WFAA Blog: ESPN irresponsible for accusing 'Pacman' of threatening to kill 3 men

[jterrell]

I don't think that's a true.

I think the reporter was doing his/her job as part of the overall investigation. That's why it's call investigative reporting.

Chances are slim that he can actually get a verdict. And with his finances being so bad, I don't think it's a good idea for him to waste what little he has trying to pursue any action.

Its been a long time... yiks, a long time.... since I was taking journalism, pre-law and poly sci courses admittedly but I know there will be three things Pacman's attorney will seek to prove.

a) the reporter presented info that damaged Pacman's employability (which is easy enough to prove considering he was fired) and he contact the team directly.

b) that pacman's firing caused him huge financial losses that he has no means of regaining without a large judgment in his favor.

c) that the reporter was libeling pacman by presenting evidence that was not ferreted for truth and was already dismissed by legal authorities.


Had the reporter not called Valley Ranch and Pacman was cut because of words through the grapevine it would be an impossible case to win. As Pacman was released prior to the story so could have been due to performance factors or his other off-field issues. But the timing means any jury with common sense will link the two.

Ultimately I think this means ESPN will settle early for a small sum as a big sum costs them a fortune in higher insurance rates as well as horrid press.

 

[Draegerman]

Dale Hansen? Does anyone pay attention to this imbecile anymore?

In this instance, I would think that one should look at what's being reported as opposed to who the person is that's reporting it.

 

[AKATheRake]

Pac is going down with a fight. Got to give him that. A story got runned on him from something he didn't get charged for and still isn't charged for almsot 2 years ago. The guy doesn't have a savings and is willing to put it all on the line to fight an over eager media source that is loaded with financial resources.

If a guy that has Pacmans reputation and lack of resources wins this fight that should tell you something about ESPN and that the system may not just cater to the rich and ordained but to what may be right. I have no clue if Pacman is being unrightfully accused or is guilty, that's up to the system and they haven't even brought forward the process.

This wil be a big story if they don't lay off because he'smad and this guy had nothing to lose. He's been a public villian for quite some time and his back is up against the wall. Don't under estimate that. Plus he's young and healthy. Might get backed by a poitical and human rights association too. Remember I called it too. BSPN looks will try to make the reports look confused soon enough, mark my words.

 

[jterrell]

Pac is going down with a fight. Got to give him that. A story got runned on him from something he didn't get charged for and still isn't charged for almsot 2 years ago. The guy doesn't have a savings and is willing to put it all on the line to fight an over eager media source that is loaded with financial resources.

If a guy that has Pacmans reputation and lack of resources wins this fight that should tell you something about ESPN and that the system may not just cater to the rich and ordained but to what may be right. I have no clue if Pacman is being unrightfully accused or is guilty, that's up to the system and they haven't even brought forward the process.

This wil be a big story if they don't lay off because he'smad and this guy had nothing to lose. He's been a public villian for quite some time and his back is up against the wall. Don't under estimate that. Plus he's young and healthy. Might get backed by a poitical and human rights association too. Remember I called it too. BSPN looks will try to make the reports look confused soon enough, mark my words.

It seems clear to me Pac's agent/attorney is making next to nothing or nothing right now in the hopes Pac gets it together and he can make the standard agent fee son a big contract. I'd guess he'd be more than willing to file the briefs and whatnot for free and then just collect 33% of any cash settlement which probably starts at 5 mil and goes no lower than 1 mil.

10 hours work and 20k out of his own pocket makes sense for that shot at 330K to 1.2M.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Is Pacman really a "celebrity", though? He doesn't actively make his living by intentionally being in the public eye. He's been in the news a lot, yes, but not by his own choice. He's a football player, not an actor.

He probably won't win, because ESPN/ABC has a billion times the money he has (probably literally). But Pacman may have a decent argument in this case. Can a TV empire really accuse someone of basically attempted murder simply because they put someone in silhouette who says so?

 

[TheCount]

Is Pacman really a "celebrity", though? He doesn't actively make his living by intentionally being in the public eye. He's been in the news a lot, yes, but not by his own choice. He's a football player, not an actor.

He probably won't win, because ESPN/ABC has a billion times the money he has (probably literally). But Pacman may have a decent argument in this case. Can a TV empire really accuse someone of basically attempted murder simply because they put someone in silhouette who says so?

That's the thing, you have to take into account what the topic is here. We're not talking about steroids or betting on the sports, you can discussing a man hiring someone to end the life of someone else. At the very least, as a sports channel, you do not get directly involved in this. It's one thing to talk about the proceedings, and quite another to create a story on your own.

This isn't Jerry Springer, why would you even get this involved in something like this?

 

[dcfanatic]

So Dale Hansen was lying when he said he called ESPN asking them if there was anything more to the story?

LOL.

You really reach for stuff bro.

 

[khiladi]

Pac-man supposedly lost his job for this crack-pot reporting, unless of course Dallas claims he wasn't released because of that. How on earth can't Pac-man win a lawsuit against ESPN?

 

[jterrell]

Is Pacman really a "celebrity", though? He doesn't actively make his living by intentionally being in the public eye. He's been in the news a lot, yes, but not by his own choice. He's a football player, not an actor.

He probably won't win, because ESPN/ABC has a billion times the money he has (probably literally). But Pacman may have a decent argument in this case. Can a TV empire really accuse someone of basically attempted murder simply because they put someone in silhouette who says so?

Big companies will often settle these types of suits quickly and quietly. A big, public loss in court drops their stock too much.

 

[AKATheRake]

It seems clear to me Pac's agent/attorney is making next to nothing or nothing right now in the hopes Pac gets it together and he can make the standard agent fee son a big contract. I'd guess he'd be more than willing to file the briefs and whatnot for free and then just collect 33% of any cash settlement which probably starts at 5 mil and goes no lower than 1 mil.

10 hours work and 20k out of his own pocket makes sense for that shot at 330K to 1.2M.

Those number makes sense X 2 since that's the worth of the whole contract over the term approximately. Pacman said what he said because his attorney or another is willing to go forward. We'll know next week like he said. ESPN will be sugar coating things as they go along and they already are until then. Once a suit is laid watch them go all out. But they'll try to soften through reports until then.

 

[AKATheRake]

Big companies will often settle these types of suits quickly and quietly. A big, public loss in court drops their stock too much.

So darn business and politically smart.

 

[tyke1doe]

Is Pacman really a "celebrity", though? He doesn't actively make his living by intentionally being in the public eye. He's been in the news a lot, yes, but not by his own choice. He's a football player, not an actor.

The phrase "public figure" should be used rather than celebrity. Politicians, city council members and people often in the public light are considered "public figures."

Pacman is a "public figure." Thus, his burden of proof is greater than the average Joe citizen.

He probably won't win, because ESPN/ABC has a billion times the money he has (probably literally). But Pacman may have a decent argument in this case. Can a TV empire really accuse someone of basically attempted murder simply because they put someone in silhouette who says so?

I initially said Pacman wouldn't win. I'm backing off that just a little bit because the key question to me is this ... if the police knew of these charges yet dismissed these witnesses, then what compelling reason does ESPN have in telling this story?

Second question is the "evidence" these three men have to link Pacman to the shooting. If they are the least bit credible, then I'd say Pacman won't win a defamation of character suit.

Then again, I have to assume that ESPN's attorneys have already watched this piece and examined it for defamation of character. And ESPN has the best media law attorneys money can buy so I doubt Pacman has a leg to stand on.

 

[LenS]

Police and prosecutors need a much stronger amount of evidence to win a criminal case than someone in a civil suit would need to justify reporting on the story.