4 thoughts on “Very Sad Indeed”

  1. Media needs to stop protecting sources of patently false information, to cease and desist with the use of “source” and “report” for unverified information, and to simply stop treating every story as though it is some government secret worthy of covert or black ops security clearance. Sports news isn’t Watergate or Iran Contra. Rarely is there justification for less than full disclosure, and there is never justification for protection of sources of factual error, nor of those who reproduce factual error without verification. “X source is usually right” leads to incredible media. It has reached a point where media outlets are reporting falsehoods more often than truths. Someone with a pulse on the consumer market and resources might be able to challenge what passes for “sports news” with something far more credible. Food for thought.

  2. “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated” goes all the way back to Mark Twain, and the situation in question possibly further. So this isn’t exactly the first time in media history when somebody was reported dead when they weren’t.

    Is it one of the most embarrassing mistakes you can make in the media racket? Sure–but then there’s “Dewey Defeats Truman”, “‘Alive!’ Miners Beat Odds,” “Congressman’s Flight Reportedly Forced to Soviet Isle,” and I could go on.

    As long as human beings continue to run media outlets, mistakes are bound to happen. And as far as I know, the angels aren’t currently planning on taking over the media racket.

    In all seriousness, you do have to feel for Mr. Burns’ family and friends: that’s, a priori, absolutely no fun to go through.

    And while Mike Wise may have been on to something, his method of making that point was inexcusable.