The Blog Really

Deadspin reports on the ESPN statement regarding Big Ben’s Tahoe problem:

“The implication is that if there’s no criminal action and the athlete himself (or herself) has not publicly commented on it, then ESPN considers it a private matter and not “news.” Several readers have already called them on this point, mentioning the Shannon Brown case, the Tony Zendejas case (filed Monday), or the O.J. case, among others. However, in all those instances, ESPN could claim that there was a criminal complaint at least tangentially related to the story. But in all those instances, the story itself was about the civil case. They have also covered many, many purely civil cases like the NFL’s current anti-trust fracas, the mess regarding the Dallas Cowboys practice bubble, and—the most glaring of all—the Roberto Alomar “AIDS rumors.” It seems pretty clear that they’re being selective with their enforcement.”