Comments on: NCAA criticizes AJC blog on Richt/Burnette graduation issue, questions journalists’ ‘damning commentary’

By: chemdawg

chemdawg — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:14:31 +0000

People!!! Learn to think for yourself rather than riding the wave of public sentiment against the NCAA. It’s sad that all of you are allowed to vote. Michael Carvell’s shotty journalism got called out, and the criticism totally was justified. He threw the NCAA under the bus before they even had a chance to consider the matter. It’s not as if the NCAA has an explicit rule stating that “head coaches can’t go to signees valedictorian commencement.” The rule is a general rule to prevent contact during certain blackout periods. Remember, these high school athletes are teenagers and the rules are designed to protect them from overzealous recruiting efforts (which already consumes their lives) so they can lead semi-normal teenager lives. Michael Carvell’s reporting is a classic example of the “straw man fallacy”, a cheap tactic to stir the masses.

By: GeezusDawg

GeezusDawg — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:48:39 +0000

1st amendment; Carvell can write what he likes as an opinion piece. The NCAA’s skin is too thin.

By: Not Disappointed

Not Disappointed — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:32:54 +0000

<————— Loyal Jacket Fan Here! I do hope CMR is allowed to see this kid graduate. What’s the big deal anyway? I hope this kid is very sucsessful in life. Now, go take on the day! “Ramblin Wreck!”

By: TrippDawg

TrippDawg — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:33:27 +0000

I believe Richt should attend the graduation and force the NCAA’s hand. Maybe this will prove that the NCAA is nothing more than the old USSR reincarnated

By: larry

larry — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:28:22 +0000

The NCAA has developed itself into a organization that has more rules than the US Government. They think they are beyond reproach on any issue. It take a special consultant to research all the rules issued by this org.
It may be time for someone or some group to take them head-on and have them justify all the rules and all there contracts with multi millions, that TAX FREE Org. has. The privacy that this Org. has created allows them to do almost anything they want with little or no oversite.

By: shane#1

shane#1 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:27:34 +0000

Typical NCAA arrogance. Typical stupidity of SOME fans. It’s amazing that you have flamers commenting after a blog like this. I am just waiting to see which moron will call this kid “just another thug”!

By: Bill in Sandy Springs

Bill in Sandy Springs — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:46:51 +0000

NCAA is clearly in the wrong here. Whether or not this kid ends up in 1st or 2nd in his class, that is a huge achievement for anybody. The NCAA should have somebody smack some sense into them and let Richt go to the graduation. What’s the big deal anyway. Last year it was rumored that Tommy Bowden promised Jamie Fisher the first carry of the season to come to Clemson. Richt just wanted to go to the Burnette’s graduation where he just might be the Valedictorian. Let him go!

Keep up the good work, Michael.

By: dgroy

dgroy — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:46:23 +0000

We expect their work to cross platforms and serve both our print and digital readers with the premier high schools and recruiting coverage they have come to expect.

Shawn McIntosh
Public editor

I’ve seen a lot of words describing the AJC’s coverage of High School Sports in Georgia, but never the word “Premier”. Shawn, you’re delusional. Your paper is absolutely the worst at HS reporting I’ve seen. Do something quick or you’ll be gone too along with your paper.

By: secisfootball

secisfootball — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:25:51 +0000

Ohhhhh…the poor little NCAA got their feelings hurt. The NCAA seems to believe they can make up whatever rules they want but no one can have any opinion about them at all. They are a complete joke and need to stop worrying about little thinks like this article and whether or not Richt can go to a kids graduation. I agreed with the original article and said he should go!

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:29:45 +0000

Reading this article as well as the comments just proves how ignorant the uga fans really are. If this had been Myers or Saban the article and the comments would have been flipped around to make those two out to be the bad guys. In the end it really doesnt matter because I’m sure Florida nor Alabama would swap coaches with uga for anything.

By: bull-gator

bull-gator — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:03:43 +0000

Civil disobedience! Quick, call the Department of Homeland Security, someone, please! Seems the NCAA is just another fascist agency caught up in their own self imprtance. Pickle is a first class dimwit. I hope Coach Richt thumbs his nose at these morons and attends the event. what abunch of clowns!

