Gee,. what a shock...

[ecompt]

The Urinal Sentinel basically kisses Bo's behind in a column in Saturday's editions.

[KenoshaWarrior]

Typical local meatball reporters.

[madtownwarrior]

Bo must buy Potrykus cases of chapstick for all the times Potrykus kisses his ass...

[lab_warrior]

Has Don Walker uncovered any other college students, of legal drinking age, in attendance at any Milwaukee bars?

We're all RIVETED, DON.

[Nukem2]

Potrykus is simply a member of the good-old-boys club in Madison.  He walks the line while professing to be a journalist while he posts over at BadgerNation.com   

[Tugg Speedman]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/badgers/wisconsin-should-not-suffer-from-transfer-dustup-9i53g8u-148350165.html

Transfer case won't damage Wisconsin
By Jeff Potrykus of the Journal Sentinel

Madison - As Bo Ryan was getting skewered this week on multiple ESPN platforms - beginning with "Mike and Mike in the Morning" - and all across the Twitter universe, the angst among Wisconsin men's basketball fans grew exponentially.

Some typical concerns, posted all over the Internet:

"This is a public relations nightmare for us."

"This is a black eye for the program."

"You have to think Bo's national image will be tainted going forward."

There should be little debate Ryan and UW suffered a PR hit both Tuesday and Wednesday. As word spread UW had restricted which schools freshman Jarrod Uthoff could contact as he looked to transfer, writers and commentators who believe athletes' movements should be unfettered used Ryan to champion that cause.

After a delayed appeals process finally began Thursday morning, the restrictions were amended to Big Ten schools only.

Uthoff will move on, much to the dismay of some UW fans who feel jilted. He could have handled the transfer more deftly - by telling Ryan in person, by agreeing to meet with his coach and discuss his rationale and by delivering his letter of appeal in person rather than entrusting that task to a friend.

Ryan and UW will move on, much to the dismay of fans from rival schools. Ryan and UW mistakenly allowed the story to build momentum for two to three days, with the only information coming from Uthoff or his former AAU coach.

Ryan isn't going to lose a wink of sleep over being criticized by the media - local, national or worldwide. He told reporters Thursday his focus turned to recruiting the moment he was informed Uthoff would transfer.

That single-mindedness can be both a strength and a weakness, especially when your critics are pounding at your door.

Yet it was reported as early as Monday that Uthoff had appealed the restrictions placed on his release, but UW officials, thinking no appeal had been filed, didn't check with Uthoff until Thursday morning to clarify the matter.

That delay allowed a brush fire to turn into an inferno.

Nevertheless, the PR black eye is akin to one of those fake tattoos you purchase at a summer festival. Unlike the real deal, they fade quickly and without pain.

Will recruits be less inclined to sign with UW now? Hardly. The next recruit whose decision is swayed by the words of Colin Cowherd, Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Michael Wilbon or Tony Kornheiser - all employees of ESPN who criticized Ryan - will be the first.

Several players with UW ties used Twitter to defend Ryan.

La Crosse Aquinas guard Bronson Koenig, who has given UW an oral commitment for its 2013-'14 class and is busy recruiting other prospects for that class, isn't reconsidering his decision.

"Colin Cowherd is a loser," Koenig wrote on Twitter after Cowherd cautioned recruits to be wary of UW.

Perhaps the most ironic aspect of the story was that Ryan became the catalyst for a vigorous discussion on whether coaches/conferences should have the right to restrict players' ability to transfer.

Ryan? Uthoff will be his second transfer at UW. The first was Mickey Perry to Dayton in 2006-'07. Ryan recently finished his 11th season at UW.

In addition, Ryan does not engage in creative roster management after signing more players than NCAA rules allow. In short, he doesn't run players off because of recruiting miscues.

As difficult as the events of the week may have been for UW fans, the firestorm was already dying down Friday morning.

"This is not, no matter how it was painted yesterday, this is not a Bo Ryan issue," Greenberg said on 'Mike and Mike in the Morning' on ESPN. "This is not a Wisconsin issue.

"This is a much bigger issue. That happened to be the example that was in the news at this moment that we seized on."

