Let’s See How the Media Handled Andre Ethier’s Middle Finger Flap

All, Baseball, ESPN, Media Gossip/Musings Jason McIntyre May 20th. 2011, 1:45pm

Yesterday we posted two photos of Andre Ethier of the Dodgers flashing his middle finger during batting practice, and then the LA media went and asked him about it. Ethier danced around the topic for awhile before apologizing (“I’m sorry now. It’s a dumb incident.”). The Dodgers said they would handle the matter internally; MLB confirmed it is in fact investigating the incident (guess I should have emailed Pat Courtney instead of calling him). After the jump, a collection of media reaction.

Here’s what Sportscenter had on the incident this morning. Nice photo credit; no mention of this site from the anchor.

ESPN usually takes a beating for not crediting blogs or websites when they generate news, but I thought ESPNLA did the second best job of any print/media outlet.

Ethier denied the initial report, published on TheBigLead.com, in which a source claimed he used profanity with the photographer and was loud enough for children standing nearby to hear him.

The best job? The OC Register, which not only mentioned the site, but provided a hyperlink. Not only that, but Howard Cole’s commentary was brilliant: “I do think Ethier has issues.”

The LA Times had two items – something in the newspaper and a blog item – and neither of them mentioned this site. The newspaper item by Dylan Hernandez said the photos “appeared on a sports gossip site.” I got the impression Hernandez loved the idea of being name checked by Ethier.

The blog post, by Steve Dilbeck, was more of the same – snark about a website breaking the story, and then “hey look, Ethier mentioned me!”

This concludes our Andre Ethier coverage, probably for the season.

