Times the sports media lied for a hot story

[seventieslord]

I remember seeing this documentary by Nike back in the late 90s. It was about a French Canadian goalie who was chased out of the NHL because Mats Sundin exposed a weak stick hand. He never know where he was going to shoot. Top shelf, bottom shelf, stick side...

It was only a decade later, when trying to research this goalie for the Minor League Draft (MLD), that I discovered he was actually not a real goalie. This was completely fabricated by Nike. And there was no indication that it was tongue-in-cheek.

Very poor journalistic standards by Nike!!!

 

[Bear of Bad News]

I also found out recently that Cap'n Crunch doesn't actually have official status in the United States Navy.

 

[DaveG]

I remember seeing this documentary by Nike back in the late 90s. It was about a French Canadian goalie who was chased out of the NHL because Mats Sundin exposed a weak stick hand. He never know where he was going to shoot. Top shelf, bottom shelf, stick side...

It was only a decade later, when trying to research this goalie for the Minor League Draft (MLD), that I discovered he was actually not a real goalie. This was completely fabricated by Nike. And there was no indication that it was tongue-in-cheek.

Very poor journalistic standards by Nike!!!

But the one that became a bank robber because he couldn't stop Rod Brind'Amour was still a real player? Right?

 

[tarheelhockey]

I also found out recently that Cap'n Crunch doesn't actually have official status in the United States Navy.

The saddest part of this is having to call him Mr. Crunch.

 

[DaveG]

The saddest part of this is having to call him Mr. Crunch.

Wait. What about Count Chocula, is he a real count or just some eccentric guy that dresses up like a vampire? Has my whole life been a lie?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Wait. What about Count Chocula, is he a real count or just some eccentric guy that dresses up like a vampire? Has my whole life been a lie?

He’s like the Count of Monte Cristo, nobody ever heard of the guy and he just shows up out of nowhere claiming a title and rights to people’s cereal. Pretty damn fishy if you ask me.

 

[Hasbro]

I also found out recently that Cap'n Crunch doesn't actually have official status in the United States Navy.

He wears a lieutenant’s uniform.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

He wears a lieutenant’s uniform.

And let's not forget this fiasco:
Disgusting Privilege: Cap’n Crunch Was Only Forgiven For The ‘Oops! All Berries’ Debacle Because He’s A Straight White Man

 

[FerrisRox]

I also found out recently that Cap'n Crunch doesn't actually have official status in the United States Navy.

Despite years and years of claiming he is a Doctor, it turns out Dr. Pepper actually had no doctorate whatsoever. Additionally there is no documentation that Sir Mix-a-Lot has ever been knighted.

 

[Hasbro]

I think Fabio believes it’s not butter.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think Fabio believes it’s not butter.

He's always held a suspicion but been afraid to speak truth to power.

 

[LeBlondeDemon10]

You know, I have a sneaking suspicion that Big Phil is not really Bobby Orr either.

 

[Big Phil]

Not to break up this main board-style discussion regarding Captain Crunch or anything fellas, but no comments on the Phaneuf/Lupul thing? There was a lawsuit over it. Or nothing else anyone can add here? Someone mentioned Al Strachan a while back when the discussion was actually decent and you could start a whole thread on things Strachan led people down the wrong path with, intentional or not.

Lots of other things just off the top of my head that I am surprised others never brought up or added on. Bobby Hull's comments about Hitler, the many lies and stories after the Gretzky trade, even things like the World Juniors in 1987 with the Piestany Punch-up and how Canada started the brawl.

It doesn't have to be lies as much as smearing. How many coaches has the media had a big hand in getting fired? Even a couple over the last month. Local or whatever, there are stories there so I am not sure why no one wants to share anymore. I've got other threads I can read if we want to go back and talk about cereal though...........

 

[Zen Arcade]

I watched a Labatt Blue commercial and it inspired me to go into the woods and bring a case of beer to a bear so we could have some witty banter.

But the bear didn't talk, it mauled me and now I'm dead.

Thanks a lot, Labatt.

 

[Jets4Life]

Mild example:

Most media outlets in Winnipeg proclaimed that 2015 was the "30th anniversary" of the Whiteout. When over a half-dozen Jets fans pointed out the tradition started in 1987, in direct response to the "C" of Red that the Calgary Flames are known for, they refused to listen and made a promotion of it.

 

[Big Phil]

Mild example:

Most media outlets in Winnipeg proclaimed that 2015 was the "30th anniversary" of the Whiteout. When over a half-dozen Jets fans pointed out the tradition started in 1987, in direct response to the "C" of Red that the Calgary Flames are known for, they refused to listen and made a promotion of it.

My honest guess would be that there were already things in place to promote it and by promote I mean make money from it. So if you repeat it enough times most people will pay attention. They probably figured a few fans won't make enough noise about it to cramp their style.

 

[seventieslord]

Re: the Lupul/Phaneuf thing. From what I can see, it was tweeted by some rando, and made it into the bottom bar on TSN via poor quality control. Then they apologized. Lawyers were involved but I'm not sure this ever made its way to any court. Doesn't look like an example of the media "lying for a hot story". Where are you getting this, Phil?

 

[Zegras Zebra]

Re: the Lupul/Phaneuf thing. From what I can see, it was tweeted by some rando, and made it into the bottom bar on TSN via poor quality control. Then they apologized. Lawyers were involved but I'm not sure this ever made its way to any court. Doesn't look like an example of the media "lying for a hot story". Where are you getting this, Phil?

