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On Friday we noted that Ravens linebacker Bart Scott was angry because he was told that Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall sent a text message in which he claimed he was going to have a big game against Baltimore.
But the story about Mendenhall’s text, written by James Walker of ESPN.com, has now been updated with a denial from Mendenhall.
Mendenhall told ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew that he “had nothing to do with that” and added, “That was news to me [when he was told about it by Steelers PR on Friday]. Anybody that knows me knows that’s not my style.”
Jim Wexell of SteelCityInsider.com confirms that, writing that the ESPN report “surprised those who’ve dealt with the quiet and humble Mendenhall this year.” Ryan Wilson of FanHouse notes that with a guy like Scott, whether the report is true or not probably won’t affect his pregame motivation anyway.
But whether the report is true or not should matter to ESPN. And the way ESPN handles the story is strange: ESPN.com still carries the exact same story that Walker wrote on Friday, except that the two paragraphs containing Mendenhall’s denial are inserted into the middle. The story still states, as a fact, that Mendenhall “recently sent a text message to friend and Ravens rookie tailback Ray Rice saying he’s going to have a big game against the NFL’s top-ranked defense.”
But Mendenhall’s denial negates the entire premise of the story. Does Walker stand by his initial reporting? If so, why were those two paragraphs of Mendenhall’s denial inserted without mention? And if Walker does not stand by his initial reporting, why doesn’t the story contain an explicit correction?
ESPN’s corrections page says, “Significant errors of fact will be corrected in a clear and timely manner, with appropriate prominence.”
But updating the story a day later and burying Mendenhall’s denial in the middle of a story that still says he sent the text isn’t clear, timely or prominent. Especially when ESPN’s main NFL page is still carrying the original headline that states as fact that Mendenhall sent the text.
If Walker screwed up the story, ESPN should say so, just as prominently as it said Mendenhall sent the text in the first place.
September 28th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
In a related story, “Pot Calls Kettle Black!!!”
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September 28th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Did the text come from his phone or what? If it did, are we completely sure that cell phone gnomes, who are notorious for their unflappable support of Baltimore-based sports teams, didn’t steal his phone and send those texts just to fire the Ravens up? Obviously Rashard Mendenhall would never tell a lie, right?
If you write a story about somebody doing something, and later that somebody denies doing it and you add that denial to the original story, is it really a correction?
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September 28th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Bart Scott is just desperately trying to change the subject from what everyone knows is bothering him. If he can’t handle one of our wide receivers he better stop provoking a running back.
Whether Mendenhall did it or not, the fact that Bart needs this sort of thing to motivate him to play the Steelers speaks to Bart and not Mendenhall. I guess next Bart’s going to want to rumble in the parking lot.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 28th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
It seemed to me to be a non story from the beginning, whether it’s true or not. What’s the big deal if 2 friends are talking smack between themselves.
Bart Scott is the Ravens version of Joey Porter.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 28th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
ENOUGH OF THIS STUPID “STORY” if that’s what you call it pft!! it was NOT trash talking anyway! im going to have a big game? where the hell does THAT pass 4 trash talk? oh i guess when bart scotts roid rage is flaring up ANYTHING is trash talk.
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