“Jim Tressel is Stepping Down” Rumor: A Timeline
[just in case you missed all of the excitement]
DATELINE: December 25, 2010
12:01am - 3:00pm: Christmas Day proceeds per usual.
3:01pm: Oddly-named “Tab Bamford” publishes a report saying that Jim Tressel will no longer be the Ohio State head coach according to two sources associated with other universities, which claimed recruits had been given permission to look elsewhere.
3:02pm: Bamford drops his pants and sits in front of his computer.
3:10pm: The story starts to make its way through sleepy Christmas day message board traffic. Nobody is aware of who Bamford is but several people seize on the opportunity to avoid their families and check into the validity of the report.
4:04pm: Buckeye fans predictably begin to panic despite the numerous holes in the sole-source story.
4:44pm: Several Ohio State bloggers begin to discredit the story. Few fans pay attention.
7:37pm: Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith chimes in that the rumor is, indeed, bullshit.
8:08pm: Mysterious and charming Twitter user Michael Brim notices that Bamford is a Michigan fan.
8:11pm: Handsome Internet gigolo Luke Zimmerman reveals that Bamford is affiliated with Bleacher Report, fervent lovers of slide shows and notorious enemies of basic spelling and journalistic form.
8:13pm: Bamford puts his pants back on.
8:14pm: Bamford locks his Twitter feed.
8:15pm: Christmas resumes in Ohio as previously scheduled.
