Detroit News Embarrasses Itself Again

**Atticus** · June-30-21, 10:06 PM

Dan Gilbert and crew are trying to do a positive for the city with the PGA tour. They finally convince Phil Mickelson to come to town, and also help with some fundraising and charity events. A great way to raise some money for those who need it.

What does our sorry excuse for a “newspaper” do? They could write a relevant and current story about the good Gilbert and Phil are doing for the community. Instead they dig up some 20-year old nothing story that just makes the guy look bad, has no journalistic relevance to 2021, and is basically nothing but click bait negativity without real substance.

To be honest, I am not even a Phil “fan”, but non-relevant hit pieces in place of actual journalism is part of the reason we can’t have nice things. Not saying criticism can’t or shouldn’t be dished when due… but when you are insinuating something just go get clicks… that is not news.

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/31739076/lawyer-phil-mickelson-questions-timing-gambling-report-ahead-detroit-area-tournament

**DetroitSoldier** · June-30-21, 10:39 PM

As a left handed golfer, I'm a huge Phil fan. But fandom aside, I agree--this was a total hit job. But that's pretty much all the Detroit News does these days. It's the closest we have to tabloid journalism in this city.

**CassTechGrad** · July-01-21, 10:09 AM

We need to bring back the Detroit Sunday Journal, make it daily too and get rid of both the papers. Best paper this city ever had. I read all my copies over and over, they never get old!

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**401don** · July-01-21, 10:47 AM

This story [[the story being the News trash job) is being picked up by a lot of national outlets. Hoping the fans go out of their way to cheer Mickelson and make him feel welcome.

https://progolfweekly.com/mickelson-...ews-hit-piece/

**softailrider** · July-01-21, 03:04 PM

To me, Mickelson comes across as kind of disingenuous. It's common knowledge that he is a big gambler. Not that it makes any difference, he can well afford the losses. It's just belies that aw shucks, gee wizz persona he tries to project.

**Baselinepunk** · July-01-21, 03:30 PM

Local and statewide media has sucked royale for decades. What passes for most journalism in this town is complete, click-bait garbage. Metro Times does well as it can -- big improvement with Muckraker there. When will Mitch Albom get shown the door? The format at WJR [[the old white grandpa network) is nothing more right-wing propaganda in the mornings and afternoons, then chucklehead "man bites dog" | "well I'm being fair to bothsides but really the Democrats are bad" bullshit with Albom.

Local broadcast? FLMAO! MAB awards are not a true indication of the quality of your work - just reflects that you're forever stuck in this market and will never make it in the big leagues -- just ask Diana and Bernie . . .

**jcole** · July-01-21, 05:56 PM

Mickelson brought up the story in an interview today and indicated that it will be stopping him from joining up with Rocket Mtg in helping out the city. Good job Detnews!!!

**ABetterDetroit** · July-01-21, 06:40 PM

What exactly was the point of reporting what some dirtbag said 15 years ago? To make it known to all PGA tour players to ovoid Detroit? Mission accomplished Rob Snell and Detroit News.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/g...rt/7829882002/

**bust** · July-01-21, 06:51 PM

This is where they directed their sparse resources, as if there weren't any more important stories they didn't cover?!

**Cincinnati_Kid** · July-02-21, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by softailrider

To me, Mickelson comes across as kind of disingenuous. It's common knowledge that he is a big gambler. Not that it makes any difference, he can well afford the losses. It's just belies that aw shucks, gee wizz persona he tries to project.

That still doesn't justify why the writer needed to bring up something from the distant past. It was disingenuous. I don't blame him for not wanting to come back.

**K-slice** · July-02-21, 09:58 AM

Why an editor at a major paper would have allowed this story to run is beyond me. I could see something like this from Deadline Detroit, or Metro times who need as much clickbait and pot stirring as possible to survive, but this is a major blight on the Detroit News reputation. Glad I don't subscribe.

**ct_alum** · July-02-21, 10:12 AM

The fact that the News has had that pinhead from Paducah, KY Nolan Finley on their staff all these years says it all.
Way to go News, wouldn't blame any of the "name" PGA members from avoiding Detroit - One wonders what they would print about Tiger Woods if he ever came here again, which is highly unlikely now.
Mickelson did say that the people have been great, so there's that.

**JBMcB** · July-02-21, 11:11 AM

This is part of the culture now. If you can dig up something somebody said that was off-color, or possibly offensive, or was friends with someone who was possibly shady, or possibly did something unethical, then you win.

In any case, this is an *ancient* trick in journalism. If you have nothing to report, because heaven forbid you do some actual journalism, dig up something old and rehash it for the umpteenth time. This works really well if you just don't like somebody. Just keep trotting out old allegations over and over again.

**softailrider** · July-02-21, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Cincinnati_Kid

That still doesn't justify why the writer needed to bring up something from the distant past. It was disingenuous. I don't blame him for not wanting to come back.

