Deadspin Analysis of Te'o Coverage

As gaps emerged within the story of Manti Te’o and apparent “late girlfriend,” Deadspin wasn’t buying it. Reporters Timothy Burke and Jack Dickey attempted to fill in some of the missing pieces, but as more information, or lack thereof, was presented, the men grew more skeptical of the entire ordeal.

Skeptical – not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations. Something every good journalist should be. But choosing which information to be skeptical of, is where Burke and Dickey’s otherwise stellar reporting fell short.

Deadspin is known for a sarcastic tone and continuous jabs at reporting within mainstream sports media. While some disagree with their approach, at the very least Deadspin eliminates lazy journalism after shaming those guilty of error. However, it was Burke and Dickey that potentially made one of the biggest reporting errors surrounding this elaborate hoax.

The story began with Te’o excelling for Notre Dame Football even after the lost of his grandmother and year-long girlfriend. As discrepancies in the story emerged from sources like ESPN and Sports Illustrated, Deadspin completed some of the best investigative journalism this generation as seen. In correspondence with typical reporting, Burke and Dickey utilized social media to prove that Te’o’s girlfriend was actually non-existent. Every story created by long-established news sources about this heart wrenching story was now fictitious material.

Checking sources and asking questions is, and always will be, a necessity within journalism. This is where mainstream media fell short. Despite talking to Te’o and his family, reporters should have attempted to make contact with the loved ones of Te’o’s girlfriend to at least make sure she existed. It would be silly to assume that she wasn’t real, but you know what they say about those who ‘ASS (out of) U (&) ME.’ No doubt it is difficult to approach families through times of grief, but without the testimony of what Te’o meant to this woman leaves the story one sided and incomplete.

Burke and Dickey’s excellent reporting skills were questioned as the story came to a close. A friend of the man behind the whole girlfriend hoax is quoted that he was “80 percent sure” that Manti Te’o was “in on it.” Throughout this entire time of contacting credible sources and fact-checking, Burke and Dickey ran this quote despite the present uncertainty. The witnesses assumptions were never proven factual, and this type of statement could have permanently ruined Te’o’s reputation. If, in fact, the Notre Dame star actually fell victim to a friend’s deceitful lie of what he thought was a real relationship, Te’o probably didn’t appreciate accusations of involvement.

As technology emerges and news is easier to access, the concept of ‘firstness’ becomes a highly important factor in journalism. Nevertheless, it is skepticism and accuracy that will always reign supreme.

Check out the incredible reporting skills of Dickey and Burke here. 

Aiyana Cristal: Her journey to Comcast SportsNet

(Photo/Comcast SportsNet add)

Attention aspiring sports reporters: “You really will be broke and have no life,” warns Aiyana Cristal, a reporter/anchor from Comcast SportsNet in Chicago.

While this may be true, Cristal is quick to admit all the hard work is certainly worth it. But above all else, passion is key.

A native from Tacoma, WA, Cristal found a passion for sports, and broadcasting, at a young age. According to CSNChicago, she was a standout four-year varsity hurdler in high school. With her future goals in tact, Cristal scored her first internship as a high school junior with Nascar. She later attended Georgia State University on a Fullbright Scholarship where she graduated in 2005 with a degree in broadcast journalism.

Cristal stayed in Atlanta, GA for her first job as a production assistant at Fox Sports, but later moved to Champaign, IL after snagging an unanticipated job in news. Cristal’s dream was sports and was reluctant to take the job, but eventually agreed after advice she received telling her to get on air any way possible.

The struggle continued after she lost her free-lancing job for the Big Ten Network and was forced to move back in with her parents. But Cristal stayed true to her passion and kept applying. She eventually landed a job at a CBS affiliate in Little Rock, AK from 2010-2012. According to CSNChicago, at this job she anchored/produced a weekly, hour-long sports talk show, along with reporting/anchoring duties covering the area’s collegiate and preps sports scene.

Cristal left this job in 2012 to work for an ABC affiliate in Miami, FL where she covered collegiate and local professional sports. Yes, this included the Heat’s championship run and Lebron James’s second MVP title.

After a year and a half in Florida, Cristal accepted the job with Comcast SportsNet. According to CSNChicago, she primarily handles on-site reporting duties covering a variety of Chicago’s professional, collegiate, and high school sports stories, along with co-anchoring the [SportsNet Central] program on occasion. Cristal also hosts viewer interactive studio segments on the network’s post-game shows, along with a variety of digital initiatives showcased on CSNChicago.com.

