Charlotte Police: Chris Henry Died At 6:36am ET
Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police have confirmed Chris Henry died this morning from injuries suffered in a pickup truck accident yesterday. The Bengals have yet to provide confirmation.
Fake Twitter Account: Instructive Media Moment
Today a Twitter account was configured to look like it belonged to a reputable major market, print media sports reporter. A reporter who I’ve met and read for years. Extremely well-respected person in the industry.
We now know that Twitter account was fake.
As the Chris Henry story unfolded today, the fake account Tweeted inaccurate information about Henry’s condition.
More specifically, Gregg Rosenthal of NBC’s PRO FOOTBALL TALK reports: “a fake Twitter account led to multiple outlets from newspapers to major sports and news blogs to repeat information that Henry passed away.”
SbB was one of those sites and I apologize for the misinformation that was momentarily posted. I’m not going to identify the reporter unwittingly dragged into the situation nor dignify the person who set up the bogus account.
Because of fake accounts, Twitter as a legitimate news source was already on the wane. As it should be, considering what happened today. The days of reporting stories based on information from Twitter accounts is rapidly coming to a close.
Reports: No Confirmation Of Chris Henry’s Death
UPDATE: Chris Henry two months ago to Joe Reedy of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER about his fiancee Loleini Tonga:
“She’s been a big help. She’s been right here with me and going through things and helping out on my side. We have the kids and she has my back with everything I’ve needed. She’s a great person and I love her to death.”
UPDATE: WLW-TV in Cincinnati has video.
UPDATE: WCNC-TV in Charlotte has a slideshow of photos of the Chris Henry pickup truck accident scene:
UPDATE: Dan Graziano of AOL FANHOUSE:
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry was seriously injured in a car accident Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C. and was being treated for life-threatening injuries, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.
“We don’t think he’s going to make it,” the source told FanHouse on Wednesday evening.
UPDATE: TMZ.com has more details: “Authorities are investigating whether Henry jumped off the truck or whether he was thrown. The official says they are investigating the possibility the Cincinnati Bengal was thrown from the truck after (Henry fiancee) Loleini Tonga swerved back and forth.”
UPDATE: Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com reports: “Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
Joe Reedy of the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, from (let’s hope) his Twitter account on the status of Chris Henry:
Henry reportedly fell out the back of a pickup truck earlier today during a domestic dispute and suffered significant injuries.
Most recently, the KENTUCKY POST reported, “Homicide Detectives with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department are investigating the incident.” Read more…
Notre Dame Fans Bash Charlie Weis Via Billboard
As much as the media likes to wring its hands about vicious anonymous Internet sports fans contributing to the downfall of Western civilization with their uncouth attacks on the media, rivals, coaches, athletic directors, and the NCAA, the truth is that fans have long found ways to give voice to their concerns/taunts that have nothing to do with a computer. Like, for example, the billboard.
This billboard popped up in South Bend, Indiana, the other day. In case you live in a sports black hole, you’ll recognize it as impugning the lackluster coaching abilities of Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. This is just the latest in a long lines of rather clever sports billboards put in strategic locations. But how does it stack up against the great sports billboards of the past? Let’s take a walk down memory lane.
Bengals Fans Force Ky. Prisoners To Wear Pink
When you read “Cincinnati Bengals” and “jail” in the first sentence of a story, you start trying to construct the story in your head, like some sort of awful Mad Lib: “NAME OF PLAYER of the Cincinnati Bengals was arrested DAY and charged with CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, BAD CRIMINAL ACTIVITY and HORRIFIC CRIMINAL ACTIVITY after a SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBER crime spree that left SINGLE-DIGIT NUMBER injured.”
So imagine my surprise at reading further into this AP story and finding out that no Bengals have been arrested (yet: we’ll update you during the day). Instead, it turns out that a jail in Covington, Kentucky has decided to make their prisoners start wearing pink jumpsuits, and it’s all the Bengals’ fault. Or more specifically, their fans and their color scheme.
Pacman Unplugged Again, High Score Reset To 0
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended troubled Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones for at least 4 games on Tuesday. The move follows his alcohol-induced fight with a bodyguard on Oct. 8 in a Dallas hotel. The suspension could last longer depending on his behavior, which we’re all sure will improve this time.
