Newly Hired Indianapolis Sports Columnist Resigns Over Resume
By Drew Lawrence, Associated Press
Jan/2004

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A sportswriter who left his job at The New York Times to become a sports columnist for The Indianapolis Star admitted he falsified his resume and resigned his new post Friday. Star Editor and Vice President Dennis R. Ryerson announced he had accepted Mike Freeman's resignation in an item headlined "note to readers" that was posted on the newspaper's Web site.

In a statement included in the Star's note, Freeman said he knowingly stated on his resume and in an interview for the job that he was a graduate of the University of Delaware. Freeman's statement said he had attended for four years, but did not graduate.

"It was the only time I have told such falsehoods and no other deceptions have ever appeared in any of my newspaper stories or two books at any time in my 16 years of practicing journalism," the statement said. "Nevertheless, the information I gave the Star was wrong and I will be punished with the loss of my newspaper career."

The Star's Web story did not indicate how the paper learned of the falsification. The Associated Press left a phone message after business hours for Ryerson. Freeman could not immediately be reached for comment. There is no phone listing for him in the Indianapolis area.

"The Star is committed to operating with high ethical standards," Ryerson said.

Freeman, 37, had been a sports reporter for the past 10 years at the Times, where he covered the NBA and NFL. He previously worked at The Dallas Morning News, The Boston Globe and The Washington Post.

Freeman was to have started his new position Monday.

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