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Big 10 Conference vs ESPN

It's about time.

Big Ten Conference Statement


March 4, 2005

Park Ridge, IL -- The Big Ten has communicated its extreme disappointment and concern to ESPN's management relative to statements made by Mr. Doug Gottlieb at the halftime of Thursday's Purdue at Illinois basketball game on ESPN2.

Specifically Mr. Gottlieb called into question the integrity of Mr. Rick Hartzell, an official in Tuesday's Indiana at Wisconsin basketball game, telecast by ESPN.

In addition Mr. Gottlieb questioned the professionalism of Big Ten Associate Commissioner Rich Falk relative to the administration of the Big Ten's men's basketball officiating program.

Neither statement should have been made, and in our view these statements represent an example of irresponsible sports `reporting'. It is unfortunate that Mr. Gottlieb, whose own reputation for honest dealings has been called into question in the past, has been placed in the position by ESPN to pass judgment on a well-regarded, veteran official working a Big Ten basketball game, and a Big Ten associate commissioner who has rendered valuable service to the Conference and college basketball for decades.

The Big Ten Conference considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment.

TRANSCRIPT OF DOUG GOTTLIEB'S COMMENTS DURING HALFTIME OF ESPN2'S COVERAGE OF THE PURDUE-ILLINOIS GAME MARCH 3, 2005:

"As we take you back to Tuesday night Indiana-Wisconsin it's obvious that there may not be a real clear cut, a clear cut bad call made on this particular play.

But if you watch it there is the appearance that maybe there is a conflict of interest. You know, Indiana trailed by one and it looked like Wilkinson fouls on the play...Mike Wilkinson fouls on the play. Mike Davis obviously went nuts but Rick Hartzell was the official who was in position.

And that conflict of interest or at least the appearance of the conflict of interest is apparent because Rick Hartzell is the athletic director at Northern Iowa. Now if he's the AD for a bubble team, why is he officiating a game involving another bubble team in a game that could cost Mike Davis his job, and could definitely cost Indiana a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament?

I'm not saying there is a clear cut conflict of interest, but there is at least that appearance. And it lends the question, why is Rich Falk assigning him to a game in the Big Ten? He's the conference officials commissioner, and why is he assigning him to this game, and why wasn't a switch made at the last second so that there's never that appearance? When it was obviously at least to Steve Lavin, who was calling the game as the color man for ESPN. He said it was a bad call. I agree. It was a totally blown missed call. But now there the appearance of the conflict of interest because there's no call made and because he's the AD at Northern Iowa."

Big 10 Statement re Gottlieb's Lack of Integrity
 
Look at Gottliebs remarks in the transcript. He's very careful in the opening paragraph, it's when he tries to make a story out of nothing, that Northern Iowa was on the bubble and thus the ref could be in a conflict of interest, that he stops being careful. Reminiscent of "talk radio" politics. It's ALL about the need for product. ESPN needs a ton of product to keep on the air 24 - 7. The storm this creates is good for another segment or two on some of their other shows.
 
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ESPN is becoming a tabloid network. What happened to sports 24/7/365? The network is so far away from its original Mission Statement that it has to be unrecognizable to its founders.
Amen to that brother! About 10 years ago I used to joke in class that I was so old I could remember when MTV actually played music videos. It appears that in the near future I may be able to joke that I am so old I remember when ESPN actually showed sporting events.
 
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