“610 Sports Radio’s Bob Fescoe is reporting that Chiefs Head Coach Todd Haley took play calling duties away from Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis in the second half of yesterday’s playoff loss to Baltimore. Hear more on this story on 610 Sports Radio and 610sports.com.”Press Release from 610 Sports Radio following the Chiefs loss to the Ravens
GH: I first saw this “story” Sunday afternoon when Fescoe began tweeting that he had evidence that Weis was seen at a local pizza joint shortly after the game where he was telling local pizza patrons Haley stripped him of his play-calling duties in the second half. I was not at all shocked at Fescoe’s goofy tweet. But I was stunned that 610 Sports then went public with the story as if it was legit. The radio station went with this story despite the fact Fescoe had no firsthand confirmation from Weis, the Chiefs or anyone besides a “source” in a pizza parlor. Read on.
“Bob Fescoe of 610 Sports in Kansas City reports that Haley stripped Weis of the play-calling duties during the second half of the game. Which means that the horrendous showing is on the shoulders not of the guy who left the team, but of the guy who’ll still be there.”
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com
GH: Once 610 Sports sent out their email to media sources, the story was reported by others as factual. This is how rumors and secondhand comments get reported by legitimate news services. There exists an over-eagerness by too many newshounds to make a name for themselves by being first rather than being correct. Florio was burned by Fescoe’s pizza reporting and he torched Fescoe once he discovered how thin the crust was on his reporting. Read on.
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com
GH: Once 610 Sports sent out their email to media sources, the story was reported by others as factual. This is how rumors and secondhand comments get reported by legitimate news services. There exists an over-eagerness by too many newshounds to make a name for themselves by being first rather than being correct. Florio was burned by Fescoe’s pizza reporting and he torched Fescoe once he discovered how thin the crust was on his reporting. Read on.
“We then began to pick up some information casting doubt on the Fescoe report. For example, Fescoe also reported — and later retracted — that Weis wasn’t in the locker room after the game.”
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com
GH: Fescoe tweeted after the game that Weis was not in the locker room following the Ravens loss. He later had to apologize for that tweet when Nick Wright pointed out very publically on Twitter that Weis was indeed in the locker room.
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com
GH: Fescoe tweeted after the game that Weis was not in the locker room following the Ravens loss. He later had to apologize for that tweet when Nick Wright pointed out very publically on Twitter that Weis was indeed in the locker room.
“The folks at 610 Sports later sent to us, presumably in an effort to bolster the report, a clip that serves in our view only to make it somewhat weaker. Appearing on one of the station’s other shows, Fescoe explained that he received two text messages from patrons of a pizza shop that Weis supposedly frequents. (Fescoe refused to name because he didn’t want to give the place “free advertising.”) According to the persons who sent Fescoe text messages, Weis was openly stating in the unnamed pizza place that the play-calling duties had been yanked from him at halftime.”
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com
GH: It is always a bad sign when the evidence you hope will bolster your report instead weakens it. Read on.
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com
GH: It is always a bad sign when the evidence you hope will bolster your report instead weakens it. Read on.
“It sounds like this Fescoe guy operates a little bit like another guy with a six-letter last name beginning with ‘F’.”
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com
GH: Florio correctly admonished himself for posting Fescoe’s original report as factual before checking its validity. At least Florio is willing to admit his errors. Fescoe, not so much.
Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk.com
GH: Florio correctly admonished himself for posting Fescoe’s original report as factual before checking its validity. At least Florio is willing to admit his errors. Fescoe, not so much.
“It’s funny when u break a story how many people spend so much time trying to discredit u seems like sour grapes to me.”
Bob Fescoe, Twitter
GH: Florio was burned by Fescoe’s report and he owned up to it. As of Tuesday morning, Fescoe was still claiming he stood behind what Shan Sharif, 610’s midday host, is calling “Pepperonigate.”
Bob Fescoe, Twitter
GH: Florio was burned by Fescoe’s report and he owned up to it. As of Tuesday morning, Fescoe was still claiming he stood behind what Shan Sharif, 610’s midday host, is calling “Pepperonigate.”
“Charlie Weis just told us at Taco Bell that Todd Haley is calling plays for BOTH Oregon and Auburn.”
