ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator" - Deadspin Comments

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

MannysHeadStash — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:19:41 EDT

"So your trainer was blanking your blank with his blank? Is that appropriate behavior for a man your age, whatever that age might be?

MannysHeadStash

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Catenaccio — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:18:59 EDT

I'm a journalist and thought this was lame. If you want to challenge the Tejada with this document, why create a spectacle by doing it on camera just to embarrass the guy? Almost as lame as the entire episode was Sportscenter's handling of it, like pointing out everyone's age in the highlight following the clip. That said, not surprising coming from ESPN and the shitty-ass E:60.

Catenaccio

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

J-No — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:15:41 EDT

And exactly when Miguel, did you stop beating your wife?

J-No

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

I Dream of Jeannie Zelasko — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:13:30 EDT

Speaking of gotcha journalism, did anyone catch Farrey's interview of Chico Escuela?

I Dream of Jeannie Zelasko

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Summer-of-George — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:02:56 EDT

@Billy Clyde Puckett:

I think the big deal is that players only have a 20-year window of being any good, from let us say 20-40 years old…I think we can all agree with that…so if you're lying about your age to your employer who is investing in you, that's kinda fraud.

…If I was selling you a huge bottle of whiskey and I told you it was going to last for 3-years so you're like "fuck yeah, I'll give you $1000 bucks for it". Deal. Next day I come back and tell you it actually only has 1-year left…you might be little pissed at me, but not too pissed because you would be drunk.

Summer-of-George

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

HernandezStache — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:52:36 EDT

I wanna know what's more common in baseball; lying about your age or steriod use?

Neither of which I give a shit about.

HernandezStache

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

ltwinslow — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:52:21 EDT

@muggsybogues:

technically, he lied to the company that paid him peanuts 14 yrs ago. he just never corrected the false assumption of the team that paid him millions

josereyes.theroof wishes to perform Tim Harris's sack-dance for you

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

josereyes.theroof wishes to perform Tim Harris's sack-dance for you — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:50:23 EDT

@Camp Tiger Claw: Tejada left too sedately, though. He needed to rip his jersey off, fray the mic wiring, throw his cap at Ferry, kick him in the groin &/or stomach, & shout expletives in Spanish. But it was funny, still, yes.

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Jubilation T. Cornpone — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:49:15 EDT

He was desperately searching for the mic to unplug himself and get his lying ass off the set.

Jubilation T. Cornpone

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Billy Clyde Puckett — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:47:37 EDT

Well, there's that. Ambush journalism is rarely pretty and it's rarely done under the guise of a Pure Search for the Truth.

But there's also this: he's not the first guy to do this - ballplayers, especially those from impoverished countries, have been lying about their ages for...well, ages.

And, honestly - who cares? Why is this an issue? It's going to screw up Baseball-Reference.com's "Most Similar Players at Age" whatever stats, but so what?

This is not a steroid situation. This is not a corked bat. This is not a big deal.

Billy Clyde Puckett

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

alftime — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:47:30 EDT

The only way that could have been worse was if Jeremy Schaap was the interviewer.

alftime

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

insomniac — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:45:28 EDT

@thetaxman:
Shit. Anyone interested in a "Happy 32nd birthday, Miguel!" wood carving?

The sleep deprivation must really be getting to me because I can't stop laughing at that comment. Nicely done. Now who's got some Ambien?

insomniac

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

TopesWin — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:40:11 EDT

@Steve Trachsel, Ace: +1

This is sweet revenge for Glenn Davis.

TopesWin

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Jen P — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:38:39 EDT

@Matt_T: I don't know why he was in uniform, but he was trying to get the microphone out of his jersey.

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Matt_T — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:34:20 EDT

why was he in full uniform? And why did he untuck his shirt as he scurried off? That's what I need to know.

Matt_T

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Hit Bull Win Steak — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:33:54 EDT

@Jen P: I think it's still the preferred beverage for the roofie dispensing guido's on Staten Island...

Hit Bull Win Steak

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Da_Mang — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:32:54 EDT

ESPN tells us the the Steroid Era is a part of baseball and we just have to deal with it, but players who fudge about their age in the hope of getting them and their families out third-world shithole poverty must be publicly ridiculed.

Fuck ESPN in the pants.

Da_Mang

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

The KB — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:31:47 EDT

Tom Ferry's next target: Every plus-30 broad in the world.

Who cares?

The KB

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

WoodBatsSteelBalls — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:30:44 EDT

Did he at least get a cookie?

WoodBatsSteelBalls

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Signal to Noise — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:28:34 EDT

Can't nail him on PEDs, so they go after his age. I'm not so sure that Houston is broken up about this; Latin players having questionable ages isn't totally new.

Real breakthrough newsmagazine journalism, E:60.

Signal to Noise

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

elwood — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:28:29 EDT

I kept seeing clips of the interview on ESPN yesterday, and the whole thing made me uncomfortable just watching.

