Sarah Phillips? (Deadspin expose)

[JonInMiddleGA]

This is rather bizarre ... especially the part where she was apparently let go by espn a few hours ago.

Anybody actually ever read this chick? Thoughts?

Is An ESPN Columnist Scamming People On The Internet? [UPDATE] (http://deadspin.com/5906658/is-an-espn-columnist-scamming-people-on-the-internet)

[cartman]

Yeah, I read that a little awhile ago. Definitely very strange.

[PilotMan]

Wow, I actually made it through that whole story. Sucks for that kid Ben. He's probably screwed, and his probably wasn't the only site taken as well. Bizarre story, I'm sure in true Deadspin fashion that there will be more to come out of this one.

[Swaggs]

Wow... that was a pretty wild read.

Looking forward to seeing how this story develops.

[DaddyTorgo]

What a douchebag.

I hope the reddit folks pick up on this or something and get this dude his NBA memes website back.

[Grover]

Never read her. I stopped paying attention to Page 2 when Hunter S. Thompson passed away.

[mckerney]

What a douchebag.

I hope the reddit folks pick up on this or something and get this dude his NBA memes website back.

Looks like he may have gotten it back.

Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/SarahPhilli/status/197500063562469378)

[Young Drachma]

I'd read some of her stuff but no strong opinion. But wow, what a crazy story.

[sovereignstar v2]

Einhorn is Finkle.. Finkle is Einhorn...

[Buccaneer]

People trusting internet people again. It's only going to get worse.

[Swaggs]

Addressing the news via Twitter (from the bottom up):

Tweets
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
Thanks for your time, sorry for jamming your feeds, and hope to speak with more of you soon. G'night.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
Today was a good day. I was able to evaluate everything and move away from sports media. You live and learn. I'm just a fan now.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
Please don't judge anyone else's actions as mine. I've communicated with many of you. Never asked for anything, always tried to help.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
I'm not a victim. We all contributed to these issues in one way or another. I needed to have better control over the situations. I didn't.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
My friends communicated with him from that point forward. He was aware of this. I wanted no part of the situation.
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2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
I was then informed by Covers management that he was playing both sides -- acting kindly to me, but trashing me to others in MSGs.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
The story betweet "Matt" and I is complicated. He is a video editor. He pitched the idea of a reality TV show to me. It never panned out.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
I recovered the Facebook page for "Ben." Truthfully, he and I didn't communicate much. I learned much of that story today, with you.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
I have severed ties with many people today. I need a new circle. I need to get back to being a 22-year-old.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
My avatar is me. My YouTube video is me. I enjoyed my time with ESPN. They were great to me.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
2h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
I made poor choices with who to trust. I'll correct that moving forward. It's not an excuse.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
3h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
I never wanted to be in sports media. It just happened. I concealed my identity so I wasn't a "gambler" to future employers.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
3h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
I'm not trying to win anyone over, but I realize I compounded the problem by not commenting.
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Reply Retweet Favorite
3h Sarah Phillips ‏ @SarahPhilli
I'm not deleting my account. I understand if you unfollow. At the end of the day, there are two sides to every story.
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Reply Retweet Favorite

[mckerney]

I was able to evaluate everything and move away from sports media.

I take it in this case "move away from" means "get fired in a way that will make it impossible to get another job in the field again."

[mckerney]

Looks like he may have gotten it back.

Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/SarahPhilli/status/197500063562469378)

First post on the page since early April.

NBA Memes
4 hours ago
NBA Memes RETURNS!!! =)

[sterlingice]

Einhorn is Finkle.. Finkle is Einhorn...

:D

SI

[RainMaker]

I can't believe ESPN hired her. Actually wait, yes I can.

[PilotMan]

She sounds like she's backpedaling very, very fast.

[Ksyrup]

I honestly can't remember the last time I willingly clicked on a Page 2 link. I didn't even know they'd changed the name. Has to be years ago when Bill Simmons was semi-new and featured there. Most of those writers, like Jim Caple, just seemed like wannabe comedy writers who passed bad jokes off as "edgy sports writing."

[Swaggs]

I honestly can't remember the last time I willingly clicked on a Page 2 link. I didn't even know they'd changed the name. Has to be years ago when Bill Simmons was semi-new and featured there. Most of those writers, like Jim Caple, just seemed like wannabe comedy writers who passed bad jokes off as "edgy sports writing."

Yeah. I never got Page 2.

I also wonder who, if anyone reads Rick Reilly, over there. In my mind, he signed a 15-year deal and ESPN can't get rid of him, so they have to keep putting his snarky, dry articles up on the first page with a picture of him. I'd love to know the number of hits per month he gets (vs Simmons, for example).

