Maybe Nolan Was Right

Former University of Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson often criticized reporters who covered the Razorbacks for their unfairness. Although we believe Richardson has no idea of how easy he had it in this media market, we’re beginning to see some validity to some of his frustration.

How this story ever made it to print is beyond us, but The Morning News stooped to a recruiting-story low with its reporting June 28 that an 11-year-old Fayetteville youth had been offered a scholarship by the Razorbacks.

The story simply could not have been farther from the truth. The new UA staff didn’t get to the point of leading Walton Arena’s team by offering scholarships to 11-year-olds. The kid would not be a freshman until 2009.

A UA assistant had attended a youth basketball game and in courteous small talk with the youth’s father said the boy would make a fine Razorback one day. It’s something coaches say tongue-in-cheek to parents all the time. But the parent amazingly turned that into his son being offered a full ride seven years from now by new coach Stan Heath and went to a member of the Morning News’ staff with his take on the comment.

Apparently, the writer actually believed the story and ran with it. Perhaps even more unbelievable is that the article made it all the way through to print.

UA fans filled the radio airwaves later that day, voicing their concern of a coaching staff they believed had gone crazy.

Adding to this outrageousness is that the article quoted the kid’s coach, who is a correspondent for the Morning News. The coach said the kid already had the moves of Allen Iverson, the star NBA guard for the Philadelphia 76ers. We checked our calendars to see if it was April Fool’s Day, but apparently the joke was on the Morning News.