Mediaverse®

On True Crime (Deep Cover)

2009-11-22T02:17:00.005-06:00

In Memphis, it's not unusual for local media to join police on sweeps or raids.

We see the footage of police cars barreling down roadways, of cops bursting through doors, of suspected criminals perp- walking to the backseat of police cars while shouting their innocence at the oft-posed journalist question: "Why?"

But, in today's Commercial Appeal, there is something quite rare indeed--a journalist in a car with an undercover police officer watching a woman smoke crack in the backseat.

An excerpt from reporter Kristina Goetz's experience:

Near Hunter and Hollywood, a woman in an orange T-shirt hopped into the vehicle, uninvited. Her name was Silky, she said. What was he looking for? "Hard," he told her.

Silky jumped out in search of a street-corner crack dealer nearby. No sale. He didn't like the look of the driver.

No problem; Memphis' streets are a buyer's market, a virtual midway for addicts. Soon Silky spotted a familiar face just down the block.

"Big Mama! Come here! Come here! Go get me a dime."

Big Mama -- a heavyset woman in a black dress -- disappeared between houses and re-emerged a few minutes later with a rock of crack.

After deducting her commission -- a small corner of the rock -- Silky handed the rest over to the man she'd just met.

She stuffed the white crumbs into a glass crack pipe and lit the end, charred black from previous use. She took a long, slow hit that sounded as if she was trying to suck the last drops of liquid from a straw. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Then, as quickly as she'd arrived, Silky hopped out and faded into the neighborhood.

This is why we become journalists. It's a profession that gives one the opportunity to experience and report on lives that others might never witness. Goetz described the crack encounter as "gut wrenching" and "startling." It was perhaps all of that and more.

Goetz's experience is Part 4 of the CA's True Crime series, which is billed as an exploration of crime in Memphis through data and street-level reporting.

Now, before we get any further, it's obvious that the CA has made a commitment to go deeper with this series than it has ever gone before in its past exposés of crime. (M:M 1, 2, 3) To that end, one can appreciate the commitment of Goetz, who not only spent some days in the city's "most violent neighborhood" for Part 2 but went without bathing for two weeks, dyed her hair pink and whiffed the scent of crack for today's story.

I'm just sayin, her story is no cordial recap with an undercover cop--post assignment. (Sorry, TV folks, you're perhaps too recognizable for such a sensitive operation.)

Yet, it helps when MPD is willing to risk an active undercover officer for the sake of publicity.

But why?

______________________

It could be a coincidence.

Former Mayor Willie Herenton retired in July, leaving speculation about whether MPD Director Larry Godwin would hold onto the job he's had since 2004. Godwin even contemplated running to fill the remaining time of Herenton's term but backed out.

As mayoral candidates went about campaigning--a couple openly advocating that Godwin be fired and his signature police initiative, Blue C.R.U.S.H. be crushed--Godwin went on a campaign of his own to keep his job and initiative.

Again, it could be a coincidence that CA reporters hit the streets with cops in late August just as it could be that the Part 1 of True Crime was published a couple of weeks before the Oct. 15 special mayoral election-- in which crime was a major platform. Or that a week after the CA's Oct. 18 article on the Warren Apartments, a dozen or so officers--with media in tow--raided the place.

The raid was a show of force, a show of action, a show that will likely make it difficult for Interim Mayor A C Wharton Jr. to make any decision about Godwin's future.

Coincidence? Perhaps.
___________________________

Then again, given all that we know, today's article is timely, focusing on the cog of Godwin's crime-fighting efforts: the undercover unit. An excerpt:

Undercover police operations are not unusual in the United States. Many departments have units in which officers in plain clothes pose as prostitutes or buy drugs. But few agencies outside the FBI operate such elaborate undercover units like the one in Memphis, according to Joe Pistone, the legendary FBI agent who infiltrated the New York Bonnano crime family for six years as jewel thief Donnie Brasco.

Seattle has a good program, but officers there don't go deep undercover like in Memphis, he said. At the federal level, the U.S. Customs agency also has a top-notch program but still doesn't do long-term, deep undercover work, he said.

"I would say that Memphis has the best program in the country, and I don't throw around accolades like manhole covers," said Pistone, who teaches in Memphis' undercover school.

"There are a lot of good programs, but they don't amount to what Memphis is doing."

That is a strong, and notably unchallenged, endorsement. We don't know enough to judge its credibility and that's an issue.

Look, undercover officers risk their lives for our safety everyday but that still doesn't mean that we can't have information on how many might suffer from post-traumatic stress on a job that requires so much isolation. Are they tested regularly for drugs and alcohol abuse? How much do they earn?

More importantly, in the larger scheme of crime fighting, how effective are they? It takes a CA editorial to get to the heart of what Goetz's effusive article does not:

While covert operations by the police department result in a 95 percent conviction rate, the stark truth is that for every drug dealer taken off the street, there is another one to take his or her place. They exist and thrive because they feed a demand.

Indeed, the demand is ever present--not just in the poor sections of this city but everywhere.

And while Goetz's article shows a glimpse of how second-nature and perhaps prevalent drugs are, we still don't have a clue about where the supply comes from and how it gets into this city's veins. Her three days with an undercover cop did not seem to reveal that answer, not even the morsel of a clue.

But I digress.
_______________________
It could be a coincidence--you know, the whole crack episode.

A car with a man and a white woman (Goetz)--no matter how dirty she was or punkish her hair may have been--in a predominantly black neighborhood might draw some suspicion--unless the man is known and somehow vouches directly or indirectly. Even a crack addict recognizes context clues.

So, had the undercover cop worked with Silky before? What else--besides the crack--could explain her comfort at lighting up after getting her "commission"?

The article doesn't say whether Silky was later arrested.

On 24th Annual MidSouth EMMY® Nominations (Local Media)

2009-11-20T21:27:00.004-06:00

The nominations for the 24th Annual MidSouth EMMY® Awards were announced at a reception in Nashville Friday night.

Here's how local media fared in the nominations count:

WHBQ (Fox13) 24
Running Pony Productions 10
WMC 10
WREG 5
The Commercial Appeal 2
WKNO 2
WPTY 2

Congratulations to all. The winners will be announced on Jan. 30, 2010. The nominations for local media are after the jump.

The nominations (local media in bold):

NEWS EXCELLENCE
Channel 4 News, Working 4 You, Matthew Hilk, WSMV
FOX 13 News, Ken Jobe, WHBQ
News 2, Matthew Zelkind, WKRN
News Excellence WRAL-TV 2009, Rick Gall, WRAL
NewsChannel 5 Network, Michelle Bonnett, Sandra Boonstra, WTVF
WGHP - The News Leader, Karen Koutsky, WGHP

NEWSCAST/EVENING
Action News 5 at 10, Robert Edwards, WMC
Channel 4 News at 5: Belmont Debate, Mary Katherine Rooker, WSMV
FOX 13 News at 9, Anetra Gaines, Sunny Hampton, Ken Jobe, Mearl Purvis, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ
Good Friday, Bad Weather, Kenneth A. Smith, WZTV
NewsChannel 5 at 10: Good Friday Tornadoes, Rhori Johnston, Sarah Moore, WTVF
Tar Heel Triumph, Chris Burns, Phillipe Charles, Chad Flowers, Lori Grant, Martha Woodward, WRAL

NEWSCAST/DAYTIME
Good Morning Memphis, Valerie Calhoun, Ernie Freeman, Leon Griffin, Claire Jones Heath, Lauren Lee, WHBQ
News 2 at 4, Karen Brown, John Dwyer, Anne Holt, Neil Orne, Melissa Penry, Matthew Zelkind, WKRN
NewsChannel 5 at 4: Officer Shooting, Debbie Vincent, Vicki Yates, WTVF

NEWSCAST/WEEKEND
Deadly Tornadoes, Stephanie Beck, Kelcey Carlson, Phillipe Charles, David Crabtree, Chad Flowers, James A. Ford, Jr., Lori Grant, Tony W. Gupton, Sloane Heffernan, Bruce Mildwurf, Bolton Minnic, , Martha Woodward, WRAL
Good Friday Tornadoes - The Day After, Sara Dorsey, Maurice Miller, Regina Raccuglia, Aaron Solomon, WSMV
NewsChannel 5 at 10, W. Clayton Farrar, WTVF
Waiting for Gustav, Matthew Peace, WPTY

GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORT
58 Crosses, Andy Benton, WCNC
A Lost Call for Justice, Ben Hall, Iain Montgomery, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
Gang Invasion, Molly Grantham, Jeffrey Keene, WBTV
Homeless 9 Year Old Student, Jill Monier, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Hostage, Roy Hallums, Mearl Purvis, Chris Russel, WHBQ

CONTINUING COVERAGE
Anatomy of a Crisis, Andrew Douglas, WMC
The V.A. Colonoscopy Scandal, Demetria Kalodimos, Deanna Lambert-Thomas, WSMV
VUCast: Conjoined Twins, Patrick Slattery, Amy Wolf, Vanderbilt University News Service
What's the Deal in Jennette? , Alistair Clark, Eric King, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Who's Watching Your Kids?, Scott Noll, WREG
Why Isn't the Hydrant Working?, Zina Bauman, Jeremy Finley, Don Mashburn, WSMV
WRAL.com, Jodi Glusco, CBC New Media

SERIOUS FEATURE NEWS REPORT
A Soldier's Portrait, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF
Audrey Caroline, Zina Bauman, WSMV
Charlotte's Future Transportation, Brien Blakely, Terrence Walker, WCCB
Her Blood on HIs Hands, Andy Benton, Stuart Watson, WCNC
Josh Gets a Bike, Nathan C. Sharkey, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF
Picking Cotton, Bob Buckley, WGHP
Remembering Anne Pressly, Mearl Purvis, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, WHBQ

LIGHT FEATURE NEWS REPORT
Birthday Caller, Scott Mason, Tom Normanly, WRAL
Lie To Me, Jill Monier, Michael Moore, WHBQ
Pizza Rocker Dude, Derric Curran, Tom Dees, WHBQ
Santa's Surprise , Kim Gebbia, Phillip Kivett, WXII
The Mustache Revolution, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
A Failure to Protect, Zina Bauman, Jeremy Finley, Don Mashburn, WSMV
Charity or Con?, Keli Rabon, WREG
Failure to Report, Keli Rabon, WREG
Locksmith Sting, Cullen Browder, Greg Clark, WRAL
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: General Sessions Court, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: The Ticket Fixers, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
What's the Deal in Jennette? , Alistair Clark, Eric King, Michael Moore, WHBQ

BUSINESS/CONSUMER REPORT
Credit Repair, Keli Rabon, WREG
Nashville's Last Outlaw, Ben Hall, Iain Montgomery, Kevin Wisniewski, WTVF
NewsChannel 5 Investigates: Locked Out, Jennifer Kraus, Bryan Staples, WTVF
Scared to Buy, Wendy Halloran, Shane Hays, Denise Vickers, WHNT
Tough Cell Phone, Tanya Rivera, Alan Wagmeister, WFMY
Who's Making the Cut, Michelle Boudin, John Gray, WCNC

SPECIALTY ASSIGNMENT REPORT
Hope Without a Cure, Lauren Johnson, Michael Moore, WHBQ
M.L.K. Preparing a Legacy, Ben Watson, WMC
Old Soldiers Don't Fade Away, Christopher J. Bundgaard, WKRN
School Patrol, Charlie Woodward, Vicki Yates, WTVF
Textecution, Michael Hamlet, Nick Kenney, WMC
The Case of the Missing Heiress, Janice Broach, Jeremy Jones, Brian Svec, WMC

JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE
By Appointment Only, Andrew Douglas, Jeremy Jones, WMC
Home Sweet Meth Home, Keli Rabon, WREG
Molly Grantham Compilation, Molly Grantham, WBTV
Phil Williams Investigates, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, WTVF
Protecting Patients, Don Dare, David George Wignall, WATE
PSI: Charlotte, Jamie Boll, Jeffrey Keene, WBTV

NEWS SPECIAL
10 Years of NewsChannel 5 Investigates, Jennifer Kraus, Bryan Staples, Phil Williams, WTVF
Presidential Debate 2008: At the Crossroads, Tammy Phillips, WMC
Remembering Coach Kay Yow, Erin Coleman, James A. Ford, Jr., Jeff Gravley, Pam Saulsby, Jennifer Sorber, WRAL
Turf War: Charlotte's 30 Year Battle, Molly Grantham, Kim Saxon, Brian Stephenson, WBTV

WEATHERCAST
Feb. 28, 2009 Mid-South Snow Storm, Henry Rothenberg, Mark Walden, WPTY
Spring Sizzle, Lisa Spencer, WSMV
StormChaser, John Wendel, WCNC
Stormtrack 2008: Hanna, Dan Bowens, Gregory B. Fishel, Michael Maze, WRAL

DOCUMENTARY – CULTURAL
$5 Cover Amplified: Ben Nichols and Valerie June, Alan Spearman, The Commercial Appeal
A Walk in Watkins Park, Maryann Byrd, Byrdword Productions
Footprints of a King, Steve Crump, WTVI
Hometown Stories: The Greek Americans of Charlotte, Linda Midgett Otzenberger, WTVI

DOCUMENTARY – HISTORICAL
History Makers 2008: Chattanooga Sit-ins, Linda Duvoisin, Dave Porfiri, Mindflow Media
I Am a Man, Jonathan D. Epstein, Ryan Goble, John Hubbell, Deanie Parker, Calvin Taylor, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Twist of Fate, Jay Jennings, Clay Johnson, WRAL

DOCUMENTARY – TOPICAL
Coming Out-- Coming In: Faith, Identity and Belonging, Donna Campbell, Georgann Eubanks, Rev. Laurie Hays Coffman, Wildacres Leadership Initiative/Minnow Media
Sudan: Suffering and Survival, Steve Crump, WTVI
Taylor Stokes: Finishing Well, Emily Pearce, Patrick Slattery, Vanderbilt University News Service
The Least among Us, Pierre Kimsey, WKNO
The Wild Horses of Corolla, Christopher Mason, Shaheen Syal, WRAZ

HISTORIC/CULTURAL PROGRAM
Global Connections: Europe, Rob Holliday, UNC-TV
In Remembrance There is Life: A Night of Storytelling, Russ A. Abernathy, Kip Cole, WKNO
Next Door Neighbors: Somali, Suzy Hence, Will Pedigo, Nashville Public Television
Passion for the Land, Tom Earnhardt, Natural World Productions
Tennessee's Black Heritage, Jeff Davidson, Anne Holt, WKRN

PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Appalachia, Ray Arzate, Christine Maddela, WKRN
Harvesting the Wind, Mark Bellinger, Mike Rose, WTVF
Next Door Neighbors: Hablamos Español , Kevi n Crane, Matthew Emigh, Suzy Hence, Will Pedigo, Nashville Public Television
Perry County 27% Unemployment, Christopher J. Bundgaard, Joe Gregory, WKRN
Smart Medicine, Joseph A. Stuber, Running Pony Productions
The Blake McMeans Story, Barry Cross, Steve Hall, Doug Jackson, Ken Tucker, The Renaissance Center

SPECIAL EVENT - EDITED
Charlotte's Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Josh King, LaVonda Kinloch, WSOC
Home for the Holidays, Thomas Adams, John Koski, Howard Langston, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, WHBQ

PSA CAMPAIGN
FOX E Team - Energy Offenders, Patrick Cox, Vanessa Ezernieks, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, David Stotts, Amanda Pannell, WHBQ
Nashville Rescue Mission: Hunger to Hope Campaign, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
Vote 2008, Ron J. DeJoseph, Jr., WSOC

PROMOTIONAL SPOT – NEWS
ABC11 Eyewitness News Morning Image 09, Khristopher Kahle, Curtis Miles, WTVD
Definition of Marriage, Jay Yovanovich, WRAL
Kicked to the Curb: DTV Transition, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
Tarheel Traveler Image, Stacie Holyfield, Shan Zhong, WRAL
What They Make, Vanessa Ezernieks, David Stott, WHBQ
Wow! It's a Sham!, Brian Shrader, Jay Yovanovich, WRAL
Your World, Roger Hobbs, Jr., WNCN

PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN - PROGRAMS
Father's Day, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, David Stotts, WHBQ
Take it to the House, Michael Brouder, Jon Johnson, Ali x Jones, FOX Sports South and SportSouth
The Big Read, Onur Tukel, WTVI
The Fanzone, James Banks, WRAZ

COMMERCIAL SPOT
Blown Away, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Car Tricks, Christian McIlwain, Lori McIlwain, Fourth Rule Films/Viamark Advertising
Gallins Coffee Fight. Council Bradshaw, Deja View Media
Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau: See What’s Cooking, Javier Leiva, Running Pony Productions
Pregnancy, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Oshsner Healthcare
Stomach & Wallet, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Town Hall #2, Cameron Cornelius, The Lampo Group

COMMERCIAL CAMPAIGN
Cali-Parody, Vanessa Ezernieks, Paul F. Sloan, David Stotts, Joey Sulipeck, WHBQ
Fazoli's New Menu Campaign, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Fazoli's
Healthcare with Peace of Mind, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/Oshsner Healthcare
Hilton E-Sales, Javier Leiva, Running Pony Productions
Rethink Church Campaign, Debra L. Rhodes, Bohan Advertising/United Methodist Communications

AUDIO
FOX 13 Composition, David Stotts, WHBQ
Gershwin at One Symphony Place, Michael Davis, Robert Swope, Sunrise Entertainment
Good Ol' Girls, Georgann Eubanks, Rusty Knott, Karen Pearce, Mark Williams, Minnow Media/UNC-TV
I Am a Man, Benjamin Rednour, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation

DIRECTOR – NEWS
Action News 5 at 10, Brent Green, WMC
Are You Ready For Some Football?, Lewis Harkness, WKRN
Coverage Composite 2009, James Ford, Jr., WRAL

DIRECTOR – PROGRAMS
Gershwin at One Symphony Place, Robert Swope, Sunrise Entertainment
I Am a Man, Jonathan D. Epstein, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, James Yockey, High Five Entertainment
Mother Goose Club, John Hussey, Sockeye Media
Our State: Puppet Masters, Morgan P. Potts, UNC-TV

EDITOR – NEWS
Andy Benton Stories, Andy Benton, WCNC
Mike Hamlet Composite, Michael Hamlet, WMC
Mike Moore Composite, Michael Moore, WHBQ
The Farrier, Bradley J. Pfranger, WZTV
Zina Bauman Editing Composite, Zina Bauman, WSMV

EDITOR - SHORT FORM
FOX 13 Composite, David Stotts, WHBQ
JWalker Cuts & Composites, Jerry L. Walker, WTVF
SEC Football Open Featuring Rascal Flatts, David Barringer, Chris Stevens, Jeremy Williams, Raycom Sports

LIGHTING
Crossroads Charlotte, Randy Fulp, Brett Ray, Emulsion Arts/WTVI
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, Bob Peterson, High Five Entertainment
Lighting Up with Kip, Alexander Wakefield Gordon, III, WHBQ

MUSIC COMPOSER/ARRANGER
El Greco to Velazquez - Art During the Reign of Philip III, Fred Story, Concentrix Music and Sound Design
Hometown Stories - The Greek-Americans of Charlotte, Fred Story, Concentrix Music and Sound Design
I Am a Man, Scott Bomar, Deanie Parker, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Mother Goose Club, Robby LeDoux, Hudson Soundlab
Re-Thinking Church, Holly Heise, Leonard Wolf, Wolf Music and Sound Design

PHOTOGRAPHY – NEWS
Andy Benton Stories, Andy Benton, WCNC
Big Daddy Platter of News, Bradford Ingram, WGHP
Camerography 101, Geoffrey Levine, WRAL
D-Roll, Derric Curran, WHBQ
Nelson's News, Ted Nelson, WTVF

PHOTOGRAPHY – PROGRAMS
$5 Cover Amplified: What It Is and Valerie June , Alan Spearman, The Commercial Appeal
Duck River, William Bezubic III, Running Pony Productions
ESPN Gameday, Patrick Slattery, Vanderbilt University News Service
Puppet Masters. Michael Burke, UNC-TV
Tennessee's Wild Side: Short Springs Wildflowers, Ken Tucker, The Renaissance Center

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
1st Public Mobile DTV Venture, Tony W. Gupton, Peter Sockett, Frederick Kelly, Sam Matheny, Thomas G. Crowder, Matthew Brandes, Jay Adrick, WRAL
FOX 13 Home for the Holidays in HD, David Brant, Scott Prentice, WHBQ
Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman, Nicholas E. Dugger, High Five Entertainment/TNDV Television

WRITER – NEWS
27% Unemployment & A Taste of Freedom, Christopher J. Bundgaard, WKRN
Breach of Trust, Wendy Halloran, Denise Vickers, WHNT
Nick Kenney Composite, Nick Kenney, WMC
Scott Mason Stories, Scott Mason, WRAL
Tang's Tall Tales Three, Jeffrey Tang, WTVF

WRITER – PROGRAMS
Duck River, T. Leigh Starns, Running Pony Productions
Finishing Well, Emily Pearce, Vanderbilt University News Service
Footprints of a King, Steve Crump, WTVI
I Am a Man, John Hubbell, Running Pony Productions/Old Bridge Media/Memphis Tourism Foundation
Man & Mammoth, Tom Earnhardt, Natural World Productions
Mother Goose Club, Harry Jho, Sona Jho, Sockeye Media
Ruptured Brain Aneurysm, Stephanie Crayton, UNC Health Care

INTERACTIVITY
Crossroads Charlotte: Fortress, Robin Grey, Joanne Hock, Kay Thompson, Tracy Russ, Karen Collins, Emulsion Arts
Mother Goose Club Website, Harry Jho, Sona Jho, Sockeye Media
The Oxford Presidential Debate on MyFoxMemphis.com, May-Lin Biggs, William C. Dotson, III, Jeramia Trotter, WHBQ

On The Blind Side (The Movie)

2009-11-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

UPDATE (11/20): "The Blind Side" hits theaters today. (Beiffus, CA, Fox13 [1], WMC, Flyer )

ORIGINAL POST (11/17): "The Blind Side," the movie based on the novel about Michael Oher, opens in theaters Friday.

In an article published Monday, Oher told The Baltimore Sun that he's not in a rush to see the film. After all, he's busy playing football.

Yet, that's not what intrigued me about the Sun's story. An excerpt:

Oher's reaction to all this interest in his life was much the same when Lewis' book came out in 2006. It took several years before Oher decided to read the book, according to Sean Tuohy, his adoptive father. And his review was lukewarm.

"Some things [are] in it that are the truth, some things are not," Oher said. "People have got to do things to sell it. But everything is good, though."

Now, if the AP can fact check Sarah Palin, shouldn't local media spend a moment or two discussing what was and wasn't embellished in the movie or the novel?

I'm just sayin.

*WMC: A promo.

On The Grizz (No Answer)

2009-11-20T11:32:00.000-06:00

UPDATE (11/20): I'm perplexed.

What exactly is the difference between the Grizzlies and the Knicks?

Well, both involve Allen Iverson, who the Grizzlies released Tuesday and then cleared waivers to become a free agent Thursday. The Knicks ~~are~~--correction, were--interested in signing Iverson to a deal.

According to the NY Post, the Knicks are expected to announce today that they have changed their minds. The ownership of a 2-9 squad was worried about disrupting team chemistry by bringing in Iverson. No comment.

What's interesting, though, is that the national media, which respects Iverson's game but not his attitude, seemed to go about the business of ruminating on where A.I. should land next--be it New York, L.A., or anywhere but Memphis--as soon he was released. But I digress.

We know that Memphis doesn't get the righteous light and that the team has given naysayers plenty of reason to doubt if it can do anything right. But I give Grizz owner Michael Heisley credit for not only being brash enough to sign A.I. but caring enough about the player to let him go--even if it cost his team cool points.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, the Grizz have won two in a row. The last one came after a player's only meeting. (Flyer.)

Yet, even though others stepped up, guard Mike Conley still struggled, knowing that his job is on the line. Conley and newly-acquired guard Jamaal Tinsley combined for 1 point (0-6 shooting), 2 assists, and 7 fouls in a combined 22 minutes, the Flyer noted. (Conley scored the point)

Tinsley is new and hasn't played in more than a year; what's Conley's excuse?

He has none, which further stokes the inanity of A.I. riding the pine as his backup. Moving on.

UPDATE (11/17): So, it's over.

On Monday, Grizz owner Michael Heisley rightfully wanted to know when A.I. would come back to the team. Instead, both sides reached an agreement to terminate his contract and waive the 10-time All Star.

(I guess, we can forget about A.I. on the All-Star ballot.)

For those of us who held out the benefit of the doubt, there is no doubt really: A.I.'s family didn't like Memphis enough to move here and it didn't help that he was sitting on the bench as a backup as well as the fact that the Grizz aren't a championship caliber team.

Then again, neither is the New York Knicks but some folks love living in the Big Apple regardless.

Is this an economic development issue?

I mean, were the Beale Street blue guitar and fawning not enough to keep an All-Star here? Are multimillion dollar contracts not enough to hold them? Should the Chamber of Commerce get involved in this creative class retention? Is there a reason why NBA players aren't used to hype (uhm, market) Memphis as a place to live?

Maybe, we need more answers ourselves--at least some fans have a keepsake T-shirt.

*WMC. EyeNews. Fox13.

UPDATE: CA beat writer Ron Tillery just asks some questions about A.I.. An excerpt:

It's sketchy whether the Griz looked Iverson in the face and said you're here to come off the bench. But when asked about the situation at the Iverson press conference, Heisley said the decision is up to Hollins. Iverson sat there and heard it. Truth is there were no promises made. Iverson wasn't guaranteed to start. Iverson hadn't been relegated to a permanent backup role. Knowing that league-wide opinion is that he should be a reserve, why didn't Iverson put the Griz on the spot and say "I'm coming here to start, right?"

Just asking...

The Griz knew what they were getting and this was bound to happen. They are getting what they deserve. But if it's OK for A.I. to be A.I. isn't it OK for a coach to be a coach the way he sees fit?

Just asking...

It's difficult not to like Allen Iverson. He's an engaging guy. He's fun to be around. But why has all of his comments been about Allen Iverson and he's said virtually nothing about the team? Could that be why no one - players included - appears particularly upset by his absence?

Just asking...

Iverson is telling close associates that he might retire instead of returning to the Grizzlies. Not shocking since he said he'd rather retire than come off the bench while in Detroit. If that happens, it would indeed be a sad ending to an incredible career. Would there really be anyone to blame? Wouldn't that just be Iverson being Iverson?

I'm just asking.

Strong points. We'll see what happens.

UPDATE (11/9): As it should, the Commercial Appeal has taken the lead on the A.I. saga.

This morning, CA beat writer Ron Tillery reported that A.I. is mulling retirement because of his playing time as well as a family situation.

An excerpt:

Iverson left the team Saturday after receiving permission from Griz owner Michael Heisley to deal with a personal matter. The stress associated with a family issue plus Iverson's frustration over playing a reserve role might spell the end of his 14-year NBA career, according to the source.

Heisley said he's not been given any indication that Iverson might be leaning towards retirement, and still is holding out hope that the 10-time All-Star will return to Memphis.

"I just think if he was going to retire, he'd tell me first," Heisley said. "I expect him to come back. If he does retire, I'll be tremendously disappointed. I feel bad because I don't think that's the way he should go out."

Iverson, who traveled from Los Angeles to his Atlanta home over the weekend, was granted an indefinite leave of absence. He has not asked to be traded or waived.

I think that it's important to underscore the last part: he has not asled to be traded or waived. I'm just sayin, I don't believe that Iverson is disgruntled.

Whatever Iverson is experiencing, the Grizz should take Heisley's lead and show some unconditional support for their only true All-Star. But I digress.

Here's what I'm wondering: who does media prep for the Grizz? How can Coach Lionel Hollins be this bad with the national media spotlight?

*CA: Calkins.

UPDATE (11/7): According to the CA, A.I. has left the team for personal reasons.

Before the national media has a field day, it's not as bad as it seems. First, Iverson spoke to Grizz owner Michael Heisley and got the OK to go back home to Atlanta. It is unclear when he'll return to the team.

Suffice to say, he won't be playing against the Clippers tonight.

*CAGrizzBlog: Already thinking the worse.
*LATimes. Heart and little else.
*Adande: This is it.
*ESPN: Still wants to start. An excerpt:

And Iverson, who was passed Kobe Bryant for 16th place on the NBA's career scoring list Friday night, apparently doesn't feel it's his job to figure out a role in which he can help the Grizzlies.

"I'm not trying to figure out how to contribute to no team," Iverson said. "I contribute to a team by just playing. That's it. I don't have to figure it out. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They've been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court, so I don't have to figure out how I'm going to play or anything like that. I just go out and play basketball."

Iverson believes his comments have caused a stir mostly because of his long history of provocative opinions and actions, from his infamous disdain for practice to a few lesser stirs in Denver and Detroit last season.

