MIKE DITKA ON PEYTON MANNING REPORT: AL JAZEERA ‘NOT CREDIBLE’ AND ‘GARBAGE,’ CBS SPORTS NOTES:
Former Bears coach and current ESPN analyst Mike Ditka lashed out at Al Jazeera, calling it “not credible” and a “garbage” news organization.
“I love Peyton Manning, I mean, I think he’s a real man and a real credit to the game of football,” Ditka said. “Here’s the thing that bothers me: Al Jazeera is not a credible news organization. They’re out there spreading garbage. That’s what they do. Yet we give them credibility by talking about it. They’re garbage. That’s what they are.”
Ditka, an outspoken conservative, has a strong take, but he’s not entirely accurate. Al Jazeera is known as a credible news organization that has been recognized with multiple Peabody Awards in broadcasting. It’s not doing itself any favors with its sourcing on its Manning report, considering Charlie Sly, the pharmacist cited in the documentary that will reportedly run on Al Jazeera, recanted his story to ESPN when he realized that it had used information he had “made up” to Liam Collins, a British hurdler and the undercover reporter who he says was trying to get into the supplementation business.
The Broncos and Colts both came out strongly against the report as well — it’s getting more and more difficult to believe the story could have any hint of truth.
Good to know that the people who brought you “fake but accurate,” and global cooling, and stories that defined Godwin’s Law consider Al Jazeera “a credible news organization” — well, as credible as CBS, I guess. Old media sure knows how to circle the wagons when the chips are down.
In the meantime, “Al Jazeera Sports should probably just stick to the National Buzkashi League,” Iowahawk quips. Heh, indeed.™
Related: And to bring this post full circle, “CBS Muslim Panel Accidentally Includes Professional Leftist Obama Operative.”