Wednesday, after the fervor surrounding the Steve Phillips-Brooke Hundley incident died down, and after everybody weighed in on the matter, and after ESPN finally commented on the situation, Deadspin ended the day with a final, vitriolic post about the sexual conduct of ESPN employees.
It got ugly, frankly, but whether A.J. Daulerio's posts were enough for ESPN to fire up the World-Wide Legal Team remained to be seen (and, if you haven't read Clay Travis' superb post on the legality of internet defamation yet, you absolutely should). But considering the statement that FanHouse received from Senior VP of Communications Chris LaPlaca Thursday afternoon, it seems pretty clear that ESPN is not taking the allegations lightly.
"Deadspin's self-admitted rumor mongering is despicable behavior by any standard and shows callous disregard for its impact on people's lives. It is not worthy of response and those responsible should be called to account. ESPN is home to thousands of hard working, creative and caring people who are the key to our success. Our company is not perfect but we will continue to do all we can to provide each of our employees with a positive working environment."
While ESPN clearly is not happy about Daulerio's editorial decisions, nowhere do they issue a denial in the statement.
ESPN clearly isn't happy about what went down Wednesday (Many sports blogs echoed similar sentiments after the fact). But like most large corporations, they have cash to burn when it comes to utilizing their full legal resources.
As to the "Should they or shouldn't they sue?" question, Clay already pointed out that it's a really gray area -- but I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some legal wrangling between Gawker and Disney before this is over.
Update: When reached for comment, Daulerio had this to say: "I refuse to respond to ESPN's non-response response. But I'll respond to ESPN's non-response response by acknowledging my despicable behavior when I wrote about about some ESPN employees' despicable behavior."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ESPN has really gone Hollywood! Something to be really proud of!
Male jocks and Sexual Harasement go hand in hand.
Remember the old Tarzan movies?? "Me Tarzan, you Jane, now lets &%*#@*..." This should come as absolutley no surprise to anyone that has had a Male Jock friend. I found that they spent way to much time playing games and working out to get any kind of personable skills. Where do think the term "DUMB JOCK" came from. Look at almost any athlete and you will see this trait.
You are a jackass. No more, no less.
As is this hack at Deadspin. Blame ESPN because there are some perverts in their population? Idiot
I use to like ESPN but lately I have been having my doubts about them, thier reporting has become pretty biased and now this
I used to like them also. Waaaaay back. On Sundays I will watch Fox pregame instead of ESPN. I cannot stand to listen to Berman anymore. He sounds like is struggling to speak. No flow at all and he comes off as pompous.
ESPN - Back, back, back, back to rumble'in, stuble'in, but they "could, go, all, the way"!
Like ole Chris, it's time for them to get some new material; or talking-heads who don't bonk 22 year-old trolls.
ESPN has become a shell of what it used to be,I quit watching them long ago, Sunday Morning Countdown is a joke, Chris Berman ( I've Got A Bad Comb Over Because I'm Going Bald) & Da Coach( Ditka) should have been put out to pasture 10yrs ago. And as a black man I'm embarrased by those buffoons Keyshawn ("Just Throw Me The Damn Ball") Johnson, Chris ("Drug Addict, Alcoholic, Wife Beater" )Carter and Uncle Tom (" I've Never Had An Orignal Thought Without Massa Berman Telling Me How To Think") Jackson.Just like poster "refldnparadise" I watch Fox Pregame. And lets see if they fire Mr. Phillps like they did Harold Reynolds for sexual harrasment which was never proven. With the exception of a few actual atheletes, most of these guy remind me of high school band members, and those who wrote for their school newspaper.
Who cares? If 2 people want to get their freak on, then they can. If we judge that he a pervert, then we can say all Catholic Priest up to and including the Pope is a child rapist? Just cause there a few bad Apples don't mean everyone rotten. To Steve Phillips-Brooke Hundley, do what make you happy. Piss on ESPN