fantasyland, bubs... won't have the stones to respond.

Shaggy · Aug 16, 2007

I dealt with Ronny Thompson once during his decorated tenure, and he was a fucking asshole.

Mmac · Aug 16, 2007

Bubbler said:

I just read Wilbon’s piece and a bigger hatchet job you will not find.

Some examples ...

-- As mentioned, it was the women’s volleyball coach who reported the initial violation. What wasn’t mentioned is that volleyball coach has filed a tort claim alleging retaliatory termination. He asserts that he was fired so the university could protect Thompson, sweep the violations under the rug or both. So which is it? Was BSU trying to fuck over Thompson or protect him?
-- Thompson allegedly committed the same violations he was originally accused of again this spring. He has subsequently been linked with violations ranging from financially assisting a potential transfer to Ball State to giving Nike’s to players as an academic reward.
-- Because of his, Thompson and his staff were asked to attend a three-day NCAA compliance seminar in Miami. BSU rented a $65 a day rental car for his use. Thompson upgraded without permission to a luxury SUV at $200 per day. Each of Thompson’s staff had their own room at the Miami Biscayne Bay Marriott also at $200 a pop. The entire trip cost the university $7,749 according to the Muncie Star Press, well over the budget earmarked for the trip.

Wilbon’s column fails to mention any of this. The fact that there’s no Ball State quotes at all regarding Thompson's allegations tells me he took Thompson’s word at 100 percent face value and made little effort to vet them.

More examples ...

-- In the column, Thompson claims Ball State had no basketballs and that he had to purchase them himself. What?

This strikes me as Wilbon (and Thompson) taking advantage of the ignorance of the Post readers who presumably think Ball State is a Division 3 backwater playing in Carver High School’s secondhand gym from the White Shadow.

Are Wilbon/Thompson trying to claim that a university with an enrollment around 18,000 and an arena that seats 10,000-plus, where basketball is the most popular sport among students and especially alumni for a program that had a sterling tradition until recently, where it is one of a handful of I-A programs where basketball means more as far as donation money than football, where it was paying Thompson well into six figures (with a raise to near $200,000 per not long before he quit), where it could absorb a $7,749-padded expense report for a trip to Miami, had no basketballs for practice and Thompson had to buy them himself? Really?

-- Thompson claims there was no coach for 2 1/2 months. Ex-coach Tim Buckley was iced on March 14, 2006. Thompson was hired on April 3, 2006.

I was really disappointed to see Wilbon’s name on that article, I have a lot of respect for him, but that was a pure and simple hatchet piece with not even basic chances for Ball State to respond to some pretty ridiculous charges. Thompson snowed Wilbon on that one, apparently believing correctly that Wilbon wouldn’t check up on any of the allegations.

I said it before, I think both Thompson and BSU’s administration have plenty of blame to spread amongst themselves and both are getting what they deserve.

And I know there is racism in Muncie (though I never saw it in the BSU community itself, which generally isolates itself from Muncie proper, which doesn’t mean university racism doesn’t exist), so that issue can’t be dismissed out of hand, but it was given greater emphasis in the column at the expense of facts that weigh against Thompson.

As I said, this strikes me as a piece written for Post readers who don’t know squat about Ball State, don’t care to know, and will therefore take Wilbon/Thompson at their word. It was an insult to the intelligence of readers who have knowledge of the program and irresponsible for those that don't.

No context + left out facts + reader ignorance of the situation on the ground = bad journalism. Wilbon should know better.
Click to expand...

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/SPORTS/708150334/1006

Looks like Doug Zaleski reads Bubbler. A couple paragraphs in this piece seem strikingly similar to the above post. A pretty good piece (and post), nonetheless. This has got to be Wilbon's lowest moment. Hard to see how a guy with his reputation could get duped into such an error-ridden, one-sided column.

slappy4428 · Aug 16, 2007

Mmac said:

Bubbler said:

-- In the column, Thompson claims Ball State had no basketballs and that he had to purchase them himself. What?

This strikes me as Wilbon (and Thompson) taking advantage of the ignorance of the Post readers who presumably think Ball State is a Division 3 backwater playing in Carver High School’s secondhand gym from the White Shadow.

Are Wilbon/Thompson trying to claim that a university with an enrollment around 18,000 and an arena that seats 10,000-plus, where basketball is the most popular sport among students and especially alumni for a program that had a sterling tradition until recently, where it is one of a handful of I-A programs where basketball means more as far as donation money than football, where it was paying Thompson well into six figures (with a raise to near $200,000 per not long before he quit), where it could absorb a $7,749-padded expense report for a trip to Miami, had no basketballs for practice and Thompson had to buy them himself? Really?
Click to expand...

