DC-area tidbits in small bites
There are two things you probably should know about Washington Post columnist and radio show host Mike Wise. One is that he's probably one of the most well-known columnists in the area and probably holds a ton of insider information. The other? He's only recently become a very active user of Twitter.
Both of these key points came to a head earlier today when Wise decided to play a little joke on people. Here are some of the tweets he sent out earlier today.
Roethlisberger will get five games, I'm told.
Mike Wise
MikeWiseguy
Donovan McNabb will start Sept. 12, I'm told.Mike Wise
MikeWiseguy
Malcolm Kelly will be out Thursday night, I'm told.Mike Wise
MikeWiseguy
These are all things that Mike Wise could potentially know. The problem? He's making them all up. In fact, on his radio show earlier, he reportedly bragged about picking up new followers by fabricating stories.
Maybe he thinks the ends justify the means. Maybe he's trying to make some sort of multi-layered commentary on the explosion of social media and the widespread use of anonymous sources. Hell, maybe he's just trying to be funny, in which case he's failing.
Whatever Wise's motive, though, there's no reason for him to stoop to this level. I hate to go all Mark Jackson on everyone, but Mike Wise, you're better than that. I hope you enjoy your new followers.
UPDATE: Wise has issued this response on his Twitter account:
As part of a bit on my show today, I tried to test the accuracy of social media reporting. Probably not the best way to go about experimentMike Wise
MikeWiseguy
But in the end, it proved two things: 1. I was right about nobody checking facts or sourcing and 2. I'm an idiot. Apologies to all involved.Mike Wise
MikeWiseguy
7 comments
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Not surprised.
I’m not sure why you think Mike Wise is better than this. Just another example that Mike Wise doesn’t understand the first thing about what’s actually funny and what’s inappropriate and unprofessional.
by Spork27 on Aug 30, 2010 2:44 PM EDT reply actions
couldnt agree more.
Mike Wise is a good sportswriter… but an absolute hack on the radio. I stopped listening to him a while back, so maybe he’s improved but i doubt it. His interviews are tremendously awkward and he doesn’t let his guests get a word in edgewise.. his jokes are show-stoppingly bad and his “good morning washington” intro is akin to fingernails on a chalkboard. hope he’s soon forced to stick to the printed page.
by leftyskhook on Aug 30, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s not a good sportswriter either. Every once and a while he’ll pen a decent piece but most of his stuff is dreck.
Only thing more painful than his radio show are his appearances on WaPo Live.
The ice will show everything.
by cuqui on Aug 30, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Mike Wise didn’t need to tell me that Mike Wise is an idiot.
"#DCU is like senior prom. A bunch of people standing around waiting for a 17-year old to score."
by Bald Pollack on Aug 30, 2010 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
truer words were never spoken
by DC FURY on Aug 30, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I dont understand where this disconnect is… If websites reported the story as fact I would understand this “experiment”. But they didnt, they reported Mike Wise is reporting X. End of story. I avoid his show like the plague but even in the few times I have listened I have heard him brag about how one day he was going to do this and how he was going to sit back and laugh.
As someone who grew up reading the Post and has used WJFK to get him through the work day for as long as I can remember I beg of you to get on twitter and let @chriskinard know about how you feel, how this incident has affected JFKs credibility and how his show is an anchor dragging down the rest of the station. #FireMikeWise.
VOID!!!
by dt3 on Aug 30, 2010 5:14 PM EDT reply actions
Mystery solved… Mike Wise IS Eklund!
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Aug 31, 2010 6:17 AM EDT reply actions
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