Meg Morrison, Gillette Drafted 2 contestant
Dear Meg,
I must say, you handled the whole Drafted situation in quite the classy way, especially for someone who professes to think of Launy as a “great guy.”
Yes. I read your blog entry, and now hope you will read mine. It’s okay if you don’t read this however, because it - and you - will be exposed to enough eyeballs regardless.
Really, I am probably not supposed to write you about this, as it involves my husband. In actuality, I have to write you about this, as it involves my husband.
I must say, you handled the whole Drafted situation in quite the classy way, especially for someone who professes to think of Launy as a “great guy.”
Yes. I read your blog entry, and now hope you will read mine. It’s okay if you don’t read this however, because it - and you - will be exposed to enough eyeballs regardless.
Really, I am probably not supposed to write you about this, as it involves my husband. In actuality, I have to write you about this, as it involves my husband.
So, Launy was kicked off Gillette Drafted, falsely and harmfully accused of breaching confidentiality.
And by the power of deductive reasoning you were able to conclude that my husband is indeed a liar, a “great guy,” but a liar.
Greg Sansone told Launy, he had no right to defend himself on the show or address his accuser, because it is not a court of law. Well, as a member of the media, Mr. Sansone should understand the concept of fairness and balance, a concept that doesn’t require the walls of a court. And as a “journalist,” that is something you too should be able to understand.
Naturally, you know what happened in Vegas, since you heard some audio from a telephone call with Launy, heard a baseless accusation against Launy, and because, as you said “I wanted to shout from the rooftop when I got my phone call, so I am sure he was the same.”
Well, Meg, that is proof enough – for anyone who reads The National Enquirer.
It is curious that you were even able to hear audio from his phone call, over the sound of the bus that you continue to throw him under.
And by the power of deductive reasoning you were able to conclude that my husband is indeed a liar, a “great guy,” but a liar.
Greg Sansone told Launy, he had no right to defend himself on the show or address his accuser, because it is not a court of law. Well, as a member of the media, Mr. Sansone should understand the concept of fairness and balance, a concept that doesn’t require the walls of a court. And as a “journalist,” that is something you too should be able to understand.
Naturally, you know what happened in Vegas, since you heard some audio from a telephone call with Launy, heard a baseless accusation against Launy, and because, as you said “I wanted to shout from the rooftop when I got my phone call, so I am sure he was the same.”
Well, Meg, that is proof enough – for anyone who reads The National Enquirer.
It is curious that you were even able to hear audio from his phone call, over the sound of the bus that you continue to throw him under.
Greg Sansone, VP of TV for the Score
I understand it is not enough that Launy vehemently denies ever telling the media that he was chosen as a finalist in Drafted. And, I understand it is not enough that the very media people, who were with Launy at the NHL Awards, strongly deny ever being told by Launy – or anyone for that matter – that he was a finalist.
I understand this, because in the illogical world of reality TV, where calculated editing passes for the truth, logic is often only found on the cutting room floor, and now that has been swept under the rug.
So, here, finally, is the first published account of the situation as it unfolded:
Launy stayed at the Gold Coast Casino, a less than desirable casino and bingo hall to those who frequented the Palms Casino across the way. (The Palms being the luxury hotel, where the Awards were held.)
To our knowledge, no other media or players from the Awards stayed at the Gold Coast or were ever even there. It was certainly not a destination.
I understand this, because in the illogical world of reality TV, where calculated editing passes for the truth, logic is often only found on the cutting room floor, and now that has been swept under the rug.
So, here, finally, is the first published account of the situation as it unfolded:
Launy stayed at the Gold Coast Casino, a less than desirable casino and bingo hall to those who frequented the Palms Casino across the way. (The Palms being the luxury hotel, where the Awards were held.)
To our knowledge, no other media or players from the Awards stayed at the Gold Coast or were ever even there. It was certainly not a destination.
Launy & Martin Brodeur, 2010 NHL Awards
Remember that phone call, in which you heard Launy scream, inferring that media in the casino probably heard him too? It did not take place in the casino. You cannot use a phone in one, and once he received the call was kicked out.
He went outside, to a private area, with no one around. There he screamed, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I was by the pool, probably 250 metres away, and I did not even hear him.
From there, Launy came to tell me the news, and went back to the blackjack table, where the strangers asked him what happened. He told them he might finally be in the industry he’s waited to be in his entire life.
Launy, by the way, is also a part-time actor, who has done national commercial spots. When he gets a call that he is cast in a commercial or movie, he gets excited as well. It could have been any industry. It could have been anything.
But you “got a sense that he would have a hard time hiding his excitement,” thus he must be guilty.