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/SPORTS/708150334/1006

Looks like Doug Zaleski reads Bubbler. A couple paragraphs in this piece seem strikingly similar to the above post. A pretty good piece (and post), nonetheless. This has got to be Wilbon's lowest moment. Hard to see how a guy with his reputation could get duped into such an error-ridden, one-sided column.
Click to expand...

Reminds me of the Simpsons episode when the volleyball is deflated after landing on Lisa's spiked hair...

OK class, that was our only volleyball. there will be no team this year...

funky_mountain · Aug 16, 2007

whitlock's foxsports.com column grills wilbon:

Wilbon is one of the most skilled sports journalists in America. He's extremely fair-minded. And I have a great deal of respect for him as a friend and a man. However, his column on Ronny Thompson was irresponsible, filled with blatant inaccuracies told to him by Thompson and an embarrassment to The Post. The column painted Muncie, Ind. and Ball State as a hotbed of seething racial animosity where no black coach could hope to survive.
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http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/7127682

heyabbott · Aug 16, 2007

Mmac said:

Bubbler said:

I just read Wilbon’s piece and a bigger hatchet job you will not find.

Some examples ...

-- As mentioned, it was the women’s volleyball coach who reported the initial violation. What wasn’t mentioned is that volleyball coach has filed a tort claim alleging retaliatory termination. He asserts that he was fired so the university could protect Thompson, sweep the violations under the rug or both. So which is it? Was BSU trying to fuck over Thompson or protect him?
-- Thompson allegedly committed the same violations he was originally accused of again this spring. He has subsequently been linked with violations ranging from financially assisting a potential transfer to Ball State to giving Nike’s to players as an academic reward.
-- Because of his, Thompson and his staff were asked to attend a three-day NCAA compliance seminar in Miami. BSU rented a $65 a day rental car for his use. Thompson upgraded without permission to a luxury SUV at $200 per day. Each of Thompson’s staff had their own room at the Miami Biscayne Bay Marriott also at $200 a pop. The entire trip cost the university $7,749 according to the Muncie Star Press, well over the budget earmarked for the trip.

Wilbon’s column fails to mention any of this. The fact that there’s no Ball State quotes at all regarding Thompson's allegations tells me he took Thompson’s word at 100 percent face value and made little effort to vet them.

More examples ...

-- In the column, Thompson claims Ball State had no basketballs and that he had to purchase them himself. What?

This strikes me as Wilbon (and Thompson) taking advantage of the ignorance of the Post readers who presumably think Ball State is a Division 3 backwater playing in Carver High School’s secondhand gym from the White Shadow.

Are Wilbon/Thompson trying to claim that a university with an enrollment around 18,000 and an arena that seats 10,000-plus, where basketball is the most popular sport among students and especially alumni for a program that had a sterling tradition until recently, where it is one of a handful of I-A programs where basketball means more as far as donation money than football, where it was paying Thompson well into six figures (with a raise to near $200,000 per not long before he quit), where it could absorb a $7,749-padded expense report for a trip to Miami, had no basketballs for practice and Thompson had to buy them himself? Really?

-- Thompson claims there was no coach for 2 1/2 months. Ex-coach Tim Buckley was iced on March 14, 2006. Thompson was hired on April 3, 2006.

I was really disappointed to see Wilbon’s name on that article, I have a lot of respect for him, but that was a pure and simple hatchet piece with not even basic chances for Ball State to respond to some pretty ridiculous charges. Thompson snowed Wilbon on that one, apparently believing correctly that Wilbon wouldn’t check up on any of the allegations.

I said it before, I think both Thompson and BSU’s administration have plenty of blame to spread amongst themselves and both are getting what they deserve.

And I know there is racism in Muncie (though I never saw it in the BSU community itself, which generally isolates itself from Muncie proper, which doesn’t mean university racism doesn’t exist), so that issue can’t be dismissed out of hand, but it was given greater emphasis in the column at the expense of facts that weigh against Thompson.

As I said, this strikes me as a piece written for Post readers who don’t know squat about Ball State, don’t care to know, and will therefore take Wilbon/Thompson at their word. It was an insult to the intelligence of readers who have knowledge of the program and irresponsible for those that don't.

No context + left out facts + reader ignorance of the situation on the ground = bad journalism. Wilbon should know better.
Click to expand...

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/SPORTS/708150334/1006

Looks like Doug Zaleski reads Bubbler. A couple paragraphs in this piece seem strikingly similar to the above post. A pretty good piece (and post), nonetheless. This has got to be Wilbon's lowest moment. Hard to see how a guy with his reputation could get duped into such an error-ridden, one-sided column.
Click to expand...

To say Wilbon was duped is insulting and patronizing to a gifted and respected columnist like Michael Wilbon. Wilbon, given his experience and intelligence. knew exactly what he was doing in writing the column in question. It was an intentional hatchet job, executed by one the best sports journalists in America in one of the most prestigious newspaper in history. Akin to sending a squad of fully loaded B-52's to bomb a 3 square yard junk lot.

