Last night, a blogger from the now defunct The Fightins set off an internet frenzy by impersonating Sports Illustrated writer Jon Heyman on Twitter. The fake Tweet successfull fooled several baseball writers on Twitter and appeared on SB Nation shortly thereafter.
But it didn't stop there. Michael Kay, on the air in New York, reported the rumor as fact, forcing the real Heyman to out the fake (who changed the "I" in Sports Illustrated to a lowercase "L").
The former blogger who first started the rumor Tweeted, "I've literally never been so proud of anything I've ever done in my entire life."
His tune quickly changed, later saying, "Holy shit, I'm going to be in so much trouble now, aren't I?" Probably not, you just look like a jackass.
Editors note: It was not the first time someone has made a lame attempt to show the pitfalls of Twitter. In August, Mike Wise of the Washington Post Tweeted a complete lie, saying Ben Rothlisberger had been suspended for five games. His point was to show the powers of Twitter, as the report was quickly picked up others. The whole thing backfired, Wise was suspended, and more importantly, his credibility was severely hurt.
We get it. We get that it's easy to say something on the internet and have it recited as truth- congrats, these social experiments are a success. But did you really expect anything different?
Wise Tweeted a complete lie from his actual account, of course it was going to be taken as fact. It would have been no different if he said it on the radio or wrote it for the Post. Last night, the idiot who started the rumor not only made something up, but he did it impersonating someone else- doubly worse. He used the small following he built up writing for The Fightins to spread the completely made up story. Since the two names (SI_JonHeyman and Sl_JonHeyman) looked exactly no different with Twitter's font, you can't really blame folks for being easily fooled. However, those who started the rumor immediately called out the media for reciting it as gospel and not double-checking their sources. Except, in this case, the source very much looked like the real thing (one who has broken many baseball stories via Twitter).
The end result is a slightly sullied reputation for Twitter, blogs, and those "involved," despite the fact that those new mediums do serve a real purpose in reporting, as many respected journalists and reporters break news on Twitter long before they write a story.
For those who thought they were clever to "expose" the dangers of the internet? Well played, you succeeded. However, Wise's repuation as a journalist is severely damaged.
Last night's pranksters? Unfortunately they're not important enough to have a reputation to injure.
And that might be the worst part in all of this.
34 Responses
Any knowledgeable fan would realize that it’s going to take a bit more than that for any team to acquire Greinke… if you’re going to lie, at least come up with a possible haul
false. you guys are missing the point. It was an absolutely absurd trade-clearly fake and a joke. If it was plausible, it would have been dumb.
why would the phils want him anyway? they got much better pitchers than he could ever be . im glad this was only a hoax !
Speaking of journalistic values, it feels like objectivity is in short supply here.
i would welcome Grenke to the Phils with open arms … could u imagine how f’n sick that would be .. Halladay, Hamels, Owsalt, Grenke … thats all u gotta say
Maybe if people used their common sense, they would have realized that there was no way that this deal would have happened. Or, people could have taken three seconds to click on the username and quickly would have seen that it wasn’t the real Heyman. It was a joke. If you’re so disgusted, maybe you should have taken the “high road” (whatever that is in the blogosphere) and avoided writing a post about it which continues to stoke the fire.
And not to be rude, but The Fightins (defunct or not) still has a bigger following than most Philadelphia blogs as people clamor to get it back.
I dont know why you’re hating. It was a pretty ingenious prank.
Wow, really? Stop whining pussy. You’re blog will never be as great as The Fightins. Nice use of the word “defunct” too.
Shame they went from the awesome The Fightins site to this. Still though, only the Pirates’ front office could make a deal this bad. Why did anyone believe it?
Fake Facebook pages are okay, though, right?
Carol- it’s “fan page”, it’s not pretending to be anyone else and then starting false rumors. again, fan page for philly sports. not pretending to be said person. big difference.
“…called out the media for reciting it as gospel and not double-checking their sources. Except, in this case, the source very much looked like the real thing (one who has broken many baseball stories via Twitter).”
Uhh..right. So, as you say, double check your source! Make one friggin’ phone call for chrissakes-not that hard, and it’s what someone calling themselves a journalist should do automatically before repeating something he read, oh, somewhere.
I’m not much for practical jokes either, but maybe this will cause someone to think a little less about being the first to run a story, and a little more to do a teensy, tiny bit of leg work. Which in this case means pulling out a phone and lifting it to your ear. I know, for the average sports writer that’s equivalent to running a marathon, but just tough it out big guy, you can nap after.
vaya con dios
This was an irrelevant post. I mean irreverent.
