Monday, July 23, 2012

Dempster Traded To Braves.....Or Not---Twitter-Era Makes Another Major Mistake

I woke up this morning to about 10 texts about Ryan Dempster being traded to Atlanta for Randall Delgado.  Originally, I was ecstatic. 

As a Cubs fan, I love what Dempster has been able to do for us over the past few years. But I am more impressed with what Randall Delgado has the potential to be, a top-tier pitcher. 

So I crawl out of my bed--it is about 2 P.M. mind you--and sign on to Twitter and a few other sites. I read and read. All the sudden, Ryan Dempster isn't actually traded. He is reportedly walking into the Cubs clubhouse in his Cubs jersey. 

So, what happened?

This is exactly what happened. Everyone in sports reporting wants to be the first to report the story. They think being first brings fame. Not true. Being wrong brings fame, and not for the right reasons, however. 

Tweet after tweet from the average fan trying to act like a reporter and announce that Dempster has been traded.

 News spreads these days incredibly fast. But once again, this rumor was not true. Granted, it is possible by the end of the day, Ryan Dempster might possibly be traded to the Braves for Delgado.

But let's keep in mind, Ryan Dempster has a no-trade clause. Before he can be traded, he obviously has to waive that. So if Dempster tweets about no traded being in place, how do people not realize that?

This could possibly be the worst failure to be right before being first in the entire Twitter-era. 

If you learn anything from this, you can be first and be wrong. That makes you look dumb. Be second and be right, you look like a genius. Get your facts straight before talking about something. 

And for the sake of everyone's sanity, leave the reporting to the professionals. 

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