Ethics In Journalism and NCAA Violations: What They Don't Teach You At Butler

Most sports editors are well-versed in sports and writing. 

They are also supposed to be skilled in other journalistic matters such as objectivity, ethics, and, perhaps, those pesky little issues surrounding prospective NCAA student-athletes.

Enter Tom Davis, Sports Editor at the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.

Last night, during the IHSAA 4A title game, our guy Tom (a proud Butler alum) decided to Tweet 2013 commit Colin Hartman about his choice in colleges.

Did I mention Tom is a Butler alum and the sports editor at the News-Sentinel? Because I spent the better part of my drive back home thinking about how someone in his position could be so stupid. It's just crazy stupid, right?

Thus, I woke up this morning fully expecting to see that Tom had either deleted his Tweet or, at the very least, apologized for it.

Well, I guess I just don't know Tom, because this is how he responded.

So, I guess that's one way to respond to sticking your foot in your pushing it even deeper til it starts coming out your ass.

The guy had every chance to come up with some excuse, any excuse, to justify his unprofessional (and possibly NCAA infringing) comments: my teen-aged daughter hacked my account, I was drinking on prescription meds, I have mild Tourette Syndrome, anything! 

Nah. Tom decided to discount the impact of his comments and then went on to patronize the offended IU fans.

I probably wouldn't have taken that approach. His timeline today supports this conclusion (and explains his recent silence).

And just when you thought the tomfoolery had reached its peak, I happened to see Colin wasn't the only committed recruit to which Tom offered up his advice to yesterday:

The @Crisman01 would be Joe Crisman, a senior shooting guard from Munster who's currently committed signed to Loyla (IL).  

The @CoachDaneFife, well, you probably know who he is already. That'd be the same Coach Dane Fife of the IPFW Mastodons Men's Basketball team...the hometown college team covered by Tom Davis' Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.

So, yeah, there's a pattern emerging about Tom's eagerness to advise high school boys on where to play basketball, preferably at teams in which Tom Davis has a vested interest in.

Something tells me this whole thing doesn't turn out too well for poor Tom.

At best, his comments were highly unprofessional and thoroughly indefensible from a member of the print media, no less an editor. At worst, they constitute NCAA infractions and could cost him his job, possibly editorial career.

As always, I welcome your comments and insights, but I'm going to take a stab and say you'd probably rather direct them towards the people to which Mr. Davis is accountable.

Let me help you out with that:

Kerry Hubartt, Editor, The News-Sentinel, 260-461-8239,
Michael Christman, Fort Wayne Newspapers CEO & President, 260-461-8324,

P.S.  I told you, Tom. You were warned about #TheMovement.


  1. Love how he discounts it on the fifth slide you have posted. Why do it then?

  2. The latest tweet from Davis to Hartman is another insult to IU fans:

    @cwhartman27 After what I've endured the last 20 hours, if u ever alter ur choice 2 go 2 IU I bet my dog is dead!

  3. Tom Davis is a douche.

  4. Can someone forward this to Deadspin or The more nationally Davis is embarrassed, the better.

  5. grab a torch and pitchfork and let's march Tom Davis out of Indiana, Kirk Herbstreit style!

    The Movement>Douchebag Davis

  6. The guy looks like he'd have a keen interest in young boys, if you get my drift.