Posted on 05/16/2006 4:27:38 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
May 16, 2006
For those who think that sports broadcasts might offer a respite from liberal media spin . . . think again. At least when it comes to ESPN [an arm of ABC] the same ESPN that fired Rush Limbaugh for expressing his views on QB Donovan McNabb.
This time, ESPN let its liberal slip show in the matter of the Duke rape allegations. Yesterday, in the wake of his indictment, former lacrosse captain David Evans appeared before the press to assert his absolute innocence and those of his two co-defendants.
To comment on Evans' press appearance, ESPN, during the overnight edition of Sports Center, brought in its "legal analyst," a former Philly prosecutor by the name of Deborah Robinson. Commenting on Evans' press appearance, Robinson, with ill-concealed anger, claimed:
"It has no significance for the trial whatsoever. It's significant because it's unprecedented. I've never seen a defendant have a press conference before the trial even begins. . . It's tainting potential jurors, and that's what I think is the most significant thing about this press conference. The defense is trying to paint a picture for those jurors who will eventually hear the case about the defendant before the case even begins."
So let's get this straight. According to ESPN's employee, it is wrong for someone who passionately believes he has been wrongly accused of a heinous crime to publicly assert his innocence. Falsely accused defendants should simply sit in silence and take it.
Odd - I don't recall Robinson similarly condemning DA-cum-candidate Mike Nifong for his 70 press interviews and his public assertion that he believes the accuser - which of course amounts to accusing the defendant's of the crime. Guess outrage only works one way for ESPN's "legal analyst."
It is of course okay for the prosecution to charge these guys based on the "word" of a stripper and whore, but these men cannot defend themselves? Give me a stinking break. This country's so-called legal system sucks. I have been working for the military legal system and the civilian legal system for over 30 years. I can tell you, the military legal system is 10 times more fair than our stinking civilian legal system.
You are absolutely right. They can't stand to see a strong white male stand up for himself. We are all supposed to curl up in the fetal position and cry when someone says "racism" or we are accused of offending a minority. Moreover, whites are not supposed to express any kind of solidarity with their brothers and sisters. I am so proud of the white students at Duke who put the jersey numbers of Finnerty and Seligman on their graduation caps. If these kids were black basketball players and the prostitute was white there would be thousands of blacks in the streets protesting and the news media would be going ballistic in support of the players.
Loudly proclaiming your innocence is the wrong thing for an innocent man to do?
What a stupid, stupid comment.
ESPN has been ultra-leftist for a long time now. Remember how they pushed to the whole women into Augusta National thing with the Masters? Olberman always hated football, boxing and any other sport in direct proportion to how much it kicked ass, and he would use Sports Center as a platform for attacking them.
It's like how people who used to watch MTV wish it would just play videos-- even my left wing friends feel that ESPN sucks now because it's not about sports.
They certainly are bigots then.
I've never heard one of these former prosecutors who thought a fair trial necessary. Anything that makes it difficult to get a guilty verdict is considered obstruction.
What disgusts me is their holier than thou attitude, nothing is fair and perfect in this world, but at least the media could acknowledge their contemptous behavior.
Prosecutors, by filing charges alone, influence a potential juror.
Is WM still pushing the 'magic broomstick theory'?
I caught ESPN in my channel surfing which is about all I do lately. Can't take the talkers anymore so I've turned to sports, homeandgarden...LOL......and an occasional cooking show.
She must have missed Kobe Bryant's press conference when he admitted having sex with the accuser but claimed he was absolutely innocent of rape allegations.
Where was Roger Cossack, their normal legal analyst? Were they not going to get the Court-TV-like response they wanted?
I've not heard the broomstick theory in a few days. I guess this Evans indictment has pushed that off the radar...
Probably referred to them by Stephen A. Hole, who is also from Philly.
Good question - I was wondering where Cossack was too. He strikes me as intelligent and fair. This woman is no 'analyst.' At best she is a poorly-informed commentator.
I think Cossack does an excellent job. He seems to focus on the legal issues without taking sides or going overboard one way or the other. I suspect that wasn't the response ESPiN wanted to add to the hysteria.
I wonder if the White Congressional Caucus will be stepping up to speak in support of these clearly innocent Duke athletes.
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