Ketchum rebuttal to McFarland story

by jtlonghorn on Dec 26, 2008 9:41 PM CST

Here's the link:

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=893523

This is a VERY long story... but I wanted to get the link up before I got through it all. As has been discussed since the story broke, the content and slant present in the NYT article was very evident.

The story has become a big deal and Ketchum awaits a response from Mack Brown and the University.

It's going to be interesting to see how Mack Brown and The University of Texas handle this situation because I believe if this is an institution of principles, they cannot let this situation go without comment.

This is great stuff - a confirmation that most of that stuff was BS.

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Comments

thanks for the post

I agree that much of that NYT article reeks of BS. I’ll be interested to see any fallout that comes of it, and how McFarland reacts.

by junglerules on Dec 26, 2008 11:14 PM CST reply actions

This is a great and much needed article. If the facts in the NYT article are in fact bs, something needs to be done. Not only does action need to be taken, it needs to happen a.s.a.p. so this won’t affect Texas recruiting in the near future.

by DLiv715 on Dec 27, 2008 12:22 AM CST reply actions

Well, the NYT can be sued for libel, or JM’s mother could be sued for slander. I’d like to see either happen. Furthermore, I think it’d be interesting to see the NCAA itself taken to task for a lack of institutional control. OU, USC, etc. get to slide away with huge recruiting violations, yet here it all goes again. Who’s watching the watchers?

by burntorangehorn on Dec 27, 2008 9:55 AM CST reply actions

Libel/Slander

I don’t think going after a recruit’s mother in the courtroom would be in our best interests, regardless of how outrageous her accusations are. Proving a libel case against the old gray lady is notoriously difficult, and by the time we are vindicated everyone will have forgotten about this hatchet piece. I think if we have information that recruiting violations occurred in McFarland’s case, we should provide it to the NCAA given the sliming we’ve received.

"Stats are for losers, I like winning games"
". . .switzer is a cracked out bitch . . ."-osu poster

by 98horn on Dec 27, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

suing for libel or slander

definitely a bad idea…

however, I suspect there are just as many writers out there with a pro-UT bias as there are okie-leaning hacks… what if they “happened” upon some solid info…. hmmmmm

by Pflash on Dec 27, 2008 2:59 PM CST up reply actions

I’d normally agree, but the NCAA has shown it doesn’t really care if OU and its proxies cheat.

by burntorangehorn on Dec 27, 2008 4:17 PM CST up reply actions

Actually, probably not.

I doubt whether the NY Times can be successfully sued for defamation. The current burden placed on plaintiffs, here the University of Texas, is quite high where public figures are concerned, and the University of Texas is a public figure. Interestingly enough, the guiding case on the subject involved defendant New York Times Co. The Supreme Court created a requirement of “actual malice” which is never met. When it comes to the press’ ability to defame, the United States — semi-uniquely among Western societies and unique even to itself as, I believe, all 50 states decided the matter quite differently prior to NYT v. Sullivan — has essentially said where there is a public figure plaintiff and press defendant there is no defamation. The wisdom of that decision is rightly questioned.

Go register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Dec 29, 2008 8:48 AM CST up reply actions

Going for bonus points on that entertainment law exam?

"Stats are for losers, I like winning games"
". . .switzer is a cracked out bitch . . ."-osu poster

by 98horn on Dec 29, 2008 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

Mass Media Law

no grade back yet but I feel like I bombed it, so I need the points

Go register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Dec 30, 2008 11:12 AM CST up reply actions

Great Analysis

Very astute and thorough analysis. The question is, what if this guy changes his mind between now and signing day? Can and should UT withdraw their offer? I think Texas may come out ahead on this because the mom is going to cause major headaches for the OU staff if her son is not playing as much as she thinks he should, or is otherwise slighted in her mind.

"Only angry people win football games." --DKR

by OBdoc on Dec 27, 2008 10:30 AM CST reply actions

This kids mind was made up when he wrote that article in his class! why would you praise one school and bad mouth another, and then say shit I think i’m going to go to this school that I’ve been talking shit about!

by kcmorse on Dec 27, 2008 11:35 AM CST reply actions

What if the class article is a whitewash, a cover for his own behavior

written to keep moma happy?

by whills on Dec 27, 2008 3:10 PM CST up reply actions

thats exactly what it is

i have a friend who, against my advice, sent a message to Jamarkus on facebook, asking him why he would slander the university when by all accounts they had treated him with nothing but respect.

