Interesting reaction to my Tom Izzo announcement

Glendale, Arizona November 19, 2006 ÂIn life, there are a lot of moments when you need to lock at yourself and reflect. I had no doubt that many people would

Glendale, Arizona

November 19, 2006

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In life, there are a lot of moments when you need to lock at yourself and reflect. I had no doubt that many people would be shocked with yesterday announcement that Tom Izzo is a potential candidate for the football coaching vacancy. I even expected that it would baffle a lot of people. However, the response I received superseded anything that I could have expected.Â

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As my inbox became cluttered with responses to my article, I began to notice the plethora of opinions that Spartan Nation had. The first ten emails were nothing more than hate mail. I was accused of using this as a “ratings ploy”; one person even went as far as to accuse me of “completely fabricating it.”

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After the initial response flooded in, I began to receive responses that were actually levelheaded. People agreed; Izzo as football coach might just work. Instead of questioning the merits of the article, people began questioning the content and probability. Could Izzo do the job? Does he want to do the job? By the end of the night, it seemed the responses were intrigued by the idea and felt that it could “potentially be great.”

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I am not trying to defend myself. I report what I feel is appropriate to report. However, as I left my house at 2:45am to catch a flight to Arizona, I was actually concerned with my family’s safety. Two people chose to make death threats on me for my article on Izzo. One person went as far as communicating my home address to me and stating he was “going to kill” me for “trying to hurt Izzo.” This obviously crossed all boundaries; I should not fear for my life or my family’s safety as a result of reporting information.

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After I received the information I was confronted with two choices. I could sit on and pretend I never had it or I could report it like I should. I never imagined that reporting it would result in death threats. I decided to report it along with sixteen valid points. If Izzo wants the job, he deserves to be looked at. I am not saying, he should be handed the job just because he wants it, but let’s look at him. For me to be called derogatory names in return for honest journalism is simply not part of a free speech society that we live in; I did not slander anyone in my reporting and I should have received the same treatment in return. With other journalists reporting the same information I had, I chose to be fair to my viewers and readers and provide them with the same information. It is with integrity that I report and that remains a threshold of my operation.

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The vast majority of the coaching talk in the past 24 hours has circulated around Izzo. If the rumor that he was interested was completely false you think that MSU would instantly squash it. I never said it was imminent; I said that MSU was considering it and if they offered it to him I think he would accept.Â

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Throughout this whole process, I have worked incredibly hard to provide the best possible information. I reported the Monday after the OSU game that JLS would not return next season. On the day he was fired, I reported three hours before any announcement that JLS would be fired that day. I put together an initial list of candidates that I felt would be interviewed. Two weeks ago I reported that Grantham felt like the job was his and was telling people that it was. In regards to the process itself, I carefully broke it down for you with specific questions that were being asked. My point is that if you don’t like me or what I report don’t read or watch. My foundation for being doing a good job is based on my work ethic and tireless effort. I believe that my track record supports this thesis and I will continue to work as hard as I can to provide the best information to the public.   When new information becomes available, I post it as soon as I can. I refuse to report skeptical information and to play the rumor game. However, when I have credible information and sources suggesting something, I will report it. That is what I am supposed to do and if you look analytically, I have.

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If you don’t like me because I am fat, so be it. I agree, it is unfair to my family and me and I am working on correcting that situation by having already lost 43 pounds. If you don’t like me because I refuse to hide my love and support for MSU, don’t watch find someone else. If you choose to question my work ethic, I respectfully disagree, but you have your right. I stand by my story and so does my station. If you do not like that, I understand; however, please do not make that a Hondo’s issue. If I had not reported the Izzo story, the same people that ridiculed me would have probably suggested that I was too busy eating to report it. The irony is remarkable. Members of the national media have read the story and talked with two today that think it is a good idea.

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In releasing this story, I have learned that people only want information that suits theirs needs. I have a duty to report the information I know to the fans; I do not make things up, it does not fit my model of journalism. If I had to report the Izzo story all over again, I would handle it the exact same way. I would give the fans the information they deserved.

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As far as the two cowards who threatened my family—at least I know who I am when I offer an opinion and do so with integrity. I do it everyday in front of thousands of people.Â