Trouble Bruin in the Pac-12 - & it Ain't UCLA!

[Brad]

Originally Posted by VaTerp

There's a big distinction between instructing your staff to take certain actions and what Rush said, joking or not. It was over the top.

Again, I personally don't have a problem with what Rush said but once it became public, he had to go.

From Fischer: Separating facts from perception in the Ed Rush controversy - Pac-12 Post:

“He didn’t think the officials were doing the job of containing the coaches, that coach decorum was getting out of control – not solely focused on Coach Miller, but several coaches. As part of that banter this discussion was had about, ‘What do I have to do to get you guys to enforce the rules? To ‘T’ a coach up if he won’t listen to the warning? Do I got to give you a trip? Money?’

“Our investigator asked very, very pointed questions and it was clear that no one thought that there was a real bounty. Ed was trying to shock them into being more firm in order to make a point.”

This is exactly the context that this story has been lacking. Instead, sports writers have run with the "Targeting Arizona / Miller" idea ... and the "Bounties on Coaches" ... completely misrepresenting the comments and turning them into something they were not.

Originally Posted by VaTerp

And I don't think the public is really overreacting here. Sometimes perception is reality and it's a bitch.

It is a complete overreaction, but you are right that it is par for the course.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Brad

It is a complete overreaction, but you are right that it is par for the course.

Of course there's going to be an overraction from the public (non-officials). Even without media coverage we're not the best-liked people on the planet. We shouldn't be surprised because anything we do that even hints of being unfair is considered a capital offense, especially by anyone in the sports media. All we can do is try to spread knowledge when we can. I know I try since I'm in the media but it's not easy.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

We shouldn't be surprised because anything we do that even hints of being unfair is considered a capital offense, especially by anyone in the sports media.

Which is why I would love to see a stronger response to the media. When you issue a statement and try to let it blow over it implies that you did something wrong. It perpetuates the belief that what was reported is true. If it is not true, or if it is being spun in a way that makes it much, much worse than what actually happened, it needs to be addressed.

That's what happened here — by not categorically denying that Miller was targeted (he wasn't), the sports media was allowed to keep that narrative going ... which the fans took and ran with.

What's unfortunate is that the fans, especially Arizona, now actually think they are better off. They didn't even know Ed Rush's name before last week, but believe they are capable of passing judgement on his character and integrity based off of a few quotes from an anonymous official in a sports article.

Why? Because it fits what they already believe.

[zakman2005000]

Originally Posted by Brad

Could not disagree more. The sports media has taken this story and made it into something it wasn't. It completely lacks any kind of context ... and the only sources the sports media has cited are an anonymous (most likely disgruntled) official and Tim Donaghy. It's shameful.

Originally Posted by Brad

From Fischer: Separating facts from perception in the Ed Rush controversy - Pac-12 Post:

“He didn’t think the officials were doing the job of containing the coaches, that coach decorum was getting out of control – not solely focused on Coach Miller, but several coaches. As part of that banter this discussion was had about, ‘What do I have to do to get you guys to enforce the rules? To ‘T’ a coach up if he won’t listen to the warning? Do I got to give you a trip? Money?’

“Our investigator asked very, very pointed questions and it was clear that no one thought that there was a real bounty. Ed was trying to shock them into being more firm in order to make a point.”

This is exactly the context that this story has been lacking. Instead, sports writers have run with the "Targeting Arizona / Miller" idea ... and the "Bounties on Coaches" ... completely misrepresenting the comments and turning them into something they were not.



It is a complete overreaction, but you are right that it is par for the course.

Sooo...you're using a media story to show that what the media is reporting may be "something it wasn't". Is the media overreacting or are they a good source of information? You appear to be doing a lot of speculating and passing it off as fact.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by zakman2005000

Sooo...you're using a media story to show that what the media is reporting may be "something it wasn't". Is the media overreacting or are they a good source of information? You appear to be doing a lot of speculating and passing it off as fact.

No, I'm using direct quotes from the very central person in the story ... to balance out the hearsay from an "anonymous source".

As I said, "the context that this story has been lacking"

Of course, this doesn't fit the sports media's preconceptions about officiating, so it won't get near the same amount of play tomorrow on ESPN or Twitter.