aroundtheweb

35 Responses to “Let’s See How the Media Handled Andre Ethier’s Middle Finger Flap”

1
Babar 2.0 Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 1:49 PM
Any mention of the use of the term “flicking off”? That was the real story.
2
The Wayne Fontes Safari Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 1:50 PM
On a positive note, the photo credit wasn’t typed in Comic Sans.
3
wilhelmreems Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 1:51 PM
the real discussion should be why the photographers white balance and exposure were so poorly done.
4
Rusty Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 1:54 PM
but Howard Cole’s commentary was brilliant: “I do think Ethier has issues.”
5
Jason Lisk Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 1:57 PM
My next story written that links a LA Times story will simply refer to it as “a dying dinosaur of a newspaper reported . . .”
6
Vladdy Wont Stop Believing Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Derek Boogaard died from mixing alcohol and oxy.
Shit, glad I’m still alive and never had any troubles. I’ve done that way too many times in the past. Feels amazing. But probably won’t be doing that again.
7
sportsgal116 Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Well, I know Andre Ethier won’t be joining the Rapture in heaven Saturday. What a disgusting display.
8
NDub Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:02 PM
TBL, did you film your TV then upload this video?
9
sportsgal116 Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Derek Boogaard died from mixing alcohol and oxy.
Sad.
On a lighter note, I went to text this info to my boyfriend and my iPhone tried to change Boogaard to booger.
10
Geeezeus Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Derek Boogaard died from mixing alcohol and oxy.
Combining those with a serious concussion, can’t be a good idea. Such a shame.
11
sportsdork Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Someone on the Yankees or Red Sox does this. How quickly does Sportscenter go to CODE RED. I say as quickly as they can gather the OTL crew.
12
St. Bear Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:09 PM
After the jump, a collection of media reaction.
Or, a summary of how each outlet credited (or didn’t!!) the site.
You know, whichever you prefer.
13
ATL_Badger Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:11 PM
Why is this a story?
14
St. Bear Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:15 PM
Why is this a story?
Because TBL broke it?
15
YYSA Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:17 PM
This story needs this gif.
16
ATL_Badger Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Because TBL broke it?
I just don’t understand why some average baseball player making an obscene gesture in the presence of fans warrants any attention. Like it’s some travesty if some kid witnesses a ballplayer flipping the bird. PC run amok. I’m sure Ty Cobb threw around Spencer’s anal fisting gesture in front of women and children like it was going out of style.
17
cracker jack Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Any mention of the use of the term “flicking off”? That was the real story.
LOL this is the real story. Who says this? Is it a NY thing, like that stupid ‘on line’?
18
Triston27 Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:19 PM
Is ESPN planning on buying this site or something?
19
cracker jack Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:19 PM
The only ‘flicking’ that involves fingers is when you flick your boogers
20
ATL_Badger Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:20 PM
The only ‘flicking’ that involves fingers is when you flick your boogers
Or your bean.
/It was sitting right there. Had to.
21
sportsgal116 Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Is it a NY thing, like that stupid ‘on line’?
OMG that drives me nuts! It doesn’t even make sense! You’re not literally standing on a line.
Also, flipping instead flicking right?
22
Vladdy Wont Stop Believing Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
I just don’t understand why some average baseball player making an obscene gesture in the presence of fans warrants any attention.
Average!? Are you a ra-tard?
23
Jason Lisk Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Why is this a story?
Because TBL broke it?
I would focus on the Times, and call their work unprofessional and lacking journalistic quality. All the others are fine. ESPN puts a credit below the photo, that’s fine.
I don’t think it would be acceptable, if Chris Mortensen broke a story, for a newspaper to say “some football reporter has stated . . .” I don’t think it would be acceptable to say “some newspaper is reporting . . .” if you know the name of the source. That’s a journalistic fail, and I’m not sure why this newspaper writer thinks the ethics of journalism don’t apply to him because it is an online website.
24
YYSA Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:21 PM
The only ‘flicking’ that involves fingers is when you flick your boogers
hmmm….hmmmm….hmmmm…tempting….no I wont.
25
YYSA Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:22 PM
/high fives ATL
26
ATL_Badger Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Average!? Are you a ra-tard?
No. I just don’t follow the Dodgers that closely. Nor Andre Ethier. I’m just assuming he’s average because, well, he’s on the Dodgers.
27
Jason Lisk Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Is ESPN planning on buying this site or something?
you don’t want to read about my behind the scene prima donna exploits in twenty years, I assure you.
28
ATL_Badger Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Also, flipping instead flicking right?
yes.
29
Vladdy Wont Stop Believing Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:27 PM
Flip you. Flip ya for real
/Usual Suspects’d
30
Triston27 Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:33 PM
you don’t want to read about my behind the scene prima donna exploits in twenty years, I assure you.
You mean about how you wanted a 7-up, but the TBL vending machine only had Shasta, and that disappointed you? I’m sure there could be a whole chapter dedicated to it, ala the espn book.
31
The3rdMan Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Political correctness run amok. I read that the Babe used to dry hump the the cigarette girls on the third base line during batting practice. Nobody batted an eye except for the Iron Horse, who told him to get the fuck out of the way.
32
Broccoli Beef Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:35 PM
The only ‘flicking’ that involves fingers is when you flick your boogers
Or your bean.
/It was sitting right there. Had to.
These were all covered yesterday with the initial story… lol
33
Gaseous Clay Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 2:58 PM
So yodayim expected to be outraged anew, but no longer on behalf of my sensibilities,but now for my blog bosses street cred as a “reporter” whose scoop was getting an email?
34
Lando Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Way to go, Deadspin.
Unsubscribe.
35
RiSK Says:
May 20th, 2011 at 10:48 PM
I love blogs’ self-righteous, narcissistic obsession with getting credit from each other and the MSM.
That isn’t to say that credit should not be given. That there is a post devoted to who did and who did not give TBL credit for the publication of photos taken by a reader is absurd.
What makes this all especially laughable is that TBL takes photos without crediting the source all the time. I’ve had a photo taken right off my Flickr account and used to supplement a post with no credit. (Yes, I’m the one whining now, but it’s to point out the hypocrisy and ludicrousness of the outrage. I didn’t complain before; it just proves the point now.)