The issue of transfer restrictions will not go away. Yet UW's role in that discussion will soon be a footnote given the paucity of transfers under Ryan.

Ryan's reputation among the national media will be the same: outstanding coach; gruff personality.

UW, which welcomes Sam Dekker of Sheboygan Lutheran and Zak Showalter of Germantown next season and is looking to sign a replacement for Uthoff, will continue to recruit players who will keep the program near or at the top of the Big Ten.

[Tugg Speedman]

This part is garbage

Uthoff will move on, much to the dismay of some UW fans who feel jilted. He could have handled the transfer more deftly - by telling Ryan in person, by agreeing to meet with his coach and discuss his rationale and by delivering his letter of appeal in person rather than entrusting that task to a friend.

Has anyone ever quit a job?  When you make the decision, you quit, you leave, you walk out the door.  You don't have to explain yourself.  You don't have to subject yourself to a dressing down by Bo telling you you're making a mistake and a loser.

Uthoff is not required to "handle it better."  UW is required to "handle it better."  All Utlhoff has to do is announce he wants to leave, by whatever means he feels necessary.  He did that.

[warthog-driver]

Potrykus is a mouthpiece toolbox for UW-Madison. Gotta love his objectivity.

[The Process]

At some point, the Urinal Sentinel's going to lose money to the point that they're going to have to start cutting back even more on their coverage.  Unfortunately, their "sports" coverage will turn into:

Packers, more Packers, and even more Packers
Brewers
Bucky (especially football, but basketball too)

And a reporter who covers preps/Bucks (if they're still in Milwaukee, sadly enough)/other sports.

I have a feeling that whatever passes for "basketball" in Madison will still be covered by the folk that cover Bucky Football, especially after the bowl season concludes.  Pootrykus' "coverage" here is an example of the Urinal Sentinel knowing their Bucky audience; thanks to their football program, there are enough people in the Milwaukee area that clamor for all things Rodent, more than MU fans.  It's like the fan base for a show like Chuck or Heroes - super-loyal, but the email campaigns to keep the show on the air can only happen so many times before it's cancelled.

Judging from the craptastic coverage that Enlund has provided, it's not like those of us here are going to be losing all that much.  Really... when was the last time Enlund out-scooped what we get here at MUScoop?

And I see Don Walker has advertised this drivel on Twitter.  As Lab_Warrior said, shouldn't he be looking for more underage partying by student athletes to pounce on?

[warthog-driver]

Judging from the craptastic coverage that Enlund has provided, it's not like those of us here are going to be losing all that much.  Really... when was the last time Enlund out-scooped what we get here at MUScoop?

My biggest beef with Enlund is that he has yet to weigh in on several issues of great import:

- Hoopaloop - Chicos Incarnate or Disciple Extraordinare?

- Best Burger?

- Austin Greatstaff - Myth, Legend, Hype, or The Real Deal?

- Golden Eagles, Gold, Hilltoppers, or Wrath of God?

- The Gym, The Lanche, Lenny's, The Ardmore, The Camel Club, or Circle Inn - pick your poison?

Tom, we await your insights. Please.

[The Process]

My biggest beef with Enlund is that he has yet to weigh in on several issues of great import:

- Hoopaloop - Chicos Incarnate or Disciple Extraordinare?

- Best Burger?

- Austin Greatstaff - Myth, Legend, Hype, or The Real Deal?

- Golden Eagles, Gold, Hilltoppers, or Wrath of God?

- The Gym, The Lanche, Lenny's, The Ardmore, The Camel Club, or Circle Inn - pick your poison?

Tom, we await your insights. Please.

Shhh... it's his nap time.

[Dawson Rental]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/badgers/wisconsin-should-not-suffer-from-transfer-dustup-9i53g8u-148350165.html

Transfer case won't damage Wisconsin
By Jeff Potrykus of the Journal Sentinel

Madison - As Bo Ryan was getting skewered this week on multiple ESPN platforms - beginning with "Mike and Mike in the Morning" - and all across the Twitter universe, the angst among Wisconsin men's basketball fans grew exponentially.

Some typical concerns, posted all over the Internet:

"This is a public relations nightmare for us."

"This is a black eye for the program."

"You have to think Bo's national image will be tainted going forward."