"When I hear anything about the Memphis Grizzlies, I don't hear you guys [media] talk about anything other than the situation with me coming off the bench," Iverson said. "I mean, there's got to be something else with this team to talk about besides that. But I guess that sells a lot better than anything else when it comes to this team."

Of course, he's right. Grizz coverage is all A.I. and nothing else but he knew that coming in. Is he voicing frustration? Perhaps.

Is he ready to quit already? Well, let's hope not.

ORIGINAL POST (11/4): There's so much overreaction to A.I.'s postgame comments Monday.

Waive, A.I.? Whatever.

I, for one, am loving the new look Grizz.

With A.I., ZBo, Rudy and O.J., the Grizz are stocked with real killas. If Hasheem Thabeet learns how to play D, then we would be OK when Marc Gasol needs a breather. But I digress.

The Grizz will win some games and lose some games. It will happen.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, I think we're just beginning to understand Iverson's star power and what it means for local media.

The Commercial Appeal is obviously figuring it out, having launched a page specifically for news about A.I. Good move.

Is it content that people would pay for? Not really. I mean, the 360 chart is nice and so are the photos (as always). However, the CA really isn't getting deep into the life of A.I.--and I argue that it should.

With A.I., local news could really see the value of stargazing. We have so many entertainers who come into town, do whatever it is they do and leave without much concern from local media. One reason is that local media tends to value personal privacy--not to mention, such paparazzi-style coverage doesn't really fit our traditional view of hard news.

However, that needs to change.

Look, folks are going to talk about A.I. His fans have this need to read about him. Why have page that only populates with content that you create? There should be links to every article written about him as well as his Twitter feed and official page.

Give the people what they want. If the people want celebrity news, who is local media to deny them?

Denying them only loses money for local media.

*Flyer: No Logic.
*CA: Heisley.

On WKNO (The Grand Opening)

2009-11-15T09:39:00.004-06:00

WKNO will host an open house for its new digital media center on Cherry Farms Road.

The festivities start at 2 p.m. today.

An excerpt from the Commercial Appeal:

The project has been completely paid off as a result of a $16.9 million capital campaign. Of that amount, about $2 million went for HDTV production equipment, almost $5 million was used for the DTV transition and $10 million was spent on the building, furnishings and grounds.

The debt-free status means that station leaders will be able to concentrate on raising money to support its annual $6 million operating budget and building up an endowment.

WKNO's sleek new structure features three wings connected by a long, art-filled lobby and infused with natural light.

The 44,000-square-foot facility includes two television studios, two closed-captioning suites, three radio studios and three editing suites. There are more than 10,000 CDs in the music library and plenty of space for more titles.

The new facility is about twice the size of the station's former home, which was on the south campus of the University of Memphis for three decades. For the first time, the station is housed in a building specifically designed for its broadcast purposes.

No debt. Quite an achievement for the public broadcasting station. The sky is the limit for the future of WKNO. Congrats, again.

On Trashing Newspapers (The Daily Helmsman)

2009-11-14T10:08:00.004-06:00

On Wednesday, Memphis police arrested Ross Burton for attempting to set fire to the rope that hoists the flag in front of the Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center on South Cooper.

His alleged accomplice, Wesley Higgins, initially got away but was later captured.

In a separate event, University of Memphis police weighed whether to file a malicious mischief charge against Burton's sister, Jennifer, an art graduate student who saw her brother's picture on the front page of the student newspaper, The Daily Helmsman, and proceeded to throw an untold number of copies in the trash. She admitted to trashing the free publication.

Asked for an opinion by campus police, the Shelby County District Attorney's office determined that no crime had been committed, according to the CA.

An excerpt:

But the trashing of the newspapers seems to fall into a legal gray area, said U of M director of police services Bruce Harber.

The woman didn't litter with the newspapers, he said, and she told the reporter she looked at each one before she threw it away.

"There are other free publications around town," Harber said, "and I guess if someone wants to pick up 10 or 20, where do you draw the line?"

Obviously, The Daily Helmsman staff disagrees. Two excerpts from the Helmsman:

Candy Justice, general manager of the newspaper, said Burton tossing the issues in the trash was a violation of the First Amendment.

"I can't address what city or state crimes the police said she committed, although I do know a crime was committed," Justice said. "Anytime you deliberately prevent people from seeing the news, you've violated the First Amendment of the (U.S.) Constitution."

[...]

Burton robbed students of information in The Daily Helmsman by stealing the newspapers, Poe said.

"She committed a crime, not only against the Helmsman, but also against the Helmsman's readers, who rely on the newspaper for their information," [Ryan Poe, the Helmsman's managing editor] said. "Although she disagreed with the story, throwing away the newspapers was out of line."

OK, Jennifer Burton was out of line but she didn't really rob students of information.

I'm just sayin, not only is the Helmsman free in print, it is also free online--and there's no way Jennifer Burton inhibited that.

And if you really want to get crazy, she could claim that she was contributing to the University's recycling efforts.

On True Crime (The Raid On Warren Apartments)

2009-11-12T17:01:00.005-06:00

In Part 2 of its "True Crime" series, The Commercial Appeal described Warren Apartments, also known as Clementine, as a "war zone."

More specifically, the CA described the complex as the most violent neighborhood in the city based on its analysis of 10 years of police reports. That report was published on Oct. 18.

Five days later, in a "dramatic show of force," a dozen or so Memphis police officers raided unit #202 at Warren in a search for drugs. (CA)

AppealTV video of the raid shows an officer explain to Keesha Driver, who lives in the unit and was handcuffed, that an undercover officer had purchased drugs from someone in her apartment while she was present in the days before the raid.

Now, MPD's drug purchase claim is being called a lie.

On Monday, radio host/journalist Thaddeus Matthews posted on his blog an affidavit that he alleges that MPD used to get the search warrant for unit #202. An excerpt from the Oct. 23 affidavit, which is a sworn statement from a MPD detective:

"A Memphis, Tennessee Police Department, Undercover Officer (UC) made six (6) buys of Crack Cocaine from Stanley COLLINS and his associates out of 1389 Clementine Apartment #202 during the course of the investigation. These drug buys have been made from, within and upon the premises of 1389 Clementine Apartment #202 within the past five days."

However, none of this could be true, especially since Collins (or a felon with the same birthdate) has been incarcerated in the Shelby County Correction Center since early September and isn't scheduled to be released until late 2011, according to Matthews--or better yet, according to Javier Bailey, who is Keesha Driver's attorney. (Tha MATT's Monday show.)

Let that marinate for a second.

So, to recap, the CA publishes an article about Warren Apartments on Oct. 18. Coincidentally, perhaps, MPD begins an undercover drug operation in the complex on or around that same date. On Oct. 23, with the media in tow, the police raid Driver's apartment in a search for drugs based on that undercover operation.

It should be noted that Driver is not mentioned in the affidavit. One can only assume that the "boyfriend" mentioned in the AppealTV video is in fact Collins. Even if it is, it's unclear if he lived there. Again, Collins wasn't there at the time of the raid--presumably, we know now, because he was incarcerated. The CA's story of the raid, though, makes no mention of Collins.

One has to read the CA's article closely to also note that the raid did not uncover any drugs either. Officers found two kinds of ammunition in a drawer but there apparently were no guns. Driver was briefly held in custody before being released.

Yet, perhaps for the benefit of AppealTV, there is video of an officer berating her, challenging whether she knew her boyfriend--who is perhaps Collins--was a gang member. The officer flashes several pictures of men; but it's unclear if Collins is pictured among them as well as it's unclear where or when the pictures were taken. That might be because of the video editing.

Still, the ineffectiveness of the raid was not questioned at all. In fact, the CA made it seem as if the officers put a dent in a gang operation. An excerpt:

Law enforcement officials say a search of the residence turned up ammunition, money, scales and other items that link gang members to crimes from Atlanta to Memphis.

Ammunition for two weapons -- a .38-caliber revolver and a .380 semi-automatic -- was found in a drawer with Driver's parole card.

Let's take a second here. It has long been a practice for the Commercial Appeal and other local media to hype criminal histories as if that somehow justifies an action against an individual or serves as indicator of criminal tendencies. At times, such reporting can be biased, unfair and irrelevant.

The point is that the CA might want readers to believe that folks in Warren Apartments, like Driver, are actually up to no good--even though the police uncovered nothing. Such reporting serves the worn-out and over-hyped storyline of crime in Memphis; most importantly, it gives some false sense of validity to MPD's Blue C.R.U.S.H and other so-called crime-fighting initiatives. (The investigation/raid did happen when there was talk about whether MPD Director Larry Godwin should be keep his job or not. Just sayin.)

In other words, the story is crime, crime and crime--even when there might not be one. But I digress.

Someone has some explaining to do as it relates to the affidavit.

Did MPD falsify information just so it could access that apartment? If so, why pick on Driver? Or, when it comes to the Clementine area and its reputation, would it have mattered who the police hit? (Yes.)

At the very least, will local media hesitate before taking MPD's word as gospel and actually question whether publicity stunts, like offender roundups and raids, are worth the taxpayer expense?

Coming later: More on the CA's True Crime series.

*WREG: Raid unproductive. (We need more follow-up reporting like this.)

On A Skeptical Journalist (Erin Arvedlund)

2009-11-12T13:41:00.003-06:00

A note from the Memphis Daily News:

To the financier blessed with what looked like the Midas touch, she was “that idiot woman from Barron’s.”

What earned financial journalist Erin Arvedlund that scornful crack from Bernie Madoff was an article she wrote for Barron’s magazine about eight years ago. Headlined “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and based on more than 100 interviews, it was one of the first news stories to question the inexplicable way Madoff’s hedge fund empire made money hand over fist.

Arvedlund will be in Memphis tonight to talk about the aftermath of Madoff’s surprise confession last year that his operation was a giant Ponzi scheme. She’ll speak at 7 p.m. at the Memphis Jewish Community Center, where she’ll also sign copies of her book, “Too Good to be True: The Rise and Fall of Bernie Madoff.”

Erin's 2001 Barrons article.

On The Memphis Flyer (The 20th Anniversary)

2009-11-12T10:47:00.002-06:00

Even though The Memphis Flyer's first issue was Feb. 15, 1989, the city's free weekly decided to celebrate 20 years of publication this week.

As Publisher Kenneth Neill explains, February didn't seem like a good time for a celebration. Bad economy, pay cuts and so forth. (M:M) Now, the environment has improved.

An excerpt:

Happily, here we are today, ready for the turkey and dressing. We're especially thankful for the continued support the Flyer has received, week in and week out, in the midst of this recession, from the local business community. Our revenues may be down a bit, but the number of advertisers we have each week in the Flyer has remained constant.

In a serious back-patting edition, though, Neill does examine what lies ahead for the Flyer. An excerpt:

The years ahead, however, are going to be decidedly different for everyone in our line of work. Most Memphians, of course, now go online every day, catching up with breaking news and keeping up with their favorite websites. As their reading habits change, we've needed to change our approach.

At the Flyer, we have transformed our own news-delivery systems as dramatically as anybody in town. Memphisflyer.com is now one of the city's premier websites. With a "Daily Buzz" homepage that includes frequent postings, staff blogs that cover everything from Grizzlies basketball to local theater to hard-core politics, and the best event listings in town, the Flyer's community footprint has grown significantly over the past five years, as our collective voice has become considerably stronger.

As for the print edition of the Flyer, we understand the differences between yesterday and today; people are reading newspapers differently, more reflectively, than ever before. But as the Internet Revolution proceeds, our weekly print frequency seems ever more ideal for the delivery of a comprehensive local news and entertainment package. Our readers count on the weekly Flyer to present a snapshot of the local landscape, to bring information together in one place, in a tabloid that can be read at one's leisure.

Print still remains an exceptional way to expand one's cultural horizons, to discover the new, fresh, and different. That's why saying that the web will replace newspapers is like saying that television will replace movies, that automobiles will replace bicycles, that iPods will replace live concerts. Things will change, but what's valuable will remain.

In other words, The Flyer gets it. Now, if Neill could do something about the lack of diversity of the Flyer's editorial staff... But I digress.

Happy Belated 20th, Flyer.

It is a Memphis success story, a start-up that has persevered and become essential in its own way. That is encouraging to others like myself.

And speaking of which, it's as good of time as any to spread some appreciation to The Flyer for its support of local journalism that extends beyond its publication.

Flyer: The 20th year.

On Deidra Shores (The Kid Reporter)

2009-11-12T10:27:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to Memphis's own Deidra Shores, the winner of The Today's Show Kid Reporter contest.

Shores beat out thousands of contestants to win a spot on the popular morning news show.

Here's her video:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Let's enjoy the victory for now. We'll talk about what these experiences actually teach kids about journalism later.

On The Tigers (The West End Story)

2009-11-11T13:48:00.001-06:00

UPDATE (11/11): Should the football program at the University of Memphis be allowed to die?

Former U of M vice president Jerry Boone believes that it is time. An excerpt from his letter to the Commercial Appeal:

I spent some 30 years at then Memphis State University, 13 of those years in the central administration as vice president for academic affairs and, briefly, as interim president. I got to see, up close, the decision-making that occurred each time a series of losing football coaches was terminated. I saw the drain on university money from a consistently losing football program that never was self-supporting despite a series of good coaches and hard-working players.

The deficits had to come from general funds that otherwise could have gone to support academic programs and from activity fees students had to pay, whether they attended the games or not. A very few of us thought football should be stopped, and that athletics should be focused on a basketball program that was self-supporting and on the less-expensive minor sports and women's sports. Each time, the decision was to limp along and hire another coach. Why?

Two fears, I believe -- that ending football would rob the university of the support of loyal and important fans, and that whatever administration was in place at the time would be viewed as a failure. Those fears were valid, and may still be today.

There are fervent, loyal fans who would indeed be disappointed, regrettably. Contributions to athletics would suffer. But I believe the people who love the U of M would continue to love the school and would help it to continue developing as a great university.

The Flyer's John Branston echoes Boone's thoughts and even asks the University's Sparks Bureau of Business and Economic Research to deliver a report on the costs and benefits of football. An excerpt from Branston:

Football has intangible as well as tangible benefits, but the Sparks center should try to quantify them, as well as the costs and benefits of alternatives that would serve more students and promote the academic mission. If car companies, banks, manufacturers, and investment firms can go away, it should not be unthinkable to do away with football.

Doing away with football is not unthinkable--though it is unfair to lop it with the unprecedented catastrophes that befell those mentioned industries.

Look, even West's ups-and-downs proved that U of M football is not a catastrophe. From my perspective, any decision to fold the program would likely be borne out of the same pessimistic mindset that nothing good can happen in this city.

