The Great Deadspin-ESPN Sex Rumor Fiasco

Cover via Amazon

Yesterday the details of ESPN’s Steve Phillips’ affair with a Production Assistant were published by the New York Post. This was only newsworthy because it is allegedly the reason Phillips has been disciplined by the Worldwide Leader. Frankly not my cup of tea in terms of sports news, but it certainly was an extremely popular story yesterday. Apparently upset at not breaking the story despite having a few unverified tips, Deadspin and their Editor AJ Daulerio went on the warpath obliterating any ESPN employee with a host of gossip and rumors. I’ll let Dave Lozo take it from here:

However, if you are in the business of printing completely unresearched, unfounded and salacious rumors about the sexual activities of people — and naming names — simply because you were scooped on a story because your investigation into a rumor didnt cut it, then you should consider moving into another business. Like perhaps a writer at US Weekly?

Because thats exactly what Deadspin did Wednesday after the New York Post broke the story about ESPN baseball analyst Steve Phillips and his affair with an ESPN employee, Brooke Hundley. The Post had PDFs of Hundleys psychotic letters to Phillips wife and had the news of his one-week suspension from the network.Enter sour grapes and bitterness.

As A.J. Daulerio explains in his post that served as both a warning to the employees of ESPN that every rumor in Deadspin’s inbox was about to be published and a nice platform for stomping his feet and crying, hes got every right in the world to do it.

via Stupid Sports Blog: Deadspin acts like professionals after being scooped.

One of the biggest issues about this story is that they published unverified rumors about ESPN employees that are in no way public figures. I’m no legal eagle, but that’s what some folks like to call slander.

Many folks are wondering what Daulerio was thinking, or why an established blog would do something so bush league.  The answer is almost certainly very simple: page views, which translate to money and fame. Like virtually every political pundit with a TV show (Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann come to mind) or a morning zoo talk radio host, it seems Daulerio wants so badly to matter that he’s unconcerned with what he has to do in the name of “news” to get there. After all whether it’s right or wrong, it will be a boon to Deadspin both in the public consciousness and in the pocketbook. How many people completely ignorant of sports blogs have now heard of Deadspin because of this story? How much will the increase in unique visitors effect their ad rates? As someone once said, “any publicity is good publicity.” However, any publicity is not good journalism or even good blogging.

When you boil it all down to motive, AJ Daulerio and Phillips’ mistress Brooke Hundley aren’t all that different. Both were hurt by someone that granted them access and lashed out in the most hurtful way possible to get revenge. In some twisted way, they also probably hoped their actions would force their former suitors to take them back. How’s that for a Fatal Attraction?

“I will not be ignored, ESPN!”