Conflict of interest in Spygate coverage

[PromoTheRobot]

You watch ESPN. You listen to Sirius NFL Radio. You see and hear debate and commentary on Spygate. Some people are upset, most say it's no big deal, but are these people free to really speak their minds?

 

The NFL has contracts with almost every major network: CBS, ABC/ESPN, Fox, etc. Can these organizations really freely report on Spygate without compromising their relationship with the NFL? The NFL Network sure isn't going to get into it. Sirius NFL radio can only operate with the blessing of the NFL, so forget about them. Can we truly believe what any of these outlets say on the matter? Only Time Warner/CNN has no direct relationship with the NFL, but even non-affiliated media has to tread lightly so as not to lose it's reporting privilages and access to the NFL.

 

America is losing its independent news media, and this is what you get.

 

PTR

[Fewell733]

agreed. It's bad news. In all seriousness, the internet may be the last best hope.

[Steely Dan]

You watch ESPN. You listen to Sirius NFL Radio. You see and hear debate and commentary on Spygate. Some people are upset, most say it's no big deal, but are these people free to really speak their minds?

 

The NFL has contracts with almost every major network: CBS, ABC/ESPN, Fox, etc. Can these organizations really freely report on Spygate without compromising their relationship with the NFL? The NFL Network sure isn't going to get into it. Sirius NFL radio can only operate with the blessing of the NFL, so forget about them. Can we truly believe what any of these outlets say on the matter? Only Time Warner/CNN has no direct relationship with the NFL, but even non-affiliated media has to tread lightly so as not to lose it's reporting privilages and access to the NFL.

 

America is losing its independent news media, and this is what you get.

 

PTR

 

That's why Specter's investigation is making more and more sense to me.

[IDBillzFan]

In all fairness, Sirius guys are starting to question all the new information coming out and the way certain people...particularly Bellicheat*...have been conducting things. The day of the Goodell/Walsh meeting, Schein and Wilcox were announcing "Spygate's over" two hours before Goodell's press conference started. Lately, though, these people are starting to wonder why Goodell never bothered to talk to anyone other than Walsh. Why didn't they talk to Brady? Or any other players from the cheater's team? What about Adams? If Walsh told Goodell what he told Specter, why not talk to Adams? Especially after Goodell publically stated that he didn't believe Bellicheat*'s claims that he misinterpreted stuff?

 

More to the point of this thread's topic, earlier today I heard Jim Miller making a comment that CBS (or somewhere down its corporate line) has a significant investment in the P*triots' new statium from a retail standpoint, which is why the coach who cheated gave an interview to CBS instead of holding a press conference. (I'm pnly repeating what I heard today, so forgive me if I have the wrong network), but what Miller was wondering is "If he really felt he was on the up and up, why only talk to CBS?

 

This is getting ridiculously embarrassing. Can you imagine being a P*ts fan right now? Knowing that all those wins are tainted? Knowing you're going down in history as cheaters? Knowing that your three SB wins will forever have asterisks next to them. Imagine, every time anyone writes about their SB victories, they have to qualify their statement to include something like "Note: The P*triots were known to be cheaing the year they won their SBs."

 

Crazy shiit.

[Pete]

Good point. Power to NPR- they are not at the mercy of corporations and advertisers

[Fewell733]

More to the point of this thread's topic, earlier today I heard Jim Miller making a comment that CBS (or somewhere down its corporate line) has a significant investment in the P*triots' new statium from a retail standpoint, which is why the coach who cheated gave an interview to CBS instead of holding a press conference. (I'm pnly repeating what I heard today, so forgive me if I have the wrong network), but what Miller was wondering is "If he really felt he was on the up and up, why only talk to CBS?

