From Slapshot, the New York Times’ new hockey blog (post):
The Toronto radio reporter who caused a stir by claiming that Rangers forward Sean Avery had made derogatory comments about Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake’s recent cancer diagnosis before a game last month, retracted his report in a broadcast Monday.
Howard Berger, a reporter for FAN 590, read an apology on the air.
“It was my intention only to report accurately on what transpired during the pregame warmup,” Berger said. “Based on Mr. Avery’s clear statement that he made no such remarks, my information and therefore my reporting does not appear to have been accurate. I truly regret reporting that Mr. Avery made any such comments. I apologize to Mr. Avery for having done so. And I hereby retract my comments about what transpired during the pregame warmup on Nov. 10, 2007.”
Avery, who denied saying anything about Blake’s cancer, has initiated a libel suit against both the radio station and The Toronto Star.
The related Toronto Star correction is here.
One Comment
This wouldn’t libel, I don’t believe, but slander; it’s not in print and permanent, but spoken and ephemeral (no matter how widely).