I'm sorry, but I have to break the third rule of Postgame Spread... no F-bombs. Sorry, kids. But it's deserved.
This Wayne Gretzky wiretap... the one that ESPN and other outlets have used as character assassination... turns it was recorded on Monday, i.e. the day after the Tocchet allegations were announced on national television! I find it deeply sickening that ESPN ran with this story before doing some truly elementary fact-checking. I mean, isn't that, you know, COMPLETELY FUCKING IRRESPONSIBLE??? Who was ESPN trying to beat to the punch? The NJPD played them like a rusty trombone. Regardless of whether Gretzky was actually involved, which is not yet known and I do not rule out, this wasn't even CLOSE to being proof of involvement. And yet they alluded to it anyway, with absolutely no evidence to back that up.
ESPN should be ashamed of themselves. I've been railing against ESPN's absent journalistic integrity for years, but this takes the cake. They publicly embarrassed an otherwise fabulous guy, and the ambassador of the only major sport that ESPN doesn't cover, using information that was essentially false. It's easy to beat on ESPN for having dropped hockey coverage, but given the context of the story, and that a fledgling wannabe-competitor is trying to ride NHL coverage into being a competitor, I think their lack of financial stake in the NHL is fair game. Fuck you, ESPN. Fuck you very much.
Of course, the irresponsibility is not limited to ESPN. Take a look at the AP's take on this development, printed here. They're still protecting the made-up allgeations:
Oh, "specific information on when a wiretap conversation was recorded?" Oh, you mean WHEN. And it's "specific," like it wasn't just some obvious fact, like, you know, THE DAY OF THE FUCKING WEEK. I have a tiny, tiiiiiiny suggestion for journalists working this beat from here on out. Stop trying making this story bigger than it is before its time. You know those "fact" thingies that make your job so hard? Shut the fuck up until you have some. If the facts are there, the story will make itself. Right now, the only facts you have are that Wayne Gretzky is Rick Tocchet's boss, that Janet Jones is Wayne Gretzky's wife, and that Janet Jones probably has access to Gretzky's bank account. So the smear campaign is essentially based on innuendo, speculation, and assumption. In other words... pure, unadulterated, bullshit.
I await ESPN's retraction, and its public apology to the Gretzky family.
This Wayne Gretzky wiretap... the one that ESPN and other outlets have used as character assassination... turns it was recorded on Monday, i.e. the day after the Tocchet allegations were announced on national television! I find it deeply sickening that ESPN ran with this story before doing some truly elementary fact-checking. I mean, isn't that, you know, COMPLETELY FUCKING IRRESPONSIBLE??? Who was ESPN trying to beat to the punch? The NJPD played them like a rusty trombone. Regardless of whether Gretzky was actually involved, which is not yet known and I do not rule out, this wasn't even CLOSE to being proof of involvement. And yet they alluded to it anyway, with absolutely no evidence to back that up.
ESPN should be ashamed of themselves. I've been railing against ESPN's absent journalistic integrity for years, but this takes the cake. They publicly embarrassed an otherwise fabulous guy, and the ambassador of the only major sport that ESPN doesn't cover, using information that was essentially false. It's easy to beat on ESPN for having dropped hockey coverage, but given the context of the story, and that a fledgling wannabe-competitor is trying to ride NHL coverage into being a competitor, I think their lack of financial stake in the NHL is fair game. Fuck you, ESPN. Fuck you very much.
Of course, the irresponsibility is not limited to ESPN. Take a look at the AP's take on this development, printed here. They're still protecting the made-up allgeations:
Specific information on when a wiretap conversation was recorded appears to support Wayne Gretzky's contention that he had no prior knowledge of an illegal gambling ring involving his wife and Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet.
Oh, "specific information on when a wiretap conversation was recorded?" Oh, you mean WHEN. And it's "specific," like it wasn't just some obvious fact, like, you know, THE DAY OF THE FUCKING WEEK. I have a tiny, tiiiiiiny suggestion for journalists working this beat from here on out. Stop trying making this story bigger than it is before its time. You know those "fact" thingies that make your job so hard? Shut the fuck up until you have some. If the facts are there, the story will make itself. Right now, the only facts you have are that Wayne Gretzky is Rick Tocchet's boss, that Janet Jones is Wayne Gretzky's wife, and that Janet Jones probably has access to Gretzky's bank account. So the smear campaign is essentially based on innuendo, speculation, and assumption. In other words... pure, unadulterated, bullshit.
I await ESPN's retraction, and its public apology to the Gretzky family.
posted by Jeff at
1:33 PM
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