The paper reported rumors, that highly-prized Anthony Davis accepted $200,000 to choose Kentucky. UK's lawyers got involved, and the editors pulled the paragraph...for a day. Now the Sun-Times is fighting back, with more detailed, sourced allegations. This should be fun.
Wednesday, the Sun-Times published a story about Davis choosing Kentucky over Syracuse, DePaul and Ohio State. Buried in the story was this gem:
The rumors/sources that have Davis choosing Kentucky are also alleging that the commitment cost $200,000. Davis Sr. has flat out denied everything.
Kentucky's law firm posted a statement on the school's web site, contending the allegations were false and would lead to a lawsuit if not removed. The paper acquiesced, cutting the offending paragraph, and then taking the story down altogether. (A cached version is here, without the paragraph.)
Kentucky hoped that would be the end of it, but they seem to have unleashed a Wildcat. Today the Sun-Times fired back with an entire article devoted to the allegations. The most damaging part isn't the repeating of the $200,000 deal, but this: newly reported, newly sourced information that would seem to confirm something untoward was taking place.
Sources from three separate universities told the Sun-Times that Davis Sr. asked for money in return for his son's commitment, with the amounts ranging from $125,000 to $150,000.
What it comes down to now is the paper's sources words against the university's. Who do you believe? A multiple-sourced story, or a university and coach, with separate histories of violations, who stand to suffer if the story is true?
That's not a rhetorical question.
Prep star at center of storm [Chicago Sun-Times]