There’s “spin” and then there’s just outright lying.
On July 15th, Fox Sports sent out a press release articulating what the new role of Pam Oliver will be within the network. Oliver was being demoted from first team NFL sideline reporter to the second string. Erin Andrews, after failing in her role as a studio analyst, was taking Oliver’s place.
Fox Sports President Eric Shanks can do whatever he wants with his network, if he wants to replace a 53-year-old woman with a 36-year-old woman, it’s his prerogative. Here’s the problem though.
FOX sent out a release that literally referred to the move as a promotion, and aggressively trumpeted the change as a huge step forward in the career of Pam Oliver. The release even had a statement quoting Oliver, which we now know was completely made up.
First look at what Pam Oliver said this week about the young blonde brigade taking over television as the network shows its ageism and sexism:
“The business is very demographic-oriented,” Pam Oliver said to Essence Magazine, regarding her being replaced by Andrews.
“As one executive said to me, Fox Sports will look radically different in the coming years. I assume that means they want to look younger. It’s not difficult to notice that the new on-air people there are all young, blond and ‘hot.’ That’s not to say that Erin isn’t capable. I think she’s very capable.”
“Even before my bosses told me what was going on, there had been rumblings that my days as a sideline reporter were coming to an end,” Oliver continued. “But I let the rumors roll off my back. Without official confirmation about a change in my position, I decided I was going to do my work like I always had. Still, I was humiliated.”
Those are the quotes making the internet rounds this week.
Now contrast that with the contrived corporatespeak that the network claimed Pam Oliver said about the re-assignment a couple months ago:
“I’m excited and grateful to my Fox family for providing this thrilling new chapter in my career. I’m over the moon for the opportunity to expand my contributions to include a wider variety of sports and programs, while still getting to report from the sidelines on NFL Sundays. I’ve already spoken with Kevin and John and I’m really looking forward to being part of their outstanding team this season, my 20th and final season the sidelines.”
Everyone knows that press releases are rubbish 99.999% of the time. However, they usually have at least a shred of truthfulness to them. Not in the case of Pam Oliver and Fox. Here the release was telling you the opposite story of what was actually happening.
So……”have you heard about pro-biotics? They work in your gut where 70% of your immune system lives!”
Paul M. Banks owns and manages The Sports Bank.net, in partnership with Fox Sports and Yahoo. Read his feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)