THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 12, 1997 TAG: 9701110004
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 30 lines
After reading Dave Anderson's Jan. 2 (New York Times) diatribe against Michael Irvin on your Sports page, I find it remarkable that a ``professional journalist'' is still gunning for someone through ``trial by media.'' Where was this newsman during all the media hand-wringing and soul-searching after the Richard Jewell fiasco?
Anderson is using Irvin's ``no contest'' plea to make him instantly guilty of all things. In his own words, Anderson says that ``Jones shouldn't wait for Dallas police to unravel the Cowboys' latest mess. Or wait for the NFL to monitor the judicial process.'' What about innocent until proved guilty?
Anderson does go on to say, ``If Jones needs a reason, Irvin has provided several. Stupidity. Arrogance. Or simply embarrassed the Cowboys and the NFL again.''
Perhaps The New York Times should fire Dave Anderson for the same reasons - just change The New York Times as the organization embarrassed. Maybe your newspaper should consider the same for your sports editor for wasting news space with this trash.
I know that your sports people hate the Cowboys (sports staff writer Bob Molinaro hates everything), but maybe your people should think about how many Cowboys fans subscribe to your newspaper. Look around - see all the Cowboys clothing and paraphernalia?
WILLIAM M. MILLER
Virginia Beach, Jan. 2, 1997