The anatomy of the ‘Tom Izzo to Pistons’ rumor

ESPN

“How do rumors get started. They’re started by the jealous people.” On Tuesday, in a video clip titled “NBA Rumors”, Sam Amick of the USA Today casually mentioned the Pistons would make a play for Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. His entire report could be condensed into a 6-second clip.

“One name he’s expected to go after is Tom Izzo at Michigan State.”

13 WORDS! There was no “I spoke to somebody in the Pistons organization” there was no “I have a source.” He was simply regurgitating a rumor that kinda, sorta rears its ugly head every few years.

From there, every Tom, Dick and Harry rolled with it as a “report.”

Sports Illustrated

CBS Sports

ESPN

Bleacher Report

Then to make matters worse, Spartan alum Jemele Hill perpetuated the rumor on Around the Horn and sourced, I kid you not, Jalen Rose. I can’t even.

Finally, after hours and hours of rumors and innuendo, Tom Izzo addressed the cockamamie BS.

Izzo, "I'm upset with the media because someone is making up stuff..t's embarassing for me and the Pistons."

— Matt Shepard (@ShepMatt) March 26, 2014

Izzo, I've never met or talked with Tom Gores…I pull for the Pistons and feel for Joe Dumars right now."

— Matt Shepard (@ShepMatt) March 26, 2014

So there you have it. The anatomy of the “Tom Izzo to Pistons” rumor was basically started with a 13-word blurb on some dude’s videocast.

Amazing.