Here's what Sam Paxton of the Gazette wrote:
Iowa fans, I have a favor to ask
SAM PAXTON·
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018
To all my friends who support University of Iowa athletics (and hey, those who support Iowa State, as well), I have a favor to ask.
If you follow the Facebook page and Twitter feed “Hawkeye Heaven,” I humbly ask you to unfollow him. I wish you’d block him, actually, but I’ll settle for an unfollow. I’ll tell you why:
Most, if not all, of you know that I’ve been a professional sports journalist my entire adult life. My colleagues at The Gazette and my peers at the Des Moines Register, the Iowa City Press-Citizen, The Athletic, Tom Kakert’s Hawkeye Report and Jon Miller’s Hawkeye Nation, as well as countless other newspapers and legitimate media outlets, work tremendously hard at what we do, be it writers, photographers, editors, designers and online. Over the years, “Hawkeye Heaven” has taken photos and ideas from reputable journalists (and even readers, for that matter) on many occasions, and tried to pass them off as his own. I can name colleagues of mine that have presented him with cease-and-desist requests for using their photos without permission.
The Kinnick Wave that we all cherish across this state, regardless of fanbase? The woman credited with the idea posted it to HIS page. That is true. “Hawkeye Heaven” then took the idea and reposted it under the heading “so I was thinking …”
That’s what he does. Thankfully, KCRG and Land of 10 did their research (those are just two I remember ... and I’m sure there are countless others I haven’t seen) and gave credit to the true creator of the idea -- Krista Young of Anita, Iowa. “Hawkeye Heaven” never SAID it was his idea, true, but he didn’t give credit where credit was due, either … that is, until it took off and he was loudly called out for it, of course. But because Krista posted the idea to his page, he has been unfairly cited by many as the voice of the Hawkeye masses.
Those area code t-shirts that many of you undoubtedly own? Yep, he pretty much stole that idea, too.
https://iowa.forums.rivals.com/thre...ipping-off-logo-from-charitable-group.236987/
Which brings me to today.
Everyone at this point is probably aware that Iowa State has asked their fans to wear yellow to their game on Saturday as a tribute to their (tragically and senselessly) murdered golf champion Celia Barquin Arozamena. It’s a wonderful gesture.
That same night, Iowa plays Wisconsin under the lights. Months ago, the university announced that the game would be their annual “stripe the stadium” game – alternating black and gold throughout Kinnick Stadium. There are literally thousands of season-ticket holders who get this information directly from the UI Sports Information Department.
“Hawkeye Heaven” – without any consultation with the university – went on HIS Facebook page and suggested that IOWA and ITS fans instead wear yellow, as well.
Hey, I admit it ... it’s a great gesture on paper.
But the problem is that he did this without consulting the university first, confusing his many followers into thinking that this was actually a plan that was in the works. And because of that, he’s put the idea into the heads of all the little old ladies of the state of Iowa that THIS. MUST. HAPPEN. And then when it doesn’t happen (the university has already announced that the striped game is still a go), the people out there who follow him or see his posts getting shared that DON’T realize he is neither a member of the media NOR a spokesman for the university will unfairly judge the UI officials and its fans as heartless monsters with no compassion.
The University of Iowa and its fans will most likely honor Celia, as well as Mollie Tibbetts, in their own way, and allow Iowa State and its fans to mourn and celebrate Celia’s life in THEIR own way.
But because “Hawkeye Heaven” recklessly floated this idea without consulting those in the know first, he has unwittingly found another way to sew dissension not only between the Iowa and Iowa State fanbases, but the people of Iowa at large – in a way NONE of us need. In addition, he has completely undermined the efforts of the very institution that he claims to support.
So, I ask again, please unfollow him. You don’t need to get internet muscles and confront him. Just unfollow him. Then, check out the many legitimate media outlets covering the Hawkeyes, mostly because he liberally lifts from all of our content anyway, so you might as well just go to the source … might I suggest “On Iowa”?
Or if you like the free stuff, try “Go Iowa Awesome” or “Black Heart Gold Pants”; I mean, they are fan-operated sites, as well – not accredited media – but at least they link to their sources and give the Gazette, the Register, The Athletic, etc., the proper credit.
So, on Saturday …
Iowa State fans, honor Celia. Wear yellow. Make her, her family, her teammates and your extended fanbase proud.
Iowa fans, stripe the stadium. Don’t give in to the trolls that “Hawkeye Heaven” has created.
And if it helps, look at it this way … wear gold for Celia, wear black for Mollie. And the state can and will stand united over these two senseless tragedies.
(And for the record, that idea was not my own. My friend and co-worker said it to me off the cuff tonight. See, I can give credit to those who deserve it).
