This week, former writers for the sports blog Deadspin noticed that some of their work had disappeared from the site’s archives. Despite no clear reason for the removal of posts covering various topics, such as ESPN’s attempt to create a “Black Grantland” and George R.R. Martin’s work ethic, many former contributors suspected it was deliberate. The blog had recently been acquired by a new owner, Lineup Publishing, with ties to the online betting industry. This raised concerns about whether the new owner was trying to erase the blog’s history.
Lineup Publishing claimed that the disappearances were a mistake and apologized for any confusion caused. Tim Booker, one of the company’s cofounders, explained that the temporary deletions occurred during the migration of Deadspin’s archives to a new platform. While many deleted posts were restored, some had incorrect information, such as a byline error in a post from 2015.
In conversations with Truth Voices, Booker shared his plans for Deadspin, which included incorporating gambling content but ruling out AI-generated blog posts. Despite the reassurances, the blog’s takeover by Lineup Publishing unsettled some former contributors and readers due to Deadspin’s turbulent past, including a mass staff exodus in protest of editorial restrictions imposed by a previous owner.
The blog’s reputation suffered further setbacks with the hiring of replacement bloggers and a defamation lawsuit over false accusations made against a child. Lineup Publishing’s acquisition of Deadspin in 2024 raised questions, particularly after it was revealed that one of the new owners had connections to online gambling. This led to speculations about the blog’s future direction as a potential gambling referral site.
Booker confirmed that Deadspin under the new ownership would feature betting content but emphasized that it would not become a spam-filled website. He stressed their intention to preserve the blog’s integrity and mentioned plans to include lifestyle and pop culture stories. The move comes at a time when sports media is increasingly partnering with betting companies, raising ethical concerns about the intersection of gambling and journalism.
Despite the industry trend, some outliers like Defector continue to question the ethical implications of this partnership. Booker and his co-owner Noremo expressed genuine interest in the media business and aim to revamp Deadspin while maintaining its core identity.
