Borges suspended (1 Viewer)

[Bri]

Globe suspends sports reporter Borges

Newspaper editor cites plagiarism

By Michael Paulson, Globe Staff | March 6, 2007

The Boston Globe yesterday suspended without pay for two months a veteran sports reporter, Ron Borges, after allegations that he had plagiarized a portion of a football column from another sportswriter.

The Globe's editor, Martin Baron, said Borges had included in his "Football notes" column last Sunday material written by a reporter for the News Tribune of Tacoma.

"The Globe does not tolerate plagiarism," Baron said in a statement. "Extensive passages written by the Tacoma reporter were used verbatim in the column by Borges, and that is prohibited."

Borges will also be barred from broadcast appearances over the next two months, Baron said.

The plagiarism allegation was first lodged by a website, coldhardfootballfacts.com.

Borges, who has been a sportswriter for the Globe for 24 years, has for about a decade been the national football writer for the paper; he also covers boxing. He previously was the beat reporter covering the New England Patriots and has on occasion been controversial for his contrarian views and his criticism of the Patriots' head coach, Bill Belichick. Borges has won multiple honors for his writing, including being named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year four times since 1999.

According to Globe sports editor Joe Sullivan, Borges is a subscriber to an online notes exchange used by NFL writers, who share information with one another in advance of Sunday notebook columns that run in many newspapers. Sullivan said Borges took, without attribution, language posted to the notes exchange by the News Tribune's Seahawks writer, Mike Sando. The information had been published Feb. 25 in the News Tribune, but Sullivan said Borges was not aware of that fact.

Borges's column, like other sports notes columns in the Globe, contained a line at the bottom, reading "material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report." But Sullivan said reporters are expected to use the shared notes for background material and not to lift the language directly from one another.

Borges declined to comment, but his union representative issued a statement saying: "The Boston Newspaper Guild stands behind Ron and the high-quality work he has done for the Globe over the years. We will work on his behalf to see that justice is served in this matter."

At the News Tribune, Sando declined to comment, but deputy managing editor Dale Phelps said in a telephone interview: "It's unfortunate that this happened, but from our point of view there's no anger or dismay. You have to take care of your house, and we have to take care of ours."

 

[nxmehta]

This guy is scum and should have lost his job. His nonsensical, contradictory articles ("Pats must sign Thomas" followed by "Pats are stupid for signing Thomas") are among the worst examples of hack journalism that is rampant in the local beat sports writing community.

When a guy like Borges can't even write his own, original drivel, and must instead rip it off, it speaks volumes about local writers. I guess when your job is to literally make no sense in order to piss people off, your self-worth degrades to the point at which you just copy stuff.

 

[Rabbid Patriot Homer]

This guy is scum and should have lost his job. His nonsensical, contradictory articles ("Pats must sign Thomas" followed by "Pats are stupid for signing Thomas") are among the worst examples of hack journalism that is rampant in the local beat sports writing community.When a guy like Borges can't even write his own, original drivel, and must instead rip it off, it speaks volumes about local writers. I guess when your job is to literally make no sense in order to piss people off, your self-worth degrades to the point at which you just copy stuff.

Borges kick your dog or something?

 

[nxmehta]

Borges kick your dog or something?

Now my dog need operation!

 

[NEUPJ]

Borges kick your dog or something?

Have you ever read his articles? I understand he's supposed to be opinionated and get reactions, but he is a hack. Last week on Friday he published on his national column that A. Thomas was the #1 FA, best value etc., the Pats signed him for a below market contract and on Sunday Borges is in the globe saying how the guy is a system player and the Pats blew it, again.He's multiple times picked the Pats in his national column, then picked the other team in the Globe. He isn't even consistent with his bull####. At least Shaughnessy is consistently and creatively a muck raker.

 

[NEUPJ]

Borges kick your dog or something?