Forget the Big East or whatever. We just are so undeserving. That's crap, of course. Year in and out, football--like basketball--gives the University, students, alumni, fans and this city hope for better fortunes, better possibilities. Heck, any sport does. We shouldn't let go of that.

But I digress.

*CA: Coaching search vital.
*Fox13: Problems.
*EyeNews: Fred Smith willing to transform Tiger program. An excerpt:

There is no bigger U of M booster than FedEx CEO Fred Smith. He is passionate about the game of football. He donates generously to the university. And with his son Cannon joining the team next year, sources tell myEyewitnessNews.com that Smith is absolutely, positively ready to deliver a 747-sized cash infusion into the Tigers football program.

"I mean, having Fred Smith behind you," says longtime Memphis sportscaster Dave Woloshin, "is as good as it gets."

Woloshin, the Voice of the Tigers for more than a decade, says the deep pockets of Fred Smith and FedEx could give the University of Memphis football program what it's lacked for decades.

If Smith's son does join the team, wouldn't Smith's financial backing be a conflict of interest or something that the NCAA rules committee might be interested in?

UPDATE (11/10): The obituary of the Tommy West era continues to write itself.

Look, we can all agree that Tommy West is a nice guy and that the facilities at Memphis are subpar compared to other programs.

However, we also must note that this same University ponied up some extra cash to bolster West's paycheck in 2004 and we must also note that improvements were coming.

The real question is: would the improvements have come faster if the Tigers were winning?

Without question, they would have.

My point is this: Tommy West is no Calipari. He's never really come across as a salesman and that's what you need in the football program. How do you think the basketball program gained its riches?

Cal sold a bill of goods and backed them up on a court--NCAA violations notwithstanding, of course.

If West had won the division, much less the league, title, we wouldn't be having this discussion. Again, he got an extension after taking the Tigers to their first bowl game in years. But I digress.

The problem isn't just the subpar facilities or the administration. Those are red herrings at the end of the day.

The real deal is that West has proven not to be that coach who could take the Tigers to the next, tiniest level (i.e. a C-USA division title)--just like the six guys who proceeded him.

*Flyer: West.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, who should replace West? LSU's Larry Porter would be an awesome choice and so would Florida's Charlie Strong. But, God and Bear Bryant forgive me, Tommy Tuberville might be a better choice.

He may have deeper connections in this area, though he's perhaps better known for his time at Auburn. But whatever he may have, it may extend deeper than just recruiting. He may have inroads into the private money that Memphis sorely needs.

I just don't see Memphis boosters pouring money into a program for a head coach with no wins of his own.

Cal had wins. He had the shtick to get what he needed. That's why Coach Josh Pastner is such a lucky stiff.

UPDATE: What was R.C. Johnson thinking?

First, he fires Tommy West. Then, he gives some details about a coaching searching, noting that the word is that Memphis is a place for a coach.

Yet, none of that matters because West outstaged Johnson and basically destroyed the coaching search by degrading the University, its fans and the local media, noting that the program either needs to step up or be shut down. (Raw video)

What an endorsement.

So, now what? How can Johnson allow West to stick around knowing that he's liable to say whatever he wants to say?

*CA: The obit.
*MDN: Bang.

ORIGINAL POST (11/9): According to the Commercial Appeal, the University of Memphis has fired Tommy West as its football coach.

Initial reaction: what took so long?

*Fox13: Fired. (EyeNews. WMC)
*FootballScoop: Breaking.
*WREG: Fired, but asked to stay.

On Being Open (The Executive Order)

2009-11-11T13:27:00.002-06:00

One day, Nov. 10, 2009 might be viewed as a hallmark day for open records--not just in Memphis, but in Tennessee.

Well, that's if other cities follow the lead that Mayor A C Wharton Jr. set Tuesday with the signing of Executive Order No. 01-2009, which establishes a new bar for transparency in local government.

An excerpt from the CA:

“I just don’t believe in these games we’ve played with open records over the years,” said Wharton. “It’s oxymoronic to talk about a ‘secret’ public document.”

The order also increases the public’s access to the city’s top officials, including Wharton and the chief administrative officer, who is responsible for running the city’s day-to-day operations. The new standard calls for an “open door” policy in both offices, in which anyone from the public can enter either office during normal business hours and request a meeting.

Wharton has asked City Atty. Herman Morris to set a schedule for training high-level city employees, including division directors, deputy directors and other key personnel, on the requirements of the open records laws.

“If I merely sign an order it means nothing if it is not carried out from the top down,” said Wharton.

*WREG, WMC, Fox13.

For the record, local media has been entranced by the perception of openness.

Wharton's order is not in the same vein as using the cityofmemphis.org as a de facto campaign site or claiming that tours of the mayor's office is a real chance to see government at work. I'm just saying, the appearance of transparency is quite different than the real thing.

For instance, the first directive requires that the city acknowledge "properly submitted requests for open records" within no more than five business days. Cool for customer service but it's still just an acknowledgement.

The directive may or may not actually speed up the time that it takes to actually receive the records; however, it is clearly stated that delays are not encouraged and requests shoudl be filled as "expeditiously as is practicable."

Well, how is "practicable" defined?

Right, old arguments of time aren't resolved.

And then there's is the language further down in the order, which gives the city more leeway to determine how records can be released.

I'm just sayin, while the environment surrounding the release of open records has apparently changed under Wharton, some things will likely remain the same.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, the order notes that information about city contractors will be posted on the city's Web site.

Does that include legal fees and other professional services too?

*MDN: Transition, Global Ideas, Cult of Personality

On COGIC (The Saints Go Marching Out )

2009-11-09T11:04:00.003-06:00

As the Church of God in Christ wraps up its annual convocation and leaves its ancestral home of Memphis for good (perhaps), will we finally get into the depths of how this city lost its biggest and most lucrative annual event?

It surely goes beyond the incessant (and seemingly unjustified) complaints about tipping from wait-staffs at local restaurants.

Maybe, we need to revisit our convention center as well as consider luring in more hotels downtown.

Isn't that what the previous city administration tried to do? How will Mayor A C Wharton respond to this?

*Thomas: Go and see.
*WREG. EyeNews.

On Willie Herenton (Baby Mama Drama)

2009-11-08T11:44:00.006-06:00

In today's Commercial Appeal, reporter Marc Perrusquia offered his latest analysis on former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton's legal and potential financial troubles.

In essence, Perrusquia argues that Herenton was spurred to involve himself in matters that allegedly netted him $240,000 (according to the CA's calculations) because of the prospect of having to pay child support for the son that he bore out of wedlock in 2004.

Got that?

As unbelievable as that sounds, here's how Perrusquia frames all the moving parts:

The year 2004 was pivotal for Willie Herenton.

Earning $160,000 a year as Memphis mayor, he was seeking — and finding — ever new sources of income.

He began cashing in unused vacation days. He tapped money from a slush fund controlled by a City Hall aide. He lined up another controversial pay day by involving himself in a city redevelopment plan.

In all, the arrangements steered an extra $240,000 into Herenton's pockets between 2004 and his July retirement this year, according to an examination by The Commercial Appeal.

As a federal grand jury continues to explore Herenton's dealings as mayor — key among them a $91,000 payment he got involving the planned redevelopment of the Greyhound bus station — continuing revelations about his behavior near the end of his 17-year tenure are puzzling many observers.

"That is a mystery: Where is the money going?" asked Larry Moore, a political consultant and University of Memphis professor.

"It's possible he was asset building. But the natural supposition is: What's going on?"

This much is clear: Herenton's personal life was becoming increasingly complicated -- and costly -- in 2004.

That September, Herenton, then 64 and divorced, had a baby with a woman 33 years his junior, resulting in a $25,000-a-year child support order.

Meantime, his private real estate firm struggled.

How much any of that affected Herenton is difficult to say. He declined to be interviewed for this article. His attorney, Robert Spence, suggested there were no financial troubles and no connection between the grand jury probe and events in Herenton's private life.

"It's not as if he was paid an insignificant amount as mayor," Spence said. (Herenton's mayoral salary was raised to $171,500 in 2008.) "You're looking for a thread that ties this all together. I'm not sure that one exists."

Nonetheless, details surrounding a 17-month federal probe of Herenton show that in 2004 the then-mayor was working in several directions to earn more money.

The alleged thread is child support.

It sort of makes sense when you consider that child support is what eventually led to the demise of former state Sen. John Ford. He got in trouble when Tamara Mitchell-Ford started claiming that he was withholding income from their children and the courts started perusing his earnings.

Déjà vu, no? Yes.

Herenton's baby mama, Claudine Marsh, is alleging that he is shorting their child, Michael, out of cash, especially after Herenton cashed in his city pension for more than $500,000. In an E-mail to media outlets, Marsh's attorney noted that the courts have signed a forensic accountant to go through Herenton's finances. Most importantly, the attorney noted that Marsh might be coming forth with new allegations against Herenton. For his part, Herenton maintains that he has always supported Michael.

Still, it's unclear what his financial records might reveal.

To that end, there's just not enough concrete evidence to suggest that Herenton is a step or two away from Ford's fate.

After all, Herenton has not been indicted or convicted of anything--yet or otherwise. But I digress.

The child support desperation theory isn't really plausible as a thread that binds.

I'm just sayin, if you read Perrusquia's story, it reads as if Herenton was in financial straits, especially since his private real estate firm was supposedly lagging. But how could Herenton be living from check to check, which is what he had to be doing in order to be so desperate for extra cash?

Based on the calculations, Herenton earned more than $2 million in salary as mayor alone. That doesn't include whatever income he earned or perhaps invested during his lengthy tenure as Memphis City Schools superintendent. As Spence said, it wasn't like Herenton was being paid an insignificant amount of money. He wasn't.

Also, let's consider the timing. Another excerpt from Perrusquia's article:

He traveled that May at city expense to Dallas to visit executives at Greyhound Bus Lines and, a month later, obtained an option to purchase the firm's bus station site in Downtown Memphis. Herenton later sold that option, collecting $91,000, sources said.

That transaction is at the center of the federal probe. By the time Herenton's private real estate firm obtained and sold the option, he'd been lobbying as mayor for years to get Greyhound to move out of Downtown. Greyhound resisted until 2006 when the bus firm received a commitment by Memphis Area Transit Authority to build a new $16.5 million station near the airport.

If Herenton needed extra cash for child support, then did he know in May 2004 that Marsh was pregnant? (The child was born that September.) Or again, was he that broke?

I don't think he was either. Nor am I inclined to follow the logic that suggests that an individual should be satisfied with whatever income that his or her salary provides and thus be less inclined to make more money. Tell that to Warren Buffett or Bill Gates and see what happens.

The pursuant of additional income isn't an inherently criminal or unethical act--though it can cause problems. But I digress.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, this saga revolves around another central question: is Perrusquia a public mouthpiece for the feds?

To be sure, Herenton's attorney Robert Spence believes that Perrusquia's reporting gives insight into how the feds perhaps view his client's private business dealings.

He said as much in his Oct. 12 deposition with the Shelby County D.A.'s office as part of its move to oust Elbert Jefferson as Memphis City Attorney.

(Jefferson later resigned--again. It's complicated.)

[Spence deposition: 1, 2, 3. The pictured quote refers to this Jan. 12 article.]

Now, I'm not really focused on who Perrusquia's anonymous source(s) might be. He should keep them close to the vest.

The only issue might be that he doesn't seem to really question the source or its motives.

I'm just sayin, anonymous sources who portend to know about alleged criminal acts by public officials may not always get it right. (See Lee, Joseph and Ford, Edmund.)

So, consider me skeptical of child support as the thread that binds all these moving parts together.

*Past M:M commentary.

On John "Bad Dog" McCormack (Get Well Soon)

2009-11-07T20:13:00.003-06:00

Rock 103's John "Bad Dog" McCormack (pictured on the left) is battling leukemia.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to McCormack, his family and the crew at Rock 103.

You can follow his status updates on Facebook.

*WMC: Still humorous. An excerpt:

Now, McCormack is in the hospital, in isolation. His wrecked immune system prevents him from receiving visitors, yet he is in good spirits.

"Everything's going pretty good," he said. "We're on track. They're very happy and very optimistic about how I'm responding to this treatment, and I feel real well."

McCormack faces two solid weeks of intense chemotherapy. In the meantime, he calls in to the studio nearly every morning to express gratitude and relay new insight.

"Actually experiencing it right now has humbled me, man. It shows me who the real heroes are in this city," he said.

McCormack's sense of humor remains intact as he looks ahead to the battle he faces.

"Let me tell you, this is nothing like facing your wife in court," he said. "Brother, this is nothing."

Get well soon.

On The Tide (SEC WEST CHAMPIONS!!)

2009-11-07T19:07:00.002-06:00

Of course, you knew this was coming.

Moving on...

On Multi Media

2009-11-04T12:22:00.003-06:00

(Photo: Brandon Dill)

In case you missed it, I recently did an interview with the Memphis Business Quarterly.

On Mediaverse (Let's Go)

2009-11-04T01:38:00.000-06:00

No, this is not 2.0. It's not ready yet.

As the third anniversary of this site draws near, I find myself in a place so familiar to this similar time in 2006: income and quality of life imperiled by a job loss but still trying to dream.

Déjà vu, indeed.

Yet, Mediaverse© has come a long way in more than 3,400 posts. I still hold true to the basic tenets of my first post. There is a valuable need for a conversation on local media in Memphis.

Yes, let's continue to talk about it.

But there is a broader mission for Mediaverse© in the year ahead. It's not only to deliver insightful commentary, analysis and original reporting on local media and related issues.

The broader mission is to fund quality, independent journalism itself by offering grants to journalists through a non-profit foundation.

I can't achieve this goal alone.

I'm asking for for volunteers and investors to help me form an advisory committee that will pursue the 501(c)3 designation. If you are interested, please E-mail me with your contact information.

In the meantime, you can expect to see more posting as 2.0 develops. In fact, I'm open to ideas for what 2.0 should have.

I thank you for your patience, dear readers and colleagues. I thank you for your encouragement--each and every one of you.

Most importantly, I thank my wife for her support and my daughter, Ari, who will one day have a very interesting story to tell.

Right now, though, there's yet another diaper to change.

On Mediaverse® (The Hiatus)

2009-06-10T06:43:00.008-05:00

UPDATE (9/30): Thanks for checking in. I need a little more time.

This site is on hiatus until Sept. 30. It's a self-imposed deadline to implement a feasible business model for Mediaverse®.

