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Dealing with rumors

Rumors are a fact of life. The grapevine is the original mass medium, and the speed-of-fiber communications of the Internet only accelerates the dissemination of what may or may not be true.

More than ever, a newspaper finds itself accused of intentionally suppressing news when it doesn't print what's rumored. Typically, though, the "news" simply isn't true or can't be confirmed.

Still, if everybody is talking about something, shouldn't the newspaper have it? Well, maybe.

A case in point is Pat Summitt's separation from her husband. It has been grist for the mill for many weeks. But we recognized that, short of a public record of divorce or some acknowledgement by the coach, reporting the rumor could be seen as an unwarranted intrusion into her privacy.

Dan Fleser, who covers the LadyVols, was sensitive to the sensibilities of Coach Summitt, but he also was aware that the separation was common knowledge, and avoiding public acknowledgement might merely fuel private speculation. Today, he brought the matter into the open in a column, http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/gvx_ladyvol_basketball/article/0,1406,KNS_19597_4970803,00.html which also is posted here as an extension.

The column drew some criticism, but also praise. I thought it was tastefully and appropriately handled. More importantly, my understanding is that coach Summitt agreed.

Fleser: Despite cause for pause, Summitt is on the go
By DAN FLESER, fleser@knews.com
September 5, 2006

Pat Summitt has a pretty fair track record for snap decisions.

Her 32 women's basketball seasons at the University of Tennessee can be measured literally in thousands of timeouts. Sixty seconds worth of concentrated brainstorming.

Man or zone?

What play to call?

To foul or not to foul?

Time's up. Time to make a call.

Summitt's 913 career victories are testament to many personal attributes. Decisiveness ranks high on the list.

But that's basketball, not life. An important part of Summitt's life has presented a daunting challenge to one of her signature traits.

Summitt is separated from R.B. Summitt, her husband of 26 years. They've been apart since spring. Other than to acknowledge the split, she won't comment on the reasons or speculate on how or when the process will end.

Regardless, it appears to be basketball business as usual. Preseason workouts are in full swing. Summitt and her coaching staff also are receiving recruits on visits. Top junior prospect Elena Delle Donne, a 6-foot-3 wing player from Wilmington, Del., was here on an unofficial visit last week, along with her parents.

Summitt also hosted several coaches over the Labor Day weekend, including former players Tanya Haave, who is the new head coach at San Francisco, and Western Carolina coach Kellie Harper. Middle Tennessee State coach Rick Insell and Summitt's Villanova buddy, Harry Perretta, were here as well.

In the next month, Summitt will be on the road, making home visits to prospects and doing corporate speaking engagements.

While her pace isn't unusually excessive, she isn't meandering either.

If anything, Summitt's itinerary reflects another important trait - seemingly boundless energy, particularly for all things basketball-related.

At this point, the attribute might be more important than ever.


Recruiting Stuff: The weekend of Sept. 16 is shaping up as a real doozy.

The Lady Vols are believed to be bringing in five top recruits for official visits.

Two guards - 6-foot Angie Bjorklund from Spokane, Wash., and 5-9 Sydney Smallbone from South Bend, Ind. - - committed to UT.

The other visitors are expected to be Vicki Baugh - a 6-4 forward from Sacramento, Calif. - and two post players: 6-5 Kelley Cain from Atlanta and 6-4 Jantel Lavender from Euclid, Ohio.


Opposition Talk I: Two of UT's opponents this season have taken preseason personnel hits.

West Virginia guard Meg Bulger is out for the season after re-injuring her left knee. Along with being the nation's leader in 3-point field goals per game (3.5) in 18 games last season, Bulger also was averaging nearly 20 points per game.

Chattanooga, meanwhile, has lost sophomore Nancy Moore, who has left the team, coach Wes Moore told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The 5-10 wing was the only big guard left on the Lady Mocs ' roster.


Opposition Talk II: The Lady Vols will be facing two-time junior college All-American Amber Holt a little sooner than expected and with a different opponent.

The 6-foot guard, who was bound for SEC rival Georgia, instead has ended up at Middle Tennessee State. The Blue Raiders visit on Nov. 26.

The change of schools apparently involved the academic major Holt plans to pursue.