Have you ever read his articles? I understand he's supposed to be opinionated and get reactions, but he is a hack. Last week on Friday he published on his national column that A. Thomas was the #1 FA, best value etc., the Pats signed him for a below market contract and on Sunday Borges is in the globe saying how the guy is a system player and the Pats blew it, again.He's multiple times picked the Pats in his national column, then picked the other team in the Globe. He isn't even consistent with his bull####. At least Shaughnessy is consistently and creatively a muck raker.

 

[Serenity Now]

Borges is a bitter man with a deep hate for Belichick. It's freaky in its strength. I'm pretty sure Borges used to be normal, but he's just gotten more bitter and nuttier in the last few years.

 

[Rabbid Patriot Homer]

Yeah - I've read his articles. I think he's an excellent writer. He does a good job covering news around the NFL, and he's an incredibly biased writer when it comes to local stuff. I don't really care about the latter - I like reading the contrarion viewpoint since nobody else here doesn't really criticize the Patriots.

As for his personal feelings for Belichick, I think he (Borges) sounds like an upset child, and I think it's pretty funny.

So yeah - the guy hates on the Patriots. I don't need to call him "scum" or anything like that because of it. I don't think it's a big deal.

Plagarizing was STUPID - all of the writers take information from each other, it's sort of an understood thing that local writiers from each region share information. But you still have to put it into your own words! Or at least cited his source saying like "This news paper reports that...". Instead he literally copied and pasted the article and made it sound like he talked to the people talked to in the article.

#######. He's going to get fired. This 2 month thing is just a precursor to that.

 

[Davej626]

The thing is that the Globe actually needs Borges. Everyone around New England knows that he is a hack and has a thing against BB. I don't know if BB slept with his wife, or kicked his dog, or whatever. But its common knowledge that you don't take anything that Borges says about the Patriots, or the NFL, for face value. But the fact is that he is the Globe's Football guy. He is their Joe Bryant for all of his faults and admissions. I'm not saying that Joe is a hack. I'm saying that Borges is to the Globe what Joe is to FBGs. Without Borges, who is going to cover the NFL for them? I dislike Borges a ton, and don't read the Globe.

 

[Rabbid Patriot Homer]

Herald Sports >>> Globe Sports

 

[Rabbid Patriot Homer]

Plus they're free again at South Station.

 

[Workhorse]

The Globe should let Borges go and bump up Mike Reiss to lead NFL writer. He's 10x the reporter and actually has objective credibility.

 

[Davej626]

Herald Sports >>> Globe Sports

I wouldn't go that far. Both are fine for free bathroom reading, but I wouldn't pay 50 cents for either.Is Tom Curran still with the ProJo? A lot better than Borges.

 

[Rabbid Patriot Homer]

Herald Sports >>> Globe Sports

I wouldn't go that far. Both are fine for free bathroom reading, but I wouldn't pay 50 cents for either.Is Tom Curran still with the ProJo? A lot better than Borges.

I like Callahan's columns and for NFL writing I really like Felger. Curran is also good, I agree with that.To the previous poster, Reiss is really good, but don't be so quick to dismiss Borges for NFL-wide news - I do think that he has a lot of sources...other than, you know, the ones he plagarizes. Reiss may very well get his shot - you know they're going over every article Borges has ever written right now, and I'd be f'n shocked if this were his first time ripping people off.

 

[softball]

Time Magazine keeps their writers who make things up, but the Sports Dept. in Boston sends their guy home..

 

[Kit Fisto]

Welcome to the board, Mr. Just Joined Yesterday, Rabbid Patriot Homer.

You'll find alot of compatriots (no pun intended) in here.

BTW, Borges is a hack and gets what he deserves. Tom Curran works for some national outlet now. I believe it's ESPN.com.

 

[Boston]

Borges is a bitter man with a deep hate for Belichick. It's freaky in its strength. I'm pretty sure Borges used to be normal, but he's just gotten more bitter and nuttier in the last few years.

