Doug Gottlieb Apologizes for Spreading "Misinformation"

Average Reds

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Sep 24, 2007
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This was mentioned in the June MLB thread, but the way the story has played out feels like it should be here.

Background: Back in June, Doug Gottlieb reported that agent Casey Close had not presented the Braves final offer to Freddie Freeman before Freeman signed with LA. Given that Freeman clearly didn't want to leave Atlanta, this felt like a big story about a prominent sports agent seemingly steering his client to a destination other than where he wanted to be. Gottlieb (and many others) then reported that Freeman had fired Close and Excel Sports Management after discovering the truth.

Following through on a promise he made at the time, Close/Excel sued Gottlieb for defamation in July. And yesterday, Gottlieb was forced to admit that his reporting was false. (For the record, Freeman is still listed as a client of Excel.)

"Upon further vetting of my sources, a review of the lawsuit filed against me in this matter and a direct conversation with Casey himself, I have learned that the conduct I alleged did not occur and that there is no credible basis for stating that it did," Gottlieb wrote. "My ultimate investigation into this matter confirms that Casey Close did, in fact, communicate all offers to Freddie Freeman and the sources I relied on were incorrect, in no uncertain terms.

"I appreciate the damage that misinformation like this can cause," Gottlieb added, "and have been in touch with Casey Close to apologize directly. I have also deleted my original tweet."
Close and Excel have moved to dismiss the lawsuit, but I'm left wondering if there is more to come, because the identity of some of the reporters who pushed the story hard leads me to believe that a rival agent with a name that (almost) rhymes with "morass" may have played a part in this drama.

I do hope this effectively ends Gottlieb, who is awful.
 

JOBU

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Sep 22, 2021
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I think that's too much to hope for, as much as I'd love to see it.

20 years ago, it might've. Today? Won't even be a blip on his radar.
No kidding. Look no further than Chris Mortensen.
 

nattysez

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Sep 30, 2010
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No kidding. Look no further than Chris Mortensen.
My example is John Tomase, who should have never been allowed to publish another word in a Boston paper again and instead has had a long, happy career in Boston sports media.