It seems Deadspin is about to go guns blazing at ESPN re: sex rumors

Bad idea by Deadspin.

 

Unless this turns out to be the highest traffic day in its existence, right?

 

I'm on Mizzou's side. After reading through the posts, it appears they did try to get comment on it, possibly several times (I'm guessing when they originally got the information and then yesterday when they posted it). They got the information from a reliable source, tried to verify it, got no comment, sat on it, tried to verify it again, got no comment and then ran with it. Certainly not the most in-depth reporting, but not an awful lot different from the 'rumor central' portion of ESPN. And given the amount of dirty laundry ESPN has and hides (I don't really want to know about the worst of the sexual harrassment.... Can't imagine, really), I really don't have a huge problem with it.

Doesn't really impact my day one way or the other, but if it means women get treated better at the four-letter, why are you really bothering to fight it? Do you care about the sanctitiy of one veep's fur burger that much?

 

What reliable source? Emailer samsamsmith?

 

They tried to verify the Phillips thing, but not the other stories they posted yesterday.

And Mizzou is in favor of running with unsubstantiated accusations? Color me shocked.

 

I don't know. Perhaps I'm naive for assuming Daulerio did *some* background on the person (people?) who e-mailed him these stories. I'm also guessing there were multiple e-mails about the same folks.

I'm guessing that the up-in-arms-oh-my-god-how-could-they-how-dare-they reaction is really fucking fake. Nobody gives a shit about these people at ESPN and, if it was the Boston Globe exposing the details, people would pat them on the back and give them a reach-around. Deadspin represents everything modern sports journalists hate (and they're aware of it and they perpetuate that hate by linking to this board from time-to-time).

Like I said, my only hope is that it makes the workplace friendlier and more fair for women up there. If so, congrats to Daulerio (Now, whether that's *his* reasoning, I don't know... By any means necessary, I s'pose).

 

Gene,

I understand your sentiments, but to me it's like applauding a mob of folks for hanging a suspected pedophile from a street lamp.

I am all for pedophiles getting what they deserve but there's a right way to go about seeing that it happens.

This may be titillating, but judging by Deadspin's own words in setting this up, it's horrible journalism.

 

It should be a law that no one over 30 can watch any of those shows. I'm 36 and the only reason I know who any of those people are is because I read EW, TMZ and US Weekly.

I have never seen an episode of either show and I seriously doubt I've watched one second of MTV in the last 2-3 years.

 

Don't get me wrong, I do love the gossip aspect to this, but I see this more as karma to the WWL for decades of decadence (sorry Motley Crue) and decades of douchebaggery.

Other than Mike Freeman, nobody has really ever called them out on it. Good for Deadspin.

 

I don't recall Deadspin ever claiming to be the Harvard Review. They're a sports gossip website, for F's sake. I love what they are doing to ESPN. Its not like there's no smoke behind the fire.

Tirico
Jason Jackson
Harold Reynolds
Salisbury's cell phone
Phillips and Flatso
Hell, those Berman tapes of him skeevily talking to the female producer grossed me out

Truth is an absolute defense. Kasilius and the female VP didn't sleep their way around Bristol? Great, they will be the proud new owners of Gawker media. Here's a crazy idea: you don't want your name floated around gossip sites? Quit fucking around at work. At this point, I have more respect for Deadspin than the skeeves working at Bristol.

Hell, I never agree with Mizzou about anything. But I am with him here.

 

I suppose I just believe there is more than sharp accusations here. I'm guessing there is some validity to it and I'm guessing it was verified inasmuch as something like this could be verified. And Mizzou is right, although this is interesting in a voyeuristic sense, it's also probably good for ESPN in the longterm.

 

I know a woman who interned at ESPN back in the mid-90s. On her first day there one of the "talent" looked her over and yelled out into a crowded room, "I thought I told you to hire interns with better tits."

That was her first day and it didn't get much better.

This isn't a "one bad apple" deal and this has been going on for years.

Again, go Deadspin go.