Comments on: Attacks on reporter Jerry Tipton unwarranted

By: newspaper in baton rouge

newspaper in baton rouge — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:42:06 +0000

newspaper in baton rouge…

Who says the internet is full of garbage?? Great post, I was searching for newspaper in baton rouge and came across it. Glad I did….

By: Ky Blue

Ky Blue — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:35:07 +0000

32 year subscriber of the LHL. I would say most of the people commenting negatively about Jerry on this blog wouldn’t spend the money to buy a newspaper, let alone cancel a subscription they probably don’t even have. Keep reporting Jerry. As Larry The Cable Guy would say “Get-er-doneeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Zach Rawn

Zach Rawn — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:32:15 +0000

This story has been picked up by knox News Sentinel and other media outlets. The story is not about Tipton but the crazed Kentucky fans going after the beat writer. Every paper in the country has a writer who they see as always being negative. Jerry Tipton is one of the best sports reporters in the south east. Heck the editor of the knox news sentiel wrote an editorial that listed all the reasons Phil Fulmer should be fired during the peak recruiting period. This rabid mob lynching makes UK fans look like delusional crazy people.

By: Mike Strange

Mike Strange — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:08:31 +0000

A fellow ink-stained wretch, I’ve covered SEC basketball about as long as Jerry has. He’s the best beat reporter I’ve ever come across in any sport. He is what we in this business should all aspire to be. End of story.

By: Randy Rosetta

Randy Rosetta — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:29:21 +0000

As another fellow sports journalist, I want to echo Mike Waters’ sentiments about Jerry Tipton’s professionalism and the way he does his job.

I started covering the SEC four yeas ago and from day one Jerry has been a great source of information and guidance for somebody not that familiar with the league and its rich history.

There is nobody more professional in our business in his approach and he deserves every benefit of the doubt in this situation or any other.

And the thought that he should share the audio tapes of his interviews is a chilling notion to me and I would guess sports writers everywhere.

Kentucky basketball fans are as passionate and knowledgeable as any I have been around — and I grew up in Kansas and attended KU and now cover LSU football, so I know a little about fans, passion and sports knowledge. But in this instance that passion and enthusiasm is misguided.

Jerry covers the Kentucky basketball program as well as anybody in the country covers any beat. It may not always want be what readers want to hear, but it’s the truth, which sometimes hurts a little.

Randy Rosetta
LSU football and basketball beat writer
Baton Rouge Advocate

By: J Payne

J Payne — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:25:36 +0000

With the LHL’s “declining revenue from advertising and circulation” it is obvious to the most casual observer that the LHL has resorted to taking desperate measures to drive traffic to their site and to stop the hemorrhaging of a troubled business. The tabloid actions from LHL employees to create controversial news instead of actual reporting on factual events prove the point.

The LHL has the freedom to perpetuate rumors and create news as they see fit, especially in the case of a public figure. The obsequious comments made by the editor in defense of an employee who is no more a reporter than those who opine on the numerous radio talk shows is a Constitutional right.

There will probably be short term benefits from the LHL’s actions, as well as long term consequences.

In the interest of “excellence in reporting” and “telling all sides of a story”, please share all the facts (recorded audio) that are in your possession and consider refraining from the arrogant retorts. Let the chips fall were they may…

By: ACC fan

ACC fan — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:56:29 +0000

It really disgusts me to read the stuff that people think journalists “should do.”

Bleed for the home team, check.

Never report bad news, check.

Always report only bunnies and butterflies, check.

And would you have liked Woodward and Bernstein to have released the tapes and notes on their Watergate investigations? How about reporters who are finding the truth in regards to racism, corrupt politicians, etc.

You can say, “but this is sports,” but you would be wrong. Mr. Tipton is a journalist.

But don’t worry. Newspapers will be gone soon enough. Then all the chat rooms, blogs, TV talking heads will have to do their own work instead of just reading the newspaper and “reporting” it as their own…

By: Rick Bonnell

Rick Bonnell — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:46:12 +0000

I’ve known Jerry for years, and he’s a total pro. Part of the reason I enjoyed moving from college sports to the NBA was this bizarre “with-us-or-against-us” attitude among some loud and petty fans of big programs. I always wonder if the same so-called “positive” coverage these people demand would be appropriate for any other beat in a newsroom. Would you trust the city hall reporter who is on the mayor’s re-election committee? A reporter has a responsibility to be fair. He also has a responsibility to be skeptical. Jerry is great at both.

By: Mike Waters

Mike Waters — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:54:59 +0000

As a college basketball reporter, I find the discussion here to be troubling, but also very common. Fans, particularly college fans, view their team with a very parochial attitude. It’s the old ‘You’re either with us or you against’ point of view. There’s a severe lack of understanding of the media’s role, especially in its coverage of college athletics.

I would ask some of the Kentucky fans who are reacting negatively toward the Lexington Herald-Leader’s recent coverage of Kentucky basketball to ask themselves what they would think if this story were generated out of Bloomington, Ind., or Clemson, S.C., or Tallahassee, Fla. or Syracuse, N.Y. Would you have a visceral response to the local newspaper that was reporting the news? Would you have a response to fans who wanted to cancel a subscription or threaten a reporter for a story on the coach’s recruiting tactics? Or would you think ‘Hey, maybe UK can steal away some of those kids who were considering School X?’ Would you care at all?

Finally, let me say something about Jerry Tipton. Jerry is one of the most respected college basketball reporters in the country. If a few writers are gathered somewhere and the conversation turns to who are the best beat writers in the business, there’s a nod to Jerry Tipton and we head straight to who’s No. 2. He’s that good. He’s that knowledgeable.

You want good solid, in-depth coverage of UK basketball? You want to read Jerry Tipton. I would hope that most Kentucky fans are knowledgeable enough about the game to understand that.

Mike Waters
College basketball reporter
Syracuse Post-Standard

By: Donal

Donal — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:40:07 +0000

LOL You say, “He is knowledgeable, thorough and aggressive, as journalists should be, but also a fair reporter committed to telling all sides of a story.”
If that wasn’t so sad it would be funny. If Tipton would have been aggressive, fair and committed to telling all sides of a story through the years then the program wouldn’t be in the mess it is now in. NO, Jerry Tipton and the other LHL writers enabled Tubby as he dismantled the UK basketball program. I will never buy another LHL as long as he works there and dare anyone to bring one into my office. UK sports should be handled through the Courier Journal until the “problem” is taken care of.