The Circuitous Life of a Rumor

Consider the following:

• Nov 27 (JST): Sponichi publishes a blurb with information from Takashi Saito’s agent, saying that about eight teams are in on Saito. Four teams are named as suitors, all of which seem plausbile.
• Nov 29 (PST): I make note of the interest in Saito in a set of bullet points about him and a couple other free agents.
• Nov 29 (CST): MLB Trade Rumors picks up my post.
• Nov 29: The story makes its way into the US media, including Phil Rogers’ Chicago Tribune mention of the Cubs and White Sox interest in Saito.
• Dec 1 (JST): Sanspo publishes a story, citing the Chicago Tribune, saying that the Chicago teams are interested in Saito.

So this rumor, which is entirely reasonable, has come full circle: it originated in Japan, made its way via the blogosphere into the US media, and wound up getting repeated in a different Japanese publication. This isn’t meant to be self-congratulatory, but I think it demonstrates the position of social media.