[Ksyrup]

Rick Reilly is so bad. I hated him at SI and couldn't understand how he was so popular or why ESPN would want him. I really don't know much about him, but my guess is he's a hit with the golf crowd? Aside from soccer, that's the only sport I don't at least have a passing knowledge of and don't care in any way about, on some level.

Maybe they should put Reilly on the show with Bayless and STEPHEN A. SMITH.

[Ksyrup]

The latest:

The Sarah Phillips mystery goes way beyond ESPN and into the farthest reaches of the Twitterverse | May (http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2012-articles/may/the-sarah-phillips-mystery-goes-way-beyond-espn-and-into-the-farthest-reaches-of-the-twitterverse.html)


I love the Wonka twitter accounts. Mainly the softball one, which I think is funnier than the general sports one. I hope that one's not controlled by her, too.

EDIT: I guess none of them are, anymore. This is really some interesting, intriguing stuff. Love this line:

Yes, a fake Willy Wonka account is the key cog in a story about a fired ESPN columnist. Welcome to 2012.

[PilotMan]

Here's another one:

Nilsen Report | Former ESPN Columnist Sarah Phillips Exposed (http://nilsenreport.ca/2012/05/01/former-espn-columnist-sarah-phillips-exposed/)

This thing is deep, and we are only at the tip of the iceberg. She is running back so fast off of this thing, and praying that nobody finds anything that she might be criminally liable for.

[Rizon]

tl;dr

[Swaggs]

This is an intriguing story.

I had never heard of her before this thread, but it is pretty cool to see some of these new side effects of social media. Her rise to fame, making profit from tweets/facebook, and then getting busted all look to be related to social media. It is interesting to see how folks from this generation (that have largely grown up on Facebook, twitter, myspace, etc.) seem to know how to exploit it and use it for benefit, but also don't seem to understand how it carries over into real life (like using their real names and not thinking people would figure out where they live or go to school, track down former classmates, etc.

[cody8200]

I think her Twitter followers have increased since all of this came out. All it takes is some crazy drama.

[Toddzilla]

tl;drLet me break it down for you...

Scam artists take advantage of rubes who want quick money.

The End.

[Rizon]

Let me break it down for you...

Scam artists take advantage of rubes who want quick money.

The End.

Dang, wish I read this post before I finally read the article. I shrugged. Same stuff that's been happening since the 3rd day the internet went public.

Reminds me of all the times back in 93 when I'd talk with chicks on AOL and they'd send me pictures. They all happened to be blonde models. Eventually some came clean and were 250 pounds of chewed bubblegum.

[panerd]

Dang, wish I read this post before I finally read the article. I shrugged. Same stuff that's been happening since the 3rd day the internet went public.

Reminds me of all the times back in 93 when I'd talk with chicks on AOL and they'd send me pictures. They all happened to be blonde models. Eventually some came clean and were 250 pounds of chewed bubblegum.

Same stuff thats been happening throughout the history of mankind.

[PilotMan]

I don't think that anyone is arguing that con men haven't existed since the beginning of time. It's the brazen audacity of such individuals and the further examination of their modus operandi that makes the story. Then you throw in the depth of the involvement on the social networks and it becomes a very intriguing storyline.

[jeff061]

This seems far less interesting than what all these articles are trying to make it. This is a pumped up Deadspin orgy.

A girl(legit girl) gets work because shes attractive and intelligent in a scene full of guys. That work leads to a bit part at ESPN. She uses the ESPN name as leverage to spark conversations with other unsigned social media giants. She partners with her high school friend to takeover "negotiations" once initial contact has been made. High school friend uses the girls name and ESPN connections to scam content from them.

Only question is how much Phillips knew was going on with the scams. I don't really care though.

I guess she could have been using the name of some random kid from high school to do all the scams herself. Still, not that interesting.

[Logan]

Except the "legit girl" is still in question.

[jeff061]

I don't think it's in question, she's on video. She had an audible interview with covers. Just because Deadspin asks a question a hundred times doesn't make it true.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I think this is probably a new low in my respect for ESPN. I don't know how director of online content (the real one) keeps his job after this.

[Buccaneer]

I don't think it's in question, she's on video. She had an audible interview with covers.

Oh okay, that makes her legit then. :rolleyes:

[jeff061]

As a woman? Only thing against her is that weird chicks with douches pic. All other pictures match her video which in turn matches her high school yearbook pic. Anyways, they have her address, if someone somehow is posing as her that'll be blown open in short order.

Legit as trustworthy? I certainly never said that.

[molson]

Oh okay, that makes her legit then. :rolleyes:

It's possible a fat guy in a basement came up with this plan to start posting on covers.com as a woman and parlay it into ESPN job and scamming opportunities, but it's not particularly likely.