It's not that the current model--the blog--does not work. It does as evidenced by the wide usage of this site as a resource on journalism, news professionals and various related issues. The blog averages about 20,000 page hits a month, which is pretty cool considering that Mediaverse® does little to no external advertising beyond word-of-mouth and ending up in search engine results.

Blogging is easy. Developing a dynamic business model is not.

____________________

I've known that for along time but, only recently, I have come to truly recognize it. In the last few weeks, I've participated in a couple of events with LaunchMemphis: the StartUp Weekend and the Investor's Forum.

Both events gave me a realistic assessment of where Mediaverse® is. It's a great idea but how will it make money--or better yet, sustain itself?

That's what the next few weeks are about--not just brainstorming for an answer to that question because I already have ideas, it's about execution and implementation.

______________________________

I'll still be accessible via Twitter, Facebook and E-mail (mediaverse.memphis@gmail.com). If you want to help, contact me.

While the posts won't be updated in the interim, the archive and feeds will remain accessible.

Thank you, everyone.

On Messages In A Rape Kit (MSARC)

2009-06-09T08:00:00.001-05:00

UPDATE (6/9): The Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center is now a joint city-county partnership that will be overseen by the Shelby County Health Department and expensed on the county's balance sheet.

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton made the announcement at a press conference Monday. For the most part, local media has deemed it a reversal--as far as Herenton's concerned.

But is it?

Sure, just days ago, Herenton resisted the City Council's desire to strip the city's administrative control of MSARC and hand it over to the county. To force the move, the City Council later voted to cut MSARC's funding. Nothing has really changed.

Herenton perhaps still believes that the Council has a bad plan. (He called Wharton's plan "credible.") Also, in a restoration of protocol, if you will, Herenton--not the Council--made the final decision on MSARC's future, though his hand was clearly forced. But I digress.

From what we learned Monday, the Wharton plan seems to satisfy all concerned.

1) It saves face for Herenton and the Council but moreso for the mayor who sought to publicly re-establish the protocol that the issue disrupted.

2) The move provided a way to remove Ken Moody and Yalanda McFadgon from the picture without necessarily assigning blame to them. (The city acknowledged that mistakes were made and reassured that no wrongdoing has been committed in terms of MSARC finances.) Put one way, Herenton said he would make a decision about personnel and this is one way of doing that.

3) Having the Health Department oversee MSARC acknowledges a holistic approach to sexual abuse that doesn't solely focus on prosecution. That changes the perception of MSARC. It also tops proponents who wanted to move it to County's crime victims center.

4) MSARC still has some city control. Yvonne Matlock will answer to the City Council, which in a way might re-open the door to city funding of the Health Department--on an equitable basis, of course.

*WREG: Final (Reaction). *Fox13. *EyeNews. *Flyer. *MDN.

UPDATE (6/7): CA: An embarrassment. (So much for civility.)

UPDATE (6/5): An excerpt from the CA, quoting Shelby Co. Commissioner Mike Carpenter:

Carpenter said he thought moving the center under the county's jurisdiction was a natural fit because of the regional nature of the center.

"What I'm saying is, it's a regional service and the county should have a seat at the table," he said. "Even if (the resolution) is not the final solution, we ought to be at the table to see how we can fill the gaps and be a part of solving the problem."

Carpenter said he was willing to pull his resolution if Herenton wanted to get the county more involved in the center's operations.

"If the mayor calls and says if I pull the resolution then we'll talk, then yes I'll do it," said Carpenter. "But I'm not waiting by the phone, either."

MSARC did not begin as a regional service.

It was, and still is, a city of Memphis service that the city, at its discretion and good will, enables other municipalities who don't have the same resources to use.

Should the county have a role? Sure, if it's willing to assume a share of the costs--and that alone might kill some support on the Commission, according to Fox13. Still, this is more about protocol, respecting the ability of a city to manage itself. (WMC. Vibinc.)

ON ANOTHER NOTE, one of the issues with reporting is that follow-up stories tend to be stuck in time. In order to bring readers up to date on developments, articles typically rehash events as they were first discovered--no matter if they've been debunked or otherwise adequately explained.

In today's CA, reporter Clay Bailey notes that Bartlett police have a recording of the April 25 event that sparked this MSARC furor. The recording of a Bartlett police officer's frustrated attempt to get a nurse to the MSARC--on a weekend, when the office is closed but its nurses are on call--seems to put a pickle in the city's explanation back then and now of what happened. Back then, a spokeswoman blamed a nursing shortage; now the city attorney says it was a matter of miscommunication.

An excerpt:

The delay and a similar case that weekend out of Horn Lake brought to light a serious nursing shortage at MSARC -- once considered a model facility that operated around the clock to test, treat and counsel sexual assault victims. The lack of nurses left shifts uncovered in April and May, possibly jeopardizing prosecution of rapists.

Jefferson said a nurse was not rushed to the center because of the confusion over whether it was an "emergency versus a request to schedule" when Bartlett called April 25. Assaults reported soon after an attack are considered emergencies. Exams are "scheduled" when the assaults have occurred over longer periods or are not reported immediately.

The account by Jefferson, who has executive oversight of the center, differs from the city's initial explanation. City spokeswoman Toni Holmon-Turner had said the shortage of nurses because of departures from MSARC was to blame for no one arriving that day. The situation was aggravated the weekend of the Bartlett case because Judy Pinson, who had covered just about every vacant shift in the months prior to the case, resigned a day earlier. Pinson gave city officials one month's notice that she was leaving.

"One of the things we don't have the benefit of (is) any kind of recording of who said what and when," Jefferson said Monday, apparently unaware of the Bartlett recording. "The difference is that if you have a dispatcher recording all that, it takes away the opportunity of anybody to say: 'Well, I said ...'"

Based on this reporting, it's clear that Bailey tried to catch Jefferson in a contradiction--and he did, sort of.

Jefferson's explanation is different than what Holmon-Turner said initially but one could argue that Holmon-Turner knew as much about the MSARC as Herenton did when the story first broke, which is to say she probably knew very little--based on what the city, itself, has learned since then. Yet, one should perhaps question the ethics of Bailey's gotcha.

Should the city have known about the Bartlett PD's recording? That's questionable. But should Bailey have shared his finding with Jefferson? That's not questionable at all. He should have if the CA had an interest in fairness and accuracy--which it does not in this case.

We can suspect that Jefferson would have answered Bailey differently. His quote might have been a bit more educated--while potentially just as contradictory to Holmon-Turner's because of the timing of what they both knew but at least he would have known about the recording. From an ethical standpoint, that's where the CA falls short.

And again, I'm not sure if the anyone, including Bailey, understands how the MSARC actually operates, which might explains the 911 operator's confusion.

Bailey contends that the center operates around the clock. Technically, it does not. If it did, it wouldn't have office hours. As folks explained Tuesday, the nurses are on-call 24 hours. How does the on-call system work? Did the Bartlett detective know? What's the procedure? Now, it is possible that the 911 operator just didn't know how to respond and it is possible that MSARC's on-call staffing had a glitch that night.

But errors happen. It doesn't mean incompetence or collusion.

ORIGINAL POST (6/4): Perhaps, Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton feels violated.

Against his will, the City Council asserted its own power, voting 6-5 Wednesday night to strip city funds from the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center--contingent upon Shelby County or a third party assuming its operations.

It was a combative and defiant act that will cause discord in the city, though the Commercial Appeal, for instance, did not describe it in such a manner today. One can only assume that it reserves such adjectives for the mayor.

In any event, Council members Wanda Halbert, Joe Brown, Edmund Ford Jr., Harold Collins and Barbara Swearengen Ware voted against the move.

Council members Jim Strickland, Bill Morrison, Bill Boyd, Kemp Conrad, Shea Flinn and Chairman Myron Lowery approved the measure. (Fox13. EyeNews. WMC. WREG.)

According to the CA, Lowery, the tie-breaker, noted that the vote was not the last word. An excerpt from the CA:

A County Commission committee has already approved a resolution to take over operations of the center. A full vote is required before any transfer could become final, and the council could reverse course during budget wrap-up and the final vote on the budget.
"This vote ... will not be the last word," said council chairman Myron Lowery, who supported the motion.

In other words, there is still hope for the Council.

To be sure, the Council's action, led by Strickland, has been percolating for some time now as a theoretical means to restore some management accountability at the MSARC.

The proponents claim that shifting the funding (and thus management) responsibilities to the county or a third party (who probably would still send the city a bill) is no different than their move to drop funding for the Health Department in the name of tax equity.

After all, they argue--and there is no counter--that the MSARC, like the Health Department, provides a regional service and no other municipality contributes funding to its operation like Memphis does. Ultimately, though, this is a shortsighted argument.

This move isn't about tax equity. It isn't about getting other municipalities to pay their fair share for a service that they allegedly use for free.

It is simply about sending a message to Mayor Herenton, who sent a message of his own to the Council Tuesday.

In that message, Herenton got himself in trouble.

He was clearly wrong when he decried the absence of outrage over the city pool deaths last summer. There was outrage, on and off the Council, as local media--exemplified by WREG and Fox13--dutifully reminded. People responded. They were outraged. (Flyer. WMC. EyeNews. MDN.)

Yet, we're still missing the bigger picture. Listen to Tuesday's audio.

Despite the error, Herenton's larger point--eloquently reaffirmed by Councilwoman Halbert Tuesday--is that the collective outrage is inconsistent.

It cannot boil furiously on some occasions and simmer on others. As Halbert put it, the rage has to be consistent. For instance, according to new MSARC head Dr. Betty Winters, there were eight rape cases last weekend. Was there media coverage? Was there outrage? None of the Council members mentioned those rapes--which Winters said were handled by the MSARC--Tuesday. It's doubtful that they even knew about them.

That's not an indictment of Council members but it is to note that there are limitations surrounding us all.

One limitation is that one cannot run a city with outrage, which partly explains Herenton's public approach to crime. The public wants him to hue and cry but he won't--not because he doesn't see or feel the angst--but because doing so is not an effective way to manage as mayor. As he stated, he has to keep everything in perspective.

Ultimately, the Council's action is ironic.

Herenton, himself, noted that he was involved in some preliminary discussions about the county taking over the MSARC but he backed off because he got offended by the political grandstanding, presumably of Shelby County D.A. Bill Gibbons and some members of the Council. He's right that the MSARC got politicized when few folks had all of the details.

He's also right in the perspective that management issues happen. When they occurred in the clear breakdown in the Shelby County Clerk's office management, Herenton noted that he didn't demand to see the county lose control over those functions--even though legally that's not possible, which makes that another imperfect example.

However, the point is clear: the city's administration should be allowed to work through its own management issues with the MSARC just like the county must do with the Clerk's office.

And therein lies the rub.

The majority of the Council doesn't trust Herenton's decision making, especially as it applies to Ken Moody and Yalanda McFadgon. "You'll know when I make it" is Herenton's brusque way of trying to reestablish some of the governmental balance that has been lost.

Executively, the buck stops with Herenton. Hiring decisions are his call. He was elected to lead and he's obviously trying to do that.

He tried to do that Tuesday. He noted that the MSARC is not open 24 hours but its nurses are on-call 24 hours. That partially explains the gap in late April. As former forensic nurse Norma Lester noted Tuesday, being on-call 24 hours makes staffing issues inherent but the MSARC has more than enough nurses now. The media hasn't reported that.

And as Lester noted, the nurses did their job despite the management issues. (That's something with which journalists can identify.) That's evident because we have yet to see a single case where a rape prosecution failed because of the MSARC's actions. Even the 14-year-old Bartlett girl's attacker was still arrested for rape. Furthermore, even Gibbons lauded the LeBonheur partnership, though his position might be considered spin for jumping the gun in the first place.

Moving on, Herenton said an audit will be done. The Council has to trust that it will be. If it isn't, then it can raise some heck.

In the interim, some perspective is in order.

In the name of so-called equity, is the city becoming protectionist? Is it ceding its role as the largest municipality in the county? I'm just sayin, if the measures to cede services are the usage by other municipalities and now management issues, what services would the city of Memphis have left?

*CA: Budget cuts.
*Flyer: El Supremo.

On The NBA Finals (U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen)

2009-06-09T06:01:00.000-05:00

UPDATE (6/9): In an update, the CA noted that Cohen apologized to Young and his former college coach. So far, it appears that Young, himself, has not addressed Cohen's comments.

Now, the CA is covering this story out of Washington using correspondent Bart Sullivan but couldn't the CA send one of its summer interns to get some reaction from some of Young's relatives, friends and former teachers about how Cohen threw one of his own constituents under the proverbial bus?

UPDATE (6/8): The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Cohen apologized to Georgia Tech's basketball coach for a remark he made about Thaddeus Young, who attended Georgia Tech for a year before going pro.

An excerpt:

“Saying a young man choosing to go to school at Georgia Tech, whether it’s one year or four years, is a mockery, I just didn’t think that was an accurate statement and I thought it was somewhat damaging,” said Hewitt, who noted Young was an outstanding high school student who left Tech in good academic standing. “We know what we have here and the type of kids we bring here.

“I just thought it was the wrong thing to say, but it’s over with as far as I’m concerned.”

Young, the 12th overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, hails from Memphis, in Cohen’s district. Cohen called Hewitt on Friday.

“We had a good conversation but I’m going to keep it private,” Hewitt said Sunday. “He’s certainly a college basketball fan; he knew a lot. I was satisfied with the conversation, and I’ll leave it at that.”

So, Cohen apologized to the coach but it's unclear if he apologized to Young. (CA)

*WMC: No Show.

UPDATE(6/7): A USAToday columnist counts to 10 and ridicules Cohen.

ORIGINAL POST (6/5):Before the L.A. Lakers demolished the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals--not the National Championship Tournament--U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, whose staff made the aforementioned error, spoke on the floor of the U.S. House Thursday to once again call for the repeal of the National Basketball Association's age limit rule.

The speech only took a minute or so, just long enough for Cohen to make a point and get some national exposure much like he did with the letter to the NBA and its players union as well as with the New York Times's interview from Wednesday in which he accused the league of upholding a "vestige of slavery."

An excerpt:

“It’s a vestige of slavery,” Cohen said Wednesday in a phone interview, noting that most of the players affected by the rule are African-American. “Not like the slavery of 150 years ago, but it’s a restraint on a person’s freedoms and liberties.”

It doesn't surprise me that Cohen's inner black woman has risen again. He often speaks in black, historical vernacular, though few folks question his application of references because he's good for an intriguing quote, no matter how insensitive or illiterate or unnecessary it can be. Cohen could have simply used "age discrimination" as he did in USA Today today, though his word choice in that article seems illogical too.

