OT: Kirk Barton, NevadaBuck and OSU Recruiting Site Lawsuit
Here's an interesting article I came across yesterday, although it is a bit tabloid-y in nature. At the crux of everything is former OSU offensive lineman Kirk Barton, notable OSU message board poster NevadaBuck and the On3 (a newer competitor to the 247/Rivals networks) venture called Buckeye Scoop.
Newsworthy for some people around here for the whole "Buckeye"-ness of it all, plus I have to assume that recruiting websites and college football seem to be a shared interest for many.
A lot of what seems to have happened is Kirk Barton may not have learned positive business ethics while matriculating in Columbus. He appears to have brokered some side business deals using the company as name or leverage. He took 7500 out of the company account to purchase a vehicle.
But most amusing to me, was this saucy nugget that was named in the suit:
18. Barton started a fantasy football league under Scoop’s umbrella for members of the site. Barton used his administrator privileges to change lineups at halftime of games to form the best possible lineup for his team and his wife’s teams. This was an attempt to cheat other league members, which were Scoop subscribers, out of money and jeopardized Scoop’s reputation. Electronically Filed 09/19/2021 23:56 / / CV 21 953241 / Confirmation Nbr. 2354869 / CLDLJ 3
LOL
That said, there's actually interesting things in here as well.
To put in simple terms: the allegations, as I understand them, are that Kirk and Nevada directly paid a player to act as an insider for them. The player was injured at the time and Ohio State became suspicious as to why the injured player was watching practice film for every position group on the team, including phases of the ball he was not involved in. They dug in, found the relationship with Kirk and Nevada, that the film watching was being used to supply those two with info, and subsequently booted the player from the team.
Obviously, if Marc realized that two members of his staff were obtaining information from unethical means that damaged his and the site’s reputation and ended a player’s career at Ohio State, it would make sense to end the business relationship. If all of this is true, and I have reason to believe it is, Kirk Barton and Ken Stickney should never be allowed around Ohio State again.
Ohio State's legal team gets involved. There's some pretty questionable actions/practices by Barton.
Anywho, it's a five minute read and might interest a few people.
Unrelated to the story, but On3 related, I was curious if Michigan had a presence on the site. Apparently the site last week made an announcement wrt it's Michigan page.
The most iconic Michigan Wolverines fan site and magazine are moving to the On3 network on November 1, 2021.
Tom Beaver is back baby. 50.1% chance. LOL
I have no clue. Do we know who this actually is?
September 21st, 2021 at 10:17 AM ^
Apparently it was a $2400 fantasy football league. Saw that on Reddit. I'm assuming that was the prize and not the buy in.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:29 AM ^
Yeah, probably total pot. Which would mean $200 buy in 12 team league. Not that big.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:41 AM ^
Lol that's a lot to most reasonable people. My league is a $70 buy in, and if the commish cheated it'd be a huge deal. You're basically hand waving away stealing $2000 from subscribers which is insane.
September 21st, 2021 at 8:53 PM ^
I think it’s more like “you cheated that hard just to win $2400?” I know it’s a lot but to be such a huge douche when it’ll be so obvious is ridiculous.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:22 AM ^
Didn’t know about the fantasy league stuff, but the other part - paying a player for inside info - was discussed a few days ago. Either way and as always, fuck ohio.
September 22nd, 2021 at 2:40 AM ^
Hey there Brady Hoke. I always knew you were still with us!
September 21st, 2021 at 10:24 AM ^
I don't know how much this differs from what was already posted. I think the Fantasy Football stuff is new, but the rest has already been posted and discussed by the board yesterday.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:31 AM ^
Call me stupid, uninformed, or both because I stopped playing fantasy football 10 years ago, but how can you change a lineup at halftime of a game and no one notice? I mean the person or people see the lineup you start with and they know the players they are playing against, how can you expect to get away with changing it?
September 21st, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
You are stupid and uninformed. You're welcome. Ha!
No but I think that's the point, how dumb do you have to be? And like they're saying above, this is for a $200 buy-in fantasy league. So much risk, for such low stakes. It's hijinx on the level of "Hey! Look over there!"
September 21st, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^
Touche'
September 21st, 2021 at 10:25 AM ^
Interesting, thanks for compiling and summarizing. I saw a few references to this make the rounds on Michigan twitter a few days ago, but seemed too deep for me to dive in myself.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
Yeah, I guess I could have enumerated it a bit better in the OP. The cleveland.com story and a couple other 'traditional' media outlet stories I saw yesterday were pretty 'basics'. Awful Announcing seemed to dive in and do a bit more comprehensive storytelling. And I hadn't seen the silly fantasy football thing either.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:25 AM ^
This tweet from the on3 founder bragging about outsourcing software was a nice chuckle:
September 21st, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
Wait, Terry is starting another sports/recruiting platform? Wasn't he a founder of Rivals, then when that got bought out he started 247sports? Now he's starting a third one? Man, I didn't think one could pull that off. Start the exact same buisness three times and just keep getting bought out. Also, those company's lawyers need to do better with those non-compete clauses.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:49 AM ^
I was gonna say- how does he not have a non-compete? If there's no non-compete, you're basically buying nothing because he's just gonna go out and make a competitor again
September 21st, 2021 at 10:29 AM ^
Shannon Terry is no joke. Sold Rivals for $100m and 247 for a boatload too. Guy is legit.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^
The basic idea is digital space and IP is infinte... "hey, what if I invent a website idea and sell it for a shit ton." Then 10+ years later, do the EXACT same thing. Then a handful of years after that, one more time. On3 indeed.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
I guess I should just go ahead and break the news here:
TTB has been bought out by On3.
