After CBS Scooped NBC, Did ESPN Scoop CBS?

By Chris Ariens 

Katie Couric sat down with US Airways pilot Capt. Chesley Sullenberger last Friday for his first interview since the emergency landing into the Hudson River. But the hero pilot, who’s been mostly mum about the subject, also talked to ESPN magazine’s Rick Reilly this past weekend at the Super Bowl.

We noticed this last night on WABC’s 11 O’Clock news. WABC and ESPN have the same parent company Disney-ABC.

“Sully” talked about feeling “calm on the outside, turmoil inside” during the plunge into the Hudson. “It was very quiet as we worked, my co-pilot and I. We were a team. But to have zero thrust coming out of those engines was shocking – the silence.”

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Reilly briefly interviewed Sullenberger in Tampa, where he and his crew were guests of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

ESPN, The Magzine’s Website exclaims, “Captain Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger Talks to Us…First. Sorry Katie Couric, we couldn’t help ourselves.”

But, since Couric’s interview happened Friday, she was first. We’ll all just have to wait until Sunday to see the whole story on 60 Minutes.

Earlier: Hero Pilot To Give First Interview to Katie Couric, Not Matt Lauer

> Update: Couric was in Charlotte, NC yesterday where Sullenberger met with more than 50 passengers from his flight.

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