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Flyers Beat Writers FREAK OUT Over Team Using Instagram to Announce Goalie, Threaten Not to Cover Carnival News
By Kyle Scott
Published:
File photo of three Flyers beat writers and one former Flyers beat writer
YES. YESSS. My new favorite thing is totally old school hockey writers complaining about the Flyers breaking their own non-news on their own outlets from which to break non-news and frivolities. Fucking love it. It’s like old men screaming at people to get off their lawn even though their property has long since been rezoned and there’s not even a lawn there anymore– just a parking lot, a homeless guy and a few Twitter accounts.
Anyway, the Twitter complaining by beat writers over the Flyers announcing their starting goaltender on Instagram was just the beginning on Wednesday. There was also an email exchange among several members of the tribe, bits of which have since made the rounds in this incestuous sports community that is Philadelphia.
I’ve been forwarded portions of the exchange. And they’re glorious, Blue!
An older reporter from one of the city’s largest newspapers kicked things off, from his iPhone:
From: [redacted]
To: [redacted]
CC: [redacted], [redacted], [redacted], [redacted]
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 10:33:36 -0400
Subject: Need mtg tonight
This is a fucking joke the way they announced today’s starting goalie
Sent from my iPhone
His counterpart, who covers the Flyers a for network of smaller local papers, replied in chest-thumping agreement. From his Hotmail address:
From: [redacted]
To: [redacted]
CC: [redacted], [redacted], [redacted], [redacted]
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 2:29 PM
Subject: re: Need mtg tonight
Yeah … and typical.
Know those public service announcements they disguise as “media alerts” … and all the hype for the Carnival?
Not in the little ol’ [redacted] or any of its many affiliate papers.
Yes, that’s a local reporter threatening not to cover details of the Flyers’ big charity event because he didn’t like the way the team announced its starting goaltender. Reasonable.
Later in the exchange, the original sender explained precisely why newspapers are failing– his papers “spending thousands of dollars” to cover the mostly non-existent goalie battle that no one cares about:
From: [redacted]
To: [redacted]
CC: [redacted], [redacted], [redacted], [redacted]
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 9:12 PM
Subject: re: Need mtg tonight
Our papers/webistes followed this team for a month, writing thousands of words on this goalie battle and spending thousands of dollars. (or a million for those who pay Panotch’s wine bill) Hell, the coach even said yesterday to be there at 10:30 to find out.
It was a bush move. If it was during the season, no biggie. But to do it for the opener shows a TOTAL lack of respect for the media.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
It’s unknown if the writers ever lodged an official complaint with the Flyers over the TOTAL lack of respect they were shown. But we’ll let you know if we hear anything.
As for Panotch’s wine bill… good thing Comcast has some deep pockets.
Kyle Scott is the founder and editor of CrossingBroad.com. He has written for CBS Philly and Philly Voice, and been a panelist or contributor on NBC Sports Philly, FOX 29 and SNY TV, as well as a recurring guest on 97.5 The Fanatic, 94 WIP, 106.7 The Fan and other stations. He has more than 10 years experience running digital media properties and in online advertising and marketing.