`Nothing Going On'

Scott, are you reporting for a FACT that Pete Carroll is interviewing with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons? You are writing it in the blog as a fact, even though Pete Carroll and USC have denied it. Somebody is lying here, so if it turns out to be fact that Pete is NOT interviewing nor interested in the Falcons job, can we expect a retraction someplace? That would be the only fair thing to do. Could USC take legal action against you if what you write is false?

how is a phone call you initially reported an interview??

Here is the real news, courtesy of the Orange County Register sports page:

Here’s the official word, via e-mail, from USC sports information director Tim Tessalone regarding reports linking Pete Carroll to the Atlanta Falcons:

As Pete told our beat reporters last Wednesday (Jan. 3), he understands that his name is going to come up for NFL jobs, as it has in each of his past years here, but that he was not going to comment about NFL openings because it would just lead to speculation.

“There’s nothing going on, no reason to even talk about it,” Carroll said.

Pete is out of the office on vacation this week, but he reiterated that to me this morning on the phone.

– Michael Lev, The Orange County Register

Holy cow. You've worked for the same company too long. I get calls every now and then from people who'd potentially like to hire me. I'm usually not interested, but often happy to talk just to keep track of the market and to recommend others. I'm especially happy to talk if I happen to know the people, out of common courtesy if nothing else.