Meg, the guy was at the NHL Awards, interviewing the biggest names in hockey. If he is able to talk with his hockey idols, such as Alex Ovechkin and Martin Brodeur, all while leading great interviews, I’d say he’s pretty capable of keeping his excitement in check.
What’s more, showing excitement and telling a secret are two very different things - about as different as a winner - and a sore winner.
By questioning Launy’s character, you question his journalistic integrity. And without doubt, journalistic integrity needs to be questioned in this scenario. But not Launy’s - yours.
Some may say there could be a conflict of interest presented, due to Sansone’s appearance on your radio show, the day after the elimination episode aired, without giving Launy the chance to respond.
When Sansone appeared on your show last week, you both continued to call his character into question.
He went outside, to a private area, with no one around. There he screamed, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” I was by the pool, probably 250 metres away, and I did not even hear him.
From there, Launy came to tell me the news, and went back to the blackjack table, where the strangers asked him what happened. He told them he might finally be in the industry he’s waited to be in his entire life.
Launy, by the way, is also a part-time actor, who has done national commercial spots. When he gets a call that he is cast in a commercial or movie, he gets excited as well. It could have been any industry. It could have been anything.
But you “got a sense that he would have a hard time hiding his excitement,” thus he must be guilty.
Meg, the guy was at the NHL Awards, interviewing the biggest names in hockey. If he is able to talk with his hockey idols, such as Alex Ovechkin and Martin Brodeur, all while leading great interviews, I’d say he’s pretty capable of keeping his excitement in check.
What’s more, showing excitement and telling a secret are two very different things - about as different as a winner - and a sore winner.
By questioning Launy’s character, you question his journalistic integrity. And without doubt, journalistic integrity needs to be questioned in this scenario. But not Launy’s - yours.
Some may say there could be a conflict of interest presented, due to Sansone’s appearance on your radio show, the day after the elimination episode aired, without giving Launy the chance to respond.
When Sansone appeared on your show last week, you both continued to call his character into question.
The Schwartzcaster
In the name of balance and fairness, again, fundamentals of journalism, Launy did ask if he could have the opportunity to respond on your show. A request denied by you and your co-host.
Of note, the same way you have misconstrued logic to assert that Launy breached confidentiality, that same argument can be used to assert that both you and Sansone breached it as well.
Based upon your reasoning, doesn’t it seem like a breach of confidentiality for Sansone to announce on Edmonton radio, “I would suggest that the people of Edmonton follow the show very closely, because Meg does the city proud.”?
And wouldn’t a statement in your blog seem the same, where you refer to Launy’s elimination episode, “… this next episode will set the tone for the entire season.”?
Speaking of tone, for someone who said it was an “awkward elimination” based on the circumstance, you didn’t show any signs of awkwardness in your tone when speaking with Sansone - to Edmonton – about Launy. Your voice said it all.
Interestingly enough, what was not said was anything of substance.
On your show, Sansone stated, “I’ll let the episode speak for itself… Based on the kinds of things [Launy] was saying and how the story was changing over the course of several conversations.”
Well, Meg, the story did change, but even with all the editing, it was not Launy’s story that did. He said he never told any media he was drafted, and despite the possibility of forgiveness if Launy admitted to the accusation, he still stood by his word.
Then came the second meeting requested – not demanded – by my husband. (This happened before the trivia challenge, and not after it, as Sansone said on your show.)
He asked if Sansone was available for five minutes. What seemed like 30 minutes later, he entered (in what appears to be full make-up), saying Launy just pulled him out of a meeting.
Do you really think some shmuck has the power to pull a VP out of a meeting?
In that conversation, Launy did his best to recount everything and anything he said in Vegas concerning the show. At which time, he said while he was at the blackjack table he mentioned this could be his chance in an industry he’s always wanted to be in.
If anybody’s story changed it was Sansone’s, whose focus went from accusing Launy of talking to a group of media using the words I’m top-10 for Drafted, to accusing him of talking to strangers at a blackjack table about a mystery industry.
Of note, the same way you have misconstrued logic to assert that Launy breached confidentiality, that same argument can be used to assert that both you and Sansone breached it as well.
Based upon your reasoning, doesn’t it seem like a breach of confidentiality for Sansone to announce on Edmonton radio, “I would suggest that the people of Edmonton follow the show very closely, because Meg does the city proud.”?
And wouldn’t a statement in your blog seem the same, where you refer to Launy’s elimination episode, “… this next episode will set the tone for the entire season.”?
Speaking of tone, for someone who said it was an “awkward elimination” based on the circumstance, you didn’t show any signs of awkwardness in your tone when speaking with Sansone - to Edmonton – about Launy. Your voice said it all.
