It's not our Eddie Johnson...

[Forrestham]

In defense of Eddie, how would any of us feel if national news shows and papers with a large circulation ran stories about su being a child molester.
Yes they did apologize. I am a long time NBA fan and do remember there is another bad "Eddie Johnson". Bad Eddie never played for the same teams that good Eddie did. These are poeple that are hacks that wanted to bring a good man down before they had the facts

 

[justAndy]

This story has me teary-eyed - honestly - our Eddie Johnson is a good guy and cool cat.
Stay strong, my 7th cousin...

 

[SunsTzu]

In defense of Eddie,

Did I miss something? I think everyone has been in defense of EJ since this broke and most everyone wants there to be consequences for those that failed to do proper research.

 

[George O'Brien]

Whatever happened to "check your facts"? Is it little wonder that most people who grew up as print journalists consider the term "electronic journalist" to be a contradiction in terms?

It is not hugely difficult to double check the facts or to make sure the person's idenity is confirmed. 24 hour television has led to a world where raw data is being reported without adequate confirmation, but talk radio has even less pretentions of journalistic integrity. Unfortunately, people take what talk radio guys say seriously, even after innumerable examples of journalistic failure.

The sad part is that this was probably an honest mistake. It doesn't matter. It is simply that years of sloppy and non-existent fact checking has caught up with them. Maybe a judgement of millions of dollars will make some of these people wake up.

 

[elindholm]

I know I'm not posting anymore, but I have to ask:

In what category would you place writing Reggie "Evens" 300 times in a row, when everyone knows his last name is "Evans"? Is that a lack of journalistic integrity, or sloppy fact checking, or just not caring to take the time? Or does it not count, since it's a transgression committed by someone whose expertise is otherwise unimpeachable?

 

[George O'Brien]

I know I'm not posting anymore, but I have to ask:

In what category would you place writing Reggie "Evens" 300 times in a row, when everyone knows his last name is "Evans"? Is that a lack of journalistic integrity, or sloppy fact checking, or just not caring to take the time? Or does it not count, since it's a transgression committed by someone whose expertise is otherwise unimpeachable?

That's an interesting question. I tend to look up the names of guys with tough names like Piatkowski, Potapenko, Przybilla, Olowokandi, and Nowitzki and not bother on simple last names. However, I admit I am not quite as inclined to look up first names.

In any case, guys whose names are not listed on nba.com are a lot harder. I doubt that I have ever spelled Isiah correctly, but I'll do better now that he's a coach. Fortunately, it won't be for long.

 

[Errntknght]

"In what category would you place writing Reggie "Evens" 300 times in a row, when everyone knows his last name is "Evans"? "

Consistency?

 

[Southpaw]

Whatever happened to "check your facts"? Is it little wonder that most people who grew up as print journalists consider the term "electronic journalist" to be a contradiction in terms?

It is not hugely difficult to double check the facts or to make sure the person's idenity is confirmed. 24 hour television has led to a world where raw data is being reported without adequate confirmation, but talk radio has even less pretentions of journalistic integrity. Unfortunately, people take what talk radio guys say seriously, even after innumerable examples of journalistic failure.

The sad part is that this was probably an honest mistake. It doesn't matter. It is simply that years of sloppy and non-existent fact checking has caught up with them. Maybe a judgement of millions of dollars will make some of these people wake up.

There seems to be a long practiced brand of " journalism steeped in rush to judgement sensationalism. Deadlines and competition is no excuse for hack journalism.