Shan Shariff, Twitter
Shan Shariff, Twitter
“I want to make this clear. I am not reporting and I don’t think Bob is reporting that he knows that Todd Haley took away the play calling from Charlie Weis. What Bob’s reporting and what I trust him on is that Charlie Weis claims that Todd Haley took away the play-calling responsibilities in the second half.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Maybe Wright and Fescoe need to reread their own station’s press release; “Bob Fescoe is reporting that Chiefs Head Coach Todd Haley took play calling duties away from Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis in the second half of yesterday’s playoff loss to Baltimore.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Maybe Wright and Fescoe need to reread their own station’s press release; “Bob Fescoe is reporting that Chiefs Head Coach Todd Haley took play calling duties away from Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis in the second half of yesterday’s playoff loss to Baltimore.”
“ESPN’s Adam Schefter cites a Chiefs source who says Weis called every play. Schefter says one team source called anything to the contrary ‘just outright lies.’ ”
Joel Thorman, ArrowheadPride.com
Joel Thorman, ArrowheadPride.com
“Did it happen or didn’t it happen? I don’t know? I don’t know if anything is true.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: And that is the problem. Fescoe and his station ran with a story that was woefully unsubstantiated and they look foolish. More than foolish – they look amateurish and desperate. Two traits you do not want to have attributed to you if you expect to be taken seriously.
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: And that is the problem. Fescoe and his station ran with a story that was woefully unsubstantiated and they look foolish. More than foolish – they look amateurish and desperate. Two traits you do not want to have attributed to you if you expect to be taken seriously.
“What I do know is that Charlie Weis needs attention like a 17-year-old prom queen does.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: It appears in this case it is Fescoe and 610 Sports who are the attention whores. Wright has attempted to place much of the Chiefs’ final two games problems on Weis’ decision to leave for Florida. But trashing the man’s reputation unfairly with fairytales is the stuff of bitterness.
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: It appears in this case it is Fescoe and 610 Sports who are the attention whores. Wright has attempted to place much of the Chiefs’ final two games problems on Weis’ decision to leave for Florida. But trashing the man’s reputation unfairly with fairytales is the stuff of bitterness.
“NOT ONE guy who called me out today called me to ask for my side of the story. one sided reporting at its best.”
Bob Fescoe, Twitter
GH: This from the guy who tweeted Weis was not in the locker room and that he was holding court at a pizza joint telling all who would listen that Haley stripped him, of his role as OC – all without allegedly checking with Weis or the Chiefs. Works both ways, Pizza Bob.
Bob Fescoe, Twitter
GH: This from the guy who tweeted Weis was not in the locker room and that he was holding court at a pizza joint telling all who would listen that Haley stripped him, of his role as OC – all without allegedly checking with Weis or the Chiefs. Works both ways, Pizza Bob.
“@bobfescoe you r an excellent host and GREAT info guy! Still gonna listen every morning. Keep on keepen on…”
Joshua Anderson tweet to Bob Fescoe which was retweeted by Fescoe, Twitter
GH: I am not sure what kind of person feels the need to retweet a keep-your-chin-up note from a fan but Fescoe appears to be that guy. Safe to say that’s not my kinda guy. I had hopes for Fescoe when he returned to the KC market last January because he had shown a knack for getting news and stories that were well-sourced and accurate. I have been dreadfully disappointed in both his reporting and his show. It might be time for Pizza Bob to go away for good.
Joshua Anderson tweet to Bob Fescoe which was retweeted by Fescoe, Twitter
GH: I am not sure what kind of person feels the need to retweet a keep-your-chin-up note from a fan but Fescoe appears to be that guy. Safe to say that’s not my kinda guy. I had hopes for Fescoe when he returned to the KC market last January because he had shown a knack for getting news and stories that were well-sourced and accurate. I have been dreadfully disappointed in both his reporting and his show. It might be time for Pizza Bob to go away for good.
GregHall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24
I think this is the beginning of the end for the bulldog
This is bad for Fescoe. I don’t loathe him as much as a lot of people seem to and, I admit, it doesn’t bug me that he’s a huge KU homer, but this is the sort of thing that can get a guy fired. He was reporting it as factually accurate when what really happened was a couple of guys from a pizza place said that Weis said that he’d been stripped of playcalling duties. While that actually SOUNDS like it could be the truth (given Haley’s history) to report it as a fact when all you have is a couple of dudes at a pizza place who might just be fucking with Fescoe is really, really bad.
