While most of you were sleeping earlier this morning, Deadspin’s Editor-in-Chief A.J. Daulerio appeared on the Fox News show “Red Eye” to discuss the alleged photos of Brett Favre’s junk.
In case you haven’t heard, Favre is believed to have sent photos of his manhood to former New York Jets reporter Jenn Sterger while he was a member of the team in 2008.
In addition to the photos, Favre left several not so subtle voicemails on Sterger’s answering machine, one of which suggested that she pay him a visit in his hotel room.
“Red Eye” host Greg Gutfeld interviewed Daulerio about the photos and a conversation regarding Favre’s choice of footwear and Casio watches ensued.
During the segment, “Red Eye” played the voicemail that Favre allegedly left Sterger asking her to come by his hotel room.
Alleged or otherwise, the experienced sports fan would have little doubt that Favre was the person who left the voicemail on Sterger’s machine.
“Red Eye” also ran a clip of Favre’s refusal to answer a question regarding the photos from a New York Daily News reporter on Thursday during a press conference.
Gutfeld suggested that Favre didn’t respond as you might expect of someone who was innocent, with Daulerio agreeing that if Favre wasn’t guilty he should have flatly denied the allegations.
The Favre incident reminds me of another distinctive moment in Deadspin’s history from several years ago.
Photos of then Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart enjoying himself at a hot tub party with several lady friends were posted on the site, and what followed was an outcry from “respected” members of the mainstream sports media.
On consecutive nights, then Editor-in-Chief Will Leitch appeared on HBO’s “Costas Now” and Fox Sports Net “Best Damn Sports Show Period”, in both cases answering questions about the decision to post the photos of Leinart.
Leitch’s appearance on “Costas Now” led to the now infamous barrage of criticism he received from author Buzz Bissinger, who said that Leitch and bloggers in general had “poor writing skills, a lack of journalistic ethics and an absence of credentials.”
Bob Costas, like many in the mainstream sports media, has been particularly harsh in his assessment of bloggers. At a 2008 Make-a-Wish luncheon, Costas referred to bloggers as basement dwelling losers, which wasn’t too far from the sentiments expressed by MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough.
In a 2008 response to a perceived slight against Keith Olbermann, Scarborough referred to bloggers as the “Cheetos Brigade” and agreed with Costas that all of us are basement dwelling denizens.
Incidentally, while the professional sports media outlets were attacking Leitch, no one in the mainstream media ever mentioned the fact that the photos of Leinart were posted at FoxSports.com for a period of time. Double standard much?
In a little over two years, the times sure have changed.
When Daulerio appeared on Red Eye this morning it wasn’t via satellite from his mother’s basement, with him seated behind his computer in his underwear covered in Cheetos dust.
Gutfeld interviewed Daulerio live from a Fox News studio with Deadspin’s Editor wearing a sports jacket. He actually brushed his teeth and combed his hair too – wow!
Instead of attacking Daulerio for posting the photos of Favre, Gutfeld was almost giddy discussing the creepy nature of the whole affair.
Unlike some in the professional sports media that may eventually come out against Deadspin for posting the photos, a show like “Red Eye” represents the mainstream media’s growing acceptance of bloggers.
That’s not to suggest that photos of Brett Favre’s tool is exactly the type of news others in the mainstream media would run.
In an effort to be forthright, viewers of “Red Eye” realize the show takes a unique approach in reviewing political news and social issues using a panel of figures who express their opinions on the subject matter.
But because I’m a long time viewer and fan of “Red Eye”, it’s always good to see someone from the blogosphere get some attention, regardless if that attention is for something that may not otherwise be considered newsworthy by the mainstream media.
And despite what some may think of Fox News, Gutfeld has often mentioned blogs during his telecast. In February he made note of the site Bro Bible, thanking them for bringing several Scandinavian chicks to his attention.
More importantly, it was nice to see someone representing the blogosphere in a way that completely debunked the myths that so many in the mainstream media have attempted to employ when discussing bloggers.
