In various articles dating back to 1990, Clippers interim CEO Dick Parsons has been described as a former Hawaii letterman — alternatively a “basketball star” or “basketball jock.”

Deadspin revealed Thursday that the oft-reported biographical detail is false. As lengthy as Parsons’ resume is — former chair of Citigroup and Time Warner, experience on multiple U.S. presidential staffs — he never played on a college varsity team.

It may simply be that reporters over the years never fact-checked accurately, and the story was embellished.

“Dick played on the freshman team at the University of Hawaii in 1964-65,” Ed Adler, a spokesperson for Parsons, said in a statement. “He has never said that he played varsity, that he lettered, or that he was a good player.” Continue reading “Deadspin report questions Clippers CEO Dick Parsons’ basketball background” »