By: Duluth Gator

Duluth Gator — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:09:40 +0000

Unbelievable. You have got to be kidding me. The NCAA makes some big deal about this, while the real outlaws do what they want and nothing is done to them. It is obvious that there are certain schools that are untouchable. The NCAA is so full of crap.

By: buzztinloose

buzztinloose — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:24:21 +0000

Pickle Said:
“In his piece, Pickle also questions why the topic was publicly broached.
“My question is why matters like this generate such damning commentary from journalists who should know better.””

Let’s think about that…

#1 Pickle is the perfect name for an NCAA apologist, err- I mean publicist. Or Do I?
The NCAA is always in one pickle or another due to it’s many and varied archaic and/or ludicrous policies.

#2 Isn’t the answer to your question obvious David? Matters like this stir up such commentary against the NCAA because everyone is sick and tired of the NCAA applying LESS common sense to most matters than anyone else on the Planet except the Iranians, North Koreans, cable companies and the U.S. Congress…..

By: IlliniDawg

IlliniDawg — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:03:39 +0000

When you feel you have to defend yourself with such statements, especially with hurling back accusations, it shows either insecurity or arrogance or both. All this does is make me hate and distrust the NCAA even more. They seriously are in need of a Public Relations consultant, because very few organizations are as good at self-immolation and self-destruction than the boys from Kansas City.

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:22:28 +0000

An AJC columnist lacking professionalism? I’m shocked.

By: Gatorman770

Gatorman770 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:42:56 +0000

I can’t say anymore about the NCAA enforcement bias and lack of “fair and equal enforcement”, i.e. USC is evidently “untouchables”, that hasn’t been said above.
Keep up the good work Michael Carvell and Mark Richt go see Chris Burnette. He sounds like a great kid.

By: Diggity Dawg

Diggity Dawg — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:41:21 +0000

“I love the [sic] in the post. A very subtle way to be an anus to someone.”

That was my favorite part, too.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:39:38 +0000

It NEEDS to apply to the Southeastern U.S., specfically the SEC teams. An aggregate of winning at any cost, plantation systems where
so-called “student”-athletes are given free rides, mororcycles, cars, women, and grades to prop-up the the sordid SEC “universities”.
Mark Richt is a phony SOB, as are most of the SEC Coaches/handlers. You alum and street fans turn your heads to the facts. Where do your players end up after their eligibility has expired? Specifically, those who do NOTmake the NFL cut. You know where: no degree in hand, thus jobs at McDonalds, the Post Office, custodial services, etc. Hmmmmmm… bright future, huh?

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:19:01 +0000

What crap.

I guess it wasn’t “civil disobedience” for SoCal boosters to rent a $500,000 house for Reggie Bush, but it will be if Mark Richt attends a graduations speech of a kid who has signed to come play for him.

It really is true – the jurisdiction of NCAA enforcement only seems to apply to the Southeastern United States.

By: Ted Striker

Ted Striker — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:21:40 +0000

Sorry, Michael, I agreed with the NCAA on this one. In this case, I thought you made a bigger deal of things than they actually were. Caveat: Had Richt petitioned for an exemption and been denied one by the NCAA, your column would have carried more weight.

That said, kudos to you for printing the NCAA response in detail. (Minus points for sounding snarky because of your “sic” “sic” critiques).

Still, you’re a very fine writer and I absolutely enjoy our opinions! This is the rare instance I thought you were on a bit of a wild goose chase on the merits of a particular column.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:34:13 +0000

Why is tis such a compelling story? Has Georgia never signed a smart football player before??

By: Horton Hears a Who

Horton Hears a Who — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:43:35 +0000

Ha! All this teeth-gnashing and the kid isn’t even the valedictorian. You ‘necks jinxed him!

By: Death of Preps

Death of Preps — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:14:09 +0000

In the midst of this relatively insignificant story, the fact that the AJC has completely abandoned its high school sports coverage has gone pretty much unnoticed. There has not been a word of high school sports coverage for at least a month in either print or on the web site.

Recruiting coverage, which is plentiful on the web site, is not high school coverage. The state soccer playoffs are under way and baseball will be into the post-season soon, but not a word, not even on the web site, which directs you to the GHSA’s site for scores.