Totally agree. If BB said two plus two equals four Borges would claim it doesn't. He has no contol over his hatred.What I really dislike about Borges is not so much his bias but the arrogance of it. The guy has been proven wrong so many times during the BB era it's become a local joke. Yet, when he talks he acts like everyone else is a yahoo and only he knows what is right. My favorite Borges moment was when he was on TV mocking the Pats and their fans for wanting to go with Brady long term over Bledsoe. He was so smug about it and he could not have been more wrong and looked more like a fool. Since it's been found out Drew was one of his major sources for Patriot gossip I've always felt this whole situation played a big part in his hatred (and yes, it is hatred) towards BB.The other aspect here is what a second rate, politically driven newspaper the Globe has become. It's a joke. They've had multiple plagarism episodes recently with writers and they're no stranger to running with a story or a picture but not fact checking if it fits their agenda and than having it backfire on them. It's no fluke that their circulation is plummenting and I get a call every week begging me to subscribe.

 

[suspected]

The Globe now has 2 months to look for other instances of plagarism. If they find more his career is over. Forges actually copied large chunks of text and just changed one word here and there. All he had to do was write "according to the ......" and this all could have been avoided.

 

[Rabbid Patriot Homer]

Borges is a bitter man with a deep hate for Belichick. It's freaky in its strength. I'm pretty sure Borges used to be normal, but he's just gotten more bitter and nuttier in the last few years.

Totally agree. If BB said two plus two equals four Borges would claim it doesn't. He has no contol over his hatred.What I really dislike about Borges is not so much his bias but the arrogance of it. The guy has been proven wrong so many times during the BB era it's become a local joke. Yet, when he talks he acts like everyone else is a yahoo and only he knows what is right. My favorite Borges moment was when he was on TV mocking the Pats and their fans for wanting to go with Brady long term over Bledsoe. He was so smug about it and he could not have been more wrong and looked more like a fool. Since it's been found out Drew was one of his major sources for Patriot gossip I've always felt this whole situation played a big part in his hatred (and yes, it is hatred) towards BB.The other aspect here is what a second rate, politically driven newspaper the Globe has become. It's a joke. They've had multiple plagarism episodes recently with writers and they're no stranger to running with a story or a picture but not fact checking if it fits their agenda and than having it backfire on them. It's no fluke that their circulation is plummenting and I get a call every week begging me to subscribe.

Another Borges highlight was him bashing on the Patriots for taking Richard Seymour over David Terrell.

 

[Rabbid Patriot Homer]

From Borges in 2001:

"On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson or the second-best tackle in the draft in Kenyatta Walker, they took Georgia defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had 1 sacks last season in the pass-happy SEC and is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten the last decent receiver in Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon."

 

[shamrock84]

The thing is that the Globe actually needs Borges. Everyone around New England knows that he is a hack and has a thing against BB. I don't know if BB slept with his wife, or kicked his dog, or whatever. But its common knowledge that you don't take anything that Borges says about the Patriots, or the NFL, for face value. But the fact is that he is the Globe's Football guy. He is their Joe Bryant for all of his faults and admissions. I'm not saying that Joe is a hack. I'm saying that Borges is to the Globe what Joe is to FBGs. Without Borges, who is going to cover the NFL for them? I dislike Borges a ton, and don't read the Globe.

That's not what I heard...:reported:

 

[Josh the FunkDOC]

Well, FWIW, Bill Simmons has said in the past that this is just mostly a gimmick to draw attention. A small portion of it, as someone else mentioned in this thread already, is that he was legitimately mad that the Pats got rid of his best source (Bledsoe) - but he's playing a character mainly. Apparently he isn't like this IRL.

Plagiarism, though.

 

[nxmehta]

From Borges in 2001:"On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson or the second-best tackle in the draft in Kenyatta Walker, they took Georgia defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had 1 sacks last season in the pass-happy SEC and is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten the last decent receiver in Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon."

 

[bostonfred]

From Borges in 2001:"On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson or the second-best tackle in the draft in Kenyatta Walker, they took Georgia defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had 1 sacks last season in the pass-happy SEC and is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten the last decent receiver in Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon."

I'd love to make fun of him for this, but a lot of us agreed with it at the time. I remember wanting Terrell in a big way. That's probably one of the reasons why, to this day, I don't buy into taking early round receivers whatsoever.

