'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

[sportsdude]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

The law is the law, period. Whether it's someone doing illegal performance enhancers or reporters refusing to name who their source is who is supplying them with illegal, sealed information, you're breaking the law.

Actually, it's not. The First Amendment is supposed to protect the press from situations like this. The journalists did not break a law in receiving the information or profiting off of it. The reason the journalists were arrested is because the government made a feable attempt to try to find who leaked the grand jury testimony, and when they couldn't find out who did it, they turned their attention back to the only people who apparently knew. Then, the judge subpoened the journalists to testify and give up their sources, basically saying "You're the only people who know, and if you don't tell us, we'll arrest you" The only reason the decision upheld was because of a stupid precedent set in 1972 in a similar case.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

[deeman11747]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

I thought at one point the grumblings were that Victor Conte was actually the one who leaked it to them?

[SportsTop]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Now I have to choose my words very carefully.....

People have watered down the intended meaning of freedom of speech and the press. If you think this is what our founding fathers intended by the Bill of Rights then I can only shake my head.

It's getting sickening.

The Constitution, in no way, guarantees the freedom of the press when it has to do with breaking the law.

Period.

These two made their own bed.

[Scottdau]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

Now I have to choose my words very carefully.....

People have watered down the intended meaning of freedom of speech and the press. If you think this is what our founding fathers intended by the Bill of Rights then I can only shake my head.

It's getting sickening.

The Constitution, in no way, guarantees the freedom of the press when it has to do with breaking the law.

Period.

These two made their own bed.

That is what I have been saying sice day 1. lol

[Knight165]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

I guess the same could be said for Woodward and Bernstein and they did the US a public service by basically destroying the Nixon White House.



Just like Deepthroat eh?

BTW if folks are going to defend Woodward and Bernstein saying that it's not apples to apples then remember this fact. After the series of articles and Nixon left office they both wrote a book about the investigation. They both (or at least Woodward) accepted and helped in making the film ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN.

SPTO....I was responding on how YOU put the perspective on it and let's not get nuts here.....these guys are not Woodward and Bernstein.

M.K.
Knight165

[SPTO]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

Obviously not but we can agree to disagree. How's that? Let's just say that the leaker should be as much to blame as the reporters. Unfortunately due to confidentiality the leaker will probably never be known. (or at least not known until it's irrelevent)

[Knight165]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

Obviously not but we can agree to disagree. How's that? Let's just say that the leaker should be as much to blame as the reporters. Unfortunately due to confidentiality the leaker will probably never be known. (or at least not known until it's irrelevent)

I think you misunderstand me SPTO. I don't think these guys have done anything wrong per se......you just wrote in your first(?) post that if the story was about a nobody....than it wouldn't have come this far....I'm just saying that it's not like these guys are Mister and Mister Noble and wouldn't have even written about a story of a nobody.
Maybe I'm just not making any sense!!
It's all good...

M.K.
Knight165

[SPTO]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

LOL

Yeah the misunderstanding is going both ways. Basically i'm castigating the media in general. If the story was about a nobody and in the local paper and there were leaks to get details. (so basically in the crime section of the paper) then no one would want to know who leaked the info but because it's about Bonds EVERYBODY wants to know who the leaker is and get all the goods on the story.

I agree they wouldn't have jumped on this story if it was oh say Jason Philips.

[sportsdude]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

Now I have to choose my words very carefully.....

People have watered down the intended meaning of freedom of speech and the press. If you think this is what our founding fathers intended by the Bill of Rights then I can only shake my head.

It's getting sickening.

The Constitution, in no way, guarantees the freedom of the press when it has to do with breaking the law.

Period.

These two made their own bed.

lol! "These two made their own bed"!!! By doing what? By doing their job? I am not one to literally interpret the constitution as it reads, but I'm pretty sure that's what our forefathers had in mind.

Let me point out two articles which may help shed some light into your otherwise dark brain. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...e=caple/060922
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colum...ght&id=2597995

I don't think I could've said it any better myself.

edit: the journalists were not the first to break the law in this case. Whoever leaked the grand jury testimony is actually the person who broke the law, but the government cannot find/did not attempt to find the person responsible for the leak. The journalists simply received information and published it. Nothing is illegal about that. The only thing they did illegal was refuse to reveal their source, which it shouldn't have come to in the first place. Again, I reference the articles. Please read them thoroughly.

[Brandon13]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

lol! "These two made their own bed"!!! By doing what? By doing their job? I am not one to literally interpret the constitution as it reads, but I'm pretty sure that's what our forefathers had in mind.

