ESPN loses ad deal because of Wickersham article

Delicate Genius · Feb 13, 2019

Michael Smith of SportsBusiness Journal reports that Pilot Flying J, the company owned and operated by the Haslam family, has taken steps to end prematurely an advertising deal with ESPN in retaliation for Seth Wickersham’s in-depth story regarding dysfunction and disharmony of the Browns under the leadership of co-owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam.

Per the report, Pilot Flying J and ESPN are negotiating a termination of the contract, which is believed to be worth low-to-mid seven figures per year and which has two years left on its four-year duration.

Among other things, Wickersham’s story cited unnamed sources, who claimed that Dee Haslam at one point said, “We just don’t know what we are doing” and “If we’d known how hard it would be, we never would have bought the team.”

The team denied that Dee Haslam ever said this.

Pilot Flying J retaliates against ESPN over story of Browns dysfunction

Seth "unnamed sources" Wickersham went too hard this time.

TB_Helmet · Feb 13, 2019

No tears shed here for anyone. All those clowns deserve each other.

Deus Irae · Feb 13, 2019

The NFL should be ashamed that this happened.

TommyD4207 · Feb 13, 2019

Danny said:
Pilot Flying J retaliates against ESPN over story of Browns dysfunction

Seth "unnamed sources" Wickersham went too hard this time.

I mean, Haslam (Browns Owner) owns Flying J...or he did. This is pretty unsurprising news. This would be like Kraft Paper pulling their ads from ESPN.

XLIX · Feb 13, 2019

As much as I hate to say this, I think ESPN comes out looking good. They didn't compromise their journalistic integrity for the sake of protecting a sponsor. I remember reading that article and thinking it was a very interesting insight into the level of dysfunction we haven't had here for about 30 years.

PatsDeb · Feb 13, 2019

Danny said:
Pilot Flying J retaliates against ESPN over story of Browns dysfunction

Seth "unnamed sources" Wickersham went too hard this time.

LOL, he could have just named his source (himself) and solved the problem!

Palm Beach Pats Fan · Feb 13, 2019

XLIX said:
As much as I hate to say this, I think ESPN comes out looking good. They didn't compromise their journalistic integrity for the sake of protecting a sponsor. I remember reading that article and thinking it was a very interesting insight into the level of dysfunction we haven't had here for about 30 years.

in theory, yes.

In fact though, we know that ESPN (and Wickerham in particular) has none of the stuff called "journalistic integrity" in the first place

Hammer of Thor · Feb 13, 2019

TommyD4207 said:
I mean, Haslam (Browns Owner) owns Flying J...or he did. This is pretty unsurprising news. This would be like Kraft Paper pulling their ads from ESPN.

Or in Ben Volin-ese, like Kraft Foods pulling their ads from the Boston Globe.

denverpatsfan · Feb 13, 2019

Once again the hubris of BSPN hits them in the wallet. They will never learn.

TomPatriot · Feb 13, 2019

XLIX said:
As much as I hate to say this, I think ESPN comes out looking good. They didn't compromise their journalistic integrity for the sake of protecting a sponsor. I remember reading that article and thinking it was a very interesting insight into the level of dysfunction we haven't had here for about 30 years.

Their "journalistic integrity" was compromised long ago. This doesn't revive it.

PrairiePat · Feb 13, 2019

I think Wickersham should take his 'talents' to the National Enquirer where they'd appreciate him more.

Ice_Ice_Brady · Feb 13, 2019

If all the hundreds of sources that Wickersham has used over the years, not a single one will put their name on it.

cmasspatsfan · Feb 13, 2019

I didnt read the article but I assume it was full of unnamed sources. His Patriot article was about 10% fact and 90% innuendo from unnamed sources.

VectorPrime · Feb 13, 2019

Wickersham was largely right. And the Pats overcame it. Doesn’t mean the problems were never there.

Ring 6 · Feb 13, 2019

XLIX said:
As much as I hate to say this, I think ESPN comes out looking good. They didn't compromise their journalistic integrity for the sake of protecting a sponsor.

I’m sorry their what? ESPN? Seth Wickersham?

I remember reading that article and thinking it was a very interesting insight into the level of dysfunction we haven't had here for about 30 years.

I remember reading the one that made up that we had dysfunction here.

Hammer of Thor · Feb 13, 2019

VectorPrime said:
Wickersham was largely right. And the Pats overcame it. Doesn’t mean the problems were never there.

Wickersham was right about there being some sort of discord. All the local writers confirmed that.

Wickersham was wrong about every single detail. Local writers confirmed that too. Remember the Patriot of the Week award?

He heard some scuttlebutt about general concepts and then made up a story to go with it.

I expect the Browns story is similar.

mgcolby · Feb 13, 2019

De he lambast the Browns for cheating considering the owner also owns the Flying J franchise which literally had several executives go to jail for cheating their customers?

I doubt we all know who the real cheaters are....

Ice_Ice_Brady · Feb 13, 2019

VectorPrime said:
Wickersham was largely right. And the Pats overcame it. Doesn’t mean the problems were never there.

Never mind...was referring to another fake BSPN article.

Ring 6 · Feb 13, 2019

Hammer of Thor said:
Wickersham was right about there being some sort of discord. All the local writers confirmed that.

Wickersham was wrong about every single detail. Local writers confirmed that too. Remember the Patriot of the Week award?

He heard some scuttlebutt about general concepts and then made up a story to go with it.

I expect the Browns story is similar.

He made normal life into an issue. He took rumor and unconfirmed attitudes and blew them up into creating a story about discord. It was weak journalism.

Ring 6 · Feb 13, 2019

VectorPrime said:
Wickersham was largely right. And the Pats overcame it. Doesn’t mean the problems were never there.

He wasn’t really right about anything.

ESPN loses ad deal because of Wickersham article

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