(Full-size image from Indy Star)
INDIANAPOLIS –- Once again, Duke is being cast as the devils of the Final Four. This time, literally.
The Indianapolis Star pulled some editions of its newspaper and its sports editor apologized to a Blue Devils spokesman after about 30,000 copies of the paper were delivered with a photo illustration that poked fun at the dislike of the Duke program.
On a photo of coach Mike Krzyzewski, the illustrator drew in blue ink sketch that included a forehead target, horns, glasses, moles and a mustache. “LOSE!” is inked in seven time around his neck tie. The stories headline reads “Despising Duke” and Duke is bracket in ink with the words “It’s No Good.”
Jim Lefko, the Star’s senior editor for sports, said the illustration was replaced with a regular photo of Krzyzewski around midnight.
“The designer had the story, and thought it was a clever way to illustrate it,’’ he said. “But it was a concept that didn’t meet our standards … and we wish it didn’t make the papers [that it did].”
The illustration made only the paper’s state edition, which is delivered in the city’s outlying areas. Papers delivered to the team and media hotels included a regular picture of Krzyzewski. The Star’s circulation is approximately 200,000.
“We wish we wouldn’t have done it,’’ Lefko said. “It didn’t meet our standards.”
Still, Krzyzewski wasn’t pleased.
“I did see that, and first thing, I thought ‘that can’t be.’ How could a newspaper do that?” Krzyzewski said. “I thought somebody doodled – actually, I thought I looked better. But it was kind of juvenile – not kind of, it was juvenile. My seven grandkids didn’t enjoy looking at it – ‘that’s not Poppy.’ So it is what it is. It’s very juvenile.
“We’ve got great kids that go to school, they graduate. If we’re going to be despised or hated by anybody because we go to school and we want to win, you know what? That’s your problem. Because we’re going to go to school and keep trying to win. You don’t like it? Keep drawing pictures.”
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Give Me A Freaking Break
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 14:12 — newsjunkyThat was all in good fun. Coach K should be flattered not offended. I apologize to any thin-skinned person who may be offended by my comments.
One thing that is funny...
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 13:54 — Heels20...is how Dook fans raise hell about this, but have no problem with the journalists who falsely printed that Roy Williams threw a fan out of a game for doing nothing but say "Miss it, Deon." Furthermore, none of you said anything about the Michigan State journalist who wrote a column on how Roy was bad-mouthing Delvon Roe, another accusation that was untrue.
Stop acting like it's K against the world. While what was published in this Indy newspaper was not necessary, it's not like this is a blatant shot at defamation. No one looked at this picture and actually thought K was the devil. No one straight up fabricated an entire story. Your coach works officials more than any other coach in the conference. Your school's fan-base is only the third largest in the state, and yet makes up for it by playing in a YMCA gym so that it can still be a hostile environment. Worse things could happen to Dook, such as balanced officiating, a 22,000 seat gym or every opposing reporter hoping to find a quote that can be taken out of context so they can write a story with an angle looking to portray the coach from a very negative perspective. Say what you'd like, but no one views you as those persevering through rough times.
Dear holes20
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 14:20 — tbaby1n
i
t
Onward to the Championship
Dear holes20
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 14:18 — tbaby1n
i
t
Onward to the Championship
Dook fan
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 14:35 — Heels20Remind all of those who don't know, which program has more national titles?
The person who did it should be reprimanded -- or fired!
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 12:29 — SFPNCNativeAnd this is coming from a Carolina journalism grad -- In regards to the poster who said the person must be a Carolina grad -- don't think so, buddy. Carolina journalism students would never embarrass their school with such a low-class, juvenile prank. Coach K was right to be offended. Kudos to the editor for a personal apology to Coach K and the team.
That would be me. I am sure
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 15:28 — unc098That would be me. I am sure the perpetrator will be sniffed out and summarily executed according to your wishes or worse be put in a private gallows so all of coach K's offended grandchildren can throw rotten easter eggs at he or she for a month.
Since I have a great deal of respect for the School of Journalism with the exception of one professor I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Lets just say any UNC grad who isn't somewhat bemused by said juvenile prank against our hated rival needs a big tickle.
I guess somebody in that
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 10:45 — unc098I guess somebody in that editorial room went to Carolina. Should be easy enough to find out. LOL
REALLY
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 09:22 — jpgiglioidiot (not verified)I MEAN REALLY. HOW COULD YOU PRINT THAT IN THE PAPER. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE LOST ALL CREDIBILITY. BETTER OUTSIDE SHOOTING????? BETTER BIGS??????
Outside shooting
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 09:19 — jpgiglioidiot (not verified)This moron states that West virginia has an edge with outside shooting and inside presence. I hate to call anybody an idiot..... but........ I don't even know if this guy has watched a duke game all year. Or WV for that matter. Those are the two reasons why most ppl believe duke will beat WV tonight. COME ON GIGLIO. Do a little research
"It did'nt meet their standards"
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 21:31 — marie123Are you serious? How did 30,000 copies get delivered? They knew what they were doing. It really doesnt matter what they say now. Duke's family and fans bring money into their city for the final four, and this is what they get. I think they should take a lot of that money made off of this article and donate it to the Duke Children's Hospital. I don't see them attacking the other schools. What a low class thing to do!!! Go Duke and win it all!!!!