Interestingly enough, what was not said was anything of substance.
On your show, Sansone stated, “I’ll let the episode speak for itself… Based on the kinds of things [Launy] was saying and how the story was changing over the course of several conversations.”
Well, Meg, the story did change, but even with all the editing, it was not Launy’s story that did. He said he never told any media he was drafted, and despite the possibility of forgiveness if Launy admitted to the accusation, he still stood by his word.
Then came the second meeting requested – not demanded – by my husband. (This happened before the trivia challenge, and not after it, as Sansone said on your show.)
He asked if Sansone was available for five minutes. What seemed like 30 minutes later, he entered (in what appears to be full make-up), saying Launy just pulled him out of a meeting.
Do you really think some shmuck has the power to pull a VP out of a meeting?
In that conversation, Launy did his best to recount everything and anything he said in Vegas concerning the show. At which time, he said while he was at the blackjack table he mentioned this could be his chance in an industry he’s always wanted to be in.
If anybody’s story changed it was Sansone’s, whose focus went from accusing Launy of talking to a group of media using the words I’m top-10 for Drafted, to accusing him of talking to strangers at a blackjack table about a mystery industry.
In an effort not to misconstrue, let’s review:
1. Less than 24 hours before the first day of the competition’s production, Sansone receives a phone call from a source – whom he won’t name – weeks after the alleged incident took place.
2. The only proof of any conversation between Sansone and the anonymous tipster is B-roll of Sansone talking on a cell phone, outside a building. For all we know, he could have been ordering a pizza.
3. Launy vehemently denies ever telling the media – whose job it is to publish secrets – his big secret. Many members of the media from Vegas have come forth to corroborate his story. And nowhere, before the Score officially made the announcement, did it ever appear in any forum that he was selected as a finalist.
Drafted was absolutely talked about in Vegas. At that point, with a strong social media campaign pushing Launy to be chosen, he already had many supporters. His proponents, in the media, would often introduce him to others saying, “This guy’s gotta be top-10 for the show.” Maybe someone misunderstood that sentence.
Again, why would someone who has been working his entire life through adversity, jeopardize an opportunity of such enormity, by telling the worst secret-keepers about it?
And how could someone with such loose lips keep private information given to him by high profile hockey players - or keep a secret for two months that he was booted from a show so unceremoniously?
Meg, think back to when we met on Peter Street, in Toronto. Remember, how you told Launy and me that he got a “raw deal” on the show?
I feel bad for you, it must take a really long time in make-up, surely two faces take longer than one.
As a self-professed “journalist” – or even as just a contestant in the show – you should have at least the common sense, if not the professionalism, to mind what you say about your peers.
Launy has been nothing but gracious (and healthfully over-trusting) towards you and the show. That same respect should be afforded to him.
1. Less than 24 hours before the first day of the competition’s production, Sansone receives a phone call from a source – whom he won’t name – weeks after the alleged incident took place.
2. The only proof of any conversation between Sansone and the anonymous tipster is B-roll of Sansone talking on a cell phone, outside a building. For all we know, he could have been ordering a pizza.
3. Launy vehemently denies ever telling the media – whose job it is to publish secrets – his big secret. Many members of the media from Vegas have come forth to corroborate his story. And nowhere, before the Score officially made the announcement, did it ever appear in any forum that he was selected as a finalist.
Drafted was absolutely talked about in Vegas. At that point, with a strong social media campaign pushing Launy to be chosen, he already had many supporters. His proponents, in the media, would often introduce him to others saying, “This guy’s gotta be top-10 for the show.” Maybe someone misunderstood that sentence.
Again, why would someone who has been working his entire life through adversity, jeopardize an opportunity of such enormity, by telling the worst secret-keepers about it?
And how could someone with such loose lips keep private information given to him by high profile hockey players - or keep a secret for two months that he was booted from a show so unceremoniously?
Meg, think back to when we met on Peter Street, in Toronto. Remember, how you told Launy and me that he got a “raw deal” on the show?
I feel bad for you, it must take a really long time in make-up, surely two faces take longer than one.
As a self-professed “journalist” – or even as just a contestant in the show – you should have at least the common sense, if not the professionalism, to mind what you say about your peers.
Launy has been nothing but gracious (and healthfully over-trusting) towards you and the show. That same respect should be afforded to him.
And, Ms. Morrison, the next time you throw somebody under the bus, I suggest you look both ways, because it is very easy to get hit when you are not looking.
In Appreciation,
Dahlia Kurtz
In Appreciation,
Dahlia Kurtz
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