NBA writer caught double-dipping

[BrianGriffin]

Ace would have done better.

That's all I have.

 

[Riddick]

how the heck did this guy not lose his job?

 

[welcometotherock]

And he went through all that just to string a gamer for the Washington Times??? What did that gig get him, $20?

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

He wanted to get in good with the Moonies.

I'm guessing, just guessing, his thought process was, "I'll get my stuff on the new players before the game, file that first and do a quick gamer and no one's the wiser." Smart move.

I've double dipped (though i wasn't full-time for either so there was no conflict, i didn't get a byline for one, and i told both employers i was doing so) and it's not easy.

 

[armageddon]

No, asking would have been wrong, too. They had his backup there to cover the game for the Plain Dealer so this guy could work on something else -- for the Plain Dealer. If he was going to handle game coverage, he should have been handling it for his paper.

No self-respecting NBA/NHL primary beat person would stringer for an out-of-town paper while letting his own paper go with a backup. It should be the other way around -- or better yet, to a preps writer at the P-D getting thrown a little bone.

Guy should have been whacked rather than given even easier duty (general sports blogger).

Good point Joe. I forgot about the "PD supplied a person to write gamer" aspect.

These are the types of stunts pulled by people who have no fear of being fired.

 

[jambalaya]

I'm guessing many in our profession disagree on the rules here. Last season I did some stringing on my beat and when I told the out of town paper's editor I'd need to get permission first, he replied, "Oh really?" You'd think it's at least common courtesy to ask first, and at worst a violation of company policy if you don't.

 

[nmmetsfan]

Gotta get permission first. Your first loyalty is to who is signing your paycheck (even if they aren't necessarily loyal to you). As for the out of town editor replying "oh really," that says all you need to know about their ethics.

 

[onebigfella]

Much worse than stringing for Washington Times was on Feb. 21 - the day of the 11-person trade - he was off and let Mary Schmitt Boyer do all the trade stories. Wouldn't the beat guy want to do that story? Branson was taken off the beat a few days after the season ended. His byline has yet to surface.

 

[Some Guy]

In the writer's defense (oh God), he can get what he needs from the fresh faces before the game and be done with his story before tipoff, thus freeing him up to "string."

However ... the point remains, he should have asked permission from his superiors. No question.

 

[ballscribe]

I can't believe no one has weighed in yet on the man's worthiness to work for the Plain-Dealer.

You guys are slipping.

 

[ECrawford]

My only qualm -- I don't think I'd ever consider covering an NBA beat a "plush" job.

 

[Joe Williams]

In the writer's defense (oh God), he can get what he needs from the fresh faces before the game and be done with his story before tipoff, thus freeing him up to "string."

However ... the point remains, he should have asked permission from his superiors. No question.

I disagree. Very bad form, on the same night that you have a backup person handling game duties, for you to string for some other newspaper. If you're free and clear to handle game duties, handle them for your employer and let your backup pick up $125 or whatever.

And if he had asked, I would like to think that someone there would have had balls enough to tell him, "No f---in' way." That would require someone with balls enough to fire or demote the guy, rather than make him the sports dept. blogger. (For someone as lazy as this guy, that is a reward -- sit on your ass and compile and comment on others' work.)