Author Topic: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce  (Read 2214 times)

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Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« on: July 25, 2017, 08:39:43 PM »

Offline IDreamCeltics

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You have Steven A. Smith citing unnamed sources who quote Lebron.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20154792/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-denies-reported-role-kyrie-irving-trade-demand-saga

To which Lebron (the quoted party and primary source of information) responds through twitter, denying association with the quotes.

Which leads Steven A. to double down on his now-debunked-by-the-actual source- quote.

ESPN characteristically stands by Steven A. Smith and refutes Lebron's version of events.

If you're interested at all in history, or journalism I think this is a really spectacular case study in how unnamed/unverifiable sources have become FAR more important  to what's reported on than actual primary sources.  Lebron literally has to create his own media stream through a decentralized news source to even get his version of the story out.

Sports Journalism has lead the way for all journalism to give more weight to the words of people who refuse to be quoted than the people the quotes are actually attributed to.

To quote the nation's heel ... "SAD."

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2017, 09:08:54 PM »

Offline celticsclay

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You have Steven A. Smith citing unnamed sources who quote Lebron.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20154792/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-denies-reported-role-kyrie-irving-trade-demand-saga

To which Lebron (the quoted party and primary source of information) responds through twitter, denying association with the quotes.

Which leads Steven A. to double down on his now-debunked-by-the-actual source- quote.

ESPN characteristically stands by Steven A. Smith and refutes Lebron's version of events.

If you're interested at all in history, or journalism I think this is a really spectacular case study in how unnamed/unverifiable sources have become FAR more important  to what's reported on than actual primary sources.  Lebron literally has to create his own media stream through a decentralized news source to even get his version of the story out.

Sports Journalism has lead the way for all journalism to give more weight to the words of people who refuse to be quoted than the people the quotes are actually attributed to.

To quote the nation's heel ... "SAD."

I don't know. Lebron James isn't your typical "primary" source of information he is really more like a company. He has a calculated moves, media leaks and career moves based on improving his brand sentiment and power. It is entirely possible he (or his brand to continue the analogy) said something and noticed it was being scored in a very unfavorable away by the public and decided to reverse course. I don't think Steven A Smith is some sort of truth teller or all around solid guy, but it is a little bit more complicated than your post would make it out to be.

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2017, 09:19:38 PM »

Offline fairweatherfan

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Denial isn't debunking. People lie, people misremember, people get nitpicky about phrasing when they're feeling defensive.

And in areas where there are actual legal consequences to statements (like political reporting) reading denials very carefully gives a pretty clear sense of what's probably accurate about the report.

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2017, 09:48:44 PM »

Offline green_bballers13

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How were Smith's statements about Lebron "newsworthy"?

"This guy wants to kick this other guy's butt?" Are you seriously calling yourself professional, Stephen A Smith?

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2017, 10:04:53 PM »

Offline jambr380

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Quote
Lebron literally has to create his own media stream through a decentralized news source to even get his version of the story out.

Poor Lebron, it must be so difficult to be in his shoes and have no media outlets whatsoever report what he wants to the people? He must feel really helpless right now.

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2017, 02:43:17 AM »

Offline greece66

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The problem here is Smith not Lebron.

 

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2017, 03:19:14 AM »

Offline TheSundanceKid

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The problem here is Smith not Lebron.

We'll see. The o ly point you can verify that is when the full story comes out. I doubt it ever will though.

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2017, 06:04:28 AM »

Offline Moranis

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I don't think Smith ever said he was quoting James or that his sources were quoting James.
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Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2017, 08:27:18 AM »

Offline timpiker

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I'd like to know about the Boston/Cavs playoff game he alludes to.  I remember thinking that LeBUM gave up.

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #9 on: July 26, 2017, 08:38:05 AM »

Offline Roy H.

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I don't think Smith ever said he was quoting James or that his sources were quoting James.

That's why I'm confused by SAS's reaction.

One of Lebron's buddies says something silly, like Lebron would be tempted to fight Kyrie. Lebron disagrees, and basically calls it fake news. SAS then threatens the "truth" about something that happened several years ago?  SAS looks unprofessional.

As for sports reporting, it's *all* media that is a farce. "News" is driven by ratings and agendas, pretty much across the spectrum.


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Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #10 on: July 26, 2017, 03:24:26 PM »

Offline Moranis

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I don't think Smith ever said he was quoting James or that his sources were quoting James.

That's why I'm confused by SAS's reaction.

One of Lebron's buddies says something silly, like Lebron would be tempted to fight Kyrie. Lebron disagrees, and basically calls it fake news. SAS then threatens the "truth" about something that happened several years ago?  SAS looks unprofessional.

As for sports reporting, it's *all* media that is a farce. "News" is driven by ratings and agendas, pretty much across the spectrum.
just trying to draw ratings I think.  This is where a guy like SAS gets into trouble.  he starts mixing his actual reporting with his personality interest ratings driving side.  It is very hard to do both and not have it be a problem at some point.  That is why you generally see most of the guys either be reporters (the Schefter's of the world) or be opinionated talk show host types (Mike & Mike, Cowherd, Bayless, etc.).  Very few can successfully do both. 
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Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #11 on: July 26, 2017, 03:30:17 PM »

Offline gift

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You have Steven A. Smith citing unnamed sources who quote Lebron.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/20154792/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-denies-reported-role-kyrie-irving-trade-demand-saga

To which Lebron (the quoted party and primary source of information) responds through twitter, denying association with the quotes.

Which leads Steven A. to double down on his now-debunked-by-the-actual source- quote.

ESPN characteristically stands by Steven A. Smith and refutes Lebron's version of events.

If you're interested at all in history, or journalism I think this is a really spectacular case study in how unnamed/unverifiable sources have become FAR more important  to what's reported on than actual primary sources.  Lebron literally has to create his own media stream through a decentralized news source to even get his version of the story out.

Sports Journalism has lead the way for all journalism to give more weight to the words of people who refuse to be quoted than the people the quotes are actually attributed to.

To quote the nation's heel ... "SAD."

I understand how anonymous sources can be necessary to some stories. But far too often it's a crutch for modern journalists (sports and otherwise) to play with some version of the truth and mix in however much speculation they want. It's literally gossip level.

Re: Good Example of Why Sports "Reporting" is a farce
« Reply #12 on: July 26, 2017, 05:20:43 PM »

Offline greece66

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