Chicago Blackhawks star forward Patrick Sharp told the media yesterday that he is considering legal action against a local website that published an alarmingly detailed laundry list of rumors pertaining to his personal life. The website published a seemingly self-assured “post” (it is a “post” not an “article”) that went into excessive detail about supposed trysts involving Sharp, and insinuating that strife in Sharp’s personal life has
1.) attributed to his poor play on the ice
2.) divided the Blackhawks locker room
Patrick Sharp says he is considering legal action, and whether or not he wins the potential lawsuit, I’ll leave that one to the legal experts.
What we do know is that Patrick Sharp has already won this case in the court of public opinion.
The post in question centers it argument around…well, let’s just say it’s the anti-thesis of news and it violates every standard and practice of professional journalism. It’s thesis originates with rumors and gossip that have been circulating for years within the Chicago sports community; but are still nonetheless only rumors and gossip- not verified as true.
The site “builds its case” around a very abstract and arcane tweet from a local radio host and a situational comedy plot line. A very large portion of the post is taking pre emptive action against those whose would question it’s authenticity. That same defensive posturing has been present in the site’s Twitter feed since they published the story.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the story’s author is anonymous. That’s significant because, as WBBM CBS Chicago host Joe Ostrowski put it best:
Patrick Sharp rumors have been running wild for yrs. If ur going to report that story, have the balls to put your name on it…your real name.
— Joe Ostrowski (@JoeO670) March 1, 2015
Sharp might just be saber-rattling when it comes to his comments about filing suit against the site. This may not be his best recourse. And how that course of action would affect that website’s future is uncertain. What is certain, it that the website’s credibility and reputation is being questioned.
In an ideal world, where justice prevails, Sharp should sue and the litigation would force the website to cease operations. However, from a practical sense, in the real world, it wouldn’t be in Sharp’s best interest to do so.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital, eBay, Google News and CBS Interactive.
You can read Banks’ feature stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and listen to him on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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