Two big media stories today, and both involving ESPN. First, SportsCenter got pranked called last night with someone claiming to be Brian Westbrook. This actually happened at a TV station where Nick worked, so we talk about how this can get through on the air and what kind of planning it takes to pull off a prank like this. You’re a douchebag for thinking it’s funny to prank call live TV and send it in to Howard Stern for 30 seconds of “fame” but you’re a dedicated douchebag. Here’s the video and whatnot.
Inside the Press Box:
We talk about the Kornheiser suspension. Yes, it’s a story I said a few times was not a story, but now that word came out that ESPN suspended him for two weeks, it’s a story. ESPN made this a story by completely overreacting to something that was posted on the blogosphere. Well played, World Wide Leader.
We also talk about this back and forth between AJ Daulerio of Deadspin and Jason Whitlock. Whitlock seems pissed that Deadspin isn’t giving credit to The Big Lead for this story, instead pushing the angle that the real story is Gary Braun’s dig on Chris Berman — that Tony facilitated — and THAT’S why Tony was suspended. Daulerio trusts his sources, but Whitlock thinks it’s bunk, and AJ is only going with that angle to rumor monger in an effort to steal the thunder from TBL to Deadspin.
Whether you believe the Berman rumor or not, what TBL did is NOT REPORTING. Someone listened to the radio. That’s it. Someone listened to the radio and wrote down what Tony said and posted it on a blog. What is a good thing to post on a blog? Certainly. It got a ton of traffic and spread throughout the internet. But it’s not news and it’s not reporting. The fact that ESPN suspended Kornheiser wasn’t broken by them — he wasn’t on PTI, said on Friday “I’ll go to my room now” and explained it on his radio show on Tuesday morning. Again, LISTENING TO THE RADIO IS NOT REPORTING. It’s smart blogging, but let’s back off on who “owned” this story.
Housekeeping:
We talk a bit about the #blogswithstones curling prelims last night and talk about the best set up for Thursday’s bracket. It was a great event, really. We mention the emotions at the figure skating event and Nick applauds Herb Magee for becoming the winningest coach in college basketball.
Tags: ESPN, Media, SportsCenter, Tony Kornheiser
Ditto Dan’s comment above. Unsure why you seem to have a double standard regarding Deadspin and TBL. Both are gossip sites but at least in my opinion TBL is much more interesting, a better read, and less trashy than Deadspin. Is the difference in treatment only due to your friendship with the Deadspin guys, or are there objective reasons? Please opine.
Love the show and keep up the good work … maybe could use a bit less promotion of the internet curling tournament thing.
I don’t love Kornheiser – not a big fan. But benching him for two weeks is ridiculous and I can’t say that what Deadspin threw out there is insane. 2 weeks for fashion bashing is just silly otherwise.
All that said, it seems like these ESPN non-stories keep happening and more frequently. It’s like the fall of Rome (and not Jim Rome either).
The guy who called into ESPN may be a douche but he did provide me with some morning amusement until you posted your show so for that, he has my thanks. Van Pelt handled it liek a champ too – awestruck with a touch of goofiness.
Good show as always boys.
In regards to the Big Lead and Whitlock, he at least has probably read his interview with the site (http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2006/09/22/oh-damn-did-whitlock-really-say-that-a-qa-with-jason-whitlock/), which eventually led to him not appearing on ESPN any more. That he holds a bigger grudge against Deadspin than TBL is somewhat ironic.
I’ve listened to you for a while but I can’t figure out why you have such a problem with TBL?
You kind of sound like the journalists you love to criticize when you argue that TBL wasn’t reporting. How would you define reporting? How is what TBL did any different than what guys like Mushnick do?