It turns out that the NY Post report saying Derrick Coleman needs a heart transplant is TOTALLY FALSE. As you can see from the link, Mike Waters talked to Coleman and who laughed and told him:
"You think I'm dead?'' Coleman said. "I don't know where (the Post) got the story that I needed a heart transplant. Tell the everyone in Syracuse that I appreciate the love, but it's a false alarm. I ain't gone yet. When I'm gone, they'll have funeral in the (Carrier) Dome.''
First of all, kudos to Mike Waters for going out debunking this story. I've said it before on this blog, and all 3 idiots have discussed it among ourselves, between Mike Waters and Donnie Webb, Syracuse fans are lucky to have such talented people covering the teams we love. We all appreciate the work they do - and I find it amazing the Post Standard has these guys and has held on to them, because from my point of view - there large parts of that paper that are....uh......let's just say I'm not a fan.
Second - that's a HORRIBLE job by Vescey, and completely irresponsible by his editors and the paper. In the story (which as of 1:50 had not been updated) Vecsey cites no sources, apparently did not reach out to Coleman or couldn't reach him (as we can infer from the Waters story where DC says he has no idea where they got it from) and contains frighteningly few details as to why Coleman needed a heart transplant, or what was the status of his medical condition.
So, as this idiot reads it - a long-time NBA columnist hears a rumor - doesn't cite any sources in his story, and gets it printed. The Post and Vecsey should be embarrassed. At least them getting it wrong is good news for Derrick, his family and all his fans.
"You think I'm dead?'' Coleman said. "I don't know where (the Post) got the story that I needed a heart transplant. Tell the everyone in Syracuse that I appreciate the love, but it's a false alarm. I ain't gone yet. When I'm gone, they'll have funeral in the (Carrier) Dome.''
First of all, kudos to Mike Waters for going out debunking this story. I've said it before on this blog, and all 3 idiots have discussed it among ourselves, between Mike Waters and Donnie Webb, Syracuse fans are lucky to have such talented people covering the teams we love. We all appreciate the work they do - and I find it amazing the Post Standard has these guys and has held on to them, because from my point of view - there large parts of that paper that are....uh......let's just say I'm not a fan.
Second - that's a HORRIBLE job by Vescey, and completely irresponsible by his editors and the paper. In the story (which as of 1:50 had not been updated) Vecsey cites no sources, apparently did not reach out to Coleman or couldn't reach him (as we can infer from the Waters story where DC says he has no idea where they got it from) and contains frighteningly few details as to why Coleman needed a heart transplant, or what was the status of his medical condition.
So, as this idiot reads it - a long-time NBA columnist hears a rumor - doesn't cite any sources in his story, and gets it printed. The Post and Vecsey should be embarrassed. At least them getting it wrong is good news for Derrick, his family and all his fans.
Here are few of the outlets now reporting on Vecsey's blunder:
- A report from Michigan Live.
- ESPN quotes DC as saying "this ain't that serious."
- The Detroit News has a great headline on the story.
I personally can't wait for Vecsey do issue some dumb statement saying he "stands by his story" which seems to be standard operating procedure when something like this happens.
3 comments:
Can't even put into words how ticked I am that they can put a rumor like that into print without bothering to verify any of the details. So much for journalistic integrity.
The Post is a joke - probably not your speed, but read a Fred Dicker column over there - every column is filled with unnamed sources, rumor and innuendo, passed off as fact.
I just checked what other exclusives Vescey is working on:
1. The kid from the Life Cereal commercial died from eating Pop Rocks and Drinking Soda
2. Bill Gates will pay you $5 everytime you forward a chain email
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