ESPN NBA reporter Chris Broussard is the poster-child for being careful with what information to trust in the age of social media. Because of multiple high-profile blunders, Broussard has become something of a punching bag for fans, fellow media members and even NBA owners. It could be his sources being well behind everyone else in the NBA or backtracking on his reporting and being called out for forwarding wrong information.
To put it bluntly, if there’s one national reporter that you would say, “I’m actually going to wait until someone else confirms this report until I believe it” it’s Chris Broussard. When your job is reporting, that’s not a good thing.
As soon as I heard someone excitedly told me Chris Broussard was reporting that Tristan Thompson signed a new deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, my response was “hold your breath.”
But he tweeted it out in ALL CAPS so maybe, just maybe, this time Broussard had the goods…
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/647170318222671873
There was even this follow-up tweet that said what a great deal it was for Thompson as if it was only a formality. It was done. The agreement was set. The question had been answered.
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/status/647171111239688192
Only 38 minutes later, Broussard didn’t just backtrack on his report that Thompson signed, he went in reverse and backed over its tattered remains. Broussard only said Thompson was willing to sign for those parameters and that nothing was actually agreed to.
Sources: Tristan Thompson is WILLING to sign a 3-year, $53 million deal with the Cavs. Cavs have not yet agreed to the deal.
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) September 24, 2015
And finally, some non-all caps clarification… I think.
Story is that Thompson has lowered his demand from 5 yr/$94 max to 3 years/$53 million
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) September 24, 2015
Chris Broussard’s Sources strike again. This is Exhibit A of how not to report breaking news. It took less than an hour to go to ALL CAPS BREAKING NEWS SCOOP to whispering “sorry, nothing to see here.” Turns out there may be some good reason to that as local reporters discounted Broussard’s attempt at scoopage. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Broussard reported Thompson was going to go play professionally in Bulgaria next year and then backtracked and said, no, it’s actually Romania.
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