📡 ESPN writer 'disciplined' after making up Nick Saban quote as a joke

[Michael Casagrande |]

A writer from ESPN is in trouble after making up a Nick Saban quote in a Tweet he later said was a joke.

Mike Wise, a reporter from the networks' The Undefeated vertical, later deleted the social media post. An ESPN spokesperson released a statement on it Tuesday morning.

"Yesterday, Mike Wise posted inappropriate tweets about Nick Saban," read the statement posted by Mike Soltys. "The tweets were a clear violation of our journalistic standards. Mike has been disciplined. Putting imaginary words in the name of anyone we cover is unacceptable."

See the now deleted Tweet from Wise:


Mike Wise's now-deleted Tweet. (Twitter)
This isn't the first time Wise's use of Twitter got him in trouble. As a Washington Post columnist, Wise was suspended for making up news about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger being suspended.

Wise apologized for the fabricated Saban quote later on Twitter.

"Anyone that took my sarcastic tweets about Nick Saban seriously, my apologies. I'll take them down," Wise posted. "Especially to Alabama's SID. My bad."

He followed that with one more note on Alabama to his 31,000-plus followers.

"If it's any consolation," Wise wrote, "I believe non-Native students shouldn't paint their face for football games. So I hope Alabama kills Florida State."


He then said he was taking a week off from social media.

Continue reading...

 

[planomateo]

ESPN has journalistic standards?

Mike Wise is a repeat offender, why is he still employed in the industry? He should be fired immediately for this in my opinion.

 

[PurlJam]

ESPN has journalistic standards?

Mike Wise is a repeat offender, why is he still employed in the industry? He should be fired immediately for this in my opinion.

In the wake of the events in Charlottesville, Va., ESPN decided to pull one of its announcers from calling a University of Virginia football game -- because his name is Robert Lee.

Lee, an Asian-American sportscaster who started with the network in 2016, was moved to a different game "simply because of the coincidence of his name," ESPN said, referencing the Confederate general Robert E. Lee.

Probably not, but it's the effort that counts, right? Got to be honest.... this gave me a "you got to be shitting me" moment. :bandhead:

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Journalist-standards....
2 words dont go together....

 

[UAgrad93]

I read the tweet before it was deleted and the comments that went with it. Wise should be fired for it without a doubt!!

 

[BamaFan334]

People will do anything to get more Twitter and Facebook followers. This is how pathetic society and journalism is. Nine days, nine days.

 

[TUSKtimes]

So it's inconceivable on the part of the media to believe that the average person can comprehend that an Asian American isn't the second coming of THE southern general of the Confederacy? Just reminds me of the constant tradeoffs people and businesses have to continue to make to look politically correct. Apparently, the biggest tradeoff is taking leave of good sense.

 

[bamabigdawg]

Cant go back and say it was a sarcastic tweet if you didnt put the /s behind it. Thats not how any of this works.

 

[rueben]

Cant go back and say it was a sarcastic tweet if you didnt put the /s behind it. Thats not how any of this works.

Truth, you don't get t be an asshole and then say, "Heh, I was only joking" when you get called out for it. Two knds of people who do this:
1. Bullies who don't have the balls to stand up when they get called out.
2. Attention whores.

 

[alabama mike]

ESPN is taking the removal of an announcer off the Virginia game too far. Who cares if the announcer is Robert Lee. He had nothing to do with the Civil War, hate groups or the tragic events in Charlottesville. Let the guy call the game for goodness sake's! Common sense, its not that common.

 

[JoshB]

How can you claim that to be a "joke?" Was there any context at all whatsoever to make you think its a joke? You just put up a fake quote, and that's it. Not a sarcastic line in the entire thing, and the fact that this dude has a history of it is very telling. Get rid of his ass.

 

[JoshB]

Journalist-standards....
2 words dont go together....

:eyeroll:

 

[TUSKtimes]

Looks very much like another sportscaster is about to be severely punished. Ryan Russilo was arrested in Wyoming for criminal entry. Buckle up!

ESPN Radio Host Ryen Russillo Arrested In Wyoming For ... - Deadspin

 

[BamaFan334]

Looks very much like another sportscaster is about to be severely punished. Ryan Russilo was arrested in Wyoming for criminal entry. Buckle up!

ESPN Radio Host Ryen Russillo Arrested In Wyoming For ... - Deadspin

I look for him to take three days off Twitter as punishment.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I look for him to take three days off Twitter as punishment.

Sounds like you're saying it doesn't rate that high on ESPN's politically correct meter?