Resource Center

Stories

The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast.

These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need.

Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:



Search results for "basketball" ...

  • Unfair Game

    Texas high school athletics rules prohibit students from transferring from district to district for athletic purposes, but that hasn’t stopped coaches and administrators from openly flouting the rules to assemble state championship-caliber teams as part of an underground recruiting system that puts athletics over academics. WFAA investigative reporter Brett Shipp's reports showed how improper recruiting helped Dallas' Kimball Knights build back-to-back state champ basketball teams, and how former Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders' new school, Prime Prep Academy, also drew in blue-chip players against the rules.

    Tags: High school athletics; sports; coach; recruiting system; state champion team

    By Brett Shipp, investigative reporter; Billy Bryant, photographer and video editor; Jason Trahan, producer

    WFAA-TV (Dallas)

    2012

  • The Carmel Assault Case

    The WTHR team investigates the alleged attack of a 14-year-old boy by three senior basketball players. The school dismissed it as a case of bullying, but a relentless push for Open Records revealed criminal activity.

    Tags: bullying; open records; high school; school; bully

    By Sandra Chapman; Chris Proffitt

    WTHR-TV (Indianapolis)

    2010

  • Lebron James Exists Cleveland

    The story covers NBA star Lebron James' decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and sign with the Miami Heat.

    Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers; Miami Heat; Lebron James; NBA; basketball

    By Brian Windhorst; Debra Adams Simmons

    Cleveland Plain Dealer

    2010

  • Trouble in Jayhawk Nation

    A look into the University of Kansas' athletic program reveals a corrupt system. The Star reveals that the university's athletic director was paid an exorbitant salary and also uncovers connections between university officials and the felon who illegally resold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of basketball tickets.

    Tags: University of Kansas; athletic department; ticket resale; basketball; travel expenses; salary

    By Mark Morris; Mike McGraw; Brady McCollough; Blair Kerkoff; Mike Mansur; Tony Rizzo; Sam Mellinger; Judy Thomas

    Star (Kansas City, Mo.)

    2010

  • "Buffalo economic development agency scandal"

    The News exposed numerous economic blunders by members of Buffalo's economic development agency. The use of anti-poverty funds for employee health insurance perks and BlackBerry devices are just some of the misuses of city finances. The city also financed a failed restaurant that was owned by a "former pro basketball player" with the anti-poverty funds.

    Tags: Leonard Stokes; Michelle Barron; Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corp.; Byron W. Brown; Brian C. Davis; Brian Reilly

    By James Heaney; Patrick Lakamp; Brian Meyer

    News (Buffalo, N.Y.)

    2009

  • O.J. Mayo's Inner Circle

    NBA star O.J. Mayo was found to have been involved with a secret bank account and credit card used to finance luxurious gifts, meals, and travel. Mayo's agent Calvin Andrews was suspended by the National Basketball Players Association.

    Tags: sports agent; USC; Minnesota Timberwolves; Memphis Grizzlies; NCAA; lobbying;

    By Vince Doria; Craig T. Lazarus; Dwayne Bray; Tim Hays; Kelly Naqi; Paula Lavigne; Evan Kanew; Drew Gallagher; Jeremy R. Lundblad; Nicole Noren; Joe Canali; Mark Devin; Doug Fitzsimmons; Chris Jolly; Marc Warfield; Justine Gubar; Leah Siegel

    ESPN (Television Network) (Bristol, CT)

    2008

  • A Girl's Life

    The single 7,500-word story chronicled the life and death of Acia Johnson, a South Boston girl who seemed to be doing everything right: getting good grades in school, becoming a standout basketball player with a chance at a scholarship to go to a good high school and taking care of her younger sister. That was until her house was set ablaze last April in what authorities said was a jealous rage by her mother's lover. Acia burned to death along with her three-year-old sister in her third-floor bedroom closet. Her mother stood, safe, on the ground with the family dog. Her father was in jail. It was the last in a long list of instances of neglect recounted in the story. Anyone could have saved her life--her parents, drug addicts and sometimes violent petty criminals who never managed to get straight' neighbors who knew about the violent family fights and often didn't call police; friends who did nothing though thought it unusual that Acia was left to care for her sister while their parents were out running thr streets; social workers who had declared Acia's parents unfit in 2003 and placed her in the custody of her grandmother but who never figured out that she was still living with her mother. They didn't figure it out even though they frequently visited Acia at her mother's house, including two days before the fire. They didn't figure it out even though her mother reported Acia was living with her when she applied for housing subsidies, food stamps and cash assistance. And they didn't figure it out even though her mother's house was listed as Acia's primary residence at her middle school.

    Tags: social workers; arson; child death; neglect; custody; Boston

    By Keith O'Brien; Donovan Slack

    Boston Globe

    2008

  • Donald T. Sterling's Skid Row Mirage

    According to advertisements he distributed in the media, Los Angeles Clippers basketball owner Donald T. Sterling was building a new homeless center in downtown LA. But after L.A. Weekly did some investigating, they found he wasn't close to constructing anything. In fact, he was still looking for a homeless service provider to raise the $50 million needed to build the Donald T. Sterling Homeless Center.

    Tags: homeless centers; celebrity; fundraising; construction; false advertising; wealthy; media scam; public relations

    By Patrick Range McDonald

    LA Weekly

    2008

  • Pokey Chatman resignation series

    Through a public records request The Daily Reveille found that the LSU women's basketball coach Pokey Chatman had not resigned for the reasons stated to the public. Instead "Chatman had actually resigned because of allegations of inappropriate conduct."

    Tags: sexual conduct; public records; Louisiana State University; basketball; coach; resignation; LSU; Pokey Chatman

    By Amy Brittain

    The Reveille (LSU)

    2007

  • Man Down

    This investigation tells the story of Thomas Jones, and inmate at the D.C. Jail. One day he collapsed while playing basketball and, later that evening, died of a heart attack. This investigation sheds light on how officers at the jail failed to save his life.

    Tags: jail; prison guards; inmates; medical response; CPR

    By Jason Cherkis; Erik Wemple; Jule Gardner; Andrew Beaujon

    City Paper (Washington, D.C.)

    2007