There should be little debate Ryan and UW suffered a PR hit both Tuesday and Wednesday. As word spread UW had restricted which schools freshman Jarrod Uthoff could contact as he looked to transfer, writers and commentators who believe athletes' movements should be unfettered used Ryan to champion that cause.

After a delayed appeals process finally began Thursday morning, the restrictions were amended to Big Ten schools only.

Uthoff will move on, much to the dismay of some UW fans who feel jilted. He could have handled the transfer more deftly - by telling Ryan in person, by agreeing to meet with his coach and discuss his rationale and by delivering his letter of appeal in person rather than entrusting that task to a friend.

Ryan and UW will move on, much to the dismay of fans from rival schools. Ryan and UW mistakenly allowed the story to build momentum for two to three days, with the only information coming from Uthoff or his former AAU coach.

Ryan isn't going to lose a wink of sleep over being criticized by the media - local, national or worldwide. He told reporters Thursday his focus turned to recruiting the moment he was informed Uthoff would transfer.

That single-mindedness can be both a strength and a weakness, especially when your critics are pounding at your door.

Yet it was reported as early as Monday that Uthoff had appealed the restrictions placed on his release, but UW officials, thinking no appeal had been filed, didn't check with Uthoff until Thursday morning to clarify the matter.

That delay allowed a brush fire to turn into an inferno.

Nevertheless, the PR black eye is akin to one of those fake tattoos you purchase at a summer festival. Unlike the real deal, they fade quickly and without pain.

Will recruits be less inclined to sign with UW now? Hardly. The next recruit whose decision is swayed by the words of Colin Cowherd, Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Michael Wilbon or Tony Kornheiser - all employees of ESPN who criticized Ryan - will be the first.

Several players with UW ties used Twitter to defend Ryan.

La Crosse Aquinas guard Bronson Koenig, who has given UW an oral commitment for its 2013-'14 class and is busy recruiting other prospects for that class, isn't reconsidering his decision.

"Colin Cowherd is a loser," Koenig wrote on Twitter after Cowherd cautioned recruits to be wary of UW.

Perhaps the most ironic aspect of the story was that Ryan became the catalyst for a vigorous discussion on whether coaches/conferences should have the right to restrict players' ability to transfer.

Ryan? Uthoff will be his second transfer at UW. The first was Mickey Perry to Dayton in 2006-'07. Ryan recently finished his 11th season at UW.

In addition, Ryan does not engage in creative roster management after signing more players than NCAA rules allow. In short, he doesn't run players off because of recruiting miscues.

As difficult as the events of the week may have been for UW fans, the firestorm was already dying down Friday morning.

"This is not, no matter how it was painted yesterday, this is not a Bo Ryan issue," Greenberg said on 'Mike and Mike in the Morning' on ESPN. "This is not a Wisconsin issue.

"This is a much bigger issue. That happened to be the example that was in the news at this moment that we seized on."

The issue of transfer restrictions will not go away. Yet UW's role in that discussion will soon be a footnote given the paucity of transfers under Ryan.

Ryan's reputation among the national media will be the same: outstanding coach; gruff personality.

UW, which welcomes Sam Dekker of Sheboygan Lutheran and Zak Showalter of Germantown next season and is looking to sign a replacement for Uthoff, will continue to recruit players who will keep the program near or at the top of the Big Ten.

Wow, there is not even a pretense of journalistic intent here.  The UW PR Department wouldn't have dared issue such a biased self serving statement.  No need for them to with Potrykus on board at the Journal Sentinal.  This is nothing more than a reassurance piece for the Badger faithful.  Don't worry its all okay, and everybody still loves Bo!  Hell, this isn't even a Wisconsin problem, this is a national problem that through a freak occurrence happened to be discussed in the context of Wisconsin, ironic because Wisconsin always does things the right way.  Clearly the paper has found that subscriptions are helped by such disguised editorial pieces.

"As word spread UW restricted which schools... Uthoff could contact..."  Actually, schools which could contact Uthoff, or offer him a scholarship were restricted.

"After a delayed appeals process finally began"  For obvious reasons, no party is held responsible for the delay.  Also, no mention that Bo wasn't in on the initial meeting with Uthoff.