(Mr. Jones doesn’t just have issues, he has a lifetime subscription)
According to ESPN.com:
The decision on whether Jones can return to play this season will be based on his strict compliance with his NFL and Cowboys treatment plans as well as on evaluations of Jones’ progress that will be provided to Goodell by clinical experts retained by the NFL.
More after the jump. Read more…
Iowa Football Charged w/ 22 Crimes Since April ‘07
If you were asked to name a football team that frequently gets into trouble with the law, your first response would most likely be the Cincinnati Bengals.
Yes, the Bengals have put together quite the rap sheet but the Iowa Hawkeyes are quietly putting together a resume of crime that rivals the organization that has employed the likes of Chris Henry, Frostee Rucker, Odell Thurman and Chris Henry for a second time.
Since the season started yesterday (Hawkeyes beat Maine 46-3) or because it’s Iowa and there isn’t much else to do, the DES MOINES REGISTER did some research and some math to tally up the total number of crimes their local football team has been charged with. “The Register found U of I football players have been charged with at least 22 crimes since April 2007, some racking up multiple charges.”
Can The Cincinnati Bengals Really Be This Dumb?
It was only a week or two ago when I was watching an interview with Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis on ESPN. Aside from being asked about Chad Johnson constantly, the interview also focused on the changes the Bengals were going to make with the way they treated their criminals players.
Marvin said that without a doubt, things were going to be different in Cincinnati from here on out. With Roger Goodell bringing down the hammer on any player who gets out of line, Lewis said there just wasn’t room to mess around with any players who could become a distraction.
Of course, that was before Ocho Cinco became Oucho Cinco, and now the Bengals are short at wide receiver. You’ll never guess who they’re thinking of bringing back. Here’s a hint, he’s pictured above.
War Hero Welcomed Into Cincinnati Bengal Huddle
Yesterday, the highly-litigated Cincinnati Bengals took time out from their practice to welcome a true American hero onto the field: Army Sgt. Michael Garvin.
Garvin has been on two tours of Iraq, the second cut short because of a pesky IED. He’s faced down live grenades, rocket launchers and camouflaged enemy combatants, but nothing shows his amazing testicular fortitude like having the guts to name one of your own sons after a Bengal.
Brog: Brand Never Saw Clips Near-Matching Offer
Mark Heisler of the LOS ANGELES TIMES has more details today on Elton Brand’s escape to Philly. Heisler notes that the Clippers tried to offer Brand a contract of $81M, but Brand’s agent David Falk stopped returning the club’s calls. Brand eventually accepted an $82M deal from the Sixers.
Heisler surmises, as we did here last Friday, that Falk is most likely behind Brand spurning the Clippers. Keep in mind though that Heisler’s sources on the matter are likely Clippers-affiliated, and the club is presently in full damage control mode.
Not many saw the Philly move coming, but two ESPN 950 radio hosts in Philadelpia, Harry Mayes and Dan Schwartzman, browbeat Brand on-air about joining the Sixers as early as June 5 (audio).
Meanwhile, Jonathan Abrams of the Times reports that Baron Davis’ agent has confirmed his client is still hip to clip.
USA TODAY reports that NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson endorsed John McCain yesterday at the National Press Club: “I’d have to pick (John) McCain. I think our core fan base, being Republicans like they are, that will be their first choice.”
FYI: NASCAR’s home state of North Carolina is currently represented in Congress by seven Democrats and six Republicans.
(We avoided Charles Woodson’s wine stains, but not this - thankfully)
When I was at the Playboy Mansion recently, they were pouring samples of a wine called “24.” No idea what it was at the time, but now the DETROIT NEWS reports that the vino is the handiwork of noted vintner Charles Woodson.
The Chicago Bears official website has plenty of fun with the fact that when Jim McMahon visited the White House in 1996 as a member of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, he actually wore a Bears jersey.
Excerpt: “When the Packers were honored at the White House, McMahon wore a Bears jersey, enraging Green Bay fans. McMahon explained that he did it because the Bears never got a chance to visit the White House after winning Super Bowl XX. Their trip to Washington was canceled after the Challenger space shuttle blew up.”
God I miss that dude.
Paul Lukas of UNI WATCH BLOG has a bone to pick with the Brewers.
Seems he’s not too found of the club’s penchant for on-field advertising: “Can’t they leave this sh– off the field of play?“
Conveniently, that quote can also be attributed to when the Royals next visit Miller Park. Read more…