As displayed by her career locations, Cristal is no stranger to moving across the country. In fact, she admits that moving around to different markets is one of the most challenging aspects of the job. Although her path was anything but easy, Cristal loves to admit that, in her opinion, she has the best job ever.

“I get paid to watch sports and talk about sports. It doesn’t get better than that,” said Cristal.

How did you begin your career?

Cristal: I always knew I wanted to do broadcast journalism going into college so my junior year I started interning. My first internship was with Nascar, and then from Nascar I did Comcast Sports SouthNet, which is in Atlanta. From there I did Turner Sports inside the NBA on TNT and that was probably the best internship. I did those three and once I graduated I was a production assistant at Fox Sports in Atlanta, because it was really hard to get on air right out of college. I was applying, applying, applying and nothing happened so I decided to be a production assistant so I could at least get exposure; learn all aspects of television.

I worked there for about a year and a half and still wasn’t getting a job on air. Somebody gave me advice to apply for a news job. I was like “No I don’t want to do news, I hate news, I only want to do sports.” But the reality is there are only so many sports jobs, because people that have sports jobs stay there. They don’t leave. And as I’m sure you’re familiar, it’s very male dominated still. There just weren’t any sports openings, but then when there were sports openings they wanted you to have experience. I couldn’t get experience unless someone gave me an opportunity. So I applied for a news job. Within a month, I had a job. The best advice someone told me was, whether it’s sports or news, journalism is journalism. The main thing is to get the consistency, get on air, work out those kinks, because you’re going to mess up. So I took the news job and tried to create sports stories as much as I could just because I knew I wanted to transition back into sports.

My first job was in Champaign, IL. I worked there for about a year and a half to two years. Then started free-lancing for the Big Ten Network and I got laid off, because that’s when the economy was awful and everybody was laying people off. So, I moved back home with my folks. That was embarrassing. I still applied for jobs, but finally got a break 2 years later and I got an anchor/reporter job in Little Rock Arkansas, so I did that for two years. Then I moved to Miami as a sports anchor/reporter. I was there for a little over a year, then I got the job here [in Chicago] so I’ve been here for about five months now.

Do you enjoy your job in Chicago, so far?

Cristal: I do. Local TV is hard for sports. It’s very challenging because they don’t value sports. It’s the last thing on the newscast and they typically kill it. There’s no way you can compete with homicides, you just can’t. In Miami, we only had a minute and 30 sportscasts every day with four on-air people. You’re not going to get as much exposure, you’re not going to get on air as much, so coming to a sports network was the best thing that could ever happen.

Chicago sports are a pretty important, have you noticed that since being here?

Cristal: Chicago, they LOVE their sports. This is a great sports market. To be able to work in this market is an absolute dream come true, because they love sports, they value it, and they know their sports. They want you here [as a sports reporter]. They want to hear about what’s going on with the Bears, Bulls, White Sox, and Cubs. They live for that. It’s part of their lifestyle so it’s fun, because they definitely have that energy and enthusiasm about their team. It makes it fun.

What are some highlights of your current job?

Cristal: I am the sideline reporter for the Bulls. Even though Derrick Rose is out and they aren’t having as great of a season as they expected, it’s still such a fun job. To be on the sideline reporting for the games, it’s so much fun. It’s always sold out and they are still in play-off contention right now, so it’s just fun. Being in that environment is the best part.

What has been your favorite assignment that you have been placed on throughout your career?

Cristal: The Heat. I covered them during their championship run. That was amazing. That was so much fun. To cover them throughout the season and then through the playoffs and then winning the championship game and the championship parade, that was probably the highlight of my career so far.

How was it working with LeBron James?

Cristal: He was nice every game. The Heat are different than the Bulls. We had access to the Big 3 every single game. They were great and good with the media. I’ve done one-on-ones with them. They were awesome. It was a good experience.

Do you have a favorite interview that you’ve done with anyone?

Cristal: I would say either LeBron, obviously, because I interviewed him after he won MVP again or Wade. Actually, all of the Heat players. They were really good.

I was looking at some of your past work. Two that stood out to me was, first, the story of Jessie. The wrestler born without 3 limbs and Ryan, the baseball player that suffered from paralysis. How do you come up with your material?

