Pittsburgh TV station apologizes for bogus “Ward to Ravens” report

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A Pittsburgh television station is apologizing today after falling for a phony story about the Steelers’ all-time leading receiver, Hines Ward, signing with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that on the 6 o’clock news Wednesday morning, WPXI-TV reported that Ward would be resuming his NFL career with the rival Ravens.

One problem: WPXI got that report from a site called BroCouncil.com, which isn’t known for breaking NFL news. The “report” was an obvious spoof that included clearly fake quotes.

On its Twitter page, WPXI has since apologized.

“We got spoofed! We mentioned on the air this morning a bogus report that Hines Ward wigned [sic] with the Ravens,” the station’s tweet said. “We apolgize [sic] for our mistake.”

50 responses to “Pittsburgh TV station apologizes for bogus “Ward to Ravens” report

  1. Pittsburgh fans are so gullible and naive. They actually believe that the team is still a playoff contender.

  2. As a Ravens fan…signed Hines Ward. Use him as a tackling dumbie and beat on him in practice..then cut his bum ass! PLUCK The steelers!

  3. Yea we are naive probably cause we always usually make at least the playoffs look at our track recorded can we say 6 I repeat 6 trophy in the cocacola great hall can u say that I bet not idiot

  4. thatobnoxiousguy says: Mar 7, 2012 2:09 PM

    Pittsburgh fans are so gullible and naive. They actually believe that the team is still a playoff contender.
    ————————
    You mean there’s people out there who don’t even believe the Steelers have the ability to even contend? Wow!

    They have a good coach, a good quarterback, great wide receivers and one helluva defensive coordinator (not to mention that guy on defense that runs around with the long hair).

    But what do I know? Maybe you guys are right and they won’t come close to making the playoffs like you say.

  5. If you’re going to apologize for an editorial gaffe, you’d think you would edit the apology for spelling mistakes. I mean, I know it’s just Twitter, but come on…

  6. “..but his smile was pretty creepy anyway” according to Team President Art Rooney II….and this station didn’t pick up that this might have been a spoof?
    That’s pretty dumb anyway.

  7. thatobnoxiousguy says:
    Mar 7, 2012 2:09 PM
    Pittsburgh fans are so gullible and naive. They actually believe that the team is still a playoff contender.

    Right–cause our 4th WR, a DE that hasn’t played a full season in 3 years, and a 37 year old linebacker released really is going to make the Steelers a bad team….what a moron….

  8. How fitting that a news outlet would include two major typos in a Twitter feed to correct its own error. Ah, irony.

  9. If you get knocked out by Tim freakin Tebow, then I dont give a damn if you have an overrated coach, a hypochondriac for a QB, an over the hill DC, or average Wideouts. Your defense is old and slow,.

    again,, TIM TEBOW.. scoreboard

    Gullible and naive……just like i said

  10. I’m still pretty sure that whole “Jamal Lewis to the Browns” thing wasn’t real, either.

  11. thats funny… dumb a ss radio station person, any steeler fan knows he would never join the Ravens for all the money in the world..

    and for ‘thatobnoixusguy’, (early post) yeah.. your a red foreman ‘du mb a ss too

  12. They have a good coach, a good quarterback, great wide receivers and one helluva defensive coordinator (not to mention that guy on defense that runs around with the long hair).

    I will admit that Troy is an outstanding safety and bound for the Hall of Fame. Most teams’ coaches would give their right arms to have him. He’s no Ed Reed of course, but still very good.

  13. “We got spoofed! We mentioned on the air this morning a bogus report that Hines Ward wigned [sic] with the Ravens,” the station’s tweet said. “We apolgize [sic] for our mistake.”

    So when did Gregg Rosenthal start tweeting for WXPI ?

  14. ravenator says:
    Mar 7, 2012 2:44 PM
    Pitt can keep him, Ravens do not want or need him

    —————————————————

    Yeah, you’re right, ravenator. Why would the Ravens want a receiver who can actually catch?

  15. thatobnoxiousguy says: Mar 7, 2012 2:09 PM

    Pittsburgh fans are so gullible and naive. They actually believe that the team is still a playoff contender.

