Every weekday, PR Daily associate editor Alan Pearcy highlights the day’s most compelling stories and amusing marginalia on the Web in this, #TheDailySpin.

Satirical news hub The Onion is taking its viral lumps after critics across the Web panned an image taken from a video on its site that shows a plane with the Sears logo about to hit Chicago’s Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower. Sticking to its sardonic tone, reports The Huffington Post, marketing director for The Onion, Grant Jones, cynically responded: "9-11 must never be the fodder for jokes. Perhaps you didn't see the news that humor died after 9-11."

Meanwhile, NBC’s coverage of the Summer Games has continued to irk television audiences and critics for one reason or another. Among the most recent complaints, at least according to Yahoo Sports blog Fourth Place Medal, is the distracting world record line superimposed on the screens.

NBC also had to deal with grievances that arose following U.S. Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas’ gold medal-winning performance in the women’s all-around competition. In what The Hollywood Reporter explains was a “coincidental occurrence” on the network’s part, it cut to a promo for a new fall show titled “Animal Practice,” in which a monkey that stars in the sitcom was shown hanging from gymnastic rings. With Douglas being the first African American woman to win the event, many deemed the timing of the promo racist and callous to viewers.

Nevertheless, something tells me the gymnast hasn’t given the NBC incident a second thought. She’s probably too busy sorting out her endorsement deals for when she’s finished at the games. Already having nabbed the front of the Kellogg’s Corn Flakes cereal box, the Olympic champion’s triumphs while in London could potentially earn the smiling young Douglas millions.

On the contrary, U.S. swimmer and gold medalist Missy Franklin is declining her stake to millions in endorsement deals to maintain her amateur status and swim in college.

Meanwhile, it’s Olympic moments like that of Douglas and Franklin that one photojournalist from The Guardian is capturing using only his iPhone.

Let’s hope this smartphone also captures plenty of footage of the athletes’ unique styles of celebration in London. From Serena Williams' “crip walk” after winning gold in ladies’ singles tennis to the U.S. women’s soccer team premeditated goal-scoring revelry, there’s certainly plenty of moments to snap.



Blame Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s victory pose for all of the images of people we’re about to see “Bolting,” the latest photo meme to go viral.

At least the runner’s accolades warrant the imitation. Bolt’s win in the 100-meter dash on Sunday set a record for the BBC when 20 million viewers in Britain tuned in to watch, reportedly the network’s biggest televised sporting event.

And despite heavy disparagement on social media among viewers, NBC can’t be feeling too down about its ratings. According to The New York Times, the network’s coverage may turn a profit after initial predictions forecast a $200 million or more loss.

[Related: The weeks’ best social media developments from London]

Maybe NBC could do for its event coverage what Jest has done using infographics to showcase the quality of awesomeness by season for TV programs such as “Breaking Bad,” “Entourage,” and “The Simpsons.”

Is there something you think we should include in our next edition of #TheDailySpin? Tweet me @iquotesometimes with your suggestions. Thanks in advance.