Furthermore, I don't get why it's such a big deal. Does the fact that he's actually 2 years older mean he's past his prime? Does this have major implications with regards to his contract? And why did Ferry take such perverse joy in whipping out that birth certificate?

elwood

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Camp Tiger Claw — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:27:07 EDT

I thought it was fucking hilarious.

Camp Tiger Claw

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Jen P — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:26:45 EDT

@David Hume: Well yes. As soon as I hit "submit," I thought, "But why would you want to get out?"

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Turd Ferguson — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:26:26 EDT

@Jen P: I don't know, and if so Coors products don't sell well in A-B country.

One thing's for sure, though: they have never enjoyed the greatness that is Paintcan.

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Jen P — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:25:08 EDT

@Turd Ferguson: Yeah, I bet they never tried mixing Zima with Kool-Aid powder*.

*Unless you want a volcanic eruption that spews red bubbles over every surface of your kitchen, NEVER do this. Do they even make Zima anymore?

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

muggsybogues — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:24:15 EDT

"What did Tejada do to deserve being lured into a studio and left bare in front of a camera on live tape-delayed TV?"

Um, he lied. To the company that pays him millions.

muggsybogues

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

David Hume — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:23:56 EDT

@Jen P: But it'd make getting in a breeze. Ahem.

David Hume

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Hit Bull Win Steak — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:22:45 EDT

@Jen P: you'd be frictionless, like Clark Griswold on the sled in Christmas Vacation

Hit Bull Win Steak

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

MattinglysSideburns — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:22:19 EDT

Somewhere, Greg Oden is sweating like a pig.

MattinglysSideburns

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

thetaxman — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:22:16 EDT

Shit. Anyone interested in a "Happy 32nd birthday, Miguel!" wood carving?

thetaxman

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

The Fan’s Attic — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:22:12 EDT

So, what I got out of this story was that Tejada has been playing in the Majors for 11 years instead of 11 years. Thank you ESPN. I'm glad you didn't ask about steroids.

The Fan’s Attic

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Yellow Tail Swine — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:21:45 EDT

I'm really indifferent to that.

If Tejada was given the impression that the interview was probably going to include suspicion of his actual age... then yeah, nail that fucker down with a birth certificate and leave him bleeding on the floor after you remove vital organs and place them in a Coleman Ice Chest.

If you misled him into that topic though, or - gasp- told him you would ask him about his age, then it's wrong.

Yellow Tail Swine

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Turd Ferguson — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:20:50 EDT

@mbprice: Yea, verily. Sadly those idiots at N*rthw*st*rn (apologies to any Wildcats here) are too busy being rich to drink like (and what) we do.

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Jen P — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:20:38 EDT

@Hit Bull Win Steak: Whoa. Bathtub full of Astroglide ... you'd never be able to get out!

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

DennyCrane — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:19:10 EDT

Carl Monday is crying tears of joy right now.

DennyCrane

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

ltwinslow — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:19:08 EDT

and yet... i don't see anybody ambushing tom ferry for pretending to be a journalist

dont-forget-where-you-came-from-cheese mac

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Nacho Friendly — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:18:42 EDT

needs more Simmons in a motion-capture suit.

Nacho Friendly

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

SlantedAndDisenchanted — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:17:50 EDT

What pisses me off is that Tom Ferry is wasting his time with the Tejadas of the world and not going after the real enemy: Dikembe Mutombo.

SlantedAndDisenchanted

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

dont-forget-where-you-came-from-cheese mac — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:17:14 EDT

prior inconsistent statements...RIGHTNOW!!!

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

ghostsoftheSCupcountry — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:16:53 EDT

@Hit Bull Win Steak: Mom....I told you to wait in the truck!

ghostsoftheSCupcountry

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Hit Bull Win Steak — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:16:29 EDT

@Hit Bull Win Steak: that would be large TUBE of Astroglide. AG doesnt come in tubs, but a guy can dream, can't he?

Can't he?!?!?

Hit Bull Win Steak

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

StuScott Booyahs — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:16:17 EDT

@Gourmet Spud: Get away from me, Tom Ferry!

StuScott Booyahs

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

RachelRayIsTheDevil — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:16:03 EDT

That condescending Ferry sounded like a father talking to his school skipping kid when he said, "I want you to explain this to me." It was cheap. Tejada probably grew up eating mud cakes and shitting in a hole behind the hut. I'm not condoning latin players lying about their ages but it's very common. The ambush was cowardly. Watching Tejada squirm made ME uncomfortable. Ferry must be 40, he's a man.

RachelRayIsTheDevil

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

shea_guevara — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:15:12 EDT

Next up on E:60--while they were both on the Red Sox, Curt Schilling gave Pedro Martinez a sweater for Christmas. Pedro said he liked the sweater. Yet, when we visited Pedro's home in the Dominican Republic, we did not see the sweater in any of his closets.

Let's see him try and wriggle out of that one!

shea_guevara

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Hit Bull Win Steak — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:15:02 EDT

What WERE you planning on doing with the double-sided dildo, large tub of astroglide, and billy goat, then?

