Rumour - Now Confirmed - Jeff Marek Leaving Sportsnet

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Locke

If you'd ever used my services you'd know that I charge for work, not hours. Unless you make me do bookkeeping.

I've worked for firms that operate on 'Billable Hours' and its a big reason I work for myself, because I hate that.

Anyways, why drag me into this?

I know nothing of Jeff Marek, I just assume that he's the latest casualty in what is becoming a brutal industry...sports reporting is just...its as cut-throat as they come.

Sorry Locke, I was just trying to rib you for being the number one poster. I'll delete the comment.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Sorry Locke, I was just trying to rib you for being the number one poster. I'll delete the comment.

Dont delete it! I don't mind at all.

[cam_calderon]

Nice one IronMaiden, you've made Locke cry.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Locke

I know nothing of Jeff Marek, I just assume that he's the latest casualty in what is becoming a brutal industry...sports reporting is just...its as cut-throat as they come.

It's really just another branch of show business, which is just cutthroat by nature. There is always young talent coming up trying to prove themselves, will work for cheap in order to get a foot in the door, in an industry with very few openings.

Unless you are exceptional or have a really strong following, you are easily replaced.

[zztim81]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's really just another branch of show business, which is just cutthroat by nature. There is always young talent coming up trying to prove themselves, will work for cheap in order to get a foot in the door, in an industry with very few openings.

Unless you are exceptional or have a really strong following, you are easily replaced.

Why do i feel like that was a line directly from Boogie Nights!

[Erick Estrada]

So it appears the rumors are correct regarding the draft and Marek. Not gambling related but more to do with sharing proprietary information with someone outside of the company.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/567...draft-removed/

League and media sources said that Marek gave Seidel a heads up on the picks so that Seidel could better prepare and offer analysis of those selections on social media. Professional sports leagues are known to monitor social media during live events such as drafts; it is also common for leagues to partner with external integrity and compliance firms to monitor social media activity.

However, because Marek was alleged to have shared proprietary information with someone outside the company, and given the company’s partnership with the NHL — Sportsnet has two years left on a 12-year deal as the league’s national rightsholder — the network was in a difficult position involving one of its most prominent broadcasters.

Personally I feel this is kind of a dumb way to lose such a good job and Marek probably should have known better.

[Erick Estrada]

Also another reason the Athletic is worth every penny as you get stories like that this that Canadian media clearly didn't want to touch. Was also the only major media outlet to totally lambast the Oilers for hiring Bowman while other Canadian media tiptoed around it.

[Jiri Hrdina]

The only odd thing about this is, a few years ago, Bob Mckenzie was tweeting out the picks a minute or two in advance. He nailed every one of the first 15 and it seemed like every one knew someone was feeding him the picks from the draft floor. So why was that OK? Unless, because of who he is, he was somehow given permission by the league?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The only odd thing about this is, a few years ago, Bob Mckenzie was tweeting out the picks a minute or two in advance. He nailed every one of the first 15 and it seemed like every one knew someone was feeding him the picks from the draft floor. So why was that OK? Unless, because of who he is, he was somehow given permission by the league?

Maybe because he was publicly and directly disseminating the information, as a member of the firm (as opposed to passing the info to an outsider)?

Or maybe they simply didn't have their guidelines in place yet?

(just speculating)

[Erick Estrada]

Yeah I'm not really clear here on what's allowable as Seravalli was allowed to tweet the Seattle expansion picks before the NHL. It is Rogers after all so the cynic in me considers that this would be an excuse to drop one of their higher paid employees especially with only two years left on their contract and I imagine once that expires that a lot of talent will be cut.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The only odd thing about this is, a few years ago, Bob Mckenzie was tweeting out the picks a minute or two in advance. He nailed every one of the first 15 and it seemed like every one knew someone was feeding him the picks from the draft floor. So why was that OK? Unless, because of who he is, he was somehow given permission by the league?

He probably got it from the same place that Marek did, too, if you think about it. Since the article mentions that the truck would find out the info in advance so they could set up cameras, graphics, etc.

Maybe with gambling so much more prevalent today, that changes things? Not sure.

[Enoch Root]

If media is receiving the info in advance, to set up cameras and graphics etc, then they would have a contract with the league, clearly defining the parameters as to what they can and can't do with the info. Passing it on to someone external would be an obvious breach of that contract.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The only odd thing about this is, a few years ago, Bob Mckenzie was tweeting out the picks a minute or two in advance. He nailed every one of the first 15 and it seemed like every one knew someone was feeding him the picks from the draft floor. So why was that OK? Unless, because of who he is, he was somehow given permission by the league?

Was that before or after Bob McKenzie took a step back from his insider job? Did he take a step back because they didn't like what he did and forbid him from doing it again? Maybe they didn't like it and they made new rules to forbid employees from doing it?

As someone else suggested, maybe Bob was revealing the information in a manner that it was just part of his job whereas Marek was sharing it with someone outside of Sportsnet.

Lots of angles for which we'll likely truly never know... but I want to know.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Buff

Was that before or after Bob McKenzie took a step back from his insider job?

After

(Not to speak for Jiri but thats how I recall it from a years ago).

[Jiri Hrdina]

The other thing was that I don't think TSN was the broadcaster for that one, so why would they allow Bob to spoil the picks?

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The only odd thing about this is, a few years ago, Bob Mckenzie was tweeting out the picks a minute or two in advance. He nailed every one of the first 15 and it seemed like every one knew someone was feeding him the picks from the draft floor. So why was that OK? Unless, because of who he is, he was somehow given permission by the league?

IIRC McKenzie was not officially working that draft.

I believe that was the first year ESPN took over the US side of draft coverage.

Prior to that NHL network would cover the draft and bring McKenzie along with a handful of his TSN cohorts to help.

ESPN did not bring in anyone from TSN.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah it's a bit of a joke TBH.

People leak picks before they are made publically all the time in drafts...Marek was doing it privately just a couple minutes before for non-gambling related reasons and loses his job for it.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Heard the same. A less violent version that this scene occurred at the sphere.

Exact rumour I heard. Las Vegas Gambling commission had to escort out a few individuals and Seidel was one of them. He's apparently well know as a greasy piece of crap.

Oh ya, also heard the NHL made TSN fire him

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah it's a bit of a joke TBH.

People leak picks before they are made publically all the time in drafts...Marek was doing it privately just a couple minutes before for non-gambling related reasons and loses his job for it.

I think the issue is he was leaking information provided by the nhl for broadcasting specific reasons. Different than leaking info heard from sources.

[Patek23]

He leaked information he was privy too because of his role within his company to someone else at a different company. When you state it that way its not hard to understand why he was let go.