Leave it to NBA Commissioner David Stern to point this out Thursday. An excerpt from ESPN:

"That would be like you saying that the talented people of the NBA -- college graduates some -- and talented graduates of many universities are not eligible to be congressmen because they have an age limitation of 25," Stern said.

"What the Congressman didn't understand -- and we'll be happy to share our view with him -- [is] this is not about the NCAA. This is not an enforcement of some social program. This is a business decision by the NBA, which is [that] we like to see our players in competition after high school. I don't know why our [nation's] founders decided that age 25 was good for Congress, but I guess they thought that was about maturity. And for us it's different. It's a kind of basketball maturity."

(Stern's Full Conference.) To echo ESPN, indeed.

Cohen expects to apply some congressional weight on this issue in the form of hearings, though one has to wonder whether his clear conflict of interest as a University of Memphis alum and the school's recent NCAA troubles would prevent him from spearheading such a witch hunt. Let's hope it does.

I'm just sayin, as much as Cohen decries the NBA's age-limit, he also has to recognize that UM, like USC, Ohio State, et. al., placed itself in its NCAA quandary by making it a common practice to recruit players who only expect to spend a year in college. No one forced John Calipari to recruit Derrick Rose or Dajuan Wagner and Shawne Williams before him.

Calipari is the one who decided to take the risk on one-and-dones, a practice that he continues at the University of Kentucky.

Why blame the NBA when institutes of higher learning should be smart enough to check academic records of the players who put on their respective uniforms?

The University knew that Rose may have been involved in a scandal at his high school.

Even if the scandal couldn't be substantiated, for the sake of its own academic credibility, it could have, and perhaps should have, said "NO" to Rose much to the dismay of boosters and fans alike like the University of Georgia said "NO" to Robert Dozier, a rejection that sent him to a prep school to bolster his grades (though the school has now been discredited) before he landed in Memphis, where he eventually graduated.

Despite Dozier's path to Memphis, his path to the NBA has been done right.

I wish that happy ending for most players.

I'm just sayin, while Cohen notes that the NBA Finals features players who jumped to the league out of high school, I argue that there are far more players who have or wanted to jump to league out of high school and college who are toiling in obscurity today.

Let me put it another way.

I hope that for every kid who wants to be a Kobe Bryant or LeBron James that they also recognize that they have to be more than just basketball players. They must be businessmen in the same manner than Jay-Z and Master P became executives, not just rappers.

Most kids, though, don't view themselves in such a dimensional context. They are not as savvy as James was coming out of high school.

They just see themselves as players--and they get played. At least the year in college might force them to think of a much grander picture than buying their mothers a new house. That knowledge could help them live a successful life after the game, itself, has exploited their bodies and physical acumen.

Most importantly, though, the college game would suffer greatly if its access to talented players--no matter how long they spend in college--was harmed.

That's something Cohen's basketball-fiend constituents would not like at all.

*Beyond The Arc.

On The Woman Within (Darlene Fike)

2009-06-08T17:50:00.000-05:00

UPDATE (6/8): In the aftermath of the story, there have been some questions raised about one particular section of the CA's Sunday story on Darlene Fike:

David traveled as a pilot and navigator to exotic, dangerous places like Somalia, Rwanda and Bosnia while working for the U.S. Air Force and Tennessee Air National Guard.

"I truly believed that I could live the rest of my life as David," Darlene said. "I wasn't trying to deceive anyone, but I was trying to do the right thing because I believed the other part of me was dirty and wrong."

David advanced in security levels in the military, becoming a deception officer, one who creates alternate plans so the real strategies aren't discovered.

"I flew fighter planes, parachuted on secret missions," Darlene said. "I was good at stealth because it was how I was living my life."

In the comments section, a couple of readers questioned Darlene's history as a pilot and navigator. In particularly, Darlene's quote about parachuting drew scrutiny and she responded that Wolff got that part wrong, though she used a direct quote:

Posted by Darlene on June 7, 2009 at 5:57 p.m.
Reply to this post | Suggest removal
in response to Tanker

Hello Tanker and 141Starlifter,
My comments are two fold. 1. If you have ever had an interview, let alone a reporter follow you for months, you know that not everything comes out 100%. Cindy is a remarkable reporter, however you are right I did not parachute. I did the dropping not the jumping. 2. In the 70s in the F-4 we were required to fly the aircraft, we had to log approaches, we flew low levels and did A/R. We were considered by those in our units to be fighter pilots. I can understand, having also been in heavys, that the fighter mentality of the 70s Cold War would escape most.

I don't anticipate a correction or a clarification with this story. I don't believe that Wolff got that part wrong.

Sure, she could have explained that aspect of Fike's history in greater detail; however, this article was about military operations and there's only so much newsprint. (Yeah, she could've written a longer Web version.) Instead, she used a direct quote to sort of summarize Fike's military experience in Fike's own words. But I digress.

She says others considered them to be fighter pilots, but what was she one or not?

ON ANOTHER NOTE, a friend of Darlene's son apparently left a comment that drew a rather long response from Darlene, in which she repeats thoughts of suicide as a rectifying act. (1.2.

ORIGINAL POST (6/7): Commercial Appeal reporter Cindy Wolff and photog Karen Pulfer Focht spent the past five months learning about the life of Darlene Fike and her decision to become a transgendered woman. Their work was published in today's edition of the CA.

In an AppealTV video, Wolff and Focht recounted that the Fike story grew out of the desire to learn more about transgendered people, considering that three transgendered women were killed in Memphis last year.

Duanna Johnson was the most notable; she was arrested for prostitution and later beaten by two cops while being booked at 201 Poplar last year. She was later discovered murdered in the street and no one has yet to be arrested for that crime.

Yet, it's unclear, even today, if she was murdered--or preyed upon, as Wolff suggests that the transgendered are in Memphis--because of her sexual orientation or the fact that Duanna made some bad choices in life as evidenced by her decision to prostitute herself.

Though one might disagree with the causal assumptions in Wolff's article, there is certainly no disagreement that there are repercussions, both harsh and fulfilling, in being transgendered as seen in Fike's case. (For the record, EyeNews interviewed Fike for a story about Shelby County's non-discrimination debate; so the CA isn't her first interview, just the most "in-depth.")

An excerpt:

She counted out 50 times the lethal dose of pills. She was going to end the pain for all of them.

She sat down to write Mary a note, then realized that she didn't want to die. She just wanted all their pain to stop. She tried to call friends. No one was home. So she sat in the floor of her kitchen and ate jalapeno peppers from a jar until she couldn't think of anything but the burn.

"I could be a live Darlene or a dead David but either way I was out of their lives," Darlene said. "But what I have now is hope that they will forgive me and accept me. If I'm dead, there's no hope."

Chapman said if transgender people he has counseled are suicidal, it's when they are untrue to themselves. Once they surrender in the internal fight and accept who they are, they become peaceful.

"As much as they may suffer from the public ridicule and the pain their family feels, it's not nearly as difficult as all the years prior when they were living a secret and suffering inside. That shows the magnitude of the pain inside."

Darlene wants Mary and their son to know there was no choice; it was death or this.

Overall, the story is quite poignant and the challenge of writing it is evident. Few people are on the record and even there had to be considerable debate on whether they should be named.

Fike's ex-wife, for instance, agreed to be interviewed but later recanted. That was too late; the CA still used her first name and responsibly took steps not to further identify her or their son in the article.

So, one can see how the CA, itself, perhaps recognized that Fike's own warning to those who go out with her that they could be subject to verbal or physical violence might not be relegated to social settings.

Reporting can expose people, for good or bad, and it must be done in either case. To which, I often applaud those who decide to step forward and live their lives as examples. The biggest challenge, in that case, is finding journalists who have the will and skill to tell those stories with the poignancy and accuracy deserved.

Overall, Wolff and Focht accomplished that.

ON AN UNRELATED, BUT RELATED, NOTE: Flyer: Access.

On Dr. Kriner Cash (The Rookie Year)

2009-06-07T15:12:00.003-05:00

Kudos are in order for CA education reporter Jane Roberts' article on the rookie year of MCS Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash.

It's an objective and balanced assessment of Dr. Cash's hits and misses, especially with the principals and teachers that he needs the most.

An excerpt:

For as well as he connects to parents eager to hear the salvation he sees for their children, his manner with school leaders is often brusque, if he knows them at all.

Principals, the frontline of his mission, say Cash rarely attends their monthly meetings, delegating the task of talking to them to his second-in-charge, Irving Hamer.

One insider, who does not have authority to speak to the news media, says she has never written so many letters of recommendation for people -- high-quality educators -- who want out.

"He is constantly saying, 'Either you're on board or you're not. If not, this is not the right place for you to be.'"

To an extent, Cash's "my way or the highway" approach is understandable given the amount of pressure that he's under to not only create, but sustain, change and accountability in such a large school system. That makes managing egos and feelings challenging.

Still, it's a self-destructive way to manage because it churns the existing workforce's creative anticipation of new administrations into disillusionment as a result of hardline approaches and ineffective communication. But I digress.

MDN: Still struggling.

On The Rape Crisis Center (The Shortage)

2009-06-07T13:37:00.000-05:00

UPDATE (6/7): April 25 was a difficult day for the MSARC and that's putting it kindly.

After the CA noted the Bartlett PD recordings, it went on to report that even MPD had troubled getting a MSARC nurse that day.

An excerpt:

Scott has answered questions about the operation all week and whether Memphis detectives faced any problems.

"We have no cases that have been compromised -- none," Scott said Monday. He reiterated Thursday in an e-mail that he was unaware of any delays, but said he would review the files.

After doing so, he acknowledged the latest two cases Friday, but added there are times when mistakes happen.

Scott said the problems at MSARC are being resolved with recent changes -- including the appointment of Winter, hiring nurses to cover all the shifts and instituting a new arrangement with Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, which has started handling child victims.

"It's about time to say things are better, and victims are being attended to," Scott said.

*Fox13: Dispatches.
*EyeNews: Knocking on Doors. (WMC.)

ON ANOTHER NOTE, Steve Ross at Vibinc has compiled an impressive list of MSARC resources. It's an example of good networking, though I disagree with some of his assertions.

Despite the mistakes at the MSARC on April 25, there is still no evidence that any rape case has been compromised.

UPDATE (6/2): LeBonheur has started its program to offer services to child rape victims at the MSARC.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, the CA quoted City Attorney Elbert Jefferson, who said that the MSARC still remains in the city's Division of Public Services and Neighborhoods though he has executive oversight. That makes little sense but I digress.

An excerpt from the CA:

In a related matter, Jefferson said he is confident officials will account for all of the money reimbursed by the state for sexual assault examinations. The state returns $750 for each sexual assault kit performed. Initially, the state Treasury Department said they had reimbursed MSARC $538,200 through the first nine months of the current fiscal year. Last week, the amount was amended to $309,150, yet the approved city budget reflected only $100,000 in state reimbursements, and that figure has since been reduced to $81,548.

"We're already seeing where the state said they erred in their calculations," Jefferson said. "We believe at the end of the day, there are going to be no issues whatsoever with regards to any money. It's going to be accounted for."

Predictably, the City Council still wants some answers. (WREG. Fox13.)

UPDATE (5/29): The CA quotes a former CA reporter who is now the spokesman for the state Treasury Department, which admits that it made an accounting error on the amount that it reimbursed the MSARC in the current fiscal year, which partly explains a discrepancy in the numbers between the state and the city. But the CA finds that there is still money missing.

An excerpt:

As for the reporting error, the state Treasury Department initially said the city was reimbursed $538,200 through the first nine months of the fiscal year. However, Blake Fontenay, spokesman for the department, said the figure for the period actually was $309,150.

"The person who was doing the counting was looking at two sets of records -- accounts payable and claims paid," Fontenay said when asked for an explanation. "So the same claims actually appeared (in) two different places, which is why they were inadvertently counted twice."

Still, the city projected only $100,000 in state reimbursements in the current budget, and that number was later decreased to $81,548. The discrepancy -- about $250,000 -- led to questions from several city council members and a call from Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons for an independent audit by the state comptroller's office.

*WREG: Grassroots.

UPDATE (5/28): Flyer: The county considers taking over the MSARC.

*CA: Analysis. Hasty Move. Smokescreens.

UPDATE (5/21): WREG: State auditors are in town.(CA)

UPDATE (5/20): As noted in media reports, the anger over the management of the MSARC reached a new level of rancor at City Hall Tuesday with several Council members staging a walkout at a committee meeting.

An excerpt from WMC's Kontji Anthony:

Soon, the meeting got ugly.

Conrad: "I want to make a motion that we adjourn this meeting and we hear this in executive session."
Brown: "No sir."
Conrad: "I think most council members want to hear from the people who are responsible for this, the taxpayers want to hear it."

Councilman Joe Brown said, as meeting chair, he would not accept the motion seconded by Councilman Bill Morrison."

Brown: "No sir, no sir, no sir. I'm not going to..."
Morrison: "You have no choice, Mr. Chairman."
Brown: "Yes I do."
Morrison: "No you don't."

After Conrad made a motion to overrule Brown's decision, Brown would not accept that either.

"I respectfully request to hear from the director and the deputy director of the center," Conrad said.

Then, Conrad, Councilmen Shea Flinn, Morrison, Jim Strickland and then Bill Boyd, stormed out of the meeting. As Brown explained his decision, Councilman Harold Collins also left.

As Anthony noted, the issue was moved to the Executive Session and the walkouts still didn't get a chance to admonish Director Ken Moody and Deputy Director Yalanda McFagden. So, what was the point of walking out? Protecting Robert's Rules of Order? But I digress.

The new MSARC director will report to the City Attorney's office, which doesn't seem to make sense. When does the City Attorney's office get involved in sexual abuse or rape cases?

Meanwhile, the city will audit the MSARC and, if D.A. Bill Gibbons has his way, so will the Tennessee Comptroller's office. (EyeNews. Flyer.)

ON ANOTHER NOTE, again while we are weighing all the implications regarding the MSARC, how many sexual assault or rape cases have actually failed to be prosecuted because of the MSARC's recent reported turmoil? Lest we forget, the man behind the rape case that started this uproar has been arrested.

UPDATE: As announced today, Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center will establish a clinic at the MSARC and handle the rape and sexual assault cases involving children. Those cases account for 50 percent of the MSARC's caseload.

Mayor Herenton noted that the partnership would free up the city's staff to handle the adult cases.

An excerpt from the CA:

The MSARC falls under the city's public services and neighborhoods division, although it serves the entire region. Ken Moody is the director and Yalanda McFadgon, a former Herenton bodyguard and a convicted felon, is the deputy director.