What I think is really amazing is Wright’s defense of Fescoe. “What Bob%u2019s reporting and what I trust him on is that Charlie Weis claims that Todd Haley took away the play-calling responsibilities in the second half.” Really? But even Fescoe never reported that Weis claimed that Haley had taken away those duties. Unless I’ve totally missed a critical element (always a possibility), Fescoe never reported that Weis claimed that. Fescoe reported that a couple of people who were at the same place Weis buys his pizza said that Weis said that.
There is a reason hearsay isn’t admissible in court. I get that sometimes “reporters” need to rely on it anyway, but did these people at the pizza place only speak on background? Was this off the record? If not, why doesn’t Fescoe just name his sources and let THEM answer the questions?
Wow
1. 610 reports Jim Harbaugh to Kansas.
2. 810 reports Mizzou has an initial offer to the Big Ten.
3. KCTV reports Texas and Texas A&M to the Big Ten, Oklahoma to the SEC (the biggest WTF moment of 2010 in KC sports media)
4. 610 reports the pizza guy’s claim that Weis was stripped of playcalling duties.
5. I’m sure I’m missing a Jack Harry tall tale in there, too.
Can the Kansas City electronic media be any worse? It’s like they’re trying to beat each other at being terrible reporters.
I hope it does but why would this mean the end for Fescoe?
Keitzman made up a story about Missouri going to the Big 10 and he’s still doing OK. The nimrod over at Channel 5 reported Texas was going to the Big 10 and he’s still around. Jack Harry based a story about Todd Haley flipping off a fan after a game on a text message and he’s referred to by some as the most professional sports reporter in the city.
This incident only bolsters what I already felt about Fescoe. He’s a moron but he’s one of several on the KC sports scene.
Here is why
Kevin (Prairie Village) Keitzman owns a portion of the station, he ain’t going anywhere.
Jack Harry is way to cheap for KCTV to let go, the guy has to be getting a good portion of his Social Security already, probably working for damn near free.
Fescoe is a dumbass, he has to go, can 610 slip further down the Arbitron ratings? I turned it to 610 (first time in months) this morning just to hear him backtrack, now that was comedy. Shan seems the only one with any sense, but he ain’t even a Kansas City guy.
Pizza Parlor
Anybody know what Pizza Parlor this was, this place needs some pub after this fiasco. Minsky’s, Godfathers, anybody?
You’ve Got A point, cliffy
I guess I should have said that this SHOULD be the beginning of the end for Fescoe. But, as you and Jip point out, there’s no reason to think there will be any actual consequence at all for this latest screwup. It’s as if KC media-types are rewarded for getting it wrong as long as they get it wrong spectacularly.
Question for discussion: What’s worse, Kietzman and his unnamed sources saying that MU had an offer from the Big Ten or Fescoe and his pizza guys? I mean, Fescoe’s sources were weak, but I actually believe that Fescoe didn’t make it up. It’s a badly sourced story that Fescoe shouldn’t have gone near, let alone reported as fact, but it seems obvious now that Kietzman made his up entirely, right? Manufactured sources are worse than lame people at a pizza parlor, so at least we know that Fescoe isn’t the worst sports “journalist” in Kansas City.
I vote for Kietzman, Gavin.
He knew exactly what he was doing. KK has what you might refer to as “vicious cunning.” 🙂
Fescoe’s just dumb.
(Jip … didn’t intentionally repeat some of your message. I hadn’t seen it yet.)
Cliffy…
You’re never gonna let me forget that vicious cunning thing, are you? Not that you should…
I agree with you. Kietzman’s sin was worse. His was malicious and completely intentional. I think Fescoe really believed he had a story and figured a couple of people at a pizza parlor were good enough sources. And I suppose they would be on stupid message boards but maybe aren’t good enough to actually report without anonymity.
ROD SERLING’S ‘LIARS CLUB’
today ‘s contestants: local kc media – vs – team kcindy pr
“ESPN’s Adam Schefter cites a Chiefs source who says Weis called every play.”
– well, then it ‘must’ be true huh…
“Schefter says one team source called anything to the contrary %u2018just outright lies.%u201D
– sure, I believe ‘chiefs source(s)’ – every time. They’re a real bastion of candidness & integrity out at one arrowhead drive. Same folks that brought you the forthright post appendectomy, “ca$$el will return to work this week’ (wink wink) verbal jiujitsu nee tap dance…
Don’t know if it’s where the alleged incident happened, but when Fescoe was trying to cover his ass this morning and make excuses, at one point he did say Pizza Shoppe. Of course he could’ve been meaning pizza shop as a generic reference to a pizza joint but there is one up north, on Prairie View Road, just south of Barry Rd.