"He could have handled the transfer more deftly"  This attempt to switch blame to Uthoff has already been pointed out above.

"Ryan and UW will move on, much to the dismay of fans from rival schools"  Poor old Bo and UW, always picked on by the "other" (read MU) schools.  Is Potrykus the source of the persecution complex for UW fans, or is he just the prime example of it?

Don't worry children, no recruits pay any attention to ESPN.  Why should they?  Who is ESPN anyway?

[MUMac]

Can't wait for the investigative article response by potrykus to combat this one.  http://www.foxsportswisconsin.com/04/21/12/Uthoff-I-wanted-to-do-this-in-person/landing_badgers.html?blockID=714002&feedID=5065  Certainly paints bo in a different light.  Frankly, this is most likely the true version.  Glad to see the kid sticking up for himself and countering the lies from the platteville posse.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Can't wait for the investigative article response by potrykus to combat this one.  http://www.foxsportswisconsin.com/04/21/12/Uthoff-I-wanted-to-do-this-in-person/landing_badgers.html?blockID=714002&feedID=5065  Certainly paints bo in a different light.  Frankly, this is most likely the true version.  Glad to see the kid sticking up for himself and countering the lies from the platteville posse.

He sounds like an extremely reasonable kid and Bo comes across as a total as$. Hope it gets more media attention.

[Dawson Rental]

He sounds like an extremely reasonable kid and Bo comes across as a total as$. Hope it gets more media attention.

Clearly, you are the dismayed fan of a rival school.

[RushmoreAcademy]

At some point, the Urinal Sentinel's going to lose money to the point that they're going to have to start cutting back even more on their coverage.  Unfortunately, their "sports" coverage will turn into:

Packers, more Packers, and even more Packers
Brewers
Bucky (especially football, but basketball too)

You need to add about two more Packers onto that. Maybe three.

[Bocephys]

You need to add about two more Packers onto that. Maybe three.

Exactly, it'll go Packers' draft, Brewers, Packers' off season workouts, Packers' draft update (These guys will allllll be studs within weeks!!), Brewers, Packers' pre-season, Vadgers football, Packers' opener, Brewers (if they haven't faded, if so, screw them), Packers' bye week, Wisconsin's bowl game, Packers' Division title run, Packers' Super Bowl chances, Packers' playoffs, how the refs screwed the Packers out of their title shot, Packers' offseason moves.

[brewcity77]

You forgot "Packers in the Pro Bowl".

[ZiggysFryBoy]

You forgot "Packers in the Pro Bowl".

Breaking:  Aaron Rodgers just took a dump.

[MUMac]

Are we still talking about the JS or did this morph back into a Scoop/Scout thread?   

[MarquetteDano]

Wow that article is something.  

Don't even know how to respond.  Other than this is very representative of Wisconsin sports reporting on their local teams.  At least now I know how Russians felt when reading the articles about their local officials.

[lab_warrior]

If there is a more glaringly obvious example of a journalistic reach-around, I have not seen one.  CHADIMA-ESQUE.

[warthog-driver]

Potrykus is disgusting, in many ways. Mr Taco Bell Man.

[mufansince72]

I posted on Badger nation about Potrykus lack of objectivity.  I compared him posting on message boards while being the beat writer for Bucky, to the Journal Sentinel publicly reprimanding employees on staff who signed the Walker recall.  To me there is not much difference.  If signing a recall petition gives the appearance of not being objective as a reporter, what does having over 3,000 posts on a fan message board for the team he covers say? 

It was actually turning into a pretty interesting debate, until the mods over their deleted the thread.  Obviously to protect their mouthpiece. 

[Dawson Rental]

I posted on Badger nation about Potrykus lack of objectivity.  I compared him posting on message boards while being the beat writer for Bucky, to the Journal Sentinel publicly reprimanding employees on staff who signed the Walker recall.  To me there is not much difference.  If signing a recall petition gives the appearance of not being objective as a reporter, what does having over 3,000 posts on a fan message board for the team he covers say? 

It was actually turning into a pretty interesting debate, until the mods over their deleted the thread.  Obviously to protect their mouthpiece. 

And probably at the request of their mouthpiece.