Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
Gay Marriage Vote Puts Heat On Christie
They say everything's bigger in Texas, and apparently that includes April Fool's Day.Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway, took the liberty to backdate the joke-prone day a couple of days into March, catching multiple media outlets off guard thanks a press release that looked entirely too real because, well, he said it was real.
It all started with a news release from the track that surfaced Tuesday through the typical channels and in the track's typical style. The news? Gossage was offering a local radio host $100,000 to change his name to Texasmotorspeedway.com for a year and get a TMS tattoo.
The idea was certainly outlandish but not completely crazy. Considering the amount of coverage Gossage got his track, plus having a popular on-air personality be known by the track's web site for a year, spending $100,000 on a gimmick wasn't too absurd.
By early Wednesday, news spread that the radio host had accepted the offer -- and the track promoted it on its website.
Soon, though, ESPN's Terry Blount uncovered the real story: it was all a hoax. Both Gossage and the DJ were in on the scam, and just about everybody had fallen for it.
As with any group of people who fall for a joke -- especially the unexpected one -- some came down on the side of brushing it off as another "Oh, Eddie..." moment while others in the media felt betrayed, misled and pretty much abused.
ESPN's Blount, in fact, tweeted that it was a "huge blow to TMS credibility".
But really, can you blame those irritated? The press release came out on March 30, not April 1, and it was not accompanied by a memo explaining that April Fool's Day had been extended two full days into March. Instead, the TMS staff played along with the gimmick.
On the other hand, as USA Today's Nate Ryan tweeted, journalism today is very much on an "instant news cycle" thanks to the web.
Both, I say, are valid points in the argument over whether Gossage and the folks at TMS were out of line with their gimmick. It left a sore taste in a few people's mouths -- especially given that Gossage pulled the stunt two days before April Fool's Day.
Still, the hoax taught people, or at least refreshed their memory, that Gossage is still a showman at heart who learned his promotion business from the best -- former Charlotte Motor Speedway president H. A. "Humpy" Wheeler.
Whatever side you fall on, one fact shines clear: there's a few more people out there now who know about Texas Motor Speedway, proving that Gossage is doing his job.
How Long Will Santorum's Surge Last?
Washington Gay Marriage Legislation Signed Into Law By Governor Chris Gregoire
House GOP Offers Deal In Big Fight
Officials Confirm: Prescription Drugs Found In Whitney Houston's Room
Obama Budget Signals Shift From Austerity Measures To Campaign Promises
Feds Recover Record Number Of Health Care Fraud Judgments
U.S. Green-Lights Google's Massive $12.5 Billion Purchase
Syrian Rebels Fight Off Attack On Key Town
Downgraded: Moody's Cuts Credit Ratings Of Italy, Portugal And Spain
Republicans Slam Obama Birth Control Rule, Ignoring State Contraception Mandates
WATCH: Fox News Pundit's Disturbing Comments About Rape
Monsanto Guilty Of Chemical Poisoning Of French Farmer
Pressure Mounts On Mortgage Giants To Pursue Principal Reductions
Topless Protesters Target 'Gas Gangsters'
WATCH: 25 Million Tons Of Japan Tsunami Debris Headed Directly Our Way
WATCH: Anderson Cooper's Hilarious Adventures With Adele
WATCH: Bill Maher Rips GOP Concept Of 'Elites'
When Will The New iPad Be Announced?
Wall Street Fears Volcker Rule Will Force Testosterone Monitoring
Huff TV: WATCH: Arianna Weighs In On Tony Bennett's Call To Legalize Drugs
WATCH: CPAC's 'Best In Show'
Obama's Birth Control Rule Will Hurt Homeless Veterans, Warns GOP Congressman