Hit Bull Win Steak

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Paul Zuvella — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:14:55 EDT

So I guess this means that, when it comes to creating stories, even ESPN thinks that the "Terrell Owens says something outrageous" well is officially dry?

Paul Zuvella

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

ltwinslow — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:14:27 EDT

@OchentaYcinco:

exonerated dateline predator. the whole thing was one big misunderstanding... like the giuliani campaign

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

mbprice — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:14:24 EDT

@Jen P: @Turd Ferguson: All fine drinking journalism schools, to be sure.

mbprice

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

DennyCrane — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:13:44 EDT

@SlickBomb: It's on ESPN. What did you expect?

DennyCrane

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

ghostsoftheSCupcountry — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:13:08 EDT

I concur with Will. The only person tWWL cares about with a tie to steriods is Big Head Barry. Otherwise, Emperor Bud will cut them off from slurping on the Yanks and Sawx.

Complete waste of tape.

ghostsoftheSCupcountry

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Jen P — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:12:48 EDT

@Turd Ferguson: @mbprice: My j-school was CU. So I think I'm in the running.

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Turd Ferguson — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:12:34 EDT

@mbprice: Nope. Missouri.

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Bob Stoops's Pleated Pants — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:12:12 EDT

Tejada's totally outlived Jesus.

Bob Stoops's Pleated Pants

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Weed Against Speed — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:11:25 EDT

Barbara Walters would have got him to confess...and cry.

Weed Against Speed

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Steve Trachsel, Ace — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:11:07 EDT

As an Oriole fan, my only response is a simple ha.

HAHA

hahahaha

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

Steve Trachsel, Ace

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

OchentaYcinco — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:10:50 EDT

I think this qualifies Julio Franco for a lifetime achievement award of some kind.

OchentaYcinco

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Jen P — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:10:23 EDT

This is what I got stuck watching repeatedly last night while waiting for Avs highlights - you know, actual fucking RESULTS from SPORTING EVENTS (PLAYOFFS, even).

Multiple teasers of "Coming up! Look! Look at the way we just busted this guy! Watch how he storms out!" just made me want to kick people.

And this is why I rarely watch SportsCenter anymore.

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Lady Andrea — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:10:18 EDT

Tejada: I was bluffing.
Ferry: And what is bluffing? Is it not another word for lying?

Lady Andrea

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Secret Identity — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:09:47 EDT

The real "To Catch a Predator" is also overly concerned with age, for some reason.

Secret Identity

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Juancho — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:09:45 EDT

@ltwinslow: not Berkowitz?

Juancho

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

MattinglysSideburns — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:09:41 EDT

Feeling knobs, touching keys, having fun with a full-grown man.

MattinglysSideburns

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Marth — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:09:21 EDT

@BigRicks: ESPN's journalistic credibility is going down in flames.

/Aaliyah'd

Marth

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Weed Against Speed — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:09:20 EDT

In the follow-up interview, Rachel Nichols will ask Tejada how he feels about it.

Weed Against Speed

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

How do you spell retard? — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:09:15 EDT

I call plagarism on Shakesdownsports
[www.bugsandcranks.com]

How do you spell retard?

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

the earl of weaver — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:08:48 EDT

The Astros received even worse news later on in the day: Carlos Lee had eaten Hunter Pence.

the earl of weaver

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

mbprice — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:08:18 EDT

@Turd Ferguson: Is your j-school ASU? Cuz if not, I disagree.

If so, Go Devils.

mbprice

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

sassydeerrun — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:08:11 EDT

Julio Franco wants to borrow some of Miguel's Oil Of Olay.

sassydeerrun

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Gourmet Spud — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:07:58 EDT

"Mr. Tejada, are you not lying? In fact, aren't you...A LIAR!?!"

/Kids in the Hall

Gourmet Spud

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

MeanMachine — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:06:55 EDT

Now if he had caught Tejada masturbating, that would have been ambush-worthy!

MeanMachine

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

StuScott Booyahs — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:06:53 EDT

Ah, ambush journalism. What inspired me to stop writing for mass media in the first place.

StuScott Booyahs

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Spaceman Bill Leah — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:06:52 EDT

How can it even be a real "gotcha" story when the fact that Latin players lie about their ages is like, the most well-known thing in baseball?

I am more shocked that Tejada wasn't all "Yeah, I am 35. I thought you knew that already".

Spaceman Bill Leah

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Gourmet Spud — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:06:50 EDT

Tom Ferry, ESPN's Carl Monday.

Gourmet Spud

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

CharlesBronsonPinchot — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:06:05 EDT

@Len Bias Cocaine Surplus: Did you bring the condoms and lube like you said you would in the chat room? I have a copy of the chat transcript right here. This is what you said.

CharlesBronsonPinchot

ESPN Plays "To Catch A Predator"

Turd Ferguson — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:05:51 EDT

As a journalism student also (and yes, my J-school can outdrink your J-school), I agree with the latter assessment, mostly because the Tejada's age thing was a non-issue. Surprising this person to their face is just foolish, nonethical and a pure quest for ratings, similar to "Animals Close-Up with a Wide-Angle Lens".