EDIT: Man, I didn't think anyone would take me seriously. Now I feel all bad and stuff because of the well wishes. Thanks for the well wishes and congratulations, but it's not TTB. Sorry. I don't know what site is being picked up by On3.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
For realzies?
September 21st, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
No, not for real. I didn't think anyone would take me seriously.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
You serious?
September 21st, 2021 at 2:36 PM ^
No, I guess I need to lay it on a little thicker next time.
September 21st, 2021 at 3:29 PM ^
Goddamnit Magnus. Here I was going to propose we all go to Cedar Point.
Fool me once...
September 21st, 2021 at 10:34 AM ^
Seriously? Good for you Magnus, good for you.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:48 AM ^
Congrats my friend, that's wonderful news.
FWIW I've been part of several of these in my career so i speak from experience when I tell you be prepared for change. Your baby is no longer yours so decisions you've always made based on what you thought was best will now be made by others who may not view things the same way you do. And, FWIW, most CEOs I know find that to be a challenging environment to work in.
Either way congrats on cashing in. Someday I suspect we'll see a similar announcement about this place.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:54 AM ^
Two years ago, I would have told you that hell would freeze over before Brian took a buyout for this site. He has talked before about offers received and rejected.
Now though, I think the odds of buyout have (slightly) increased. Brian has candidly admitted that he has struggled to find his passion for Michigan football. While Michigan basketball and hockey may be his personal replacements, they do not pay the bills or draw eyeballs in the same way as football.
September 21st, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^
They did say "the premier" or something to that effect... I immediately thought about this place. It is the undisputed champion of Michigan sports blogs.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:54 AM ^
Congrats, Magnus!
September 21st, 2021 at 11:12 AM ^
So you're the "Michigan fan site and magazine"? Good for you!!! I didn't consider the magazine part to be something you had - when I read that, I immediately thought of this place, MGoBlog. The other site I thought of was Maize-n-Brew. Again, not because of the "iconic" language, but the 'magazine' part.
Nonetheless - congratulations! Hope it all works out for you!
September 21st, 2021 at 11:13 AM ^
TTB was my guess. Congratulations!
September 21st, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^
On3 Michigan Football: Coming soon? Nice!
September 21st, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
Honestly this feels like a joke given Magnus' sense of humor.
Plus the whole having to wait to announce thing.
My guess is its the Rivals staff.
If it really is TTB, that's very cool.
September 21st, 2021 at 12:30 PM ^
i'm outright delighted that no one can tell if this is for real
September 21st, 2021 at 12:44 PM ^
Note to self…. Do not play FF with Magnus.
I kid. Congrats! Can’t wait to see the results.
edit: I did not realize I posted right under “notetoself”, and was in fact not talking to him but actually making a mental note for myself.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:50 PM ^
Damn. That was a good one. Well, now you know who your friends are...
September 21st, 2021 at 10:33 AM ^
Never heard of On3 before. So doing a little cursory research, looks like Shannon B Terry, founder/CEO of 247 (and also co-founder of Rivals, apparently), left last year to pursue "other opportunities" - one of which appears to be starting On3. This seems to be like a 247 or Rivals rival (sorry) with leaning more into blogs like SBNation.
EDIT: looks like I was reading/typing while Magnus was breaking the news that TTB was bought out by On3. That's fantastic news. Looking forward to comments coming back and probably a staff. Hope you keep up the great quality with the additional resources, and congrats!
September 21st, 2021 at 10:45 AM ^
Who gives a shit?
September 21st, 2021 at 1:36 PM ^
....he asked to his gastroenterologist, slyly so as not to disclose the problem outright.
September 21st, 2021 at 10:57 AM ^
How did this genius think he was going to get away with cheating in a $2,400 pot fantasy league? He didn't think other players were also quite interested in winning that money and wouldn't notice? Either way, what a clown
September 21st, 2021 at 10:58 AM ^
"The most iconic Michigan Wolverines fan site and magazine are moving to the On3 network on November 1, 2021."
LOL. What "most iconic fan site" are these clowns referring to?
September 21st, 2021 at 10:59 AM ^
Go Blue Michigan Wolverine - It just rolls off the tongue!
September 21st, 2021 at 11:11 AM ^
Go Blue Michigan Wolverine is an "iconic" Michigan fan site in the same way that a rack of knock-off Michigan gear at a truck stop is an "iconic" shopping destination for Wolverine fans.
September 21st, 2021 at 11:21 AM ^
Here is your "drip".
September 21st, 2021 at 12:07 PM ^
I think that shirt was designed in Malaysia, printed in Bangladesh, and sold by street vendors in Nairobi and Warsaw.
September 21st, 2021 at 1:36 PM ^
And even then it was still a prank.
September 22nd, 2021 at 5:29 AM ^
You cannot steal the ball from me, I scratch you. Hissss
September 21st, 2021 at 10:59 AM ^
Look above
September 21st, 2021 at 11:24 AM ^
Edit: the answer was posted as I wrote my comment. Congrats, TTB!
September 21st, 2021 at 11:38 AM ^
Exactly what kind of vehicle is Kirk Barton getting for $7500?