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Home > Blogs > High School Huddle > Archives > 2011 > April > 13 > Entry
How the Kaleb Ringer story unfolded
The reaction was swift and unforgiving: You’ve done Kaleb Ringer wrong.
Rarely do we explain how we get our stories, but I thought our readers might want some insight after the widespread outcry of denouncing Tuesday’s High School Huddle posting and Wednesday’s DDN story “T-Bolts standout chooses Michigan.”
Kaleb is one of the top high school players in the Dayton area, which makes his recruitment a topic of interest for the DDN.
We were told by a rock-solid source that another major newspaper knew that Ringer was going to commit to Michigan. Although not confirmed, there was plenty of online chatter that indicated that Ringer was heading to Michigan.
I called Northmont High School football coach Lance Schneider on Tuesday, told him that we were writing a story on Kaleb’s commitment and asked for comments. He spoke, for the record, for a Wednesday story.
I contacted Kaleb, told him that I was working on a story about his commitment to Michigan, and asked for comments, for the record, for a Wednesday story. He was good with that.
Kaleb’s father Kevin contacted me. I told him the same things I told Kaleb, and that we were going with a Wednesday story. He was OK with that.
There was no promise to hold information. It was always about a Wednesday story.
We in no way meant to “ruin” Kaleb’s announcement, as some readers have insinuated. He is an outstanding young man and football player. We plan to write about him in the future and wish him and his family well.
- Marc Pendleton, Staff Writer
Comments
By Sean
April 13, 2011 11:22 PM | Link to this
BS. Nice try though!
By Jack Zietz
April 13, 2011 11:27 PM | Link to this
I don’t believe you
By Really?????
April 13, 2011 11:34 PM | Link to this
Lie, after Lie, after Lie you tell! I know the Ringers personally and they specifically asked you to hold the story until Friday! When his father called you, he asked you again to hold the story. AND YOU DIDNT!! Your words, “there isnt anything i can do”. Now, you are trying to backpedal out of the mess you stirred up for yourself. But you showed your true colors. Your name is tarnished and can/will not be trusted or respected as writer. Bad move! and you say you in no way ment to ruin Kaleb’s announcement???!!! REALLY???? That was the purpose of your story!!!! To announce it! How could you think you didnt? You wanted to announce it before him! He had a day and time set aside! But you overstepped that for selfish gain. UNBELIEVABLE MARC!!!!
By tim in cville
April 13, 2011 11:53 PM | Link to this
Not really a story. Love how you try to stir up the OSU rivarly. Ringer’s bro was shunned by the Bucks and so was he.
By tim in cville
April 13, 2011 11:53 PM | Link to this
Not really a story. Love how you try to stir up the OSU rivarly. Ringer’s bro was shunned by the Bucks and so was he.
By Really?????
April 13, 2011 11:55 PM | Link to this
Question Marc…your words, “There was no promise to hold information. It was always about a Wednesday story”. Then why was the timestamp when you first reported it dated Tuesday April 12, 2001 @ 6:41pm? (if this was supposed to be a Wednesday story) IM JUST SAYIN!!!!
By Really?????
April 14, 2011 12:00 AM | Link to this
Im sorry dated Tuesday April 12, 2011
By Michigan Alum
April 14, 2011 12:20 AM | Link to this
You would have been better off saying nothing or apologizing. There have been several Michigan websites, radio shows etc who have known that he was planning to commit to Michigan and maybe even suggested that UM would ultimately be his choice. Not ONE announced that he was actually committing to Michigan. And even the one’s who at least appear to have some inside information that he will commit to Michigan STILL HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED HIS COMMITMENT except as sourced to you. Let me say that again: All of the internet chatter you speak of has been suggestion, not an announcement. Even the bloggers/journalists/recruitniks who did know have still not announced his commitment on their own. Kaleb himself has said he is disappointed. All you did was make yourself look like a douche with this “article.” It would have been much better for you to just apologize even though an apology wouldn’t take you ruining his commitment back. I feel sorry for the kid. But us Michigan alums and fans will still celebrate and try to make Kaleb feel like we are finding out for the first time - double time given your screw up. Maybe you’ll be fortunate enough to learn from this mistake, or maybe no more recruits will trust you with their secret. People never forget…
By george
April 14, 2011 6:49 AM | Link to this
A journalist has a job. To tell a story, be truthful, and to beat the other media to the news. If you let the word out to anyone, then it is not a secret. The press, to their own credit/discredit has given a platform to high school athletes to make a college decision announcement, put on a hat, maybe a tee shirt, and with beaming parents standing behind them. Frankly these announcement stories are so oft repeated, they are getting quite boring. The real story will come after the announcement day, if the kid is still in school and scoring touchdowns 3-4 years later. The announcement thing is way overinflated.
By BoSchemblogger
April 14, 2011 8:00 AM | Link to this
All of the previous comments that have been posted should be directed at the Editor and not Marc. As we all know it was the editor who chose to ruin the Kaleb’s announcement.