Cristal: In local T.V., you have to be creative. The biggest difference between local T.V. and networks is, the networks focus on X’s and O’s, stats, and they want to know the information. Where as news, they like storytelling and more feature. Telling stories that relate to the non-traditional sports fans, because people that watch the news aren’t always sports fans. You have to appeal to those moms that are looking for the forecasts. You have to try to make it interesting for those people.

My news director would always challenge us in sports and tell us to come up with stories. We had to give them story ideas every single day. It came down to getting out in the community, talking, and finding stories. There are so many good sports stories that are not told. We don’t really focus on that here, but in local T.V. they do a lot of really good stories like that. It’s challenging, but just getting out in the community and networking and finding where those stories that are needing to be told. Finding someone that’s overcoming an obstacle or some unique story.

Did you have a camera crew that went with you?

Cristal: I was a one-man band throughout my whole career, up until here. So even in Miami when I was taping the Heat, I was shooting by myself. This day in age, you’re going to have to be able to do it all. It sucks. I’m not going to glorify it or make it seem like it’s better than what it is. It’s easier for guys who don’t have to focus on hair and makeup. For us, it takes us so much longer to be camera ready. Then to lug around a camera, tripod, mics, and all that and still look presentable; it sucks, but you have to do it. The positive aspect is that it gives you more control. Sometimes I go out and see something I want to include in my story and a photographer might not shoot it or wouldn’t shoot it how I would shoot it. You learn all avenues of it, so you can also relate to the photographers. It makes you a better journalist in the end, because you can tell the story better when you have control over it all. You just learn other jobs and that makes you more versatile.

What is the best part about this job?

Cristal: Working in sports for a living, and getting paid for it. You’re getting paid to watch sports and talk about sports. It doesn’t get much better than that.

What is the worst part?

Cristal: Schedule. It is very demanding. You make a lot of sacrifices. You are going to work crazy hours. In sports, you’re going to work evenings and weekends. Having a social life is very hard, so what you do becomes who you are because it’s all you do. My days off now are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I don’t get off until 1 o’clock in the morning most days. It’s also different on game days. You’re schedule is ever fluid; it’s never going to be the same. To be able to have a social life or significant other, your partner would have to be very flexible and understanding because your schedule will be all over the place, all the time.

What are some challenges of the job?

Cristal: I’d say the biggest challenge in sports is moving around to different markets and not being as familiar with those sports teams. It’s challenging when you’re in one sports town, like in Arkansas I was only focused on SEC, I wasn’t focused on pro. Then to go to Miami, it was mainly focused on pro and some ACC, but no SEC and that’s all I was familiar with. So learning the teams again, learning the players, that’s the biggest challenge. Coming here and covering all the sports and knowing all the names, it’s hard.

What are some frustrations being a female in sports?

Cristal: Even though there are more women industry [than before], we are still outnumbered. I still go to Bulls’ practices and I’m the only female, all the time. That’s not going to change anytime soon, but it kind of gives you an advantage because you have a different perspective. Players sometimes would rather talk to the female. We have a different approach, I think, which kind of gives us that advantage. We have to be able to use that advantage to benefit us. It is challenging. You have to have tough skin, because you are going to get scrutinized for everything. If you mess up, and your counterpart who’s a male messes up, they’re going to remember you. It’s normal if they mess up, but if you do it [as a female] it’s magnified. You really have to have thick skin. In this job, I’m still learning that.

It’s hard because you’re under such a light and you’re judged. There are websites that will talk about you, but you can’t get caught up in other people’s opinions because some people are going to love you, and some people are going to hate you. Just get that out of you’re head and just do your best. Realize you’re not going to be perfect. You can’t compete with a guy or a guy who has been here for years. They are just going to be viewed different, every time. You can only do your best. And find that boss that believes in you who will give you an opportunity.

What is the biggest challenge trying to break into this market, especially for females?

Cristal: Being taken seriously and always having to prove yourself. You’re always going to be at a disadvantage. I didn’t grow up loving the Cubs. Although I did grow up a sports fan, I can’t tell you every stat like some guys can because that’s how they were brought up. They just know everything. But with technology you can learn that.

Where would you like to end up? Is this your dream job?

Cristal: I really love it here. I’ve moved around so much. I’m tired of moving and uprooting my whole life. So, for now, this is good. Chicago is an amazing city. It’s the third top market in the country and it’s a great sports market, so it’s a really good job. Some of the guys here have worked at ESPN and have done national, but they come back because national isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I’m just living in the moment because, you’ll see, once you start the goal is always to get to the next or continue to move up within the markets. Every year to two years you’re moving; that gets old at a certain point in your life. I’m good, for now.

