I always get a big kick at how the "media" is so threatened by the internet that they constantly try to do anything possible to paint "bloggers" in a bad light. The mention of Dave Kersey in today's Washington Post article is just another one of those types of articles. Here is the portion of the article regarding Dave Kersey....
- Dave Kersey, a Kentucky fan who is an administrator on http:/
/ TrueBlueKentucky.com, posted that he sat and talked with Barton's mother during a tournament in Orlando and discussed the possibility of her son reneging on his commitment to Memphis. In a July 29 entry, Kersey wrote: "When I mentioned to her . . . that there was a rumor floating around about Will being not so sure about his quick trigger with Memphis, she looked me straight in the eye and said 'he's going to Memphis.' . . . Behind the scenes I know there is some movement, just not sure what. And, I think she didn't understand my capacity as a non-coach, just a fan, so that she thought she shouldn't be talking with me in those tones." Declining to pinpoint specific Web sites, Barton said fans at some schools were "very persistent, wanting me to commit to their school and their Web site guys, but it is all good. That comes with the territory of being one of the top recruits in the country. And I enjoyed the ride."
For the record, let me start by saying that I am not media. I am a basketball scout. Same goes for Dave Kersey. We don't view ourselves as media and our connections are not "media" type connections. My connections are people involved in scouting basketball players. During the Orlando event in which these remarks were made, Dave Kersey was working for me and Roundball Recruiting. At no point does TBK or anyone associated with TBK ever identify themselves as media at any point. Nor do I or Dave ever tell any player or anyone else that we are there for UK info. We aren't. We are there to scout players and get info for our scouting service.
First, Dave Kersey is nothing more than a Verified Source here. He is not a moderator, has not duties, and is nothing more than a poster here with good information to share. Second, at NO time did he "discuss the possibility" of Barton reneging... he simply asked a legitimate question about a rumor going around.
Dave's question was legitimate. At no point did Will's mom think it was some crazy UK person trying to get Will to go elsewhere. It was a question that ANY person (media or otherwise) would be legit to ask in that situation. Dave Kersey never even identified himself as some UK fan....
Regarding the portion where the post quoted Will Barton directly after Dave's post and seemingly tried to tie the two portions together.... Dave Kersey never spoke to Will Barton other than to say "good game". I was there. If some website guy is trying to get Barton to decommit, it's not from TBK. For the Post to try to allow the reader to draw a conclusion like that is wrong and unfair to Dave Kersey.
Having said that, it's very odd for me to see the Washington Post include Dave's post in a story that seems to be about fans trying to affect the recruiting process. In the decade that I've know Dave Kersey, I've never seen him EVER do anything that would in any way be considered an NCAA violation. In fact, the quote that the Post used in the story from the TBK message boards is nothing more than a legitimate question and an answer. How would that in any way be seen as anything else.
Still, don't ever expect "the competition" of this site to do anything but use the silly Post remark as a way to try to attack Dave Kersey (who is above reproach in all manners).
Kentucky Sports Radio (who doesn't have a radio show oddly) made the following intro remarks.....
- The Post clears Rivals and Scout, the two biggest sites, of any shady dealings, but points out that several schools have sites popping up. A number of potential rules violators have been named, including one UK site run by a name familiar to those on this site.
Funny stuff, but at what point did the Washington Post, or anyone else, suggest that Dave's legitimate question was in any way a rules violation? If so, wouldn't the constant texting your own Dustin "Zagoria" Rumbaugh does with Torrel Harris also be a violation? Is it?
TCP's Matt May also made the remark that "trained journalists" are somehow better than "bloggers" in regards to this story. Well, if Matt May or anyone else from TCP had GONE to many events, they could have (and likely would have) asked the same question in the same manner. Unfortunately, it seems that a UK website that brings in 100k a month doesn't have the budget to send a "real reporter" to cover the big tournaments. Give me a break.
Anyway, it's silly to act as if Dave Kersey did anything wrong. He asked a legit question and got an answer. End of story. He didn't even do it as a TBK person....cause he doesn't work for TBK.
People can bash me as much as they want... I even ask for it sometimes cause it helps keep the morons away from our safe haven.... but Dave Kersey is never anything other than patient and polite and has a heart of gold. He has spent a decade giving great info to UK fans and deserves UK fans to support him and not use some hack journalism as a means to attack him. He is innocent of anything and it's ridiculous to suggest otherwise.
Marc Maggard
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AMEN.
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torrel harris is tobias harris' father.
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AN OF COURSE EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR SOME DIRT TO THROW ON THE WILDCATS. DAVE KNOWS THE RULES AND I FEEL THIS IS JUST ANOTHER CARACTER ASSINATION BY SOMEONE THAT ISN'T A WILDCAT FAN.
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I am "media" when I attend a public event and get "media credentials" permitting access to players, coaches, etc. because there is an expectation that any interview and/or analysis from this event will be published for others to read. The interviewee understands my media connection when I introduce myself. I also do not wear Duquesne merchandise at recruiting events though, until it got damaged, I did wear my graduation ring (1970). I might at a Duquesne game.
It is extremely important that everyone doing this work keeps their 'fan' connections back in the car. There are basic common sense rules to follow, which appear to be Mr. Maggard's and Mr. Kersey's practice.. There is a national problem with internet reporters, publishers, bloggers, etc. not keeping their fan connection out of the interview. Doesn't matter if connected to Scout/Rivals/ESPN or unconnected as an "independent." Sometimes the"violation" is intentional though hope the majority are slips or from lack of knowledge.
From the July 29th TBK entry that the Washington Post quoted in their article, it appeared that Mr. Kersey was concerned that the player's mom didn't fully understand his position.
No writer can think of all the possible misinterpretations from wording, organization, or appearance on the printed page or internet. I didn't connect Barton's comment that followed as connected to any site. The paragraph talks about another site.
This is an issue that should be a non-problem. We can all do something to make that happen. The article is a good catalyst for a Scout network reminder. Thanks.
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