Oh, I was confused by the lack of the words “fan page” anywhere in the description, the claim that it’s affiliated with the Phillies, and the address listed being Citizens Bank Park. What a doof, I am. Totally legit and not deceptive.
CrossingBroad isn’t and never will be half as good as the Fightins. Yes, fake rumors are stupid, but get a brain and a sense of humor.
The Internet: serious business.
http://yfrog.com/08srsbsnsj
Now that you are working on your blog full-time, there really is no excuse to do such a piss-poor job of proofreading.
Bad article disappointed in cb
“Fake Facebook pages are okay, though, right?
Oh, I was confused by the lack of the words “fan page” anywhere in the description, the claim that it’s affiliated with the Phillies, and the address listed being Citizens Bank Park. What a doof, I am. Totally legit and not deceptive.”
hahah burn
“Carol- it’s “fan page”, it’s not pretending to be anyone else and then starting false rumors. again, fan page for philly sports. not pretending to be said person. big difference.”
Dude, you’re full of it. You use those Facebook “fan pages” to pimp stories that are completely unrelated to whoever the “fan page” is devoted to.
Yes, Philly sports post are unrelated to Philly athletes. You’re right.
Why is every link to Crossing Broad, in that case? You would think a Roy Halladay fan page would have links to stories, from other outlets, about Roy Halladay.
Oh snap! So many sick burns on this page! Let your inner nerd rage flow!
Ark- Because I created the pages and, quite frankly, I’ll link to whatever I damn well please. It’s 100% better than the average Facebook page, which sits stagnant and doesn’t provide any content. Most people don’t mind the links, if they do, they are free to unlike. Let’s please not equate this to creating a purposely deceptive Twitter account to fake being someone else to spread a fake rumor.
And that’s not me being a dick. Is it a good way to get some publicity? You bet. But there’s no harmful intent. Again it’s a page for folks to display their affinity towards a certain player or brand- then linking to a Philly sports blog. Again, some might not like that, most appreciate the links.
) looked exactly no different with Twitter’s font
Looked “Exactly no different.” Nice writing, slugger.
Funny thing is we got Lee and Oswalt for not much more than the last 2 years.
I guess the plus is maybe are a little less trusting of everything they read Twitter or the intertubes. Downside is now legit rumors, that have been confirmed by good reporting, won’t be believed now.
To all the people that a bitching about the fan pages and what Kyle Scott writes need to STFU… if you had your own website, you would do anything to get noticed and that includes making fan pages and posting links to your site… I’m taking bets than many of you found this site through one of the fan pages that he created because that is exactly how I found this site
“CrossingBroad isn’t and never will be half as good as the Fightins.”
The best thing that ever came out of the Fightins was a picture of a penis representing RA Dickey! That site was for morons with half a brain!
Jesus, dude. Get off your high horse. This just comes across as a bitter swipe against a website that you clearly modelled a certain amount of your own site around.
I only found this from another blog – I stopped following this site after a couple of months when I realised you were posting the same Phillies stuff as The Fightins but in a way less funny and way more anxious manner.
I’m pretty sure that if Crossing Broad stopped, people wouldn’t be calling for it’s return any time soon.
Oh and Roy Halladay fanpage, my arse. That just comes across as a crappy way to ram your own site’s content into everyone else’s face on the back of Roy’s name. At least ZooWithRoy actually provides legit (if totally fantastical) Roy content to it’s readers
Grow a sense of humor you fucking hump. Whoever wrote this article, nobody knows who the hell you are either, and it’s obvious your journalistic skills are shit as well.
What a joke. Guy played a prank, it worked, it was funny. It exposed how SHITTY JOURNALISTS (like yourself) need to stop being shitty journalists and seek out confirmation on their sources before they spout stuff. One guy saying something, regardless of if its on Twitter or not, does not a story make.
Fucking douche.
Having read many of these comments, I would gather that your site is, indeed, better than The Fightins at this moment…considering their site is now defunct.
Sad how blogs gather followings that are blind to any objectivity.
I get how many of you liked The Fightins, but they screwed up with the Heyman stuff and, apparently, with their business model.
Without too much efforts, a friend changed much, the burden lighter, and walked so easily, our hearts so open-minded, unique, epoch, Xinxin congenial, everything interlinked!
When they are gone you may still exist
click through the next webpage
“Sick Fake Person” Starts Greinke Trade Frenzy – Crossing Broad
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