As a hopeful future sports broadcaster, what can I expect?

Cristal: Be flexible. Be ready to live somewhere small. Not make any money, like, at all. For the first couple years of my career, I was making maybe $21,000 - $25,000, living in poverty. It makes no sense. They will pay you nothing, but that’s how they weed out the people who really want it. Because not everybody can do this. Not everybody is cut out for it. It’s hard. It’s a grind day in and day out. You really have to be passionate and love it, because what’s the point? You really will be poor and have no life. People will see you on T.V. and will think it’s so glamorous and you make so much money, but that’s not the reality of it. It will pay off if you get to that point in your career, but at first they make you pay your dues. It’s tough.

Interview analysis from the author:

“Not everybody can do this. Not everybody is cut out for it,” stated Aiyana Cristal in a recent interview.

This phrase did not truly hit me until I actually transcribed the interview onto a blank word document. I began to panic as my mind was screaming, “What if she’s talking about you?! What if you’re not cut out for it?”

I shut my laptop, stared at a blank wall, and began to think. I gave up a career as a high school teacher, to take a chance on a so-called “dying profession.” After the initial ‘what on earth were you thinking” thoughts, I couldn’t help but remember how right I felt while being on set and behind the control panel at Comcast SportsNet.

After hearing Cristal’s extremely challenging road to success, I was not only impressed, but profoundly inspired. It took her 5 years, just to get her first job in sports broadcasting. Keep in mind, this was not an individual that was confused about her passion in life. Cristal began internships to develop her skills at a time when most teenagers are more worried about who they are going to take to prom. She applied, was shut down, fired, begrudgingly moved back home with her parents, but now is on air in the nation’s third largest market for news. Cristal worked; and she worked hard.

It became very apparent that this industry is not easy. Sports broadcasting will present its fair share of challenges as I continue pursuing it, especially as female, but nothing is impossible. I may stumble and even crash and burn, but this is something that I know I want for my life and I just have to work for it. Even if it means moving back home with ‘the rents.’ While I’m sure they would be rather fond of the idea (Hi, Mom), I’m tightly crossing my fingers that I won’t have to cross that bridge. 

Let That Sink In

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled “upskirting,” or taking a picture under a woman’s dress without her knowledge, is legal.

Stop. Reread, previous sentence. Now take a moment and let that sink in.

According to CNN, the highest court in Massachusetts declared “women who were secretly photographed while riding public transportation in Boston were not nude or partially nude – and that furtive photos that may have shown their undergarments are therefore legal.”

Stop. Reread previous statement. Now take a moment and let that sink in.

“A female passenger on a MBTA trolley who is wearing a skirt, dress, or the like covering these parts of her body is not a person who is ‘partially nude,’ no matter what is or is not underneath the skirt by way of underwear or other clothing,” wrote Justice Margot Botsford of the state Supreme Judicial Court.

Stop. Reread previous statement. Now take a moment and let that sink in.

Okay, get the picture? Women leaving their home in “feminine attire” risk their right to privacy. Or in other words, what is under a woman’s clothing is fair game to the public.

@KavitaChanne from Fox Sports tweets after the ruling, “I’m always on alert for #upskirting offenders when in close quarters. Is that weird?!?”

Yes, @KavitaChanne. Happy you asked. That is weird. Scratch that. The fact that these thoughts come naturally is more than weird. It is offensive to you and any individual making the personal decision of what clothing to wear.

Thoughts and rulings like these present a red flag to the inequalities still evident within our society. Maybe it is natural for a woman wearing a skirt to constantly be cautious of those around her, but when did wearing a skirt become an open invitation for a photo shoot of what is between our legs?

In a small defense for the court, there is no current law specifically stating this exact behavior is illegal. However, with the rise of technology and best judgment forward, it may be time to consider it.

Merriam-Webster online encyclopedia defines sexual harassment as “unsolicited verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment may embrace any sexually motivated behavior considered offensive by the recipient.”

Stop. Reread previous definition. NOW FIGHT FOR EQUALITY.

UPDATE: According to CNN Massachusetts "upskirting" ban becomes law. 

Senate President Therese Murray said in a prepared statement, "We are sending a message that to take a photo or video of a woman under her clothing is morally reprehensible and, in Massachusetts, we will put you in jail for doing it. We will need to revisit this law again and again as technology continues to evolve and ensure that we are providing the necessary protections." 

