Vols should pursue against ESPN....

[therealitytheory]

I'm thinking all parties are going to move on, but people with an axe to grind against ESPN will reference this episode for many years to come.

 

[Coddlecreek1]

“Yellow Journalism” , I thought Randolph Hearst had addressed this problem years ago. Seems people can say anything they want and get by with it.

 

[Rickyvol77]

I don't know who told who what and it sounds crazy that someone from UT would say that, but it is also crazy to think a reporter would jeopardize his career by just spouting that with nothing to back it up, at least in his mind he thought he had a source. I mean, if he were to tell his bosses he just figured it had to be that so he figured he would report it, he is fired. On the spot. No questions asked. Truth be told, I doubt anyone will ever know the true story of how this all went down, but I do bet there is probably something from the UT side they would rather not get out. Enough reports from multiple people left the impression this was going to be worse than it was for me to believe that they were all guessing and just chasing a story. But hey, maybe they were all in on a conspiracy against the team they cover

Clueless take

 

[wmcovol]

From what I’ve seen they are the better and bigger people and are going to leave it alone. But they’re better than me and if it was my kid I can’t lie and say I wouldn’t be pretty ugly about it

First it’s way too early to say they’ll do nothing. It has nothing to do with being “better” person. Evan’s opportunity at the next level could be reduced or eliminated by that BS. They have plenty of time to see how this plays out. It was clearly said intentionally to damage Russell & more importantly the entire Tennessee team IMO.

 

[Dr H Lecter]

I have not seen the “penned” apology, but I heard the ex—Razorback baseball player try to read an apology which was the most insincere apology I’ve heard in some time. The apology given at the beginning of the game at least felt honest, but Eklund can just suck an egg(or anything else you may want to insert here).

 

[VOL_Lyfe]

werent they just repeating what RTI said? Perhaps you have the wrong target

 

[Bigorangedan23]

The Russell’s already forgave and forgot, so the rest of the fan base should follow

Don’t forget just remember the malice and the lengths ESPN and their commentators take to try and destroy and run with a false story. What was the purpose? To destroy and run a false story so they can sell soap and beer on their broadcast. Period.

 

[Manchester Vol]

Should pursue what against espn?

Hot pursuit!!

 

[VOLtaism]

This is now an issue or nonissue between ESPN and one of their employees. I would think using a twitter feed for your color information would be a huge mistake? We will see.

 

[ArmchairQB]

Their guy screwed up and had to pout his way through an apology and now with any luck will go cover dodgeball on the ocho until he learns to adult his way through a broadcast. The relationship with ESPN is a complex one. We make a ton of TV money off them, and it serves them for their product (our league) to be as valuable as possible. That means smacking down commentators when they leave a turd in a burning paper bag on the porch like that. Say what you want about Disney but they know how to make money. They'll deal with it.

 

[OldTimer]

Also, he’s not an ESPN reporter, a hired announcer during the Regionals, some sort of sub-contractor I imagine, still representing the network however. I’m no attorney however there is some slander there, whether or not its worth pursuing is questionable.

 

[MAD]

This is now an issue or nonissue between ESPN and one of their employees. I would think using a twitter feed for your color information would be a huge mistake? We will see.

I’m curious ,does anyone know if Troy Eklund called a game last night?

 

[Rickyvol77]

I’m curious ,does anyone know if Troy Eklund called a game last night?

He called the Arkansas Game

 

[ArmchairQB]

I missed that he played ball at Arkansas. Goes a ways toward explaining him just wanting to believe it.

 

[VolDaddy61]

Egregious error, he apologized, keep it moving.

 

[WBO]

You know, if UT wanted to make its point you could just curtail the reporter's access to players during the remainder of the tournament. It's going to hurt him badly in his reporting. If Tennessee said it was permanent, he probably eventually loses his job because you just can't use a reporter who is not allowed to do pregame conferences with coaches and players with the #1 team in the country.

If you really want to hurt them, ban ESPN employees from the buffets they put on for the press during games.

For people who are wondering if what he said was that bad, it's a national broadcaster repeating unsubstantiated reports from his alma mater's fan boards and he even speculated that this was a team wide problem.

Pretty freaking bad. I don't really care about him long term, but there are cases where reporters have been fired for less.