Herenton wouldn’t say today whether McFagdon or Moody would be punished or reprimanded for problems at the MSARC.

“I’m not going down that road,” said Herenton. ”If I deem it necessary that new leadership is required, I’ll do it.”

Even if he makes a change, he'll still be criticized. In any event, Herenton says the center will have an audit performed. (Mike Matthews)

WMC. EyeNews. Fox13. WREG.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, the man accused of raping the 14-year-old Bartlett girl was in court and his bond was set at $250,000. (Fox13)

UPDATE: Herenton is speaking out on the rape crisis center, noting that the City is working to ensure that the center will continue to provide stellar service to the region.

To that end, he announced that Memphis has entered a partnership with Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center to assist with the rape crisis center.

UPDATE (5/18): WMC: The crisis center's founder speaks out.

UPDATE (5/16): According to the CA, the state treasurer is now monitoring how state funds have been applied to the MSARC.

Meanwhile, police have arrested the man who allegedly committed the rape of the 14-year-old girl who experienced a delay in getting tested at the MSARC and set off this controversy. (EyeNews. WMC.)

Apparently, the center is still effective if it led to an arrest.

UPDATE: CA: Councilman Strickland wants an independent audit. (WREG. EyeNews.)

UPDATE (5/14): According to the CA, the MSARC has some accounting problems too. An excerpt:

During the current fiscal year, the city was sent $538,200 from the state for the kits performed through March -- the first nine months of the budget year. Yet the adopted budget reflects only $100,000 in reimbursements from the state for the entire year, a figure also shown in a letter to Strickland when he inquired about the center's problems last month.

"I'm very concerned about where the money for the reimbursements is going, because the budget presented to us is not showing it," Strickland said.

*WMC. *CA: Take over?

UPDATE (5/12): WMC: The Anatomy of a Crisis. (Not much anatomy, really.)

*CA: The city's residency requirement.

UPDATE (5/11): WMC: Another nurse is worried.

UPDATE: CA: A Letter to the Editor:

What really happened at MSARC

Friday, May 8, 2009

I want to thank your May 6 letter writer ("MSARC staff not 'just nurses'") for educating the public on the qualifications and duties of a forensic nurse examiner, as well as the impact of having a shortage of these specially trained nurses available to victims of sexual assault.

As one of the few remaining, experienced forensic nurse examiners at the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center, I can no longer sit by silently as I watch our center, which was a model of excellence in the United States, continue to decline. The citizens of this region and the victims of sexual assault deserve better.

Your May 7 article "New manager to run agency / City also hiring nurses to staff troubled rape crisis center" states: "The departure of the ... nursing coordinator two weeks ago likely contributed to delays in examining the two rape victims."

We cannot blame the departure of the nursing director, Judy Pinson, for that misfortune. Pinson gave the city managers a month's notice prior to her departure from MSARC. In fact, it was our wonderful, competent and hard-working nursing director, Judy Pinson, who informed the city managers and Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons of our serious nursing shortage. Why did she have to resign and let the whole center come crumbling down to finally get someone to listen?

Judy Pinson did not leave because she was overworked, although she had covered endless evening, night and weekend shifts for months, because we were in a nursing shortage crisis. She left because she was not valued, respected and, most important, listened to.

Sally DiScenza

Memphis

*WMC.

UPDATE (5/8): The Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center hired a new director. (WMC)

Memphis Area Women's Council executive director and former CA reporter Deborah Clubb speaks highly of the new director but cautiously about the days ahead for the center. An excerpt from Fox13:

Clubb speaks highly of Dr. Winter and her qualifications. But she's not so optimistic about the nurses the city is hiring.

"We are very concerned that any nurses hired [will] actually be fully certified and trained in this particular level of nursing," Clubb said.

Several city council members have also expressed concerns. But they have found it difficult to get answers.

"It's been hard to get information about what's going on. We hear more from the media than we do from the administration," Councilman Kemp Conrad said.

Despite her concerns, Clubb is thankful the city is starting to help the center. But she says it's too late for the two women.

"You can't go backwards on a rape case. You get the evidence when it's there. Or, you don't," Clubb said.

ORIGINAL POST (5/3): Who do you believe?

Last week, after Commercial Appeal reporter Clay Bailey broke the story about the 14-year-old Bartlett girl who did not get timely assistance from the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center after she was raped the prior weekend, Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons attributed the delay to a staffing shortage that was exacerbated by the city of Memphis's residency requirement. (WREG. WMC.)

In Saturday's edition, Bailey had this response from the city:

In response to a state Open Records request by The Commercial Appeal, officials said Friday the city has a nursing staff of eight right now, compared to a dozen last year. "We are looking to have three more nurses on staff by the end of the week," wrote Toni Holmon-Turner, a spokeswoman for Mayor Willie Herenton's office.

While the city says there are eight nurses on staff, the May schedule provided by Fratesi shows only five different nurses' names.

Holmon-Turner also said that there "were no nurses let go because of residency requirements." That's contrary to Gibbons' understanding in his letter to Moody that a number of the nurses were terminated "due to the city's residency requirement."

In other words, the staffing void is temporary--though "looking to have" is far less certain than it should be given what's at stake in the testing of assault victims and the potential prosecution of suspects--and the residency requirement was a moot issue in the termination of the nurses.

Who do you believe?

Here's what I believe: the delayed testing is only the beginning.

I'm just sayin, the nursing shortage is real, acute and has been for several years, which leads me to believe that the termination of specialized nurses in this kind of hiring environment suggests much deeper issues are at play in the MSARC. So, the residency requirement may be an issue but it's not theissue.

For instance, the staff turnover is undisputed. So, if the residency requirement allegedly played no role in the terminations or departures, then what did?

We need to know more about the terminations. We need to know more about the departures.

Also, since MSARC staff testify as experts in trials, we need to know the number of cases in which these staffers have testified and the role that their testimony played in the success or failure of a conviction in the counties that use the center.

But I digress.

With the recent news, the city's residency requirement is once again the focus of attention. If the requirement played a role in the terminations, the CA questioned whether it should have given the MSARC's multiple sources of funding but that line is somewhat irrational considering that there are other city agencies and departments with multiple funding sources that also fall under the requirement.

The bottom line is that the residency requirement has become too unwieldy, which makes it an unnecessary problem.

While Memphis has asserted its right to determine where its employees live, it has done so with a broad brush. In other words, MSARC provides services beyond the city's limits and that would qualify it for an exemption from the city's residency requirement but Memphis has never seen fit to enforce the voter-approved exemptions within the 2004 referendum.

So, it applies the requirement to every employee even when it does not have to do so.

To that end, it'll be interesting to see who the new hires at the MSARC are. Whereas we should be focused on whether or not they are qualified to do the specialized work, we have to wonder about where they live.

Let's end the madness that suggests the city can just draft or cherry-pick the best and brightest from within its borders. If the city has to hire from outside of its boundaries for the MSARC, then it also has to contend with whether or not those employees can successfully move into the city within six months if they have to sell a home in this dire housing market.

And that's really the lunacy of the residency requirement.

Instead of being focused on whether a person can do the work, the city has to get deeply involved in that person's private life--and that can have huge financial implications on the employee. It doesn't have to be that way.

So, bottom line: the MSARC could have more openings six months from now--even though the city has the power to change that.

*CA: Foot-dragging.

On The Memphis Tigers (The NCAA Letter)

2009-06-07T07:21:00.002-05:00

UPDATE (6/7): In recap, the Commercial Appeal and Fox13 appear to be the only stations to have sent staff to Indy for the Infractions Committee hearing Saturday.

Was the trip worth the expense? Sure, though Fox13's Les Smith could have gotten the same non comment in Memphis that he got from her in Indy, it was still good to see the Raines & Co. perp walk.

ON ANOTHER NOTE, in today's CA, Dan Wolken noted that the NCAA requested a "boatload" of information on secondary violations for all Memphis sports. According to Wolken, there were 66 of these typically self-reported violations that occurred from the 2005-06 academic year to the present; Wolken focused on the men's basketball violations.

A rather long excerpt:

Here are the nine pertaining to men's basketball:

On Dec. 6, 2005, Calipari was reported for making comments in a newspaper article before the signing date "that spoke to a prospect's likelihood of signing" at Memphis. Calipari received a rules reminder and a letter of admonishment; additionally, the number of official visits Memphis could use during that year was reduced by one.

On Dec. 12, 2005, Calipari was reported for appearing on a Fox regional television broadcast during a summer basketball event. He received a rules reminder and the Tigers lost an official visit during the 2005-06 year.

On Oct. 30, 2007, Calipari's picture appeared on the Web site of a Massachusetts-based company called Hoop Mountain that conducts basketball camps. The picture was removed, and Memphis' coaches met with the compliance staff to resolve the situation.

On Feb. 13, 2008, former assistant coach Derek Kellogg and an office assistant were reported for paying a DirecTV bill at the players' residence. They received letters of admonishment, and the players had to pay back the money (less than $100 per player) to the charity of their choice.

In August 2008, Pastner was reported because he "impermissibly paid lodging, meals and entertainment" for the guardian of former recruit Emmanuel Negedu. If a recruit is taking a visit with someone other than a parent (for instance, a coach), the school must obtain a waiver to pay for it. In this case, Memphis did not receive the waiver until the Monday after his visit, which made it a violation. Memphis got a letter of admonishment, and the school was not allowed to continue recruiting Negedu. Memphis didn't appeal because Negedu ultimately chose Tennessee.

In August 2008, FedEx CEO and Memphis booster Dave Bronczek made an impermissible phone call to the mother of recruit Abdul Gaddy, who is a FedEx employee. This was essentially resolved when Gaddy chose Washington, but he would have needed to seek reinstatement to be eligible at Memphis.

In November 2008, a manager -- whose name was redacted -- was reported for using pictures of current players on a flyer "to promote a party at an established club." The end result was an educational session with managers and trainers.

In October 2008, an administrative assistant -- whose name was redacted -- paid for a player's movie ticket. The player was ineligible until he paid back the money, and a letter of admonishment was received.

In March 2009, the Tigers turned in a violation for conducting a practice on Labor Day, which apparently violates a rule. Another rules session resolved this one.

Are these violations egregious? They don't appear to be but rules are rules--and even Pastner was involved in a past violation. Will that violation, as minor and as inadvertent as it seems, be rehashed in greater context much like the stories about Robert Dozier's SATs? Maybe, maybe not.

These self-reported violations were resolved but, with the exception of the Bronczek error, I can't recall any of the others having been reported by local media.

I could be wrong but, given that local media was basically clueless about the Rose allegations until this year, it raises interesting questions about local media's capabilities to thoroughly cover the Tigers.

LASTLY, if you dig deeper into Memphis's response to the NCAA, on page 39 of the PDF, you'll find a mention regarding William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley, a friend of John Calipari. According to the document, after the Tigers played a Sweet Sixteen game in Houston in 2008, Wesley complained about where UM supporters had been seated during the game.

However, University officials apparently were more concerned about how Wesley and another person whose name was redacted (a prospective recruit, perhaps?) obtained what might have been "passes" in the first place. One "institutional staff member" recalled another co-worker making a request on behalf of Athletic Director R.C. Johnson for two passes for Wes but the other co-worker denied making such a request. Also, whomever the redacted person is, he denied receiving anything from the University. The University determined that there was insufficient credible information to find whether a violation occurred.

Still, it's interesting.

*TSD: The Edge.

UPDATE: Three hours, 50 minutes. (Fox13. WMC.)

UPDATE (6/6): CA: The Hot Seat. (Reaction. Second Thoughts.)

ON AN UNRELATED, BUT RELATED, NOTE: Committed. (Fox13.)

UPDATE (6/3): Calkins: Go Tigers? Really? (The golf coach.)

Quote of the minute: ESPN:

"There's a very good chance that the [2008] Final Four will be vacated," the source said.

*ESPN: ETS.
*Flyer: Inquiry in Indy.

UPDATE: The University of Memphis released its response to the NCAA allegations of major violations in its women's golf and men's basketball programs.

The PR move even included the first public statements by UM President Shirley Raines and an op-ed-turned-letter-to-the-editor by University Counsel Sheri Lipman that explained why the university kept silent for so long. While Fox13 has the long version of Lipman's op-ed, the CA letter simply boiled down the rhetoric and cut to the chase.

An excerpt:

In this case, our response was 63 pages, with another 497 pages of exhibits. If we had released the notice in January, we could not have "gotten out in front of the issue" by answering everyone's questions because we were still engaged in our review, follow-up on certain aspects of the allegations, and drafting of a response. Our fans deserve our best effort to protect the university, and trying to explain this matter in the media before we had finished our own analysis would have done a disservice to those fans.

Even today, the university is crippled in its ability to respond to questions about these issues. We will appear before the Committee on Infractions on Saturday. To prejudge how the committee will view things is inappropriate and presumptuous. The committee has the right to act as it sees fit, without the university "trying the case" in the court of public opinion.

We understand that others may not agree with the decisions the university has made. But as the university's counsel, I can categorically say the decision to not release this information in January has made it possible for the university to put its best foot forward in this process. I am not confident that we would have been able to do so had we been trying to respond to constant questioning while preparing our response.

Her letter is suggesting the University couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time. But I digress.

Lipman's argument falls short on several levels. One, UM's response was prepared and delivered by April 24. Why didn't it hold a press conference then?

Or better yet, why didn't the University bother to self-report in October 2007 that it suspected that one of its recruits (who has been identified as Derrick Rose) might have been involved in a grade-changing scandal at his high school?

The University said nothing.

For the record, it should be noted that the Chicago Public Schools inquiry into the grade-changing scandal could find no one at fault.

And as far as I can tell, even the Chicago media didn't get a confirmation that Rose was one of the four players named in grade-changing scandal at Simeon High School until the UM allegations broke last week. (I note that to partially excuse our local media, in particularly the CA, for not discovering this stuff sooner.)

But the University knew and said nothing.

It doesn't matter now that the grade-changing scandal turned out to be nothing that could substantiated or that Rose's mother kept him so shielded from his standardized test scores that he only knew (or perhaps cared) that he passed or that the University can explain Reggie Rose's unpaid trips as administrative accounting errors.

It doesn't matter because the University compromised itself. Think about it. If the University came clean in 2007, would the hype surrounding Rose have been so, well, rosey? No, it would have been grounded in the reality of prep sports. We don't know if Tiger fans would have turned on Rose; but the University apparently didn't want to chance it.

And yes, the NCAA cleared Rose--doctored transcript and all--and that effectively gave UM an alibi but that seems like a poor excuse for academic malfeasance by an institution of higher learning that expects its own students to respect an honor system and code of ethics.

