Gordon Edes writes about Orioles broadcaster Gary Thorne's on-air comments about Curt Schilling's bloody sock last night -- indeed, the statements and the various reactions Edes received from Schilling, Theo Epstein, Larry Lucchino, Terry Francona, Doug Mirabelli and Kevin Millar make up a large portion of his game story -- but Edes doesn't say where he first heard about Thorne's offensive comments:
An email from me.
At 8:56 pm, just after the end of the fifth inning, when the comments were made, I typed up a close approximation of what Thorne said with the request: "Please ask Schilling and/or Mirabelli about this tonight." I sent it to a handful of Boston sportswriters.
Edes responded 19 minutes later -- and he was the only writer to get back to me. We ended up exchanging several emails and speaking by phone a couple of times over the next three hours. Just before midnight, I send Edes an exact transcription of Thorne's and Palmer's on-air comments, which I got as soon as the game was archived at MLB.com (fortunately, it was the Orioles' feed and not NESN).
Thorne's comments have also been a topic on sports radio today. According to some SoSHers, Mike and Mike were talking with SI's Tim Kurkjian about it early this morning.
I know this all may sound like selfish whining. I'm glad that Edes picked up on the tip and thought it was worthy of following up -- not letting Thorne's idiocy disappear into the ether -- but a simple tip of the hat, a half-sentence of recognition (even in what is a strict news story), would have been nice.
UPDATE: Joy of Sox cited by Baltimore Sun blogger Rick Maese, Art Martone's Providence Journal blog, Boston Dirt Dogs, the Globe's Eric Wilbur, Masslive.com, AOL Sports, Media Nation, Universal Hub and Two Cents And A Schilling.
18 comments:
It's in the Baltimore Sun too.
At least in the Sun they give you credit...was happy to see that.
They did? Where?
(Are you mattymatty at 38pitches? If so, thanks.)
Edes tells me that his follow-up -- which will be more of a column than a strict news story -- will include information about how he learned about Thorne.
If Edes is in Baltimore (which I guess he is if he talked to the players), he would not have heard the comment on TV--and thus not have the story in the first place. A simple acknowledgement is not only professional courtesty in this case, but down right essential. How else would he have the story? Does he watch TV while at the ball park? Christ.
EEI is all over it, even quoting Thorne. John Dennis speculated that maybe Thorne misinterpreted a 'belli joke, but couldn't explain 'belli's flat-out denial of even speaking to Thorne. Now Holly is asking why a reputable, upstanding guy like Thorne would make up talking to 'belli. This thing is now growing exponentially. Good scoop, Redsock. Now Dale Arnold just annointed it a "huge story". Stay tuned.
I should have said that 'EEI replayed the exchange between Thorne and Palmer. No way Thorne was joking. He was saying that the bloody sock was made-up shit.
That's the thing, woti.
This is Gordon's story because he went off and spoke to so many people about it. And I'm glad he thought it was worthy of following up on.
But I'm sure the O's broadcast was not on in the press box and I got no indication from him last night that anyone else had mentioned the comments to him.
No other media person has the story, either. I'm assuming that if I didn't send out the email, this story would have disappeared into the ether. Maybe not.
(I do see stories that have something like "the Globe has learned" etc. near the top. Something like that in the original story, or mentioning where he got the actual transcript from, would have been proper, even in a strict news story, I believe.)
I'll check the Extra Bases blog for an update. I assume there will be a follow-up story today.
I should have said that 'EEI replayed the exchange between Thorne and Palmer. No way Thorne was joking. He was saying that the bloody sock was made-up shit.
That is great! I wish I had the ability to do an audio capture last night.
A big thank you to Dirt Dog Steve Silva for linking to Joy of Sox for Thorne's comments!
Redsock-wait till WEEI website archives this morning's "D & C". I heard it replayed during the last hour (9-10).
Edes speaks to Jeff Idelson, Vice President of Communications and Education for the Baseball Hall of Fame, who says "the Hall has no reason to doubt the authenticity of the bloody sock Curt Schilling wore in Game 2 of the 2004 World Series".
Edes emails: "xm radio at 1:25, espn Outside the Lines later this afternoon, you'll be all over the place before the day is through".
Cool.
If anyone can tune and report back, that would be great.
At least in the Sun they give you credit...was happy to see that.
There's no mention of Allan or Joy of Sox in the Sun story.
No other media person has the story, either. I'm assuming that if I didn't send out the email, this story would have disappeared into the ether.
So what you're really saying is, this whole ridiculous kerfuffle is more or less your fault. Are you sure you want credit for that? ;) I'd have been more than happy to have had the comment disappear into the ether...
So what you're really saying is, this whole ridiculous kerfuffle is more or less your fault. Are you sure you want credit for that? ;) I'd have been more than happy to have had the comment disappear into the ether...
No. The kerfuffle is solely Thorne's fault.
I merely thought that Thorne should be held responsible for what he says, that if he's going to make a claim like that, it should be known and he should be asked about it.
Gordon Edes took it from there.
I'd have been more than happy to have had the comment disappear into the ether...
Why would you want someone to get away with saying something like that?
I don't even understand calling it a "ridiculous kerfuffle". It wasn't a misunderstanding. It was an accusation, a lie. Why not call him on it?
Usually, when an announcer said something out of line or stupid, we bitch and moan that he doesn't get called on it.
"Why is senile ol' McCarver still employed?" "How can ESPN keep paying a dolt like Morgan?", etc., etc.
It was an accusation, a lie. Why not call him on it?
Because this "accusation" has been put to bed a million times already, and nobody with brains would take it seriously. Responding to it just gives it more credence (think about how most evolutionary biologists refuse to dignify Creationists by debating them). That's why the Sox FO is making "no comment" statements.
I'm not saying it's not worth noting, just that it doesn't deserve ten articles in the Globe (not to mention the endless hours of talk radio). Obviously the level of reaction hasn't been in your control, though.
Now, Morgan and McCarver on the other hand... I can't recall the last time either of them said something that WASN'T stupid. Heck, Morgan has an entire blog devoted to cataloguing the stupid crap that comes out of his mouth (and in his ESPN chats)... so whatever the reason these two are still employed, it's not for lack of people calling them on their idiocy.
Heard an interview with Gordon Edes on the Mike Felger show on 890 AM (ESPN radio) yesterday. He was asked how he found out about it, and told the story about getting an email from you, mentioned your name and that you also wrote for a few online sites as well as maintained your own blog, so he's definitely being sure to give you credit.
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