ESPN The Mag Addresses The Laura Lane-Vanessa Bryant Incident
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Considering the state of Sports Media these days it actually came as a surprise that ESPN would even address the issue, but they have. The Mag's online site took the time today to provide a clarification of Lane's role (to cover their asses) and make sure people knew that ESPN did not ask Lane to take her personal blog down. Here is a snippet....
In that post, Laura also posited that perhaps Mrs. Bryant lashed out at her for another reason, and then linked to a previously-reported rumor about her husband on another site of, um, lesser journalistic repute (you won't find this part in the LA Times or USA Today stories.)So there you have it. A person who writes a story for ESPN isn't an ESPN employee. Look I know what a freelance writer is, but her original story was featured on and ESPN sponsored website. It's good that someone has her back, but this "clarification" wasn't really even necessary if you ask me, and they're being defensive for no reason. Maybe ESPN got a different vibe from other media outlets, but I'm pretty sure most people understand/understood the difference between her personal site and her work for the "Leader". I'm also a little skeptical of the fact that they didn't tell her to take the article down, but I'll take their word for it.
Because Laura is associated—even tangentially—with our massive, yet beneficent, multi-national corporation, her personal blog post was taken by some to be "official" ESPN-approved content. It wasn't. But it turns out, some people don't bother making the distinction between the personal and the professional, especially when the line gets a little blurry.
As far as we're concerned, Laura didn't do anything particularly "wrong" other than assume her personal speech would be taken as just that: personal. Sadly, now she knows better.
We're sure there's a First Amendment point we could make here but we feel like we're in over our heads as it is. Suffice it to say, we remain big Laura Lane fans here at The Mag.com and we've got her back.
It's interesting that ESPN addressed it, but I think we would have been much better served with a statement from Lane herself.
(Oh, and yes.....that is a photo of Laura above with Perez Hilton and there's another one of her on the ESPN The Mag article. In case you care about that sort of thing.)
Update: Apparently this girl has been everywhere including E! Entertainment, USC TV and FOX Sports....
ESPNTheMag.com Contributor Makes, Breaks News! (ESPN The Magazine)
15 Comments:
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Troll.
Anyways, why won't the two just kiss and make up espiscially since you shown pics of Ms. Lane.
Troll? Fuck you bitch. I just want to know why the hatin on ESPN?
You must be new around these parts Anon. Just click around for awhile and you might learn a thing or two about your precious ESPN.
Nitpicking at Joe Morgan (love that dude), the only thing I "hate" ESPN about is the annoying graphics but that is it.
ESPN rocks! Come on, Mike Breen is awesome, Jeff Van Gundy is funny, you guys are just jealous they didn't hire you sorry asses.
I'm glad you're reading Anon, but come on....you have to be an employee right?
Nope, as average as you are.
Well nice to meet you my average counterpart. Thanks for reading.
Anon = Tool.
Oh, c'mon, Herd... we know that's you. Fess up!
i'm surprised berman and his ego would post with an 'anonymous' tag.
and why is that ghost talking on a cell phone?
-dan
anon = Perez Hilton???
how has no one commented on the PHONE # at the end of the vid? Hey, not gonna lie, I'm intrigued.
And the only things Chris Berman owns are a couple of toupes and a few bottles of rum.
Sportscenter combines funny and sports perfectly.
Anon must be John Anderson, the only person in the world who finds John Anderson funny.
Thanks for the promo video, Brian. Too bad I don't run a TV station, because Laura's not that bad and I would consider hiring her.
Jake, I didn't see any special significance in the phone number. You'll have to explain it to me.
This blog fucking sucks because it always fucking criticizes ESPN. What's wrong with Lane? What's wrong with ESPN?
ESPN has more sports knowledge than any of us will ever have. We can learn from them.
Sportscenter combines funny and sports perfectly.
Chris Berman pwns even with the videos shown!
Stop bashing ESPN, it's worthless.