Jordan's HS coach bailed out by journalist

[JackReacher]

Journalist posts bail for Michael Jordan's HS hoops coach, blames Jordan for not doing it himself. Strange.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/thomas_lake/08/13/letter-to-michael-jordan/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t13_a0

 

[21]

Lovely thing to do. Not sure how I feel about him writing it. Did he do because he wanted to help the guy, or because he saw a good story? Not trying to be cynical, it just felt a little off to me.

Really interested to know what others think.

 

[brandonsneed]

Lake talked about it with a radio talk show host named Scott Hennessee. Audio is here: http://kxps1010.com/audio/shs-interviews/SHS%20120814%20Thomas%20Lake.mp3

I transcribed it for my blog, too, if you'd prefer to read: http://brandonsneed.com/home/2012/8/15/helping-pop-herring.html

 

[Azrael]

To really understand this story, you have to go back to Lake's original Pop Herring story.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1193740/index.htm?eref=sisf

 

[21]

To really understand this story, you have to go back to Lake's original Pop Herring story.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1193740/index.htm?eref=sisf

I understood it. I just don't know if it comes off as grandstanding to write about this part of it. I don't know.

 

[Double Down]

How it comes off, I'll let others debate. I will say, however, that Lake is one of the most genuine, earnest people in the biz. He doesn't do grandstanding. I believe without hesitation, the gesture was genuine.

 

[brandonsneed]

How it comes off, I'll let others debate. I will say, however, that Lake is one of the most genuine, earnest people in the biz. He doesn't do grandstanding. I believe without hesitation, the gesture was genuine.

I'll second this.

 

[21]

How it comes off, I'll let others debate. I will say, however, that Lake is one of the most genuine, earnest people in the biz. He doesn't do grandstanding. I believe without hesitation, the gesture was genuine.

Not questioning that at all, not one bit. Would you have written about it?

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Lovely thing to do. Not sure how I feel about him writing it. Did he do because he wanted to help the guy, or because he saw a good story? Not trying to be cynical, it just felt a little off to me.

Really interested to know what others think.

I think what you think ...

"Lovely thing to do. Not sure how I feel about him writing it. Did he do because he wanted to help the guy, or because he saw a good story? Not trying to be cynical, it just felt a little off to me. "

If it were me, I wouldn't have written about it.

 

[YankeeFan]

How it comes off, I'll let others debate. I will say, however, that Lake is one of the most genuine, earnest people in the biz. He doesn't do grandstanding. I believe without hesitation, the gesture was genuine.

Not questioning that at all, not one bit. Would you have written about it?

Yeah, I can see bailing him out, but the open letter is a little over the top.

 

[21]

Although it does provide the closing bracket to the original story. Would it have been disingenuous to say a friend eventually bailed him out? The story really isn't about the bail, it's that he was in jail, mentally ill, with no way to get out.

Certainly a more compelling read the way Lake did it.

 

[brandonsneed]

It seems to me that Lake went to Wilmington intending to report on what was new with Pop Herring. Guy you profiled lands in jail, seems like he should be bailed out but hasn't been, you want to investigate. It's natural that your investigation will lead to you writing about it. And then, when Lake gets to Wilmington and learns that all Pop needs is someone to give $100 to get him out of jail, he does it.

But that's the difference I see—Lake didn't do this so he could write about it. Lake set out to write something new from the moment he got back in the car and drove back up to Wilmington to check on Pop Herring. What happened next, he didn't plan. Like a good journalist, he reported on it as honestly as he knew how.

The open letter is certainly a big risk. But then, because Lake seems like an earnest guy, what he ended up writing turned out to be what he felt most strongly. And isn't that what we're so often told makes for the most effective writing? To write with passion?

Others' passion may have led them to frame what they'd written in a different way. Lake was moved to write like this.

This is just my take, my interpretation of events based off the letter and then the interview Lake gave, so feel free to disagree. You won't hurt my feelings.

 

[buckweaver]

I think what irks Lake the most is that, beginning at least in 1994 when Jordan basically told a United Center crowd to boo Herring to his face and even as recently as 2009 during his Hall of Fame induction speech, Jordan has continued to publicly perpetuate the myth that Herring did him wrong and "cut" him from the team when that's not what happened in real life.

This does seem a little sensationalistic on Lake's part. But if Jordan is going to continue to go public and disparage Herring for something that didn't happen, who's going to publicly stick up for Herring (who can't do it himself)?

 

[Drip]

Has ANYONE ever asked Jordan WHY HE DOESN'T HELP HIS COACH? Before coming down on him, let's hear his side. I'm sure there is a good explanation.
And I'm not picking sides on this. I think what Lake did was a kind gesture but he wrote about it so he is still profiting from Pop's misfortunes. He could've written a personal letter to Jordan. He could've placed a call. To put this information out in a public forum was bush league to the 10th power.
If you're doing something for someone out of the kindness of your heart, you don't need to write a story about in SI.

 

[JackReacher]

Jordan's is a world-class ****. I'm sure there isn't a good explanation.

 

[Drip]

Jordan's is a world-class ****. I'm sure there isn't a good explanation.

Be that as it may, I'm sure he has his reasons.

 

[JackReacher]

Yes. Because he's a **** who holds grudges.

I'm still wondering what would make the author think Jordan would ever do anything to help this guy?

 

[Drip]

Yes. Because he's a **** who holds grudges.

I'm still wondering what would make the author think Jordan would ever do anything to help this guy?

Ryan, I'm not defending Jordan. He can be crude and crass and a ****. However, before throwing him under the bus, I'd love to hear what he has to say about the situation.
Again, Lake's initial presentation was a good read but the open letter was a bit over the top. I don't think it was a genuine as 'I going to get Pop our of jail.' To me it was more like 'I'm going to get Pop out of jail, write about it and embarrass Jordan all in one big move.'

 

[DanOregon]

I think the question is - does Lake expense the $100?

 

[Drip]

I think the question is - does Lake expense the $100?

In the letter he said he did it with his own money.