 

http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=...519&pcid=47

 

CBS is doing some kind of "super-regional retail and entertainment destination" at Gillette Stadium

 

"There is no greater franchise right now in the NFL than the New England Patriots, and there is no better or higher rated broadcaster than CBS Sports, which has become network television's #1 supplier of big ticket events like the NFL," said Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation. "The CBS Scene Restaurant and Bar represents a terrific opportunity to bring these forces together to launch a first-of-its-kind dining and entertainment destination at what promises to be one of Northeast's most popular attractions. We're very pleased to be partnering with The Kraft Group in bringing this project to life, and creating a venue like nothing else out there."

[stevewin]

["There is no greater franchise right now in the NFL than the New England Patriots, and there is no better or higher rated broadcaster than CBS Sports, which has become network television's #1 supplier of big ticket events like the NFL," said Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation. "The CBS Scene Restaurant and Bar represents a terrific opportunity to bring these forces together to launch a first-of-its-kind dining and entertainment destination at what promises to be one of Northeast's most popular attractions. We're very pleased to be partnering with The Kraft Group in bringing this project to life, and creating a venue like nothing else out there."

I just threw up in my mouth a little

[Geno Smith's Arm]

It reminds me of war coverage. Remember when George Bush declared "victory" in Iraq. I guess if Goodell says "it's over", it's over. Too much money at stake. The "integrity" of the game has been undermined and no matter what comes to the surface it will be deny, deny, deny.

[OCinBuffalo]

Good point. Power to NPR- they are not at the mercy of corporations and advertisers

Right, they're just at the mercy of that other soulless, mindless organization: the Federal Government. So I guess we're safe now, huh? More Taxes = More Money = More Funding for NPR. But I'm sure they're objective...of course they aren't in the tank for anybody who favors big government. Just sayin'...you can't trust any of them, so let's save the pretending for Shay's theater, ok?

 

OTOH, the line blurring between the media, the NFL, and the media expanding into other industries using that relationship as a spring board, is cause for real concern. I mean seriously, WTF is CBS doing slinging over-priced burgers at Patriotland* and trying to talk objectively about the NFL at the same time? The blurrier that line gets, the closer the NFL comes to being just one more TV show. And that means it stops being about the game, and starts being about who is "supposed" to win. I just gotta laugh at all the planned "Pats*: Best Team Eva" shows/promotions that got canceled. Not to mention all of the endorsements that centered around the "perfect" concept = "Just like the perfect Patriots*, Summer's Eve Douches will get you perfectly Patriot* clean. Right, Tom?" The thing is: a whole lot of money/time probably got wasted on all of that shitt, and I bet those people would give anything to not bet wrong again. Even the guys who made 2 commercials, one for each outcome, would much rather only have to make one. So the real danger is letting them get what they want.

 

And while this is a significant danger, it's not that difficult to mitigate. We're doing it right now, right here, and so are millions of other football fans.

 

This is why the internet should never be taxed, regulated or allowed to become dominated by any organization, government, or company. It needs to stay free and kept free by those who truly understand freedom. We should never allow it to be controlled in any way by socialist individuals or countries, or one/a few corporations, or religious extremists, or anybody else who says/thinks they speak for the "collective good". Just like on this board, the true "collective good" reveals itself to us through the voices of all(and occasionally some facts ) and needs no one to interpret it for us. We are all becoming aware of the real truth about this football team, over time, because of all of our posts/links combined, data point by data point.

 

NPR is not the savior, obviously neither is ESPN, etc. We are. This phenomenon = we, the average joe, having the power for once = is why the Pats* cheating story isn't going away, despite the best, well-paid efforts of the best marketing/PR people in the business. The sheer volume of different stories/links/blogs/posts from millions of sources represent an unstoppable flow of information that cannot be silenced by the old PR tactics, a bunch of whining Pats* fans, or anything else. The best part: since ESPN, WGR and the rest have now clearly started using sites like this one to do their jobs with, they HAVE to pay attention to us. As long as we are talking about the Cheatriettes, they will be too.

