The Art of the Lie.

While discussing the White Sox World Series victory on ESPN's "The Sports Reporters" this morning, King Liar tried to slide the following, ummm, "misleading statement" past the doting viewing public: "Of the past five World Series Champions, only one has spent over $100 million on payroll."

My first reaction is that this should not be a surprise.

"Only one"? Well, there are only a few teams in the entire league that spend that much money on payroll. Even if those teams have an obvious advantage, it should be just as obvious that those few teams can't win the World Series every single year.

In 2004, for example, only the Red Sox and the Yankees had a payroll of $100+ million. Both the Red Sox and the Yankees are in the same league. Only one team can win the World Series in any given year. Therefore, I can pretty much guarantee that at least one $100+ million team will not win the World Series every single year for the rest of MLB's existence.

It's should not really come as a surprise to anyone that the White Sox could win the World Series while spending "only" $75 million on payroll.


Okay, so I disagree with the substantive relevance of Lupica's assertion. But why am I claiming that Lupica is lying?

Because when Lupica states that "no team since 2000 has spent $100 million and won the World Series," the listener naturally assumes that the team that won the World Series in 2000 spent $100 million.

That would be the Yankees, if you need your memory refreshed. They beat the Mets that year.

Except the listener would be wrong. The Yankees did not spend $100 million in 2000. Only one team has ever spent $100+ million and won the World Series in the same year. That team was the 2004 Red Sox.

It's not your fault if you inferred that the 2000 Yankees had spent $100 million. You were lied to by Mike Lupica.

Technically, what he is saying is correct. "Only one World Series champion since 2000 has spent $100 million on payroll." In fact, only one World Series champion since 1903 has spent $100 million on payroll -- and that team wasn't the Yankees.


Now, if Lupica wants to ridicule the Yankees for spending $100+ million and not winning the World Series -- and he seldom misses the opportunity -- it's a different issue altogether. There's no reason to exaggerate, there's no need to lie.

So why is Lupica misleading the public and suggesting that the 2000 Yankees spent $100+ million? (In fact, a casual listener would probably infer that the Torre-era Yankees made a habit of spending $100 million because, since they stopped winning the title, only one team has been able to duplicate their achievement.)

I think it's simply because Lupica is such a natural born liar that he doesn't know the difference.