 

[massraider]

Borges might get the benifit of the doubt from readers if he didn't keep up this irrational hatred of all things Patriot.

It seems so bizarre to see one of the prominent Boston football writers refusing to get on board, three Super Bowls later. I bet he probably still has Betamax.

 

[Ack88]

For someone who asked earlier, Tom E. Curran works for nbcsports.com and appears regularly on sports radio in Boston. He used to write for the Providence Journal and his promotion to a national media outlet is well deserved. He is excellent.

 

[pats3in4]

Well, FWIW, Bill Simmons has said in the past that this is just mostly a gimmick to draw attention. A small portion of it, as someone else mentioned in this thread already, is that he was legitimately mad that the Pats got rid of his best source (Bledsoe) - but he's playing a character mainly. Apparently he isn't like this IRL.

Except when he's popping old men in the mouth.

 

[Bri]

I have no clue as to the date of this article.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/200179p-172823c.html

Former Daily News boxing writer Michael Katz and the Boston Globe's Ron Borges know this all too well. (In the interest of full disclosure I must report that for more than 10 years Katz carried me on the boxing beat. That's why he wears a neck brace. He also walks with the aid of a cane.)

Thursday, in the press room at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, these veteran boxing scribes (they may still have a bit of bee sting in them, but they hardly float like butterflies) touched off a melee that stole the spotlight from promoter Bob Arum's twinbill last night, which featured Bernard Hopkins and Oscar De La Hoya in separate tuneup bouts.

This all started when Arum, during an impromptu press conference, began ripping Hopkins for threatening to pull out of his fight with Robert Allen. Hopkins made the threat because he did not want Joe Cortez to referee the bout.

Borges, sitting to the right and slightly behind Katz - who was covering the fight for the New York Times (which owns the Globe and is thus also Borges' employer) - basically said it was about time for somebody to draw the line with Hopkins and stand up to him. That's when Katz injected his unique, and renowned, brand of venom into the mix.

Katz: "Yeah this sounds like a Don King toady, a Don King writer, attacking a guy (Hopkins) Don King hates."

Borges: "You need a punch in the face, I'm really sick and tired of your ..."

Katz: "Shut the (expletive deleted) up."

This is when the words turned into actions. Borges reached around and landed a hard open-handed blow on Katz's right cheek. Katz never saw it coming. The shot sent Katz reeling back, separating his head from his beret, which went flying through the air.

Katz: "You shmuck. How can you hit a cripple?"

Borges: "You been getting away with that (hiding behind an infirmity) for years."

This really sent Katz over the edge. In Zorro-like fashion, he began waving his cane menacingly, poking at Borges' chest. The Boston writer advanced on Katz. And then the melee broke out. HBO Sports executive Kery Davis, trying to break things up, grabbed Borges' head. Four other guys jumped Borges from behind, trying to pull him back. Bodies were seemingly flying everywhere, one of them landing on Arum, knocking him down.

Adding to the chaos, one of Arum's PR men, thinking he had heard gunshots, dove on his boss to protect him.

"Get the (expletive deleted) off me," Arum screamed.

By then, security had arrived.

Katz only would say that the incident had been "embarrassing" and declined to comment any further. Borges also would not comment.

 

[Boston]

From Borges in 2001:

"On a day when they could have had impact players David Terrell or Koren Robinson or the second-best tackle in the draft in Kenyatta Walker, they took Georgia defensive tackle Richard Seymour, who had 1 sacks last season in the pass-happy SEC and is too tall to play tackle at 6-6 and too slow to play defensive end. This genius move was followed by trading out of a spot where they could have gotten the last decent receiver in Robert Ferguson and settled for tackle Matt Light, who will not help any time soon."

IMO this is the crux of why Borges is such a dope. It's not so much what he says but how he says it. He's such an arrogant Ahole. He talks down to everyone that disagrees with him as if he's some football guru on par with Bill Walsh or Vince Lombardi. The funny part is he's the one who's so often wrong...and now that he's been exposed as a plagiarist he can take that long trip off of his high horse and hang his head in shame.