Joe Paterno: Near Death, Then Dead, Then Not Dead

If you have been following sports news tonight than you are as confused as I am.  First it was reported that Joe Paterno was in serious condition, then he had died, then he was alive.  What's going on?

Okay, I know that Joe Paterno hasn't had the best last couple of months, but death rumors are never true.  He is currently suffering from lung cancer and ESPN reports that he is in serious condition, but he is still alive.  Apparently CBS Sports jumped the gun and reported that he had died, which most people jumped on but then Paterno's family responded saying those reports were false.

So what's going on here?  Why is CBS reporting this stuff based on nothing more than some "he said, she said"?  I thought they were a credible source?  It's very confusing none the less, but he is in fact still  alive and battling lung cancer.