Having belatedly come across the incredibly negligent sports column by Dave Tuley dated Jan. 14, 1987, I rise to defend the reputation of Kenny Battle, not only because he is a valued friend, but because such irresponsible journalism cannot go unchallenged.

Implicit in Tuley’s warped syntax and argument construction is that Kenny Battle’s individual play somehow produced less a team than their recently completed 9-19 season. I have known Kenny since he played at West Aurora High, and what has distinguished his game isn’t personal success but collective achievement. Randy Norman once told me what concerned Kenny above everything else was simply to win.

That desire was evident. I saw Kenny Battle dive for loose balls in practice, angrily refute writers who questioned his coaches’ strategy and subconsciously force his teammates to raise their level of play. I watched incredulously as Northern’s sports information department diminished Kenny’s overall contributions by concentrating so absurdly on his dunking prowess. Despite his accomplishments, he is derisively referred to as a “ball hog.”

Watching Northern play this season reminded me of a quotation from Emil Fackenheim, a philosopher who commented that European Jews following the Holocaust were the “presence of an absence.” Northern Illinois was 9-19 not because of faulty defense, as your special analysis recently asserted, but because Kenny Battle’s brilliance overcompensated for a lot of deficiencies in the two years that he played for Northern. For Dave Tuley, Jim Rosborough or anyone even remotely connected to the basketball program to consider otherwise is to be dangerously ill-equipped in understanding the inherent subtlety that governs basketball.

If Tuley’s attack of Kenny were to dishonor him for allegedly abandoning Northern’s program, blame should be registered on the dunderheads who fired John McDougal, a man whom I greatly admire. Despite the level of excellence (not to mention money) Kenny brought to Northern’s program, his detractors seem to follow him relentlessly.

I have heard good things of Jerry Thompson and was impressed with his tenacity against Northern’s former president. But I would suggest he get on with the matter of teaching sound and responsible reporting at Northern Illinois. Dave Tuley’s article was misinformed, mean-spirited and self-indulgent writing at its extreme.

I assure you Kenny Battle will have a fine career at Illinois and in professional basketball. Of Dave Tuley’s opportunities in journalism I am not nearly so optimistic.

Patrick Z. McGavin

Founder and Editor

Persona

Chicago, Illinois