Let me point out two articles which may help shed some light into your otherwise dark brain. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...e=caple/060922
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colum...ght&id=2597995

I don't think I could've said it any better myself.

edit: the journalists were not the first to break the law in this case. Whoever leaked the grand jury testimony is actually the person who broke the law, but the government cannot find/did not attempt to find the person responsible for the leak. The journalists simply received information and published it. Nothing is illegal about that. The only thing they did illegal was refuse to reveal their source, which it shouldn't have come to in the first place. Again, I reference the articles. Please read them thoroughly.

Yeah, it seems like some people are missing the the point as to why they have been sentenced to jail.

[SportsTop]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

lol! "These two made their own bed"!!! By doing what? By doing their job? I am not one to literally interpret the constitution as it reads, but I'm pretty sure that's what our forefathers had in mind.

Let me point out two articles which may help shed some light into your otherwise dark brain. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...e=caple/060922
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/colum...ght&id=2597995

I don't think I could've said it any better myself.

edit: the journalists were not the first to break the law in this case. Whoever leaked the grand jury testimony is actually the person who broke the law, but the government cannot find/did not attempt to find the person responsible for the leak. The journalists simply received information and published it. Nothing is illegal about that. The only thing they did illegal was refuse to reveal their source, which it shouldn't have come to in the first place. Again, I reference the articles. Please read them thoroughly.

So you're referencing articles written by journalists about other journalists defending what their peers did?

There's no bias there.

I'll stand by my previous statements and my "dark brain". Continue to live in your world of spin though.....are you dizzy yet?

[sportsdude]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

So you're referencing articles written by journalists about other journalists defending what their peers did?

There's no bias there.

I'll stand by my previous statements and my "dark brain". Continue to live in your world of spin though.....are you dizzy yet?

lol did you even read the articles? Of course they're in defense, because this whole thing is wack. I can't believe people can be so close minded about this, I mean if you still believe they should be in jail after reading the articles, then you obviously know nothing about communications law, the first amendment or pretty much anything.

[Scottdau]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

lol did you even read the articles? Of course they're in defense, because this whole thing is wack. I can't believe people can be so close minded about this, I mean if you still believe they should be in jail after reading the articles, then you obviously know nothing about communications law, the first amendment or pretty much anything.

They made money off illegal information lol. That in my book is wrong.

[SportsTop]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

lol did you even read the articles? Of course they're in defense, because this whole thing is wack. I can't believe people can be so close minded about this, I mean if you still believe they should be in jail after reading the articles, then you obviously know nothing about communications law, the first amendment or pretty much anything.

It's apples and oranges. I've read the articles and all they are doing is saying how unfair it is that you can do steroids and not get punished (Bonds), but write about it and go to jail. Nice try, but simply not true.

Revealing grand jury testimony is a much more important issue to deal with than steroids will ever be. These two men knew the information they were given was done so illegally. They then decide to hide behind their interpretation of the First Amendment to write about it? There is nothing right about that....plain and simple.

You tell me how you think it is right to live in a world where you know something is done illegally, yet you feel aren't obligated to abide by the laws we all live by.

Better yet, tell me how their article and subsequent book added anything to the conviction of the steroid manufactures, dealers, or users. What did they contribute to the prosecution? What did they add that was so important?

I'll tell you what.....nothing but information for the general public.

[Scottdau]

Re: 'Game of Shadows' Writers Sentenced to Maximum 2 Years

It's apples and oranges. I've read the articles and all they are doing is saying how unfair it is that you can do steroids and not get punished (Bonds), but write about it and go to jail. Nice try, but simply not true.

Revealing grand jury testimony is a much more important issue to deal with than steroids will ever be. These two men knew the information they were given was done so illegally. They then decide to hide behind their interpretation of the First Amendment to write about it? There is nothing right about that....plain and simple.

You tell me how you think it is right to live in a world where you know something is done illegally, yet you feel aren't obligated to abide by the laws we all live by.

Better yet, tell me how their article and subsequent book added anything to the conviction of the steroid manufactures, dealers, or users. What did they contribute to the prosecution? What did they add that was so important?

I'll tell you what.....nothing but information for the general public.

Good luck trying to convince that to people that don't understand the seriousness of this case. It was wrong and they knew it, they just wanted to make a name and make some cash. And that is the truth. Bonds is guilty, but for this book to be written was wrong. And now they are paying. So like I said before pay back is a bitch!