NY Time Can’t Get Story Straight– From Tom’s Lawyer

According to Nikki Finke, New York Times readers out here missed a really great quote from Bert Fields, legal counsel to Tom Cruise.

Tom’s co-producer Paula Wagner said there are plans for that $100 million equity financing deal from a pair of hedge funds. In the dead-tree version, Fields said simply that he was unaware of such plans. But after the reporters ( bylined as David M. Halbfinger, Geraldine Fabrikant and Sharon Waxman) protested, Bert’s real response was put back in the on-line story, according to Nikki. She’s right, too. It’s a doozie.

But Mr. Fields said he was unaware of those plans. ‘I don’t think Tom has raised $100 million in a hedge fund,’ he said. ‘And I know nothing about any such thing. I think that’s just talk.’

And as Nikki points out:

Bert is Tom’s lawyer, not Sumner’s. This is exactly why people respect Fields so much — because he knows the truth hurts.

Defamer has a Tom sighting at Yahoo!–no, it’s HBO–no, it’s Yahoo! So maybe Tom’s closing some big deals.

And Sumner’s smiling because Viacom’s stock rose 21 cents, closing at $36.66, yesterday. Coincidence?

Earlier: Sumner Still Pimping Mission Impossible 3

Create a social media strategy, launch your campaign, and track the results in our Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting February 16. The online event and workshop will feature speakers including The Onion‘s Baratunde Thurston (left), Facebook’s Morin Oluwole, and bitly’s Tim Devane. Register now.