Then? Francesa created some 'Law Enforcement people in New Jersey' who were only able to provide Mike with some sketchy info. Sketchy indeed.
Interesting. You think the New Jersey Law Enforcement sources would have let Mike know that officials found the condom, or that Taylor paid $300 for the girl, or, at least, that LT was Suffern in a NY facility? Nope, they all stayed tight lipped about the wrong state call and just let poor Mike hang like this morning's laundry.
The last 10 seconds of that lost tape went a little like this, "I thought he was in New Jersey. Oh, I thought he was in New Jersey. I thought this happened in New Jersey. I thought he was in New Jersey when this happened....I KNEW he was in Suffern but I didn't know if it happened in Suffern or New Jersey."
In other words - it went just like a little kid caught in a lie.
FWIW, a reader contacted WFAN's Mark Chernoff after the the LT lie. Said reader sent the the story WFAN to Suspend Mike Francesa for "acts of journalistic fraud"? to WFAN Operations Manager Mark Chernoff as a letter.
The Smoking Gun's research forced A Million Little Pieces author James Frey to admit to Oprah Winfrey that the book contained lies. A Texas newspaper charged and the NY Times later confirmed that their writer, Jayson Blair, was guilty of "acts of journalistic fraud." The Times went as far as to say "The widespread fabrications and plagiarism represent a profound betrayal of trust and a low-point in the 152-year history of the newspaper." So how does WFAN Radio's Program Director Mark Chernoff allow Mike Francesa to remain on the air?
BobsBlitz.com pointed out last week in WFAN's Mike Francesa Loses All Credibility as he Lies About LT Story that Francesa came on the air with an obvious fabrication about being in touch with 'New Jersey Sources' as well as 'New Jersey Law Enforcement Sources' regarding the developing Lawrence Taylor story. Francesa was nailed, mid-sentence, when his producer Eddie Erickson told him on-air that the alleged crime took place in New York. The Post's own Phil Mushnick pointed out in Charles gets 2nd chances, others don't that when faced, live, with his fabrications - "Francesa started to tap dance. Repeating, "I thought it was in New Jersey," didn't explain his reliance on his Jersey "law enforcement" contacts to provide him the nuts."
This is just one example in a long list of possible journalistic fraud perpetrated by Michael P. Francesa on the millions who listen to WFAN. But it is the most concrete (with video and audio proof). Isn't it time Chernoff stood up and suspended him? To not send him home for this infraction simply implies that any news reported by WFAN that is not legitimized with an actual source should not and cannot be trusted.
Chernoff's reply?
As you point out, Mike was corrected on the the location. Not sure what the big deal is about that. Also, there’s often confusion between Ramapo, NY and Ramapo, NJ…right next to each other.
Mark Chernoff
V/P Sports Programming CBS Radio
V/P Programming CBS Radio New York
WFAN Operations Manager
345 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014
212-352-2401
mchernoff@wfan.com
Got that? So Francesa wasn't lying...he was just confused and unprepared. And then his boss is creating cities in New Jersey to boot. Ramapo College? Yes. Ramapo, NJ. Not so much. The school's in Mahwah. So the the reader replied:
So none of the New Jersey law enforcement officials that he claimed to have spoken to in his monologue corrected him on that? Sure. Right.
Folks aren't upset he confused Ramapo NY and Ramapo NJ - he fabricated sources based on the the fact that he thought it took place in NJ - that is unacceptable.
He called Chris Carlin a clown for supposedly making up sources regarding Jim Calhoun with less proof.
And Chernoff backed off a bit but still defended Big Mike:
He spoke to law authorities.
Mark Chernoff
V/P Sports Programming CBS Radio
V/P Programming CBS Radio New York
WFAN Operations Manager
345 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014
212-352-2401
mchernoff@wfan.com
In other words - Mike will likely not be punished by WFAN. But if a writer did what he's done countless times just once...they'd be dismissed.
This story took a turn for the worse after sentencing. Francesa smacked Craig Carton for ripping him after saying that Level 1 sex offender Lawrence Taylor was simply in the 'wrong place at the wrong time.' Despite assertions that 'he could care less,' Mike went so far as to call for an apology from the morning show.
BB...Mushnick, NY Post Run With Our Mike Francesa LT Lie Story
BB...WFAN's Mark Chernoff Defends Francesa as Directionally Challenged
Follow us on Twitter for exclusive stories, Subscribe by Email, or Return Home
Tweet