ESPN The Magazine Editor-in-Chief Chad Millman released a statement Friday “about his decision to illustrate a column on the importance of Michael Vick's race with a Photoshopped image that imagined how a white Vick would look,” according to Chris Chase of YAHOO SPORTS. Millman neither “defended nor rationalized the choice,” and he “barely offered an explanation for the decision to use the picture and the headline ‘What if Michael Vick were white?’ instead stating that the image best represented the scope of the story.” Millman in the statement noted the “resulting treatment felt like the strongest way to answer the question so many have been asking.” Chase: “If there's no apology about the picture or defense of the decision to run it, why release a statement at all? Surely there could have been at least an explanation about why ESPN.com temporarily switched the photo after the uproar began on Thursday” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/26). Millman on Thursday did release a statement that read, “We initially removed the Vick photo-illustration due to a licensing issue which has since been resolved. We firmly stand by our representation of the story and the photo-illustration, which has since been re-posted and appreciate and encourage the discussion it has prompted” (THE DAILY). SI.com's Peter King asks, "Is seeing an image of a black man made white such a horrible thing if it helps illustrate the question of what would have happened to Vick if he were white and in the dogfighting business?" The article that accompanied the photo was "well thought out, especially the part about what would have become of Vick had he been in a home with a good role model for a father." However, a large portion of the Sept. 5 issue of ESPN The Magazine is devoted to Vick, and King wonders why Vick's team would "seek out an entire issue of a magazine." King: "I understand Vick has a private publicist who wants to maximize Vick's earning potential and make him the hottest thing on the sports planet. And creating a buzz around Vick, and shaping a new image of him, is fine. But at what cost? ... Might be good for the marketing side of Vick. Not good for the football or personal side of Vick" (SI.com, 8/29).
POLITICAL POSTURING: ESPN Media Relations Manager Andy Hall said the network told golf analyst Paul Azinger a recent tweet about President Obama “was not consistent with our social media policy.” ESPN’s policy “doesn’t mention comments on politicians,” but Hall said Azinger was “reminded that political commentary is best left to those in the field.” Azinger tweeted Obama “has played more golf this month than I have: I have created more jobs this month than he has” (USA TODAY, 8/29). Hall on Sunday said Azinger "will not be fired -- he was reminded about ESPN's social media policy, and we're all moving on" (USATODAY.com, 8/28).
INSIDE SCOOP: DEADSPIN.com’s Tommy Craggs described how he infiltrated ESPN’s “State of the Union” talent meeting that was set up by ESPN Exec VP/Production Norby Williamson. Craggs found himself receiving notice of the talent meeting in an e-mail sent to him -- “I have the email right here. Sent from TalentOffice@espn.com” -- and then chronicles his visit to Bristol, sitting in on the talent meeting and then offers details of being questioned by Williamson, ESPN VP/Communications Mike Soltys and ESPN Senior VP & Dir of News Vince Doria. Craggs wrote, "I remember Norby saying he didn’t want to make a big deal out of this, and then I remember the three of them arraying themselves in front of me like the Lollipop Guild.” Craggs: “I remember offering my hand, only to be spurned by each vice president in succession.” He writes of Soltys, “He was pleasant enough, given the circumstances" (DEADSPIN.com, 8/26).
