mrmoshe Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 (edited) Fish swallows basketball and lives http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0...from=public_rss A NATURE lover north of Sydney has saved a catfish stuck at the surface of a lake after swallowing a basketball. The man saw a basketball bobbing on the surface of Lake Macquarie and went to investigate. Much to his surprise, he discovered a flathead catfish that had bitten off more than it could chew by trying to swallow a basketball. The fish was completly exhausted from trying to dive with its flotsome fare, which popped it back to the surface each time it tried to dive. The concerned rescuer tried unsuccessfully to free the hapless fish from its unfortunate predicament. Finally, he and his wife improvised a solution by slashing, and thereby deflating, the basketball. More than he could chew ... a catfish flathead in Lake Macquarie near Newcastle was stuck to the surface after swallowing a basketball. / The Daily Telegraph ____________________________________ Now, the only problem with this story is that it's been doing the rounds since as far back as 2004 and is attributed to various countries around the world. A true urban legend! Snopes has it as being true, but from Wichita Kansas in 2004...Not Lake Macquarie as stated in the article. http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/catchfish.asp If this isn't a classic case of bad reporting, then I don't know what is. Do a Google Image search and punch in "Catfish Basketball" and you'll see the same picture and story, but from different places around the world since Adam was in nappies. Sloppy reporting like this gives newspapers a bad name. A true case of "don't believe everything you read in newspapers" I have sent the Courier Mail an email pointing out their "error"...can't wait to get a reply but not holding my breath. Pete. ________________________ 29 June: Well well, after I emailed the Courier Mail pointing out their "error" on this story, they actually pubished my comments. http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comment...093-952,00.html At least they are fair. Pete. Edited June 28, 2007 by MallacootaPete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flattieman Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 (edited) You're exactly right, Pete. I'm pretty sure that Flathead Catfish only exist in American fresh water! This is what fishbase says: Environment: demersal; freshwater Distribution: North America: lower Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins from western Pennsylvania to White-Little Missouri River system in North Dakota, and south to Louisiana in the USA; Gulf Slope from Mobile Bay drainage in Georgia and Alabama, USA to Mexico. Transplanted elsewhere in USA. That's absolutely ridiculous reporting! I bet you never let that kind of thing happen in the newsroom. Flattieman. This is my 2,222nd post! Edited June 29, 2007 by Flattieman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Oh Pete that is fantastic I get soooo tired of referring people to www.snopes.com to check out things sent to me in email and on posted this board. People will believe anything on the internet. Thinking I might put a new button up on fishraider SNOPES Well done Pete We are very lucky to have your services in our "newsroom" Cheers mrsswordfisherman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmoshe Posted June 29, 2007 Author Share Posted June 29, 2007 Funny how news travels fast....even bullsh*t news. Take a look how that bogus story is already doing the rounds throughout the world's press: http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2007/06/catfi...k-in-mouth.html http://kutv.com/watercooler/local_story_179122357.html http://futonreport.net/index.php/2007/2141649 Arrrrggghhhh!!! By tomorrow, I guarantee it'll appear in more and more papers around the world. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 too funny Pete Soon if you google this story you will be linked to fishraider forums heheheheh Cheers mrsswordfisherman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmoshe Posted June 29, 2007 Author Share Posted June 29, 2007 too funny Pete Soon if you google this story you will be linked to fishraider forums heheheheh Cheers mrsswordfisherman Ummmm...you mean like this???? http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&...sa=N&tab=iw Too funny. pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsswordfisherman Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmoshe Posted July 11, 2007 Author Share Posted July 11, 2007 Further to the bogus story about the basketball catfish. ABC Mediawatch picked up on the story too: ABC Mediawatch Funny about that eh? Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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