Do they have copy editors at ESPN?

[Bill Brasky]

OK, about to beat a dead horse.
Bill Simmons does a column for the magazine about which 10 NBA playoff matchups he would most like to see...and he omits one...Phoenix-Los Angeles. Does an addendum to his column, about how he didn't know how he made the mistake, but it would be in the top 5, blah, blah, blah.
Shouldn't an editor catch something like that? Hell, there are Kobe-Shaq ads running on TV. Even a casual NBA fan knows the sizzle of that matchup. Seems to me, that's something you at least ask a guy about..."Hey Bill, why didn't you put the Lakers and the Suns on the list?"

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3357518

 

[EE94]

They can afford to pay Simmons et al because "editors" at sites are HTML jockeys barely out of their teens

 

[imjustagirl]

They can afford to pay Simmons et al because "editors" at sites are HTML jockeys barely out of their teens

You could not be more wrong.

 

[mookieblaylock]

From what I hear, Simmons is such a primadonna (nicest thing I could call him on a family message board) and browbeats editors who dare change a comma that the editors probably don't give a crap about helping him out.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

OK, about to beat a dead horse.
Bill Simmons does a column for the magazine about which 10 NBA playoff matchups he would most like to see...and he omits one...Phoenix-Los Angeles. Does an addendum to his column, about how he didn't know how he made the mistake, but it would be in the top 5, blah, blah, blah.
Shouldn't an editor catch something like that? Hell, there are Kobe-Shaq ads running on TV. Even a casual NBA fan knows the sizzle of that matchup. Seems to me, that's something you at least ask a guy about..."Hey Bill, why didn't you put the Lakers and the Suns on the list?"

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3357518

"Asked and answered."

"Sustained, Mr. McCoy."

 

[sportsed]

It's a fricking list. Look around and surely there will be another one later today. Wait around long enough and you might find one you agree with completely. It's kind of the whole point, really, to start a discussion. That Simmons will carry on the discussion on his own is nothing new.

 

[EE94]

They can afford to pay Simmons et al because "editors" at sites are HTML jockeys barely out of their teens

You could not be more wrong.

present company excepted

 

[zebracoy]

I really wish this guy would come on here and raise hell. There are objections when posters tear into a writer at a community paper, but not someone at ESPN? I don't follow.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

From what I hear, Simmons is such a primadonna (nicest thing I could call him on a family message board) and browbeats editors who dare change a comma that the editors probably don't give a crap about helping him out.

That's a theory I have based on some things I have seen.

I wonder if it's true. It would be easy to beleive since many dislike Simmons, but . . .I don't know.

It would be interesting if Simmons showed up here, guns blazing. It would be amusing to see how people react to him.

 

[imjustagirl]

They can afford to pay Simmons et al because "editors" at sites are HTML jockeys barely out of their teens

You could not be more wrong.

present company excepted

I work at a newspaper, thank you.

 

[sportschick]

ESPN has many very good copy editors, some of whom I know.

I think Simmons may have a no-edit clause.

 

[TheMethod]

OT: Why is Derrick Rose in the "2008 NBA MVP" ad that appears in the banner ads on this site?

 

[Diabeetus]

I really wish this guy would come on here and raise hell. There are objections when posters tear into a writer at a community paper, but not someone at ESPN? I don't follow.

One's a national media figure, the other is a kid likely working at his first stop. There's a difference.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

From what I hear, Simmons is such a primadonna (nicest thing I could call him on a family message board) and browbeats editors who dare change a comma that the editors probably don't give a crap about helping him out.

That's a theory I have based on some things I have seen.

I wonder if it's true. It would be easy to beleive since many dislike Simmons, but . . .I don't know.

It would be interesting if Simmons showed up here, guns blazing. It would be amusing to see how people react to him.

Don't hold your breath.

 

[lono]

That's OK. The nut graf of this story is completely wrong:

"It is believed to be the first time since 1955 that NASCAR has disqualified a driver for a postrace violation. Fireball Roberts was the victim that day because of what was ruled an engine modification."

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/columns/story?columnist=newton_david&id=3363595

Well, the only one who believes it is the guy who wrote it, because it is 100 percent wrong, as pointed out here yesterday:

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/51414/

Think they bothered to correct it? Noooo .........

 

[Moderator1]

ESPN has many very good copy editors, some of whom I know.

I think Simmons may have a no-edit clause.

I can't believe ESPN would allow that.
And I still can't believe anyone would want that. Though I suppose there are egos out there so big they think they're perfect.
Any organization that allows a no edit clause is stupid and deserves whatever **** comes its way. I don't believe any group with a shred of self respect allows them.

 

[Bill Brasky]

I really wish this guy would come on here and raise hell. There are objections when posters tear into a writer at a community paper, but not someone at ESPN? I don't follow.

One's a national media figure, the other is a kid likely working at his first stop. There's a difference.

Bingo!
I'm a fan of Simmons, but this omission and addendum just is beyond the pale. It's something that someone should have caught.

 

[93Devil]

I'm pertty sure he lurks here, but if I were him, I probably would not Hill or Whitlock it either.

Seriously, what does he have to gain? Any commentary about improving his column can be just read by him without an actual post.

I will probably get killed for this on here, but here goes.

I actually emailed him once about two problems with a column. One was error about a game he actually attended as a child and a player he did not realize was playing in the game.

He wrote back, without acknowledging one error but pointing out that what he did state for the second error was in fact true in California.

He also noted that everyone gets killed on SportsJournalists.com, and to an extent, I agree with him.

What seriously would happen if he started a thread of "I'm Bill Simmons...?"

I'm thinking it would not be one of the finer moments on here.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I'm pertty sure he lurks here, but if I were him, I probably would not Hill or Whitlock it either.

Seriously, what does he have to gain? Any commentary about improving his column can be just read by him without an actual post.

I will probably get killed for this on here, but here goes.

I actually emailed him once about two problems with a column. One was error about a game he actually attended as a child and a player he did not realize was playing in the game.

He wrote back, without acknowledging one error but pointing out that what he did state for the second error was in fact true in California.

He also noted that everyone gets killed on SportsJournalists.com, and to an extent, I agree with him.

What seriously would happen if he started a thread of "I'm Bill Simmons...?"

I'm thinking it would not be one of the finer moments on here.

I hate to break it to Prepboy, but not everyone gets killed here.

Whatever gets him through the night, but in saying that, he's full of it.

 

[trifectarich]

I don't know what the original copy looks like, but what gets posted makes me think their copy editors are just OK. Nothing more, nothing less.