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ESPN misreports on FBI Investigation during an Arizona Basketball game

By Shereen Rayan

26 Nov 1997: Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils watches his players during a game against the Arizona Wildcats at the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii. Duke won the game 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /All
26 Nov 1997: Coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils watches his players during a game against the Arizona Wildcats at the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii. Duke won the game 95-87. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /All /
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Please make it stop! ESPN continues to target Arizona Basketball reporting incorrect “Facts” during the Maui Invitational Tournament.

Wildcats fans were hoping ESPN would put the Arizona Basketball targeting smear campaign behind them after Dick Vitale swore off continuing his efforts. That didn’t happen. This time they instructed Bill Walton and Dave Pasch to explain or read the graphic they put up during the second half of the Arizona vs. Iowa State game on Monday night.

ESPN put up a graphic on the FBI Investigation with three points which Pasch was forced to read, it seemed to us he wasn’t happy about this task:

  1. OCT 10: Former Adidas Consultant testifies he paid family of player Deandre Ayton $25,000
  2. OCT 28: Call records reportedly link Head Coach Sean Miller to recruit’s handler
  3. NOV 1: Arizona Board of Regents meet after new allegations surface during federal corruption trial

Let’s take the October 10th statement first. WRONG!

Jason Scheer stated the obvious in a Tweet, “Gassnola testified that he paid a family friend of Ayton’s $15,000 to pass along to Ayton’s mother. Money never reached them most likely. Also literally 0 to do with Arizona. This is what Arizona is battling.” Scheer also pointed out that the Mark Schlabach accusation did not make the graphic.

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We would add, is there proof of any payment made or received? It didn’t come up in any paperwork or reports from the trial that we have seen reported.

Now, how about the October 28th statement? Call records prove nothing, plenty of coaches were listed receiving calls from Dawkins including Oregon, Creighton, Louisville, and Dupaul. Does ESPN have a graphic for Oregon’s games? Also, as far as we know it’s not a crime to take a phone call as other coaches took his phone calls as well.

As we reported previously, the Arizona Board of Regents meeting was a scheduled meeting and Arizona’s program management had to know they would be checking in with them as each trial started and ended. So this seemed to be a non-story made into a story.  The ABOR leadership showed the public they were serious about staying in the loop and moving forward from there.

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So, ESPN, we are wondering how many of these graphics you all developed to play during basketball games? Did Kansas get a graphic? How about Oregon? USC? Duke? Dying to know! We ask you to please refrain for the remainder of the season to either hit all schools or none. Also, if you do create a graphic or if you decide to talk about the FBI trial, make sure you have your facts right. So far you are missing your field goals, three’s and free-throws.

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