Letter to the editor:
Sun column was disturbing, unfair
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 | 2:02 a.m.
I am writing to express Boyd Gaming’s extreme disappointment with three recent columns by sports columnist Jeff Haney, printed by the Sun on Aug. 23, Sept. 23 and Oct. 2. In each piece, Haney leveled inaccurate, misleading and unfair criticisms of Boyd Gaming, apparently to advance a personal agenda regarding sports wagering in Nevada.
These columns have the potential to do lasting, long-term damage to the reputation of our sports books, our casinos, our company and Nevada’s casino industry. In spite of the gravity of his accusation, Haney went out of his way to avoid telling our side of the story. He withheld key details, failed to call us for comment, avoided our efforts to discuss his claims, and made false and misleading statements under a self-created guise of an average bettor engaging in a few harmless parlay bets at local sports books.
We were particularly disturbed by Haney’s Oct. 2 column, in which he calls for “state or federal lawmakers” to consider “doing away with legal sports betting in Nevada.” He claimed he was forced to come to this conclusion after an unidentified Boyd Gaming sports book refused to take several of his parlay card bets.
“Their cowardly actions, their lack of integrity and their irresponsibility reflect so poorly on the state’s biggest industry that it might be time to take such a drastic step,” Haney writes, suggesting it could be time to do away with sports books altogether.
Haney’s hyperbole is bad enough. But he did not allow us a chance to comment on his allegations and did not return our calls following the column’s publication, thus denying us an opportunity to challenge his claims and tell our side of the story. Haney may be a columnist, but we believe this does not exempt him from the basic ethics of journalism.
Discussion: 1 comment so far…
Post a comment
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Miguel Cotto turns up heat readying for Manny Pacquiao
- Fontainebleau subcontractors organize to finish project
- Joe Perry: Steven Tyler has quit Aerosmith
- Phil Hellmuth breaks down Main Event final table
- Metro officer’s fatal shooting of teen ruled justified
- MGM Mirage following Harrah’s lead on marketing conventions
- New Mexico soccer player goes MMA on BYU
- Success: UNLV hits mark of $500 million in cash and pledges
- Judge dismisses suits blaming Las Vegas Sands for stock drop
- UNLV hoopsters ready for some unfamiliar faces
Blogs
Miech Again
On the road to Long Beach, UNLV hoops style (7 Comments)
The Kats Report
Vocal strain prompts Wayne Brady to call off 'Making It Up' until 2010
The Greene Room
New Mexico soccer player goes MMA on BYU (11 Comments)
Elsewhere
Fontainebleau suit takes aim at Soffer empire (4 Comments)
Mono puts date for Lesnar title defense in question
The Kats Report
Got a question for Wayne Newton? Or a favorite story? Send it over (5 Comments)
Now and Then
Rollie's team beats Isiah's team (4 Comments)
Calendar »
- 7 Sat
- 8 Sun
- 9 Mon
- 10 Tue
- 11 Wed
-
Everclear at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip
Hard Rock Cafe on Strip | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
UNLV Rebels vs. Colorado State at Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium | 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Anjelah Nicole Johnson at The House of Blues
House of Blues | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Dennis Blair at the V Theater
V Theatre inside Miracle Mile Shops
-
Eric Burdon and The Animals at Ovation
Ovation | 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati











Mr. Smith, with this letter you had a chance to tell your side of the story. Yet all you could muster are accusations with no proof. And ironically, isn't that what you're complaining that Mr. Haney did?
Let's hear your side of the story.