Recent content by SouthernScribe

So what if a reader calls you up and asks if Vince Young is starting? I'm guessing the reply would be along the lines of "I don't know" or "I can't say." In both cases, this is misleading your readers. I can see both sides of this, but there's something that makes me uncomfortable about a coach...

Point of Order (AKA Bitter Web Guy): You can take all the cheap shots you want. Doesn't bother me one bit. Meantime, I'll refer to you Jack in the Box. He's got it right.

Something tells me Point of Order is somehow affiliated with Rivals or Scout, cause he's awfully sensitive about this stuff. I can't seem to find an example of my "beckoning" the NCAA to police fan web sites. All I can find is my pointing out the FACT that the NCAA is monitoring and...

You're right on the money, Jack. But prepare to be confronted by Point of Order, who will want you to document your facts with receipts, spreadsheets, recordings, notarized statements, etc.

Point of Order: I'm quite confident in the accuracy of what I said. I've suggested a great way for you to check for yourself. If you're too lazy or too indignant to do it, it really doesn't bother me. Charlie: I never suggested there aren't exceptions in both camps. There are some fan web sites...

SouthernScribe, You... 1. offered a percentage comparison of newspaper reporters and “web site yahoos” who might do dirty work for their schools. 2. Said ethical and professional web site guys are “a distinct minority.” 3. Said that newspaper reporters who do dirty work for their...

If you care to inform me - shatter my denial - I'd be happy to look at something besides anecdotal hyperbole that suggests the NCAA should have a different blanket approach for Internet reporters than other media. Call someone at the NCAA, or any school's compliance department, and ask which...

So you're still basically saying that there are no unscrupulous newspaper doing dirty work for their school, while every Internet writer is an arm of the school. I'd still like to know what distinction makes newspaper guys sacrosanct and Internet guys pariahs. Thanks for putting words in my...

The NCAA is going to wake up to what? You can't make any meaningful distinction between Rivals/Scout guys and the local paper beat guy who's been writing fluff for years at the behest of the school. The Knoxville News Sentinel's web site is called GoVols.com for crying out loud. Singling out...

Nine out of 10 web site "reporters" are not journalists and don't have even a basic grasp of ethics, news judgment, etc. Newspapers undoubtedly have their share of problems, but I'd say their ratio is a hell of a lot better. I don't think anyone is questioning how influential Rivals and Scout...

Growing, as in number of subscriptions cancelled?

Web site yahoo: "So, which school are you favoring?" Recruit: "I don't have a favorite. All I have is a top five." Web site yahoo: "What's your top two?" Recruit: "I don't have a top two. All I have is a top five." Web site yahoo: "If you had a top two, would Podunk U. be one of them?"...

I don't doubt that, for the most part, these guys know recruiting forward and backward. But that's not the real issue here. When you have people "covering" a team who have a vested interest in that team doing well (in recruiting, on the field, everywhere), you open the door for all manner of...

That said, I think Rivals is a good company and their rep will change from a rah-rah fanboy orginization to legit sports player over time. It could happen. But only when they get rid of the lap dogs and hire real reporters.

hell, some of those guys work as extra recruiters for those schools. is a dirty, dirty business Hoops hit the nail on the head. The national beats are one thing, but I'd venture to say 90 percent of the individual team "coverage" is done by shills who are in bed with the coaching staffs. Funny...