Jamarkus replied, and im quoting directly as ive seen the message, that “half the stuff written didnt come out my mouth n came 4rm a spiced paper i wrote 4 english”

he had a few choice words for my friend, for which I dont blame him. Im sure the attention he is receiving right now is not what he had hoped for or expected.

My guess is he is regretting the way this all played out, and it appears that he did not intend for the article to come out the way it did.

by 6th street on Dec 27, 2008 5:56 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks, 6th street. Great input.

In this situation, what does “spiced” paper mean?

Long and specific word for text talk.

by whills on Dec 27, 2008 9:25 PM CST up reply actions

my assumption

would be that “spiced” means “spiced up,” or made more interesting.

by junglerules on Dec 27, 2008 9:36 PM CST up reply actions

That's pretty standard but I agree.

I went looking for something more colloquial, but didn’t find anything relevant.

It’s probably more instructive that he’s felt the need to insert an adjective.

by whills on Dec 27, 2008 9:52 PM CST up reply actions

Would you mind posting a screen shot of this quote?

by TheElusiveShadow on Dec 28, 2008 12:35 AM CST up reply actions

id be happy to if you can direct me how to do so

by 6th street on Dec 28, 2008 12:27 PM CST up reply actions

Well, if you have the facebook page on screen

You can follow these instructions here.

by TheElusiveShadow on Dec 28, 2008 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

i have no idea what i am doing

i got my buddy to send me the jpg in paint, but i cant figure out how to use imageshack to host it and create a big enough sized file for you to see it on here. give me an email address and ill send it to you and you can mess with it

by 6th street on Dec 28, 2008 2:39 PM CST up reply actions

Come on guy

It’s a few days from 2009 and you don’t know how to post an image on a website…I hope you’re just lazy or hungover.

Perhaps the most recognizable mascot in sports, and certainly the toughest looking, Bevo is a fixture

by run Bevo run on Dec 28, 2008 5:04 PM CST up reply actions

color me lazy

i dont ever post images online and dont have the need nor the desire to learn how. sorry if that offends you.

by 6th street on Dec 28, 2008 5:22 PM CST up reply actions

Send it to one of the BON editors

I just think it’s good to get a shot of it since there’s so many rumors and rumors of rumors going around, it’s good to get something more concrete.

You can also email me <a href=“”mailto:holee_isak@hotmail.com">holee_isak@hotmail.com" >here.

by TheElusiveShadow on Dec 28, 2008 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

email sent

if you want to send it to someone else, be my guest. but im done with this. ive commented on it in two separate threads.

by 6th street on Dec 28, 2008 5:32 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks

by TheElusiveShadow on Dec 29, 2008 1:01 AM CST up reply actions

id be happy to if you can direct me how to do so

by 6th street on Dec 28, 2008 12:27 PM CST reply actions

dont get bent out of shape.

I learned along time ago that people get bent out of shape sometimes during times like these. They will leave it alone soon. Ive learned from experience.

by LEMILES on Dec 28, 2008 9:14 PM CST up reply actions

wow.

after reading that whole article, i think im happy that they chose oklahoma. Texas doesnt need these problems, however its like a rancid cherry on top of the rest of this year. Texas did everything right an still got left in the dark. I dont know anyone on the staff personally. however i can see clear as day that the staff for UT does things by the book every time, all the time. i dont see any reason why Texas would suddenly change its tune and begin doing the wrong thing for the hell of it. its not what the program is based or founded upon. so with that i do feel sorry for that family. deep down in my heart i do, because the kid is the one who is being shafted here in reality. yea his high school coach wont be there forever, and in reality, neither will his mother or grandmother. they will undoubtedly be there longer than the coach, but not forever. the point is this is his future to make. i understand that he wont just leave his family waivering in the wind like a cheap bra on a clothes line, but he needs to think about what is the best choice for him. i really feel that his family F*colorful-explitive*ED him over with this and then screwed the pooch. but this is just my two cents.

If You See Kay, Oh You

by texfan23 on Dec 28, 2008 9:32 PM CST reply actions