Dan Fleser covers women's basketball. He can be reached at 865-342-6288

Copyright 2006, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by DAN FLESER, fleser@knews.com on September 05, 2006


post a comment
Comments:
NewMex why would u be disappointed to have this in print... It's been the talk of Knoxville and lot other places for months that it was happening, so why try and hide it, get it out in the open, it happens to thousands of people, Pat Summit just happens to be a basketball coach, so what, she's getting a divorce.. Move on...

Posted by: Pullingguard at September 6, 2006 9:43 AM
our prayers with coach Pat. Like we always said she is the consumate LADY-straight as an arrow. Only good things will follow her. Every act in life has a reason and she will come through just fine. With the vol nation behind her she will fight on. Thanks Dan for the rumors not to get out of hand.

Posted by: apollo60 at September 6, 2006 9:43 AM
Life is what happen's to you while you are making other plans! Forest Gump was right "stuff happens", good job,Dan, other than to know about a public figure no other details are neededever.

Posted by: adjuster12 at September 6, 2006 9:03 AM
It is better to have this handled openly than to have the rumor mill as the only source. Dan is to be commended for the low key way he presented it. Thor

Posted by: thor at September 6, 2006 7:56 AM
It is better to have this handled openly than to have the rumor mill as the only source. Dan is to be commended for the low key way he presented it. Thor

Posted by: thor at September 6, 2006 7:53 AM
Dear God; Amen to what Ron said.

Posted by: CrankE at September 6, 2006 7:48 AM
Now that we know We can say a Prayer for the Summit Family. God First; Family Second; and UT Third.

Posted by: Ron at September 6, 2006 5:45 AM
Time to say a prayer for that family, coaching is a tough lifestyle.Time to respect and support the whole family.

Posted by: bonzaivol at September 6, 2006 12:51 AM
How do you know Pat didn't ask Dan to write this? I am sure it is public knowledge and this article is certainly not in poor taste.

Posted by: alavol42 at September 6, 2006 12:26 AM
You should be absolutely ashamed about mentioning anyone's personal business. Pat Summit or ANYONE! It is not anyone's business to know. I am ashamed of this article and very disappointed the News Sentineal allowed this. Very low Dan:(

Posted by: NewMexVol at September 5, 2006 11:40 PM


Comments

I feel so very sorry for the Summitts. I hope God can heal this marriage. Is this not a private affair that has nothing to do with our great Lady Vols program? A little privacy please. If I were fortunate enough to meet Pat Summitt I would not ask her about her marriage.

The wife of a Loudon County Sheriff's Department deputy is being inestigated for embezzling funds from the Loudon quarterback club. A substanstial amount of money. An announcement was made to parents at a recent pracrice session. My question is "why hasn't she been arrested and why has nothing been said about it in our local newspaper. Anyone else would of already been arrested and ran through the paper. It just goes to show that in Loudon County it doesn't matter if you break the law, it's all on who you know. Look back at the past year in Loudon County and see how many Sheriff Department employees were indicted for something and how many since the the D.A. took over have actually been held accountable- how many?

That story would be the same without Coach's personal life being inserted into the story, so why put it in, who knows but it looks like nothing more than a personal attack by a very small man! So maybe we need a cage match on pay per view, where coach will slap that silly smile off of Dan Fleser face and shoves his keyboard where the sun never shines! You can call it show me a "little respect" asslick, now thats a win people would pay to see!

Does this mean they will change the name of the "Summitt" at Thompson Bowling Arena to the "Head"? Perhaps the university should intervene to have her keep her married name, so they won't have to scrape the paint on the floor.

I would like to have read the article linked in the blog, but once again, I was stopped by the GOVOLSxtra demon. Good work Jack. Thanks

By the way, Dave Hooker is not worth the extra money you receive from the pay sight.

i wish pat and her family all the luck in the world. r b hasbeen there for her and will be for ever but some time things do not work out.god bless the whole family and remember they have a son.
god's speed pat

I'm a Uconn fan, but I have nothing but respect for Pat. She's a fine lady, and I wish her and her husband nothing but the best, no matter what happens to their life together.

Keep your chin up, Pat, and you'll see your way through this - I promise you.

Pat is a lady of high class. She has been a role model to all women. I wish her a good 2007-2008 season. I pray for her to overcome this great blow to her personal life and hope that people will leave all of this to her.

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