NBA official Bill Spooner sues writer for tweet

[amusedofficial]

Originally Posted by just another ref

The writer tossing around the terms "bad call" and "even worse call" so casually destroys any credibility he might have had. This is no more worthy of our attention than countless other articles.

I disagree.

This is much worse. We're used to having calls criticized, or to being called incompetent, stupid, too old, too young, too out-of-shape or too blind. That's an expression of an opinion as to our work. Sometimes they're even right.

However, for someone to "publish" the accusation that someone agreed to intentionally tank a call is actionable libel. Make no mistake about it, putting it on tweeter is "publication" in the legal sense.

A statement from a coach "reporting it through channels" is evidence, admissible at trial. But the coach's statement can be taken as proof of the writer's reckless disregard for the facts, one of the elements of libel against a person in the public eye. Even if Spooner said he'd "get it back" the reporter shows reckless disregard by not asking the official what he meant and writing in a context that suggests official intended to compromise his integrity.

The Associated Press will retract and "regret the error" before too many more sunsets pass. Even if it's not libel I cannot imagine how it meets the AP's standards for reporting and commentary.