deadspin

The 404 1,191: Where you had me at Hello Touch (podcast)

It's my birthday today and Jeff is still making me write the blog for today's episode, but I'm fine with that because today is an exceptional show. Not just because Richard "Gems" Peterson lived up to his nickname on two occasions, but also because the stories are exceptionally strange.

First we'll look at how cheaters in Japan are getting away with their infidelity with the help of an older Fujitsu phone, simply because of a layer of stealth security that gives users privacy that would make the Ethan Hunts and James Bonds of the world jealous.

Not that we're suggesting you take tomorrow off and cheat on your spouse, but at least the misstep that leads to you getting caught will be your fault, not technology's.… Read more

Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend was born and died on social media

Manti Te'o's tale was a portrait of a heartbroken football player overcoming adversity -- triumphing over the tragic death of his girlfriend.

The devout Mormon, Notre Dame linebacker, and runner up to the 2012 Heisman Trophy first suffered the loss of his grandmother, then his girlfriend to leukemia. On the day she died, he had one of the best games of his college career, logging 12 tackles.

The only problem is that she didn't die...because she apparently never existed.

In an exhaustive investigation, Deadspin's Timothy Burke and Jack Dickey detail how Te'o started dating … Read more

Buzz Bissinger is an angry man (and he has a potty mouth)

Think it can get testy between mainstream media and technology blogs? Take a break from that Twitter debate and head over to the sports world.

Tuesday night, HBO's "CostasNow" put a harsh light on sports blogging (you can see the segment yourself). The highlight was a panel discussion with Costas, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards, Will Leitch, editor of the sports blog Deadspin, and H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger, author of the book Friday Night Lights, which was later turned into a movie and television series.

The segment was stunning for two reasons: One; Costas … Read more