I absolutely agree that story should not have been published. I also think that Phil's reaction to it was wrong, and as some has said, added fuel to the fire. His attempt to punish the city and the golf tournament for the Detroit News running that article comes across as punitive and kind of childish. The tournament will survive without him, if Gilbert wants it to.

**Gistok** · July-02-21, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by softailrider

I absolutely agree that story should not have been published. I also think that Phil's reaction to it was wrong, and as some has said, added fuel to the fire. His attempt to punish the city and the golf tournament for the Detroit News running that article comes across as punitive and kind of childish. The tournament will survive without him, if Gilbert wants it to.

I agree... if he would have just shut up about it... then half of the national news outlets in the country would not have picked it up and mentioned it.

He does come off as whinny, and it just snowballed because he made a big deal about it... and now everyone is reminded that he has gambling issues.

**Richard** · July-02-21, 12:45 PM

There are like 25 states including Michigan where sports betting is legal,nobody cares that people in the past partook in mob based sports betting.

To me anyways this is just a snobby approach to where PGAs are held and those who think they should only be held in billion dollar fluffy locations and limited amount of tournaments.

**EGrant** · July-02-21, 02:05 PM

Stupid article clearly written for clicks, but what a crybaby reaction from Phil. He could have easily denounced the article, writer and the News and left it at that, but no, he had to drag the tournament and city into it. Too bad, I know a lot of people were really excited that Phil specifically was added to the roster, especially after winning the US Open. Maybe next year he'll have more fun playing in a gimmick event with Aaron Rogers or something.

**DetBill** · July-02-21, 03:19 PM

This whole article was so unnecessary, I mean there’s always something you can dig up on somebody, even ourselves I’m sure, 20 years ago. This has resulted in nothing but bad karma all the way around. Detroit News please do better

**Meddle** · July-02-21, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Richard

nobody cares that people in the past partook in mob based sports betting.

I do. If true, he [[whoever he is) should have been barred from the game for life. I see no problem with a media source reminding people.

**Meddle** · July-02-21, 05:54 PM

" According to a report Tuesday by the Detroit News, Mickelson’s name emerged recently from a transcript in a 2018 court file related to the 2007 trial of Jack Giacalone, who was alleged to be an organized crime leader in Detroit. In an exchange with a witness for the prosecution, former Las Vegas casino host and bookie “Dandy” Don DeSeranno, an attorney for Giacalone got DeSeranno to admit he failed to pay Mickelson $500,000 in winnings several years earlier, after the golfer had placed a bet with him.

Mickelson, 51, said Thursday that the author of the story “made an article this week that was very opportunistic and selfish, and irresponsible.”

Asked if he would return to the tournament, which is in its third year, Mickelson replied, “It was so much effort for me to be here, and to have that type of unnecessary attack — not like I care, I mean it happened 20-something years ago — but just the lack of appreciation, yeah, I don’t see that happening.” "

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/gol...ain/ar-AALHGNh

What attack? I don't see any attack. Just reporting of facts.

The whine sounds like the Orange Guy.

**EGrant** · July-02-21, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Meddle

Asked if he would return to the tournament, which is in its third year, Mickelson replied, “It was so much effort for me to be here, and to have that type of unnecessary attack — not like I care, I mean it happened 20-something years ago — but just the lack of appreciation, yeah, I don’t see that happening.”

Unless he's got some personal stuff going on, what a self-centered attitude. Us plebeians in Detroit should be thanking our lucky stars he's in our podunk town! Oh, but he said it's not like he cares, so it's no big deal, he's just going to hold a grudge against an entire tournament because of a newspaper article.

**Meddle** · July-02-21, 07:40 PM

OK, this little baby is going Full Donny now .....

For Phil Mickelson to consider Detroit return, he wants 50,000 signatures, pledge for acts of kindness
ESPN|2 hours ago
Phil Mickelson says he would consider coming back to Detroit if enough fans signed a petition and committed to doing a random act of kindness.

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id...-acts-kindness

**CassTechGrad** · July-02-21, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Meddle

"
The whine sounds like the Orange Guy.

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**Richard** · July-02-21, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Meddle

I do. If true, he [[whoever he is) should have been barred from the game for life. I see no problem with a media source reminding people.

Its not like he was an Arnold Rothstein,if one bet with a team they were on,yea okay,seriously,sports betting on his own time and not related to his sport?

Sports betting and the numbers racket were illegal,so the government went after them.

Now you have sports betting and the numbers racket [[lottery) being run by the government and enforced by the IRS collectors legally.

Do you honestly believe a bookmaker is going to welsh on a $500,000 mark ?

The rat would have been dead or out of business in a nano second,who is going to place a bet with a bookie that does not pay out,not going to happen.

**401don** · July-03-21, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by Meddle

I do. If true, he [[whoever he is) should have been barred from the game for life. I see no problem with a media source reminding people.

Isiah Thomas used to use his mob neighbor for cash withdrawals in Bloomfield Hills. He would write a check to the guy for the amount of cash he needed instead of going to the bank. He said he had no idea he was mob connected when the story came out years later but I'm sure you think he should be banned from the Hall of Fame. You don't like sports. We get it.