Bubbler · Aug 16, 2007

Mmac said:

Bubbler said:

I just read Wilbons piece and a bigger hatchet job you will not find.

Some examples ...

-- As mentioned, it was the womens volleyball coach who reported the initial violation. What wasnt mentioned is that volleyball coach has filed a tort claim alleging retaliatory termination. He asserts that he was fired so the university could protect Thompson, sweep the violations under the rug or both. So which is it? Was BSU trying to fuck over Thompson or protect him?
-- Thompson allegedly committed the same violations he was originally accused of again this spring. He has subsequently been linked with violations ranging from financially assisting a potential transfer to Ball State to giving Nikes to players as an academic reward.
-- Because of his, Thompson and his staff were asked to attend a three-day NCAA compliance seminar in Miami. BSU rented a $65 a day rental car for his use. Thompson upgraded without permission to a luxury SUV at $200 per day. Each of Thompsons staff had their own room at the Miami Biscayne Bay Marriott also at $200 a pop. The entire trip cost the university $7,749 according to the Muncie Star Press, well over the budget earmarked for the trip.

Wilbons column fails to mention any of this. The fact that theres no Ball State quotes at all regarding Thompson's allegations tells me he took Thompsons word at 100 percent face value and made little effort to vet them.

More examples ...

-- In the column, Thompson claims Ball State had no basketballs and that he had to purchase them himself. What?

This strikes me as Wilbon (and Thompson) taking advantage of the ignorance of the Post readers who presumably think Ball State is a Division 3 backwater playing in Carver High Schools secondhand gym from the White Shadow.

Are Wilbon/Thompson trying to claim that a university with an enrollment around 18,000 and an arena that seats 10,000-plus, where basketball is the most popular sport among students and especially alumni for a program that had a sterling tradition until recently, where it is one of a handful of I-A programs where basketball means more as far as donation money than football, where it was paying Thompson well into six figures (with a raise to near $200,000 per not long before he quit), where it could absorb a $7,749-padded expense report for a trip to Miami, had no basketballs for practice and Thompson had to buy them himself? Really?

-- Thompson claims there was no coach for 2 1/2 months. Ex-coach Tim Buckley was iced on March 14, 2006. Thompson was hired on April 3, 2006.

I was really disappointed to see Wilbons name on that article, I have a lot of respect for him, but that was a pure and simple hatchet piece with not even basic chances for Ball State to respond to some pretty ridiculous charges. Thompson snowed Wilbon on that one, apparently believing correctly that Wilbon wouldnt check up on any of the allegations.

I said it before, I think both Thompson and BSUs administration have plenty of blame to spread amongst themselves and both are getting what they deserve.

And I know there is racism in Muncie (though I never saw it in the BSU community itself, which generally isolates itself from Muncie proper, which doesnt mean university racism doesnt exist), so that issue cant be dismissed out of hand, but it was given greater emphasis in the column at the expense of facts that weigh against Thompson.

As I said, this strikes me as a piece written for Post readers who dont know squat about Ball State, dont care to know, and will therefore take Wilbon/Thompson at their word. It was an insult to the intelligence of readers who have knowledge of the program and irresponsible for those that don't.

No context + left out facts + reader ignorance of the situation on the ground = bad journalism. Wilbon should know better.
Click to expand...

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/SPORTS/708150334/1006

Looks like Doug Zaleski reads Bubbler. A couple paragraphs in this piece seem strikingly similar to the above post. A pretty good piece (and post), nonetheless. This has got to be Wilbon's lowest moment. Hard to see how a guy with his reputation could get duped into such an error-ridden, one-sided column.
Click to expand...

Bubbler reads Doug Zaleski who has done a fine job on this story from the beginning.

Oz · Aug 16, 2007

Whitlock did a great job with his Ball State column. I still disagree with him, in part, on Vivian. But great job on Ball State.

Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! · Aug 16, 2007

Will Wilbon respond to any of the criticism: in print or on PTI? Or will he let it die quietly?

heyabbott · Aug 16, 2007

Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! said:

Will Wilbon respond to any of the criticism: in print or on PTI? Or will he let it die quietly?
Click to expand...

I'm sure he'll go on Big John Thompson's radio show in D.C. and they'll slobber all over each other on how Mike nailed the bastards to the wall.

Bubbler · Aug 16, 2007

Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!! said:

Will Wilbon respond to any of the criticism: in print or on PTI? Or will he let it die quietly?
Click to expand...

I think he needs to answer for it because this column damages his credibility. So far as I can tell, he willfully ignored pertinent facts and presented a story that is biased at best and dreadfully inaccurate at worst, leaning towards the latter. At the very least, I'm not sure why the Post wouldn't want him to do that.

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