The economic crisis facing newspapers is no secret. But it would be instructive if the AJC’s Public Editor would do a little research to do determine if any other metro daily in the country has completely disbanded its high school sports staff.

I’m sure we’ll see a piddly amount of football coverage in the Fall, but as for spring sports, they apparently don’t exist, at least as far as the AJC is concerned. I’m guessing the editors at the Marietta Daily Journal, Gwinnett Post and the other small metro dailies aren’t complaining about the AJC’s woes.

By: Dr. Phil

Dr. Phil — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:40:51 +0000

Richt is a grandstanding hippo crate.

By: Dave In Tampa

Dave In Tampa — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:47:30 +0000

I’d say that Pickle is in a real Pickle

By: Republican: Tyson

Republican: Tyson — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:26:54 +0000

The NCAA is the only thing keeping college football from becoming another pro-type run sport. It would be paid athletes then that would drive your taxes up…so on and so on. Sure if you want your stadiums full of riff raff and thugs go ahead and kick out the NCAA. I can’t stand some of their rules, but it would no longer be college football as you know and love. It would be just another over paid (spoil athlete attitude) with no ties to your schools sitting in the stands. It would be the pro’s in virtual reality. A playoff should be installed, but getting totally rid of the NCAA would cause THUGGERY! Kind of like Obamisim.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:24:57 +0000

I love the [sic] in the post. A very subtle way to be an anus to someone.

By: tell the truth

tell the truth — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:19:48 +0000

if richt were not recuiting him could you even drag him to his graduation. How many graduations does he actually attend when there is no close relationship. Just tell the truth as to why he is really going.

By: Zoomie

Zoomie — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:57:45 +0000

Now that Mr. Carvell and Mr. Pickle have that off their chests, let’s see if the NCAA will do, what is clearly, the right thing.

By: Mutts-R-Stupid-especially-journalism-majors

Mutts-R-Stupid-especially-journalism-majors — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:40:22 +0000

Oh, this is rich for a school where the final exam for basketball players asked such difficult questions as “How many points are awarded for a 3-point shot?” Was Tony Cole an honors graduate from his high school? Was UGAY not facing the NCAA death penalty if they got caught cheating one more time on academic matters?

By: DBOY JONES

DBOY JONES — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:29:31 +0000

The AJC took my comments off of the the blog. LOLOL. They hate when you tell the truth about something. I will repeat what I said then. The NCAA should piss off because they should be worrying about organizing a playoff system and getting rid of that stupid BCS system instead of commenting on a Journalist who Mark Richt is not going to listen too anyway. Mark Richt is his own man and will do the right thing by asking for a waiver 1st. Which he did on yesterday. The NCAA is a joke to me sometimes.

By: TommyP

TommyP — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:29:20 +0000

Yet another reason to absolutely HATE, despise, and root against the NCAA.

The only thing more disgusting than the NCAA is the fact this Pickle-idiot felt the need to respond to Carvell’s article.

I agree so often that Congress should stay away from involving themselves with sports but not in the case of the NCAA.

By: Crimson Crush

Crimson Crush — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:01:16 +0000

Tokyo Jacket that was sort of the gist of my post on Carvell’s original article . I am not in love with the Bulldogs , Mark Richt OR the AJC . In this case though Carvell was correct and I would have to take sides with the Dawgs on this one .

The indignant response of the NCAA to the original article about the author encouraging “civil disobedience” was even MORE over the top . Are you kidding me ???? Like they are the fiat kings and their word is the unquestionable ,unassailable LAW of the land ??? Who the **** do these clowns think they are besides overpaid thieves and pencil pushers ?

If they want to get “indignant” about something how about they get off their asses and do a REAL investigation of why Reggie Bush was allowed to have his personal sports agent buy his family a home , sit in the locker room and attend practices so often he was like an assistant coach …

By: Sid

Sid — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:11:41 +0000

Civil Disobedience??? Are you kidding me???

By: Joe Schmoe

Joe Schmoe — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:53:45 +0000

Haha, Pickle!!! How ya doin Mr. Pickle! So immature.