Concerned Fans Press Release #1

CONCERNED FANS FOR

BASKETBALL

RESPONSE TO COLUMN BY JERRY TIPTON

11 June 2006

Dear Mr. Tipton,

I read your column this morning with great interest, as you would expect. Overall, I believe you presented a fair commentary on the events as well as the discussion you and I had on Friday. I appreciate you attention to this issue.

I would like to comment on a few items and correct the record in a couple of instances.

The Kernel's decision not to run the ad was not the stimulus that prompted a Press Release by Concerned Fans. The Kernel's decision did alter the wording of the Press Release, but Concerned Fans planned a Press Release in conjunction with the publication of the ad.

I have received three degrees from UK , not two.

I did not “hire” fact checkers, but I asked members of Concerned Fans to perform this research instead of me and many have begun doing so. As I mentioned to you, those efforts continue at this time.

The last couple of issues concern the use of the expression “lacks any obvious basketball expertise” and Mr. Strickland's assertion that I do not represent ‘the vast majority of fans.”

With respect to the expertise issue, I am a fan, and I would suggest that the vast majority of fans lack the level of basketball expertise to which you suggest I lack. However, that does not render our views invalid about the condition of the program, the trends we see the program taking, and the results that the program has achieved. If the standard you suggest is the proper one for fans to be qualified to speak out about their team/coach/etc. then no fan should or would ever have a legitimate voice in such matters.

Let me remind you about the statement that Doug Dickey made in testimony in the Richardson case, which the court found “impressive and convincing.” He testified that college basketball programs needs to have a particular “public aura.” That since basketball programs are in the marketing and entertainment business, for a program to be successful, the public needs to know that its coach is … [looking out for the long-term interests of the program] so that fans will buy tickets and support the team.” In this case, the public to which Mr. Dickey refers must be the fans.

With respect to Mr. Strickland's assertion, perhaps he is correct, and perhaps he is not. While the Concerned Fans group that I have been representing here cannot claim such broad spread backing of the fan base using objective data, I seriously doubt that Mr. Strickland has objective data to support his assertion either. In the view of our group, one purpose of this ad and publicity campaign is to alert the grass roots fans that what they have been seeing and thinking about the UK program in recent months and years is shared by others, and to let them know that it is acceptable to let the University know how they feel. I can say that I have observed that very type of response from several local fans who have contacted me since last Wednesday to tell me so. Is this a majority? I cannot say it is or is not. Can Mr. Strickland.

Again, Mr. Tipton, I really do appreciate your attention to this matter, and I value the significant amount of time that you obviously used to gather your information from me as well as other sources. Thank you very much.

Richard Cheeks, Concerned Fans For UK Basketball

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