ESPN has been silent on the outrageous matter of Skip Bayless recklessly calling Johnny Manziel a liar and an alcoholic. Until now. Richard Deitsch got a comment from the network on Bayless’ comments and lack of discipline over the remarks at SI and they’ll predictably leave you scratching your heads…
“When discussing the widely reported public behavior, Skip based his comments on information he has from sources within and around the Browns’ organization with knowledge of Manziel’s continued pattern of behavior, as well as Skip’s personal family experiences with alcoholism.”
Sporting News editor Chris Littman neatly summarizes two of the many gaping holes in this logic:
To be clear: Someone at ESPN thinks Skip Bayless’ family experience 1. Makes him, what, a doctor? 2. Makes it appropriate to disclose this?
— Chris Littmann (@chrislittmann) January 6, 2015
Furthermore – since when did Bayless’ “Embrace Debate” schtick barge in on reporting news and trying to become Adam Schefter? Are we to believe that a guy who makes his living yelling about sports on a morning show is going to have more solid information on Manziel than the hundreds of reporters covering the Browns and the NFL locally and nationally?
Are we then to believe that he can take that information and then make a medical diagnosis on such a serious condition?
Bayless is not a doctor, not a reporter, and nothing other than a professional carnival barker. He took a very serious, personal, medical matter and made it into a debate point to win a sports argument. It’s gross, negligent, and appalling behavior.
If any other employee at ESPN made the exact comments Bayless did they’d be suspended or worse.
ESPN’s statement and explicit approval of Bayless calling Manziel an alcoholic on national television is just further proof that he really does run the place.
[SI]