From what I remember basically if you used the hashtag #Tradecentre there was a possibility of your tweet getting on the bar at the bottom of the screen. I know at least one of mine did. I guess someone was screening them, or a computer program randomly selected some. In either case it was not a tweet from a member of the established media. Also the incident was the end of the Twitter bar for future Tradecentres, which took away a fun element from an often long, boring program if nothing interesting happens.

Also I miss the days when Twitter wasn't a toxic waste dump

 

[The Panther]

Before the Internet, news in general was sort-of 80-90% responsible reporting, with the usual wacky right-wing nut stuff plus a tiny 5% or so being the National Enquirer and its cousins. In the Internet + social media + cable sports-channel age, I find sports "reporting" to now be 80% National Enquirer level because most of it is panelists talking crap about nothing for 24 hours a day, or reporters and commentators tweeting rumors and hearsay in a desperate attempt to get followers and create hype.

The Internet has liberated a lot of information and been good for a lot of things, but Journalistic standards is not one of them.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Bobby Hull's comments about Hitler,

Presuming that the Moscow Times really did invent those comments, that gets us into Russian media which is a completely different animal.

 

[DaveG]

In all seriousness there aren't too many instances I can think of outright lies, at least by the hockey media. But if you want to talk about the sports media blowing things completely out of proportion there have been some instances of stuff being completely overblown. "Darkest day in Habs history" immediately comes to mind, where what was being blown up to be some major scandal ends up being the mother of all nothingburgers because due diligence wasn't done.

 

[Big Phil]

Before the Internet, news in general was sort-of 80-90% responsible reporting, with the usual wacky right-wing nut stuff plus a tiny 5% or so being the National Enquirer and its cousins. In the Internet + social media + cable sports-channel age, I find sports "reporting" to now be 80% National Enquirer level because most of it is panelists talking crap about nothing for 24 hours a day, or reporters and commentators tweeting rumors and hearsay in a desperate attempt to get followers and create hype.

The Internet has liberated a lot of information and been good for a lot of things, but Journalistic standards is not one of them.

Can't argue with that. It all comes down to the line of if you are on 24/7 you have to report on SOMETHING. Even if it is just to purposely stir the pot. Has anyone ever seen the crap TSN or Sportsnet come out with on social media? It is endless word vomit. I know, I unfortunately follow them on Facebook.

 

[Big Phil]

Presuming that the Moscow Times really did invent those comments, that gets us into Russian media which is a completely different animal.

Well perhaps, but someone lied. If it wasn't Hull it was a reporter.

In all seriousness there aren't too many instances I can think of outright lies, at least by the hockey media. But if you want to talk about the shorts media blowing things completely out of proportion there have been some instances of stuff being completely overblown. "Darkest day in Habs history" immediately comes to mind, where what was being blown up to be some major scandal ends up being the mother of all nothingburgers because due diligence wasn't done.

Ah, good one.

Re: the Lupul/Phaneuf thing. From what I can see, it was tweeted by some rando, and made it into the bottom bar on TSN via poor quality control. Then they apologized. Lawyers were involved but I'm not sure this ever made its way to any court. Doesn't look like an example of the media "lying for a hot story". Where are you getting this, Phil?

No, in that case it wasn't a reporter per se lying. However.............this was a very closely watched segment and someone didn't vet them properly and allowed that to surface. If anything it was horrible gossip, but it was sports news station that allowed this to happen. Other than that it is some guy with 130 friends on his Twitter account that sees it.

 

[Big Phil]

Pre-social media days I can remember Chris Gratton and Peter Worrell getting into a war of words on the ice and Gratton saying something to him that looked like "Play the f***ing game!" as he was skating away. There was a story that was run - and I guess we can trace this to the first time the media became obsessed with reading the lips of players on the ice and making things up - that felt Gratton's lips said "f***ing ape!" I remember Red Fischer saying something along the lines on HNIC of "What, we're reading lips on the ice now?"

Darcy Tucker getting the same sort of accusations thrown at him as well as Sandy McCarthy back in 1998 for apparently using racial gestures towards Peter Worrell, which even Worrell denied happen. Turns out it was just McCarthy and Tucker doing a "chicken" gesture, which looks like an ape gesture? Anyone else mistake those two? Me neither.

Morgan Rielly last year accused of using a slur but it turns out it was probably just a fan close to the mic in the stands.

What has gotten worse is that in the social media era we have these people tried, convicted and punished even before we hear anything, and that can be just from reading a headline.

 

[BadgerBruce]

We should all keep in mind that members of the media are often toyed with by executives with agendas.

Case in point: Jack Adams.

When he dumped Lindsay because of his union activities, he also showed the beat reporters a fake contract that indicated Terrible Ted earned $25K per year instead of $13K. Even after Lindsay was gone to Chicago, Adams continued his press attack, spreading rumours that Lindsay had criticized his Detroit teammates.

All of this (and much more) is fully documented and was even dramatized in Net Worth.


Years ago, I had a boss who would feed rumours into the workplace grapevine. Then he’d sit back and take notes, the evil SOB.

Adams wasn’t a whole lot different — he loved to create pointless drama and use the beholden press in ways that truly harmed good people. Lindsay, Hall, Kelly and many others were victimized by a press corps Adams used like puppets.