By BoSchemblogger
April 14, 2011 8:00 AM | Link to this
All of the previous comments that have been posted should be directed at the Editor and not Marc. As we all know it was the editor who chose to ruin the Kaleb’s announcement.
By Javon Ringer
April 14, 2011 8:06 AM | Link to this
Who cares?
By BoSchemblogger
April 14, 2011 8:06 AM | Link to this
All of the previous comments that have been posted should be directed at the Editor and not Marc. We all know it was the editor who chose to ruin the Kaleb’s announcement.
By Al eisnstein
April 14, 2011 8:08 AM | Link to this
Wow, what a bunch of cry babies!!!!!!!!!
By slag
April 14, 2011 8:29 AM | Link to this
You’re an idiot Tim in cville!!!First off, Javon is his “uncle” not his brother moron…Secondly, if Javon got his crap together his first 3 years in HS then maybe he would have had the freakin’ grades/scores to get into OSU who,at that time, had a school president that had increased the requirements of getting in,nimwit.OSU wanted the kid BADLY…MSU has, and is known for, allowing marginal kids in to school because they have programs for that. The irony here is that you, of all people, are torching a writer for “lying” and not “getting his facts straight”.You are an imbecile son….
By D-Rock
April 14, 2011 9:07 AM | Link to this
Jeez SCUM fans….Calm your asses down. Congrats to the kid. Don’t act like you have won a recruiting battle with OSU either. Go back and read all his previous interviews how badly he wanted to come to OSU.
By SKWDCOP
April 14, 2011 10:37 AM | Link to this
Kids own comments via twitter: Thanks for all the love and support, the reporter doing that is just goin to make the event bigger!!!! Come support me at TJ Chumps at 6pm about 15 hours ago via web I will never do a #DaytonDailyNewsInterview AGAIN!!!!….everythings tooken from me now. about 23 hours ago via web
By 2700daysncounting
April 14, 2011 11:01 AM | Link to this
This kid made his choice, should have just have stayed quiet. Good luck at scUM. We don’t give a d@+* for the whole state of “missshegan” we’re from OHIO!!! Go Bucks….OH!
By OSUBucks#1
April 14, 2011 12:03 PM | Link to this
SKWDCOP - You need to grow up, son. You scUM biatches gonna get whooped again this year.
By JUAN
April 14, 2011 12:12 PM | Link to this
Who cares? Just another 4 year loser.
By Who will replace Tre$$el?
April 14, 2011 2:36 PM | Link to this
Will be fun to watch O$U implode as their scandals grow bigger.
By marcusbrooks
April 14, 2011 2:54 PM | Link to this
not sure why kids have to have a press conference to announce where they are going to school anyway. bottom line is IF you want something to be a secret do NOT talk to ANY reporter. especially these days because it has been proven OVER AND OVER that almost all of them cannot be trusted and only look out for themselves.
By Lloyd Carnivorous
April 14, 2011 3:00 PM | Link to this
I’m sure he did want to go to OSU - that’s where the money and cars are.
By AD
April 14, 2011 3:01 PM | Link to this
Oh No! Another Ohio kid without an OSU offer committed to Michigan. Thanks for supporting Ohio’s residents and taking the kids we don’t want.
By Michigan Fan 4 Life
April 14, 2011 6:18 PM | Link to this
Javon Ringer- I agree. You made the best choice for yourself and I bet your cousin is making the best choice for him too. It’s a shame O$U didn’t offer both of you, both of you are Class-A Gentlemen.
By Woody
April 15, 2011 3:59 PM | Link to this
Muck Fichigan. Maybe Ringer will add some class to program.
By O$U...O$U...O$U
April 20, 2011 12:17 PM | Link to this
scUM????? Really???? Who leads the country in violations over the past 10 years. You got it. O$U!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Steve
April 21, 2011 10:32 AM | Link to this
Lame attempt to cover your butt Marc, it looks like you have something in common with Tress though, your a liar, congrats! Ringer looks to have his head screwed on straight. He would of got an offer eventually from OSU, but smartly saw the incoming train wreck about to hit the OlieO, Tressel’s dishonest and cheating ways and a fan base full of knuckled dragging, mouth breathing neanderthals. Not to mention I’m sure he wanted a real education, not a degree from a University that has equal value to something you can earn at a Liberal Arts Community College for 5 grand a year. GO BLUE and let the sanctions rain down on that toxic dump called Columbus. You losers deserve every bit of it, LOL!!!!
By KJB
April 23, 2011 9:54 AM | Link to this
The arrogance of this kid is unbelievable!! As if we all put everything on hold until we found out where some undersized linebacker/db is going to play football? Give me a break dude! This kid loves drama and I am glad he is going up north to join Michael Shaw and all of the other drama queens in 2nd Tier Big Ten Land. Either that or go American Idol if you want your “one shining moment!” Be a man and quit viewing every event in your life as some marketing opportunity. Geeesh!