But I digress.

The crazy thing is that the University wouldn't have had to release Rose's name in 2007. It could have protected him then as it is doing now.

However, with some degree of public disclosure, the lack of grade-changing evidence would have cleared him--for the moment.

The NCAA's decision to later declare Rose ineligible would have seemed even more hypocritical and pouring of salt on a proverbial wound. (And yes, I'm assuming that the Tigers would have still made it to the NCAA championship game and lost.)

Right now, though, it seems like the University is placing some share of the blame on Rose. He was first contacted about the suspect test score on March 17, 2008 but he didn't respond to the testing service. He didn't tell anyone.

The University claims that it found out about the SAT test in May 2008. Imagine the surprise.

Rose was an attentive student after all. (WREG)

*SunTimes: Speak Rose.

UPDATE (6/2): On Monday, ESPN caught up with what we had already knew compliments of Yahoo! Sports and some speculation here last week: that UM officials have known about the invalid test score since May 2008.

An excerpt from CA's Dan Wolken:

NCAA update: Memphis will today make public its official response to the NCAA regarding the notice of allegations that was sent to the school in January. Included in the 500-page response will be the result of an investigation into whether former point guard Derrick Rose took his own SAT, which is the most serious charge against the program. If proven true, it could result in the 2007-08 season being forfeited.

Memphis officials will appear in front of the NCAA committee on infractions on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Most of that response will likely deal with the extensive allegations against the Women's Golf Team. But I digress.

Even if UM proves its innocence, someone needs to be held accountable for the sheer PR madness that has hurt the University's credibility, on and off the court, as a result of the decision to remain silent.

ON AN UNRELATED, BUT RELATED, NOTE: The Kid (Coach Pastner) was right: the investigation has made recruiting more challenging but not impossible. Wolken and Fox13 note that a recruit from France might sign on with the Tigers.

UPDATE (6/1): Tough questions. Inevitable?

UPDATE (5/30): In its failure to disclose the NCAA investigation, the University is repeating the same errors that it made four years ago when it remained silent for two weeks after Jeremy Hunt was charged with domestic assault, according to CA's Dan Wolken.

Indeed, as Wolken notes, the last 72 hours have been a PR mess for the University. It didn't have to be that way. An excerpt:

In many cases, schools have received allegations from the NCAA and quickly released the information without being prompted in an attempt to get ahead of the story and shape the message.

Johnson explained Thursday that Memphis didn't take that route because it was "a private letter; it's a private inquiry. And when you get more people involved in conversations, it isn't as productive in what we're trying to do."

However, what the NCAA sent to the UofM is not a "private inquiry," as Johnson characterized. In fact, it's a public document, which is why it was available upon request by The Commercial Appeal or any entity that asked for it.

Thus, the only reasonable explanation for Memphis' strategy was the belief that nobody would ask for it.

"There's nothing that's a part of the NCAA's letter to us that says within this period of time or any period of time, you should call a news conference and invite all the media and tell them what's going on," Eoff said. "The NCAA didn't do it."

Bob Eoff, the school's vice president of communications, public relations and marketing, offers a poor argument. It's not a question of whether the NCAA would have required a media disclosure because, even though universities operate under its auspices, each institution is accountable for itself.

The reality is that the University comprised itself. In choosing to keep quiet, it compromised its own rhetoric about open discussion and ideas. It did so to keep the athletic gravy train rolling.
But I digress.

I don't personally blame Derrick Rose or other one-and-dones because I seriously doubt if they are aware of what others are doing or have done on their behalf. The kids aren't the masterminds. Their "support" networks are. The network of folks who dream of million dollar contracts and lavish lifestyles for playing games are. Those are the ones that you have to worry about, the ones who will do anything to keep the dream alive even if the player himself does not hold up his end of the bargain in the classroom. It is what it is.

But I digress.

Even more time will pass before Dr. Shirley Raines addresses this issue.

She'll have to answer--not just for the allegations--but for the University's failure to follow some pretty good advice on crisis management.

In the meantime, there should be some protection for the whistleblower(s) who tipped off the CA. On his blog, Wolken noted that the CA didn't know about the NCAA letter until this past Tuesday; it broke the story, complete with letter, Wednesday evening. Now, that's a fast media compliance time by the NCAA.

*CA: 100 percent committed.

UPDATE: NYT: Not by the book. SunTimes: 'D' Rose. A lesson in betrayal.

There should be tough questions for UM President Shirley Raines and UM Athletic Director R C Johnson. If they would have said something last year, I'm fairly certain that these basketball allegations wouldn't appear to be as scandalous as they are now since the critical players have moved on and gotten paid.

I'm just sayin, one could've argued that the University couldn't have known about Rose's grade changes or test scores because, as the CA notes, the testing agency verifies the latter and that's what they did.

The whole victim angle in regards to the SAT allegation would have been more plausible with full disclosure. Now, it's not, especially since you would think that a coach recruiting a kid would want to know if he could pass the muster academically--or at least give the appearance. (ESPN) That's why Cal loved Laurinburg Prep, which gave us Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier. But at least, they graduated. (On their own, right? Sure?) But I digress.

UPDATE (5/29): Ultimately, the NCAA allegations may mean nothing long term.

Sure, if determined to be true, UM would likely have to erase one of the greatest seasons in its men's basketball team's history. That pain, though, would likely be short-lived if The Kid (Coach Pastner) gives folks plenty to cheer about next year and more. No pressure.

But for me, the real offense is the lack of disclosure by UM Athletic Director R C Johnson and former Coach John Calipari--a void that Commercial Appeal reporter Dan Wolken tried to address in his latest article. Why did they stay silent for so long?

An excerpt:

For more than four months, the University of Memphis, athletic director R.C. Johnson and former basketball coach John Calipari successfully kept secret a report alleging NCAA violations in the basketball program during the 2007-08 season.

And they apparently had no plans to tell anyone before facing the NCAA’s committee on infractions June 6 in Indianapolis.

“We hadn’t really talked about it honestly, we really hadn’t,” Johnson said. “Our main focus was to get ready for June 6, and we really hadn’t spent much time. In fact, I don’t know that we would have. If anything — and we really didn’t talk much about it — it would have been after the June 6 (hearing), probably.”

By Thursday’s end, it became increasingly unclear who knew what regarding the investigation of Memphis’ program that began last spring and the subsequent notice of allegations sent by the NCAA to the UofM on Jan. 16, in which three charges against the men’s basketball program were put forth.

More than four months? No, I think that they kept it secret longer than that.

If we accept Thursday's Yahoo! Sports story as true, then someone had to know soon after Rose declared for the NBA Draft last year. An excerpt:

Then a month after the 2008 Final Four season, after he’d declared for the NBA, the NCAA ruled him retroactively ineligible and the case was on.

Rose declared for the draft on April 15, 2008. How is it possible for the NCAA to declare a player ineligible and the University not know anything until this past January? It's not--especially involving a star player (who denies any wrongdoing, by the way) who brought your program to new heights during the course of that season.

I'm just sayin, they've known for more than a year that the NCAA was snooping. Why didn't the University say anything back then? The ineligibility of Rose would have been a major story and would have also put a big damper on the enthusiasm heading into the 2008-2009 season.

The silence, the lack of disclosure, is what it is: a coverup, even if the allegations turn out to have no significant impact.

*Calkins: Roasted. (Fox13)
*CA: Fraud and cracks.
*Wolken.
*Fox13. (Answers?)
*Sports56: Pastner. (FYI, Kid: It's not smart to talk about your basketball camps as if they could be pseudo recruiting sessions, especially if you're going to have high-school age kids there who might think they have a shot at college ball. I'm just sayin.)

UPDATE: A UM response. (WREG. WMC.) (Pastner)

*WREC: Pastner, Johnson.

UPDATE: Yahoo Sports! Dan Wetzel reports that the SAT in question was Rose's third SAT and that his brother, Reggie Rose, was the one who allegedly took the trips for free. An excerpt:

It might have been Memphis, an obvious beneficiary of his eligibility, which did it. It also might have been someone who wanted to curry favor with him and his family so that after he did his six months at college, he might sign with them. Rose might not have even known about what the NCAA richly describes as “fraudulence and misconduct.”

Rose probably didn’t do it himself, because if you’re capable of figuring out how to fix the SAT you probably don’t have to.

All we know is after a couple tries, according to a source, Rose wound up with a score in the mid-700s, high enough to be eligible. Since his result wasn’t too high, it wasn’t flagged by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Then a month after the 2008 Final Four season, after he’d declared for the NBA, the NCAA ruled him retroactively ineligible and the case was on.

It even spread to the Memphis team charter, which Reggie Rose often flew on to games and most of the time paid a corresponding fare for, which would make it NCAA legal. He didn’t pay all the time though and that will be an allegation that sticks. No doubt some staffer will take the hit.

*SunTimes. Goodman. Wolken Q&A.

UPDATE (5/28): Apparently, there's no such thing as stop the presses in print journalism anymore.

CA reporter Ron Higgins has been filing stories from the SEC Conference Spring Business meeting in Destin, Fla. this week. Today, he has a story about how smitten Kentucky fans are with Coach Cal--but the article doesn't mention last night's breaking news about the NCAA's allegations of major violations under his watch at the University of Memphis nor does it note that former UK Coach Billy Gillispie is suing UK for $6 million. (The filing.)

I'm just sayin, if you're going write for the Web, then the articles need to be updated for the Web, especially in this case because of the glowing depiction of Cal.

An excerpt:

Still, he won't know until the heat of battle with a team talented enough to compete for the national championship. Until a couple of weeks ago, Calipari hadn't had too many idle moments to think about the fact he has finally landed his dream job.

But a few weeks ago late one night, as Calipari sat with assistant John Robic in the UK coaching offices that overlook the practice courts, a single glimmer of light shined on "Kentucky Wildcats" written on the floor.

"I look at that, then look to my left and there are seven national title banners," said Calipari, who said his first time in UK's homecourt Rupp Arena was sitting near the top row at the 1985 Final Four that ironically included Memphis. "It hit me in my forehead that we're at Kentucky. I said, 'Ros, you hear what I said? We're at Kentucky!'"

Was Higgins there to witness that magical moment for himself? This appears to be just another example of creating writing, placing readers in an experience that the writer only knows about secondhand. Authors do it all the time. Journalists have taken the liberty too but it's still creative non-fiction.

Why would one trust the words of a showman like Cal without getting two or three corroborating witnesses? I'm just sayin.

This isn't about hatin on Cal. It's about the media demystifying the mystique with objective observance. One can report that Cal said he saw the light but one also needs to note whether others saw it too. But I digress.

Here's a snippet from the Lexington Herald-Leader:

But UK basketball spokesman DeWayne Peevy released a statement late Wednesday night that said Calipari had "received a letter from the NCAA stating that he is not at risk of being charged with any NCAA violations in this case."

"First and foremost, there are no NCAA allegations against UK head men's basketball coach John Calipari," the statement said. "Coach Calipari was forthcoming with the University of Kentucky during the hiring process about any issues under investigation at the University of Memphis at that time.

"It is normal procedure for the NCAA to ask a former coach to participate in a hearing. Therefore, Coach Calipari will participate as requested."

The statement said the University of Kentucky would not comment further on the situation, nor would Calipari.

"Even though I'm not at risk, I will fully cooperate with the NCAA hearing," Calipari said in the statement. "Beyond that, I concur with the statement from the University of Kentucky and will have no further comment."

Great, we're the 2009 version of UMass.

*Fox13: A word from R C. (WREG)

UPDATE (5/27): CA columnist Geoff Calkins says these kind of allegations come with the Calipari territory.

An excerpt:

The other three are about hoops. It’s honestly not as bad as it could be. Two of the charges involve the associate of a player who traveled with the team — getting free hotels and airfare — who should have paid his own way. By all accounts, the person did reimburse the university for other trips he made. So this may amount to no more than a simple accounting and monitoring error.

Which brings us to the final allegation, allegation No. 5 in the document, which says a student-athlete committed “knowing fraudulence or misconduct in connection with his entrance examination. Specifically, on (date redacted) an unknown individual completed (name redacted)’s SAT, with (name redacated)’s knowledge, which was used to obtain his admission into the institution” for the 2007-08 season and so on and so forth.

The good news: There’s no allegation the Memphis coaches knew anything about this bit of fraudulence. Common sense says they did, but common sense isn’t enough to convict someone.

The bad news: If the allegation is found to be true and the player is ruled ineligible, Memphis could be asked to forfeit its 38 wins and its Final Four appearance.

So much for Robert Dozier, Antonio Anderson and Chance McGrady as the all-time-winningest players in college history, eh?

Look at the bright side: At least Memphis won’t have to forfeit a championship!

Calkins believes that Calipari knows something. Proving it will be another matter. (Fox13.)

ORIGINAL POST (5/27): The NCAA has conducted a preliminary investigation and found enough information of "sufficient substance and reliability" to notify UM about allegations of major violations regarding its Women's Golf Team from 2004-2008 and its Men's Basketball Team in the 2007-2008 season, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Notably, CA reporter Dan Wolken focused on the latter since the men's basketball team's historic 38 wins and National Championship game appearance that year are at stake if the violations prove true.

An excerpt from Wolken:

The University of Memphis is in the process of responding to an NCAA notice of allegations charging the men’s basketball program with major violations during the 2007-08 season under John Calipari.

The allegations include “knowing fraudulence or misconduct” on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team.

The wording of the report seems to indicate the player in question only competed during the 2007-08 season and specifically the 2008 NCAA tournament. The player’s name was redacted in the report, obtained by The Commercial Appeal through the Freedom of Information Act, due to privacy laws.

The player has subsequently denied the charge, according to university personnel.

The only player on the roster who competed only during that season was Derrick Rose, who subsequently was the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft last June.

Wolken's hunch about Rose seems correct.

The report specifically cites the 2007-2008 season and that tournament that year. As he notes, it also includes an allegation that a person associated with the player got free travel and lodging.

Worldwide Wes, perhaps? Who knows.

Here's what gets me: the NCAA has been investigating this for months. Its initial letter was sent to the University on Sept 5, 2008. So, R C Johnson's claim of conducting a thorough investigation seems a bit dated. I mean, according to the letter, the University was supposed to file responses by April 15.

In any event, the NCAA's Committee on Infractions will take up the allegations on June 5.

How can the University defend itself? The women's golf stuff is just detailed with exact amounts, dates, times, etc. And it's just as exact on the men's basketball allegations. They're even asking for forensics on handwriting.

This isn't a surprise for the University. Is this another reason why Calipari bolted?

*Parrish. *ESPN.