Hearsay I heard
Well, at The Dish in Liberty Sunday evening, the blobby guy at the next table was eyeing the last couple slices of my deep dish spinach pie. “Are you going to eat those?” I said, “Hey, Bub, you look like you’ve had enough pizzas to last a lifetime of South Bend winters.” He said, “Gotta stock up–you ever try to get a decent slice in Tallahassee?” Then he tearfully unburdened himself of all the frustrations that have pent up in the last year. I can’t name names, but whatever occurred between the head coach and offensive coordinator Sunday involved someone’s unauthorized and excessive use of the Chiefs’ line of credit at Dunkin’ Donuts. I’m not saying what happened, but I’m just saying. You can take it to the bank, but understand I will deny everything if you mention my name.
I hope this is the end for Fescoe. That guy is brutally bad. It amazes me how many complete tools get gigs talking sports in this city.
And then I went to Stone Canyon Pizza in Parkville, where Charlie Weis was sharing a Pepperoni & Mushroom extra-large with noted anchorman and not-as-awarded-as-he’d-like-to-be University of Missouri alum Larry Moore. Larry had his cell phone on the table but said he couldn’t talk because he awaiting a call from his secret source about when the Iran hostages would be released. Charlie made some comment I didn’t understand about how his wife’s feet were better than Rex Ryan’s wife’s. All the talk about stinky feet made me lose my appetite.
I’ll Answer your question Gavin…
Gavin said, “What’s worse, Kietzman and his unnamed sources saying that MU had an offer from the Big Ten or Fescoe and his pizza guys?”
Fescoe, because for the most part KK got it right. MU WANTED to go to the Big 10 and my guess is that the Big 10 was close to offering them a chance to join. But like in the workforce sometimes offers are resended. The Big 10 resended their offer to MU and gave it to NU. Putting a little egg on KK’s face.
Fescoe just flat out lied about it. He wanted to make a name for himself since getting fired from 810 and getting his ass kicked in St. Louis.
810 Scoops 610 once again!!!!!!!!!!!
Has anyone in talk radio fallen harder then Fescoe???
He did ask a tough, hard and good question to David Gall during the Dayton Moore press confrence. Got fired for it. Left and went to St. Louis. You would think he would be OK there.
Better baseball fans. They have an NFL team. He can still talk Big 12 Basketball and he could even talk hockey. But for some reason he bombed there. Left and came back to KC only to bomb bigger then he did in St. Louis.
Entercom needs to blow up 610. And they need to do it quick.
810 scoops 610 once again!
THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE…NO WAY THIS IS TRUE
EVEN GLAZER COULDNT MAKE UP A STORY AS FUNNY AS THIS.
THIS IS A RIOT……WHOEVER STARTED THIS STORY IS AN IDIOT AND
NEEDS TO BE REWARDED FOR THE DUMBEST MOMENTS IN HISTORY.
Pathetic
Desperate acts at 610. Last week it was the great Weis conspiracy from Nick and now Fescoe runs with a text he got from a pizza place dishwasher. And then they send out a PRESS RELEASE on it? I guess thats what happens when every move you make doesnt work. Remember how Nick was going to OWN Keitzman during football season? I hear hes losing 2-1 and the only time ratings were even close was when the Royals played day games. 610 should buy rights to every team and just play clasic games during the day.
Business Idea
Start a news source. Work really hard to break news but make sure that it is 100% accurate. Be crazy manic about accuracy and about breaking stories. Release the news quickly only to people who pay for the information… so they get a first look before it becomes easily accessible by other sources. If your news source has an editorial section, make sure that the people who write or affect news NEVER write editorials.
Newspapers were this way 50, 40 years ago. Then Watergate hit, J Schools filled up, and everyone in the news wanted to be a rock star. Then reporters became analysts, columnists, etc. The news got tainted, shock value oriented, and newspapers began their demise. Yes electronic affected print… But the quality of the product affected it more.
Now we have a ton of crappy electronic news.
What Fescoe did would have been career ending 40 years ago… now it is “funny.”
Old Man Kissel said “The Big 10 resended their offer to MU and gave it to NU.”
Hopefully you meant rescinded their offer, otherwise MU must have turned down the Big 10 if they resended their offer.