Patrick Reusse has eggnog all over his mug, instead of in it.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 23, 2007 7:43 PM EST in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

Paging Jim Shikenjanski, a Minnesota Golden Gophers blog and friend of A Sea of Blue, linked us earlier in the week when we took exception to the commentary of a certain Patrick Reusse of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, who said in an editorial that Patrick Patterson and Jai Lucas both verbally committed to Tubby Smith while he was at UK, and Lucas only decommitted after Smith left.

In a post today, PJS notes that Patrick Patterson himself debunked this absurd claim today in the Louisville Courier-Journal. Of course, Kentucky fans new about this all along, but apparently, Reusse thought it would be a damning accusation against what he calls "wackos" in Kentucky's fan base. Now it is Reusse and not the "wackos" with eggnog on his mug.

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Another blog completely dismisses Reusse's claim:

"It's as much an attempt to take credit away from UK coach Billy Gillispie, who did in less than two months what Tubby couldn't in two years -- get Patterson's commitment - as it is to defend Smith. But it's completely false. First of all, why would Patterson not make his verbal public in order to help support Smith (same for Lucas) if they really wanted to play for Smith?

Not that Patterson disliked Tubby. He may have wanted to play for him, but he most definitely had not made up his mind. He liked Tubby a lot, and his parents allowed Smith and his wife, Donna, to get closer to the family than Mike Krzyzewski, Billy Donovan or any other coach. Tubby was closer with the family than Patterson's high school coach. So, if Patrick had given Tubby a commitment, then he would have made it public because he knew the coach was potentially in trouble even though the family kept saying they expected Smith to stay at UK.

When I broke the news to Patrick and his mom that Tubby was going to Minnesota, their first reaction was shock that Tubby would do so and not call to give them a heads up. Then, they heard rumors that Tubby was forced out and they were confused. They were close to writing UK off. After they investigated the circumstances and found out that Tubby was never asked to leave they had an even more open mind about UK than before."

http://logelevel.com

by billygoverbillyd on Dec 23, 2007 8:23 PM EST reply actions

I feel like ...

the blogger in this case was blaming Smith for leaving that impression with Reusse, and I don't believe that for one minute. Not only that, I don't see how he could possibly arrive at that conclusion -- there are many other possibilities.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 24, 2007 12:17 AM EST up reply actions

Where'd The Incorrect Info Come From?

Thanks for the link, Tru. I usually like Reusse, but he was clearly wrong here.

Patterson and Lucas may well have liked Tubby or wanted to play for him, but for Reusse to report that Patterson and Lucas had given verbals to Tubby is obviously incorrect.

It would be interesting to know who gave Reusse that information because I would imagine Reusse doesn't have many sources in the UK basketball world.

by PJS on Dec 23, 2007 9:13 PM EST reply actions

Source

That is a very good question.

I hypothesize there are only two possible explanations: Either he has early on-set dementia, meaning his memory is faulty, or he flat out lied.

The fact that he did not cite a source in his article leads me to believe he had no source, but of course that is not definitive.

The fact that his nonsense was printed also leads me to question his editor. Where is the fact checker on this piece? It's not as if this is an opinion. It's a falsehood stated as fact.

Just another reason to question everything one reads.

by Ken Howlett on Dec 23, 2007 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

God knows ...

but he hasn't seen fit to reveal it to me, PJS.

There were/are always speculation in our more ... dysfunctional newsgroups about "silent verbals," the very suggestion of which usually draws a disproportionate number of scornful rebukes. That's because it is a running joke around Kentucky for many years.

Maybe Reusse just bought into that suggestion. I'm like you, where the hell would something like that come from? I am loathe to presume this guy is a moron masquerading as a sportswriter.

The only other possibility is Reusse talked to Smith and misunderstood him, or Smith or somebody close to Smith who claimed knowledge of the situation deceived him.

Nobody will ever convince me without proof that Smith lied -- I don't believe it and never will. The man is honest to a fault. But maybe somebody close to him led Reusse to believe something that's not true.

In other words, I'm as clueless as you are.

by Glenn Logan on Dec 24, 2007 12:08 AM EST up reply actions