NEWS BLACKOUT AT ESPN CONTINUES
Well, the Roethlisberger story is more than 24 hours old & "The Worldwide Leader is Sports" aka ESPN, continues their blackout on the story. If some of you were under the impression ESPN might be reserving comment on this story because it's a civil case with no criminal charges filed as yet, think again. You don't have to go back any further than the spring of 2008, when Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison was sued by one Dwight Dixon, claiming Harrison had shot him in the hand outside a car wash owned by Harrison. Harrison wasn't charged by police, even though a gun belonging to Harrison fired the bullet that hit Dixon, because a witness never came forward to testify they saw Harrison fire the shot. ESPN was all over this civil lawsuit story from the jump & reported on it extensively. So that theory doesn't fly. By the way, Dwight Dixon was shot 7 times Tuesday afternoon exiting a Chinese restaurant in Philadelphia & is in critical condition. Mr. Dixon also has an extensive arrest record. Not a surprise, seems like most guys shot 7 times in broad daylight on a major city street have a skeleton or two in the closet.
One of ESPN's frequent co-hosts on "Pardon the Interruption", Dan LeBatard spoke on air tonight on 790 in Miami. He promptly jammed his foot squarely into his rather large mouth. LeBatard said "it's only being reported in the blogosphere, irresponsibly & unfairly. It's not being reported in credible places". I guess Dan doesn't consider the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, CNN, Fox News, FOXSports.com, The Sporting News & Pro Football Weekly as credible. Virtually all media outlets are reporting this story. As usual, Dan is fairly clueless.
I wonder how long it will be before someone, rightly or wrongly, suggests a racial component in ESPN's 'selective' reporting. They show the 'dog-fighting QB' in a 'perp walk' at least 10 times a day & that was over 2 years ago. You can't tell me you haven't seen that video at least 30 or 40 times.
So ESPN, what gives? Who or what are you protecting? It certainly can't be your credibility, it's shrinking every time "Sportscenter" avoids the subject. I have to believe there are a number of real journalists at ESPN that are steamed at management's decision that this is to be a non-story. Though ESPN's decision hardly threatens national security, when any media outlet decides what they want us to hear or not hear, you should be very concerned.
One of ESPN's frequent co-hosts on "Pardon the Interruption", Dan LeBatard spoke on air tonight on 790 in Miami. He promptly jammed his foot squarely into his rather large mouth. LeBatard said "it's only being reported in the blogosphere, irresponsibly & unfairly. It's not being reported in credible places". I guess Dan doesn't consider the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, CBSSports.com, CNN, Fox News, FOXSports.com, The Sporting News & Pro Football Weekly as credible. Virtually all media outlets are reporting this story. As usual, Dan is fairly clueless.
I wonder how long it will be before someone, rightly or wrongly, suggests a racial component in ESPN's 'selective' reporting. They show the 'dog-fighting QB' in a 'perp walk' at least 10 times a day & that was over 2 years ago. You can't tell me you haven't seen that video at least 30 or 40 times.
So ESPN, what gives? Who or what are you protecting? It certainly can't be your credibility, it's shrinking every time "Sportscenter" avoids the subject. I have to believe there are a number of real journalists at ESPN that are steamed at management's decision that this is to be a non-story. Though ESPN's decision hardly threatens national security, when any media outlet decides what they want us to hear or not hear, you should be very concerned.
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