Sports Media

How in the World Does Bob Nightengale still have a Job?

Dominic Gutierrez / MLB / November 2, 2022

How in the World Does Bob Nightengale still have a Job?

Being a journalist in the sports industry is a privilege. Anyone can try doing it, but only so many can actually be good at it. I think Bob Nightengale of USA Today should stop trying. He’s been doing this for over two decades. I don’t understand how he stinks at his job.

Seriously, we’ll look at some of his god-awful tweets and see just how terrible he is. Nightengale makes it seem like anyone can do this job. I’m sure Julia Shoffner could’ve produced better work than Nightengale has over his career.

That may be a stretch. Regardless, he’s still pretty terrible with his work for MLB. Most recently, he broke the news that Commissioner Rob Manfred isn’t optimistic the A’s will get a new stadium in Oakland and believes the team will move to Las Vegas.

Commissioner Rob Manfred tells @MadDogUnleashed that he’s no longer optimistic the #A’s will remain in Oakland (‘It just doesn’t look like it’s going to happen’) and likely will move to Las Vegas. He believes the #Rays will stay put with a new ballpark in Tampa.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 29, 2022

Ah, but of course, he didn’t actually provide legit facts. Manfred apparently didn’t say that at all, and after listening to the interview it was very clear that he didn’t.

WOW. So I finally heard the actual comments from Manfred with Chris Russo. Here they are transcribed. I don't think they were characterized correctly by a certain national reporter. pic.twitter.com/OnRTm1ii8x
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) October 29, 2022

Did he even listen to the interview? Clearly not, and if he did then he’s due for a hearing check. It gets better, however. A day after this, the Kansas City Royals hired Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro. Nightengale didn’t quite understand and sent a tweet that simply made no sense.

all fixed pic.twitter.com/SpxRJZEdta
— Alec Crouthamel (@aleccr12) October 30, 2022

First of all, the Rays didn’t hire Quatraro. Second, The Royals were not the last team needing a manager.

At least he was smart enough to delete this one. We’ll highlight one more, and then I’ll leave you a list of hilarious tweets. When the A’s drafted Kyler Murray back in 2016, there was speculation whether he’d even stay with baseball. He didn’t, and four minutes AFTER Murray announced he was going to the NFL, Nightengale tweeted this:

The Oakland #Athletics cautiously optimistic in hopes of seeing Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray at spring training this week https://t.co/NY85KPCyV4 via ⁦@USATODAY⁩
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 11, 2019

Excellent reporting. I’m pretty sure Murray wouldn’t report to spring training if he committed to the NFL. But what do I know, I’m just an intern. Anyways, let’s cap this off by looking at some amazingly embarrassing tweets by Nightengale.

Eventful two hours pic.twitter.com/YjD5rOSVIn
— Freezing Cold Takes (@OldTakesExposed) June 23, 2020

The #Cubs get Shelby Miller from #Braves for Javy Baez per @GDubCub
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 8, 2015

Deal never happened

Cleveland is definitely trading Mike Clevinger by tomorrow's deadline, but it's still unknown where he's going, with teams still upping their offers. They have requested players physicals from at least two teams, but NOT the #Padres, who appear no longer to be the favorites.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 31, 2020

Clevinger did in fact go to the Padres