July 03, 2003

WHAT'S IN A NAME?: Two

WHAT'S IN A NAME?: Two hilarious (and similar) stories on Romanesko today: A reporter at the Roswell Daily Record in New Mexico has been fired after he inserted into a story a quote by a "Carl Spangler," who the reporter claimed had invented a new method of growing grass. Carl Spackler, of course, was the Bill Murray character in "Caddyshack"; it is unclear whether the reporter made up the quote altogether and tried to slip it past his editor, or if he interviewed the source, who claimed to be Carl Spackler, and (unfamiliar with the film) took him at his word. A similar thing happened a few years ago, when a "Jimbo Jones" was quoted in a story about John Rocker on ESPN.com. Either way, the reporter is now out of a job.
Meanwhile, a New York Sun writer has had to apologize (but was not fired) for a piece in which he interviewed playwright Marc Spitz and mis-stated his age as 53 (rather than the correct 33)- because he assumed wrongly that Spitz and Mark Spitz, the swimmer who won eight gold medals at the 1972 Olympics, are the same person. The latter Spitz is 53; the reporter, Ward Morehouse III, apparently interviewed the playwright Spitz without asking him any questions about swimming.

Posted by Stephen Silver at July 3, 2003 06:33 PM
Comments
Post a comment









Remember personal info?