This is a new low from ESPN, IMO

[YankeeFan]

Wow, even Larry Kudlow thinks that was insensitive.

 

[93Devil]

Who uses the word prescient?

 

[SeanKennedy]

It wasn't just the same day -- the post was up just a couple of hours after the news of his death broke.

Insensitive is putting it lightly.

 

[Steak Snabler]

I'm not usually one to defend ESPN, but there's no reason to impugn the entire company over this. This is the fault of two people:

1. The writer, Albert Lin, whose name will be burned into the memory of every Bama fan for all-time, I can assure you.

2. His editor, presumably Rob King, who has apologized.

Lin was at SI for like 10 years, and has been at ESPN.com for three. I can't believe he didn't know better.

 

[Clerk Typist]

Don't you fire someone (or two someones) for this?

 

[printdust]

In a seemingly rare case of solid material on its main page, particularly on the news side, Yahoo! has both postings...and it's beyond ridiculous what this guy did.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/ESPN-8216-Insider-8217-demonstrates-how-not-?urn=ncaaf-wp1491

 

[Dick Whitman]

In a seemingly rare case of solid material on its main page, particularly on the news side, Yahoo! has both postings...and it's beyond ridiculous what this guy did.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/ESPN-8216-Insider-8217-demonstrates-how-not-?urn=ncaaf-wp1491

The comments after that story should be preserved for future anthropology students. Stuff about how the parents need to "sue the *$&%&" out of ESPN. Huh? Unprotected speech: Obscenity, defamation, perjury under oath, fighting words, and ... discussing the effect on the depth chart of someone's death?

Also lots of comments about the "pussification of America."

 

[dixiehack]

My guess is that they had a boilerplate worked up, then used it at a horribly inappropriate time. Douglas had a track record of poor life choices, and was probably even money to make the Fulmer Cup blotter at some point this offseason. Still an incredible lapse in judgment.

 

[writingump]

No way to excuse this, no matter what rationale one tries to use.

 

[jobu]

Saw something like this in my college paper in a story about a member of the track team passing away. The story then went on to discuss the team's upcoming meet and how it would replace him.

But then, that was the college paper, not ESPN.

 

[chilidog75]

You're write.

Right? Write? Who can tell the difference?

 

[imjustagirl]

The lede is: "Looks like Nick Saban was prescient when he gave rising senior OL Alfred McCullough and rising junior RG Barrett Jones snaps at LT this spring."

Who in their right ****ing mind writes something like that ... the same DAY a football player is found dead?
Hell, who rights something like that period?

Unbelievable. Literally. I can't believe anyone would lack enough sense and decency to hit enter on something like that.

Yep. Who knows the difference indeed.

Self-awareness is not your strong suit.