Dwight Jaynes has an idea of why Penn was fired (and why KP might be next)...

[oldmangrouch]

If any of this is true then why wasn't Scottie Pippen fired by the Blazers?

Unionized employees have rights.

 

[noknobs]

Are you planning to watch fewer games next year because Tom Penn got fired?

No.

Do you know anyone who is?

Yes.

Besides Tom Penn, I mean. And perhaps KP.

Oh. Then, no.

 

[BGrantFan]

Here is the entirety of Jaynes' evidence for the rumor:

"The explanation making the rounds in the NBA"

It already made the rounds on message boards when Penn was fired. The possibility occurred to everyone when we speculated about possible reasons for firing Penn. Other theories were that Penn screwed Allen's girlfriend, sneezed on a Vulcan, etc.

Brainstorming possible theories is not the same as giving evidence that they are true. Jaynes' blog article, and comments thereafter, just wasted a half-hour of my time.

I'm surprised you lasted that long. Other than smear Tom Penn's character without any substantive evidence, I don't see what Jaynes thought was newsworthy about this rumor, other than getting his name out there.

 

[Sug]

Blazer fans are funny and truly overvalue KP.

 

[BGrantFan]

Blazer fans are funny and truly overvalue KP.

Not sure what that has to do with this thread.

 

[jlprk]

smear Tom Penn's character without any substantive evidence

You are right. The threshold for evidence in a dirty accusation should be higher than that required for a normal rumor. Instead it's lower. Jaynes needs a conscience.

 

[Sug]

Not sure what that has to do with this thread.

Well then you need to read the topic.

 

[BGrantFan]

Well then you need to read the topic.

I did read the topic. I don't see what it had to do with Portland fans overvaluing Pritchard.

 

[crandc]

Incidentally, harassament, or over the top sexual remarks, are not motivated by desire. I have, unfortunately, known gay men (if Penn was gay, I have absolutely no idea) who were viciously sexist.

Sex and abuse are NOT the same thing.

Again, don't know what Penn may have said or done, just want to make it clear that being gay does not make a man incapable of being a pig. I wish it were otherwise, believe me.

 

[illmatic99]

The followup: http://www.dwightjaynes.com/tom-penn-responds-to-my-blog-post

 

[Pinwheel1]

The followup: http://www.dwightjaynes.com/tom-penn-responds-to-my-blog-post

The media (I refuse to call them journalists) is unbelievable these days with their so called TWO sources.

"As I wrote this morning, true or not– I trust those who told me about it and the story is certainly making the rounds within the league"

They will write anything and justify it with "I checked with two sources". (Two sources on message boards more likely)

 

[tlongII]

That's the problem with blogs. They can put any unsubstantiated rumors out there.

 

[Stevenson]

The media (I refuse to call them journalists) is unbelievable these days with their so called TWO sources.

The two source rule was good enough for Woodward and Bernstein amigo, but you probably don't know who they are.

 

[Pinwheel1]

The two source rule was good enough for Woodward and Bernstein amigo, but you probably don't know who they are.

Yeah like these hacks could work at the Washington Post back in the day doing investigative reporting.

 

[LittleAlex]

The two source rule was good enough for Woodward and Bernstein amigo, but you probably don't know who they are.

Wow....just wow.

You are actually going to compare those two guys with Dwight Freaking Jaynes?

Crazy.

Further, their sources were people close to the president. Dwight Jaynes has admitted his sources are just front office people somewhere in the NBA.


The only thing Dwight can say for sure is there is a rumor going around that Penn was fired for insulting a female co-worker. He can't actually validate that rumor based on comments from people outside the organization.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Wow....just wow.

You are actually going to compare those two guys with Dwight Freaking Jaynes?

Crazy.

Further, their sources were people close to the president. Dwight Jaynes has admitted his sources are just front office people somewhere in the NBA.


The only thing Dwight can say for sure is there is a rumor going around that Penn was fired for insulting a female co-worker. He can't actually validate that rumor based on comments from people outside the organization.

Yes I am guessing the only "Deep Throat" Dwight is aware of is Linda Lovelace.

 

[ABM]

Why would anyone think firing the assistant GM would affect ticket sales?
Are you planning to watch fewer games next year because Tom Penn got fired? Do you know anyone who is? Besides Tom Penn, I mean. And perhaps KP.

barfo

I think Vulcan already had the big picture in mind when they canned Penn. Whether Penn was canned then, or at some later point is probably insignificant in relation to ticket sales, though.