    *************************

    Not “gullible and naive” enough not to realize you’re just a moron.

  16. Thats right, how easily it was forgotten, Tim Tebow beat the Steelers in the playoffs.

    Tim Tebow beat the Steelers, thats like OSU fans always being able to say to Michigan fans. . . APP State.

  17. Is the [sic] really necessary for “apologize”. Dude get off your high horse and concern yourself with football and making sure your articles are well written.

  18. He probably just got a DUI in Baltimore, so everybody assumed hed be joining the team.

  19. .

    @obnoxious

    ” the Steelers still think they’re competitive ”

    I don’t follow the Steelers. I follow one of their chief rivals. However, to label them non competitive prior to free agency, the draft and preseason / camp just seems silly.

    .

  20. “We got spoofed! We mentioned on the air this morning a bogus report that Hines Ward wigned [sic] with the Ravens,” the station’s tweet said. “We apolgize [sic] for our mistake.”

    ———————————————————-

    This tweet PROVES that it was a TV station from Pittsburgh.

    How could there be any doubt?

    I mean, not only are they making stupid spelling mistakes,
    they are also too stupid to use spell check.

    But that isn’t even the most dumb thing. The fact
    that ANYONE thinks that Ward has anything left
    to offer as a player to a team is pretty ridiculous..

  21. brownoholic says:
    Mar 7, 2012 3:53 PM
    I heard Ward already injured the reporter while he wasn’t looking . . .

    ______

    In the imortal words of Larry the Cable Guy…

    I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there.

  22. brownoholic says:
    Mar 7, 2012 3:53 PM
    I heard Ward already injured the reporter while he wasn’t looking . . .

    ______

    In the immortal words of Larry the Cable Guy…

    I don’t care who ya are, that’s funny right there.

  23. @oliverioxerxes

    Seems to me Torrey Smith did just fine. Or have you already forgotten how he just carved up your secondary to ice the game in Pittsburgh?

    Ignorance is bliss.

  24. I bet most Raven fans got excited. when they heard this Hines would never go to the Ravens although Ravens fans wish he would. If the Ravens had Ward, he would still be laying out Ed Reed.

  25. Hey ravenator, talk when your wr catch a pass that actually mean something. Not like the dropped one in the afc championship lmao

  26. I don’t know why we’re so surprised. Journalists with integrity are a dying breed. Gone are the days when news organiztions actually checked sources, called stories with bias “Opinion” rather than as normal broadcasting. Nowdays, the obsession to “be first” with reporting along with the blog sites is beyond absurd. The tabloid style reporting has led to some “news” groups to hack phones of dead girls, public figures, 9/11 victims just to get a story. Some media outlets call themselves fair and balanced when it’s obvious with anyone with even half a brain that they are not.

  27. hey alvin69, why don’t you talk when your kicker makes a simple chip shot some high school kid could have made. we lost in 11 seconds and you lost wide left. fact is, we are both losers.

  28. ravenator, yeah Torrey Smith burned us. wow. I guess beating us twice helped you win the SB…oh wait

  29. @thatobnoxiousguy …

    Yeah, how silly of us to think we’re a playoff contender when we’re one year removed from the Super Bowl and still going to the playoffs.

    You’re not too bright, are you?

  30. erick670 says:
    Mar 7, 2012 2:38 PM
    Yea we are naive probably cause we always usually make at least the playoffs look at our track recorded can we say 6 I repeat 6 trophy in the cocacola great hall can u say that I bet not idiot
    _________________
    Is it just me, but if you are going to call someone else an idiot, shouldn’t you have a little better command of the language yourself? My God look what the education system is producing!

    And,
    steelersmichele says:
    Mar 7, 2012 8:34 PM
    ravenator, yeah Torrey Smith burned us. wow. I guess beating us twice helped you win the SB…oh wait
    _________________
    You’re right. He helped us win as many SB’s as you did in the 2011-12 season. Oh wait….

    Live in the present!

  31. Why would anyone want this guy?

    He’s a has-been. He can’t play well anymore. He’s finished.

  32. thatobnoxiousguy says: Mar 7, 2012 2:09 PM

    The Steelers will be back on top again! The franchise is one of the best in football and they always reload.

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