ESPN said it has "disciplined" columnist Mike Wise of The Undefeated for tweeting fake quotes about race relations by Alabama coach Nick Saban.
Wise was sarcastically tweeting about the hyper-focused Saban's complete disinterest in the solar eclipse.
Tongue firmly planted in cheek, Wise made up a fake quote for the Crimson Tide coach.
“Nick Saban on ugly race relations in America: ‘Haven’t been watching’ the news. Guys get along great on our team. That’s what most important,’” Wise tweeted.
He followed that up with this knee-slapper: “Nick Saban on troops surrounding Tide’s practice, preparing for Armageddon: ‘As long as they stay off field, we can get some work in.’”
I’d say going through with these tweets was unwise. pic.twitter.com/KMNz1MKFFh
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) August 22, 2017
Oops.
Wise's humor attempt went over like a lead balloon.
He deleted the offending tweets and apologized.
Anyone that took my sarcastic tweets about Nick Saban seriously, my apologies. I'll take them down. Especially to Alabama's SID. My bad.
— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) August 22, 2017
But not before they were captured for posterity by college football writer Kevin McGuire.
ESPN PR maven Mike Soltys said Wise's tweets crossed the line.
"Yesterday, Mike Wise posted inappropriate tweets about Nick Saban. The tweets were a clear violation of our journalistic standards. Mike has been disciplined. Putting imaginary words in the name of anyone we cover is unacceptable," tweeted Soltys.
Sporting News asked what ESPN meant by "discipline?"
Was Wise banned from social media ala Bill Simmons from the old days? Suspended without pay? Or just give a thorough talking-to by Undefeated editor-in-chief Kevin Merida?
Soltys wouldn't say.
"We don't provide those details on personnel," he said.