 

[BGrantFan]

Dwight Jaynes has confirmed that his unsubstantiated 'Tom Penn is a chauvinistic pig' gossip is being talked about by at least two anonymous sources with some sort of connection to the NBA.

Film at 11.

 

[Ed O]

You guys would rather have a world where... what? Unless they are NAMED sources, no stories can be written?

Unnamed sources are the best we have for balancing truth and fairness.

Ed O.

 

[BGrantFan]

You guys would rather have a world where... what? Unless they are NAMED sources, no stories can be written?

Unnamed sources are the best we have for balancing truth and fairness.

Ed O.

Dwight Jaynes seems like he'd fit right in the Bridge club with Gladys, Mabel, and Ethel. I bet he'd have some wonderful gossip to share!

 

[BGrantFan]

I heard from a few guys that would know that Dwight Jaynes may be a toucher.

 

[BlazerWookee]

If this is true, a big "if", then it would appear that the "choir boy image is everything" mindset has taken over the front office as well.

If the team believes KP is bad at his job, then fire him. If they believe he is good at his job, neither his sex life nor the misdeeds of a subordinate are adequate reasons to dump him.

Just as an aside, wasn't the story that Penn was gay? That makes the "sexual harrasment of a female co-worker" story just a bit harder to swallow.

Uhhhh-huh-huh-huh-huh! He said "swallow..."

 

[PtldPlatypus]

You guys would rather have a world where... what? Unless they are NAMED sources, no stories can be written?

Unnamed sources are the best we have for balancing truth and fairness.

Ed O.

The problem here is that Jaynes is publicizing this rumor based on no more than the fact that other people are discussing the rumor. He gives know indication that his "sources" have any actual knowledge of the situation. If his unnamed sources were stating definitively that this is what actually happened, then it might carry a little credibility. As it is, this is no more than speculation about speculation.

 

[oldmangrouch]

So, we are back at square one. The front office is in chaos, the fans are rightfully worried, and somebody (Allen? the Vulcans?) is making it all worse with their obstinate silence.

 

[Ed O]

The problem here is that Jaynes is publicizing this rumor based on no more than the fact that other people are discussing the rumor. He gives know indication that his "sources" have any actual knowledge of the situation. If his unnamed sources were stating definitively that this is what actually happened, then it might carry a little credibility. As it is, this is no more than speculation about speculation.

What's wrong with that? If he were claiming it's true based on those rumors, that's one thing. Speculation on speculation is just... speculation

Ed O.

 

[Pinwheel1]

You guys would rather have a world where... what? Unless they are NAMED sources, no stories can be written?

Unnamed sources are the best we have for balancing truth and fairness.

Ed O.

I think the problem is that it so competitive out that for viewership, that some are replacing real sources with rumors that someone made up on a blog, twitter, message board, radio show, TV show, newspaper, facebook etc. I think some writers are too lazy or too out of touch to do the leg work. I am not sure they remember where they first heard what ever is making the rounds or where it started.

To me when I see Canzano's OPINION in bold and referred to as fact on Hoopshype.com every morning, it makes me wonder if anyone reads the whole article as opposed to what is only highlighted. I know I have heard NBA TV announcers on the NBA league pass refer to things about the Blazers as fact when it was not.

IMO, in general our source for the truth has been compromised lately due to so many types of media outlets. Hard to tell who is professional and who is not.

 

[Minstrel]

What's wrong with that? If he were claiming it's true based on those rumors, that's one thing. Speculation on speculation is just... speculation

I don't think anyone is claiming that what Jaynes is doing is illegal. Just that, in their opinion, speculation on speculation is essentially worthless. So it depends on your definition of "wrong." I don't think there's anything wrong in reporting rumours based in virtually nothing...I just don't put any stock in it.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What's wrong with that? If he were claiming it's true based on those rumors, that's one thing. Speculation on speculation is just... speculation

Ed O.

Because he has a reputation (among some) as a legitimate news-man, he has a very public platform (three, at times), and him publicizing this rumor gives it more legitimacy than it deserves. I believe that he is irresponsibly misusing his status as a Portland sports media fixture to promote completely unsubstantiated gossip as though it were actual news, and his use of unnamed "sources" (the best we have for balancing truth and fairness, someone once told me) implies validity.

It's as though he wants us to believe that he is breaking valuable information to which only he--due to his status--is privy, and that we should feel blessed to be a part of his inner circle. For me, this only further sullies his already tarnished reputation as a credible media member.