False Reports Hurt Ex-Sun Eddie Johnson

[WraithSentinel]

http://www5.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archive..._eddie_johnson/

10th August, 2006 - 10:24 am

East Valley Tribune - One day, ex-Suns star and current television color analyst Eddie Johnson was relaxing on vacation in Hawaii.

The next, he was back at home answering phone calls about a sexual assault case that he knew nothing about — and seething over inaccurate media reports that involved newspapers, television stations, nationally syndicated radio and the Internet.

The problems started Tuesday when Edward Lee “Fast Eddie” Johnson — a former two-time NBA All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks who has had a history of legal problems since his retirement — was arrested and charged with the sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl.

But over the next 24 hours, Edward Arnet Johnson, the former Sixth Man of the Year with the Suns and popular broadcaster, was misidentified as the man arrested by at least three media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune and host Skip Bayless — substituting for the vacationing Jim Rome on Rome’s nationally syndicated radio show.

“This is why athletes have so many problems with the media,” said Johnson, 47, who is four years younger than the Eddie Johnson who was arrested Tuesday. “They don’t do their homework. They don’t bother to check facts before they write things or get on the radio and talk.

“I’m sitting here dumbfounded because 47 years of building a reputation is being destroyed in one morning by something I had nothing do with. I’ve been getting nasty e-mails all morning. It’s a nightmare.”

[flava]

I wondered about that - Eddie (not Edward) seems like a pretty classy guy - what I read was pretty horrifying - so this post helps fill in some of the gray area - thanks....

flava

[Sothron]

I am so unsuprised that Skip Bayless would screw up and finger the wrong guy on national media. What a moron.

[AHF]

Quote:

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I am so unsuprised that Skip Bayless would screw up and finger the wrong guy on national media. What a moron.

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No kidding.