BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Doug Gottlieb Says Freddie Freeman, Casey Close Conduct He Alleged ‘Did Not Occur’

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Wednesday, September 07, 2022

Doug Gottlieb Says Freddie Freeman, Casey Close Conduct He Alleged ‘Did Not Occur’

Close filed a lawsuit against Gottlieb in July alleging libel, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Freeman cut ties with Close and Excel Sports Management in June because he was “angry with how his free-agent negotiations played out,” per ESPN’s Buster Olney.

Gottlieb then tweeted that Close intentionally withheld information from his client: “Casey Close never told Freddie Freeman about the Braves final offer, that is why Freeman fired him. He found out in Atlanta this weekend. It isn’t that rare to have happen in MLB, but it happened - Close knew Freddie would have taken the ATL deal.”

Gottlieb said Wednesday this “did not occur” and that “the sources I relied on were incorrect,” and he has deleted the tweet.

Re: Casey Close/Freddie Freeman negotiations pic.twitter.com/dhFD8dj49H
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) September 7, 2022

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 07, 2022 at 12:40 PM | 22 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: freddie freeman

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1. The Duke Posted: September 07, 2022 at 04:16 PM (#6095074)

Ha. I wonder who set him up - someone in the Atlanta camp or Freeman camp?

2. Steve Balboni's Personal Trainer Posted: September 07, 2022 at 05:02 PM (#6095085)

The latest example of how much easier your life will generally be if, when you have screwed up, you simply, promptly, and authentically say, "I was wrong, and I am sorry."

3. VCar Posted: September 07, 2022 at 05:24 PM (#6095089)

odds that Close sues Goetlieb for costing him $ and a client?

4. The Duke Posted: September 07, 2022 at 05:30 PM (#6095091)

Gottlieb: All right, all right, I apologise.
Close: You're really sorry.
Gottlieb: I'm really really sorry, I apologise unreservedly.
Close: You take it back?
Gottlieb: I do, I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, and was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my comments may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat any such slander at any time in the future.

5. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 07, 2022 at 05:36 PM (#6095092)

odds that Close sues Goetlieb for costing him $ and a client?

Close sued in July for libel, that's why Gottlieb is apologizing. Close released a statement he considers the matter closed.

6. dejarouehg Posted: September 07, 2022 at 05:43 PM (#6095094)

nd was motivated purely by "malice,"

Just the word brings visions of Wilfred Brimley to mind with his subpeenies in Absence of Malice.....

Somehow Brimley looked around 65 when that movie was made and he was 47, and 70 when he was the manager in The Natural 3 years later.

An admission of malice would = the aggrieved party's dream.

7. Textbook Editor Posted: September 07, 2022 at 06:33 PM (#6095103)

#4--Alas, a now seemingly all-but-forgotten film, despite its Oscar. Well done.

8. Walt Davis Posted: September 07, 2022 at 07:21 PM (#6095121)

Who knew the souse at the end of that bar in the Atlanta airport wasn't a reliable anonymous source? In my defense, I did get confirmation from the souse at the other end of the bar and the bartender said he couldn't deny it.

9. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: September 07, 2022 at 08:24 PM (#6095142)

when you have screwed up, you simply, promptly, and authentically say, "I was wrong, and I am sorry."

Well I'm not sure that's entirely accurate. It's now September and he posted the lie back in June AND only came clean after we has sued.

It's his job to triple check the information before making it public and he screwed the pooch, then only came clean when Close initiated legal proceedings.

10. cHiEf iMpaCt oFfiCEr JE

Posted: September 07, 2022 at 08:24 PM (#6095143)

Unless instructed by Freeman, why would Gottlieb comment on such a matter in the first place? Rep your new client and STFU about #### that doesn't involve you.

11. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 07, 2022 at 09:13 PM (#6095156)

Unless instructed by Freeman, why would Gottlieb comment on such a matter in the first place? Rep your new client and STFU about #### that doesn't involve you.

Gottlieb is a sports talk show host, not an agent.

12. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: September 07, 2022 at 09:30 PM (#6095162)

odds that Close sues Goetlieb for costing him $ and a client?

I don't see how this cost Close a client, since Freeman left him before Gottlieb's tweet.

13. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: September 07, 2022 at 09:39 PM (#6095164)

It's his job to triple check the information before making it public and he screwed the pooch, then only came clean when Close initiated legal proceedings.

That seems completely inconsistent with how modern media behaves.

14. Howie Menckel Posted: September 07, 2022 at 09:57 PM (#6095168)

this strikes me as a potentially positive step for media.

we have gotten to the point of the "guaranteed viral win" by posting something like this.

but ultimately, that pesky part about "well, it kinda also has to be true" won the day.

if we're fortunate, we could see less of this recklessness in days ahead.

15. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: September 07, 2022 at 10:07 PM (#6095169)

That seems completely inconsistent with how modern media behaves.

Sure, but that doesn't make it right. I don't have to accept it just as, oh well, that's the way it is. Just as you have stated your position with regards to mobile phones; this is one of the things I don't have to just lie down for.

Modern media is, for the most part, boorish and will post anything to get clicks. It'll continue that way unless people are more discerning with how they consume information(I am not holding my breath on this one)

16. cHiEf iMpaCt oFfiCEr JE

Posted: September 07, 2022 at 10:08 PM (#6095170)

Gottlieb is a sports talk show host, not an agent.

Ah, ok. Thanks.

17. ReggieThomasLives Posted: September 08, 2022 at 01:44 AM (#6095184)

Gottlieb is a sports talk show host, not an agent.

Nor a journalist it appears.

18. Cris E Posted: September 08, 2022 at 01:44 PM (#6095249)

I don't see how this cost Close a client, since Freeman left him before Gottlieb's tweet.

It helps with his other clients and it makes it easier to get new ones. Can you imagine reaching out to athletes and always hearing questions about how you screwed Freddie? Just as everyone heard the false news, now they'll hear it was trash and Close was trying to rep his client with integrity. He still got fired, so it wasn't going to be a great reference, but at least he wasn't playing games as claimed online.

EDIT: That's why he sued the first time.

19. pikepredator Posted: September 09, 2022 at 11:11 AM (#6095422)

Gottlieb is a sports talk show host, not an agent.

Nor a journalist it appears.

I mean, how much overlap between "sports talk show host" and "journalist" is there?? That Venn diagram is pretty close to a pair of spectacles.

pun intended.

20. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: September 09, 2022 at 11:25 AM (#6095423)

It's his job to triple check the information before making it public and he screwed the pooch, then only came clean when Close initiated legal proceedings.

I'm not a journalist but how much checking needs to be done before running a story like this? Presumably Gottlieb got this story from a source he trusted and probably had given him valid stories before. At some point you have to decide who to trust in any field.

21. DFA Posted: September 09, 2022 at 11:46 AM (#6095428)

From Gottlieb's wiki:

He left Notre Dame after an incident in which he stole a classmate's credit card and used it to charge multiple purchases. Gottlieb transferred from the Notre Dame program as a result of the incident

He's no journalist, that's for sure.

22. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: September 09, 2022 at 11:56 AM (#6095432)

Gottlieb was an entertaining college basketball player, I think he led the nation in Assists one year.

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Wednesday, September 07, 2022

Doug Gottlieb Says Freddie Freeman, Casey Close Conduct He Alleged ‘Did Not Occur’

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