Dell Throws her Career One Heck of a Curveball

While twitter images surface confirming speculations that Jenny Dell, NESN Boston Red Sox sideline reporter, and Will Middlebrooks, third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, are an item, opinions chiming ‘conflict of interest’ are heard loud and clear.

As American population increasingly grows more liberal, it seems counterproductive that the journalist world is taking such a despondent approach to a seemingly happy relationship. Let those that live, love. Right? Wrong! Although the two may have won the genetic lottery, the numbers will never fall in their favor due to the code of ethics for anyone in the field of journalism.

ESPN spokesperson stated when Samantha Steele was accused of dating NFL quarterback Christian Ponder, “We do not comment on, or confirm, personal aspects of employees’ lives. Regarding any policies, we expect any commentator to raise any relationship that could be a conflict with the sport they cover.” Fortunately for Steele, she was covering college football, which left Ponder wide open to drop down on one knee. Unfortunately, the Dell-Middlebrooks relationship is not so lucky

As Dell stated in an interview with Boston Magazine, “Whether I’m doing an end-game report or having a drink with a friend, I need to make sure that I’m smart about every decision I make.” Well Dell, it may be time to glance over those principles one more time.

While I cannot help to venture whether this would be an issue if it were a male reporter dating a female athlete, this is simply not the case. The popularity of the WNBA does not come close to the men’s league. And while the lingerie football game will draw a significant amount of television ratings, it is the much-anticipated Super Bowl game that deems something as silly as the ‘half-time’ flush. 

The apparent popularity of men’s sports over women’s is no secret, much like the lack of respect and existence of sexism for ladies within the world of sports journalism. Dell, admittedly aware of the double standards, should have been the first to realize that relationships in this workforce don’t come with the option of three strikes.

Difficulties in the respect category for women in this industry are just a quick Google search away. You will find the ‘hottest’ gals of sports journalism on the top of your feed, or even how sexy Erin Andrews looks while eating a pork sandwich. Ridiculous. Though I cannot fault either of the two for developing feelings for one another; I mean, look at them. Still, Dell should have realized this is one line that simply cannot be crossed.

“The important thing is for people to take me seriously as a journalistic reporter, because that’s my job,” said Dell. And as advised by her old producer, Russ Kenn, Dell told Boston Magazine, “You want to make sure people are talking about the content coming out of your mouth and not about what you’re wearing or how you look that day.” Although he probably assumed it went without mentioning, Kenn apparently should have included, who you’re dating that day. 

Hall of Fame Voting Issues Continue to Make Headlines

If issues surrounding Major League Baseball world were ranked, the Hall of Fame voting process would easily surpass even a hit by the iconic Mickey Mantle.

HOF voting for baseball generates controversy every year not always because who got in, but more importantly, who did not get in. And why they did not get in. A large part of the issues lies within the performance enhancing drug era players. ‘The steroid era’ has certainly generated some of the best players with the greatest numbers, yet some vote holders refuse to vote for players that may have been involved in steroid usage. The issue with this argument is that there is not always solid evidence against these players, and to add, there is no time frame for when the steroid usage began or ended.

Great players like Sosa, Clemens, and McGuire potentially will never be entered into the HOF because of performance enhancing drug usage. While these players cheated, they still are outstanding figures in the game of baseball. Enter them on the ballot, but under the terms that performance-enhancing drugs were being used at some point in their careers. These players have outstanding numbers next to their name and until solid evidence is generated that they used throughout their entire career, it is a disgrace that their talents receive no acknowledgement. 

In most recent news, Dan LeBatard selling his vote to Deadspin has sent the criticism meter over the fence. First, the world must recognize his actions for what they truly are: voting fraud. While a “flawed” process or the “sanctimony of the hall of fame gatekeepers” are reasons he gave for selling a vote he no longer believed to hold value, he still made an extremely egotistical decision. Issues exist, but the HOF voting system gives one man one vote. There are not many more democratic processes existing in this world.

The biggest concern surrounding LeBatard’s narcissistic move is the fact that the only way to change the system is to advocate. Do not simply toss the vote in a trashcan, but utilize available outlets to object to the areas that require change. LeBatard has written for Deadspin, he has a national radio show, and a national television show. For him to not lobby for the changes he would like to see in the system was, simply put, a cop out and a disgrace to his character.