Barie
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 22:37 — gvillegatryou have to understand when this INITIALLY went out (midnight) and that the senior sports editor was prolly at home sleeping or partying at that moment.
he sincerely may not have known about it till he got a text or call an hour or so later.
if this is the worse thing that has ever happened to Krushesckov, consider him lucky.
wow
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 19:42 — gvillegatras much as I can't stand DUIke, this was too much from a respected publication.
this is something I would expect to see via email or by phone.
still, I can't help but laugh just a little! :)
Too much
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 18:55 — Heels20This was unnecessary...but so are the expletives that pour out of K's mouth on national television. Still, this was unnecessary.
Thanks for the extra
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 18:44 — GabsbyThanks for the extra motovation...It will be put to good use :)
Oh yeah!!
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 20:45 — duke_blueThat's right....go on....poke the bear!!
nappy ho 's
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 18:41 — toddchrissthat is actually slander.what is the difference in calling someone a nappy ho.how about rev. al sharpton or the boys should be totally all over this.this is terible.no other coach has had anything like this go on. tell me why now?imagine if that was a black coach and someone did that, heads would roll, people fired, and the whole country would be all over this, but since it is a caucasion person, and duke that it is approproate to hate on them.no one would do that to cheney from temple or thompson from gtown.its totally outragous.but let slim ball from kentucky go there and he is a saviour, yet he has left memphis with some questions from the ncaa and everyother team he has coached has been on probation. K RUNS A CLEAN PROGRAM.why hate on him.its reverse racism.because duke runs more white players than anyone with a top notch program.everyone hates duke because they run a good program and because they are thought of as being a (white) team. that has been swept under the rug to long now and it needs to be aired out. if you dont think that then you havent been around college bball.everyone started hating duke when leattnerstood up and took no crap from other players and had a bunch of run ins, and he stood his ground, and he was a winner ,and he beat a unlv team that was suppoed to be the best team for 2 years straight, and they had no white players.this is hatred and racism straight up!!
Toddchris
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 15:35 — unc098You make about as much sense as a huge ball of tangled up fish line
I am no Coach K fan.
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 17:57 — JPDOhioAnd I think when you are in the public eye, you have to have a tough skin and expect to be a target. In that regard, K seems to be overly sensitive at times.
Still, I don't think that picture belongs on Page 1 of the Sports Section. In a blog, ok, because the standards are different. Or in a cartoon in the editorial page, where satire is accepted. But not there.
I know the lines have become blurred in the age of technology. But that doesn't mean they should be.
Of course it was juvenile, Mike.
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 17:49 — Irish21So is caring about a college basketball game. Actually, it was pretty funny. I'm sorry the Herald caved to political correctness.
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS???
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 10:19 — saratoga99So it is juvenile caring about a basketball game? What would you like us to care about? Putting a target on your forehead and placing it in the newspaper? Is such an incendiary action necessary in view of the rampant violence that occurs on a daily basis?
It appears you have a warped sense of humor...oh, I forgot, you are Irish.
verses no sense of humor
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 11:13 — Irish21I suppose. What would I like people to care about? Poverty. Hunger. Children without health insurance. College basketball is fun, and I'm a big fan. But it isn't important. Coach K isn't important. Neither is Coach Roy or Coach Sid. I don't have any problem with someone lampooning K. It won't hurt him to have someone stick a pin in his ego.
pin in the ego?
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 13:02 — JPDOhioCareful with that one.
The hot air that escapes will blow him all the way to LA. Then the Lakers could offer him a job again, he'll take it and we'll see how great his assistants are when one takes over his job.
All this from a misguided effort at humor by some Midwest editor. Talk about the Butterfly Effect!
JPD
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 13:25 — unc098The visual on that one is hysterically funny. Might make a good front page cartoon in the DTH. Maybe SFncnative can lend a hand.
Agreed.....to many posters
Sat, 04/03/2010 - 12:05 — unc098Agreed.....to many posters who take it all to seriously....Mamby??? RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT.
duke-bluedevils!!
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 17:47 — bluecat69bluecat69of course duke will have to carry the acc banner, because the tar-babies cant even do a good job in the NIT, it is great that the tournament will be expanded to 96 teams, so unc can make the field, ok, go duke!!!!
Duke Basketball is like Religion
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 17:24 — freebirdNot everybody likes apple pie, or motherhood, a cure for cancer, a woman's right to vote, abolishing slavery, or world peace - so we can expect a few people will also not pull for Duke Basketball
A few????
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 23:21 — melvinfurdA few????
It's 2010
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 16:23 — AgentPierceIt's 2010 ..... there is no longer any line of propriety/civility that is not trampled. "Journalism" has sunk to the level of the lowest bottom-feeding insect on the Internet.
Oh .... I'm a UNC alum and Rams Club member.
we share two things in
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 20:50 — ashaw80we share two things in common based on your post -- I agree with your observation about journalism with some few exceptions such as A Curliss's work which has been terrific. But, I wonder how Coach K would like to have tapes of his language replayed for his grandkids to hear -- the sports reporters have given him a free pass for years on that issue.
We Share TTwo Things in Common
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 21:12 — HansflopperAs I recall, the only coach to say a four-letter word on national TV was Ole Roy when asked about UNC when Kansas lost in the Final Four. And then he did it again in a post-game interview at UNC. You Tarhole fans live in glass houses - quit throwing bricks at Coach K. And congrats on your new banner - We're Number 67!
Dook fan
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 23:03 — Heels20Can you remind those who don't remember, which team has more national title banners?
which team has more national title banners . . .
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 23:23 — melvinfurdand still will even if the Dookies win this year.
All the way
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 16:01 — nonsequiturFrom a '68 Tar Heel: Take it all the way, Duke. You're carrying the banner for the conference.
Well wheres the pic? LOL. ok
Fri, 04/02/2010 - 15:16 — unc098Well wheres the pic? LOL. ok go Dook