[Easy Mac]

I'm sure the ESPN ombudsman, the Poynter Institute, will have so much to say about this :rolleyes:

[Rizon]

Anyways, they have her address, if someone somehow is posing as her that'll be blown open in short order.

Legit as trustworthy? I certainly never said that.

Apparently some dudes went to her house the other day and filmed it, but couldn't see anyone.

[sovereignstar v2]

Has any source re-upped her youtube video? Hard to believe no one saved it.

[Crapshoot]

Rick Reilly is so bad. I hated him at SI and couldn't understand how he was so popular or why ESPN would want him. I really don't know much about him, but my guess is he's a hit with the golf crowd? Aside from soccer, that's the only sport I don't at least have a passing knowledge of and don't care in any way about, on some level.

Maybe they should put Reilly on the show with Bayless and STEPHEN A. SMITH.

"""""". This. a 1000X this. The Sammy Sosa shit, the self-piety, the douchenozzle about thinking he was a celebrity because of his shitty writing; all of these things make me hate Reilly. He's a relic, and I think ESPN's giant contract with him is the only reason he's still on the main page.

[INDalltheway]

It seems pretty apparent to me that the Milsah, or whatever his name was, was feeding this girl info. I think he was the brains behind the thing and she was the hot chick that made it work. Honestly, hot girls like that don't bet on sports the way she apparently did. That is damn near fact.

[Atocep]

What drives me crazy is his ESPN segments sound exactly like I would imagine his writing to sound. Any time he's on during golf coverage I have to change the channel because I just can't stand listening to him. The only thing that could possibly make him douchier is if he could copy the look Skip Bayless gets on his face when listens to someone he doesn't agree with.

[Autumn]

Apparently some dudes went to her house the other day and filmed it, but couldn't see anyone.

Oh good. That's not creepy.

[Autumn]

Reminds me of all the times back in 93 when I'd talk with chicks on AOL and they'd send me pictures. They all happened to be blonde models. Eventually some came clean and were 250 pounds of chewed bubblegum.

Not to mention, they weren't chicks.

[SteveMax58]

Nomination for Celeb HoN

[Logan]

Best part of the scam? That she's not that cute.

Meet Nilesh Prasad, Sarah Phillips's Scamming Partner And Supposed "Puppetmaster" (http://deadspin.com/5907349?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow)

[Rizon]

Best part of the scam? That she's not that cute.

Meet Nilesh Prasad, Sarah Phillips's Scamming Partner And Supposed "Puppetmaster" (http://deadspin.com/5907349?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow)

Shocking!!!

Man, there are a lot of suckers in this world. I need to find a hot chick's pic and pretend to be her and start cruising around nerd sites and dip my fraudpole into the water and catch me some suckers.

[molson]

Best part of the scam? That she's not that cute.

Meet Nilesh Prasad, Sarah Phillips's Scamming Partner And Supposed "Puppetmaster" (http://deadspin.com/5907349?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow)

I'd still let her "scam" me.

[Grover]

The greatest trick Sarah Phillips ever pulled was convincing people that Deadspin was worth reading two days in a row.

[cody8200]

HoN - Hot.

[Rizon]

CoN - Crazy

[flounder]

The greatest trick Sarah Phillips ever pulled was convincing people that Deadspin was worth reading two days in a row.

It's funny cause it's true.

[Toddzilla]

The greatest trick Sarah Phillips ever pulled was convincing people that Deadspin was worth reading two days in a row.win

[korme]

Surprised by the negativity towards Deadspin. Love that place.

[PilotMan]

I too, love Deadspin.

[bulletsponge]

whats a deadspin?

no i dont want a link

[Pumpy Tudors]

If the woman in that latest set of pictures is actually Sarah Phillips, then I work with a woman who looks just like Sarah Phillips, but her name is not Sarah Phillips, so I will assume that the woman I work with is not Sarah Phillips.

[Pumpy Tudors]

YOU'RE WELCOME

[DanGarion]

If the woman in that latest set of pictures is actually Sarah Phillips, then I work with a woman who looks just like Sarah Phillips, but her name is not Sarah Phillips, so I will assume that the woman I work with is not Sarah Phillips.

Maybe she is lying.

[Rizon]

Maybe Pumpy is lying. Maybe Pumpy is Sarah Phillips. Or Sarah Phillips is Pumpy.

[sabotai]

*looks underneath coffee mug.*

"PumpyPhillips"

[Easy Mac]

*looks underneath coffee mug.*

"PumpyPhillips"

That's also the name of my overweight, all-male Wilson Phillips cover band.

[B & B]

If ya hold on for one more day...............

[korme]

He did it. He did it again. Dammit. Pumpy derailed this thread!

[Pumpy Tudors]

i'm outta here temporarily peace