[ganesh]

I even think that the new Boston Herald news, the reporter apologizing, looks like a fix. Probably Kraft dumped some money into the herald to make the reporter the scapegoat. They probably made him the fall guy.....How many guys in this day and age will come out and say they did wrong, when the top guys like Kraft and Belichek are continuing to say they did nothing wrong and mis-interpreted the rule, in spite of some much evidence.

 

This whole thing is crazy... Rather than ask if Goddell should punish the Pats/Belichek for additional infractions (EVeryone forgets that the original punishment was ONLY for the taping of the NYJets game, It was only later the day before the SB that Goddel acknowledged that Belichek has been doing this since 2000. Considering that he got proof and evidence from Walsh that Bill was indeed cheating from 2000, he should be STILL looking to add on additional punishment).,

 

It was funny how Mike Golic was trying to steer the controversy away from the real topic. Rather than question the above, he was trying to question the moral ethics of Walsh. He was trying to question why the lawyer of Walsh did not say clearly why Walsh retained those tapes. THat was really a silly argument. Walsh could have kept the tape for any number of reasons, especially if your day to day job was being threatned and if you knew what you were doing is illegal and could end up being the fall guy.

[Fan in San Diego]

That's why Specter's investigation is making more and more sense to me.

 

There is sound logic here. I agree. I'm also concerned about electronic spying with those helmet radio's. How can you tell if someone is listening in ?

[Alaska Darin]

Good point. Power to NPR- they are not at the mercy of corporations and advertisers

[Pete]

Right, they're just at the mercy of that other soulless, mindless organization: the Federal Government. So I guess we're safe now, huh? More Taxes = More Money = More Funding for NPR. But I'm sure they're objective...of course they aren't in the tank for anybody who favors big government. Just sayin'...you can't trust any of them, so let's save the pretending for Shay's theater, ok?

 

OTOH, the line blurring between the media, the NFL, and the media expanding into other industries using that relationship as a spring board, is cause for real concern. I mean seriously, WTF is CBS doing slinging over-priced burgers at Patriotland* and trying to talk objectively about the NFL at the same time? The blurrier that line gets, the closer the NFL comes to being just one more TV show. And that means it stops being about the game, and starts being about who is "supposed" to win. I just gotta laugh at all the planned "Pats*: Best Team Eva" shows/promotions that got canceled. Not to mention all of the endorsements that centered around the "perfect" concept = "Just like the perfect Patriots*, Summer's Eve Douches will get you perfectly Patriot* clean. Right, Tom?" The thing is: a whole lot of money/time probably got wasted on all of that shitt, and I bet those people would give anything to not bet wrong again. Even the guys who made 2 commercials, one for each outcome, would much rather only have to make one. So the real danger is letting them get what they want.

 

And while this is a significant danger, it's not that difficult to mitigate. We're doing it right now, right here, and so are millions of other football fans.

 

This is why the internet should never be taxed, regulated or allowed to become dominated by any organization, government, or company. It needs to stay free and kept free by those who truly understand freedom. We should never allow it to be controlled in any way by socialist individuals or countries, or one/a few corporations, or religious extremists, or anybody else who says/thinks they speak for the "collective good". Just like on this board, the true "collective good" reveals itself to us through the voices of all(and occasionally some facts ) and needs no one to interpret it for us. We are all becoming aware of the real truth about this football team, over time, because of all of our posts/links combined, data point by data point.

 

NPR is not the savior, obviously neither is ESPN, etc. We are. This phenomenon = we, the average joe, having the power for once = is why the Pats* cheating story isn't going away, despite the best, well-paid efforts of the best marketing/PR people in the business. The sheer volume of different stories/links/blogs/posts from millions of sources represent an unstoppable flow of information that cannot be silenced by the old PR tactics, a bunch of whining Pats* fans, or anything else. The best part: since ESPN, WGR and the rest have now clearly started using sites like this one to do their jobs with, they HAVE to pay attention to us. As long as we are talking about the Cheatriettes, they will be too.

less then 4% of NPR's funding is from the government. Please let me know another objective place for news, free of advertisement? The BBC? Oh wait, they are on NPR too