Media's outrage towards Kenny Rogers

[Easy Mac]

Seriously, what is up with the media's over the top outrage at Kenny Rogers? You'd think he'd raped 9 Malaysian blind kids working in a sweatshop while killing their mothers. I mean, Kobe raped a woman, and he wasn't reviled nearly as much as Rogers has been. WIlbon was on PTI calling for a longer suspension... Why? Did Rogers ever actually touch the cameraman? Everytime I see it on TV, they talk about him hitting the cameraman. I've watched the video far more than is necessary, and I honestly don't think he physically made any contact with the cameraman. This wouldn't have been a story if the guy wasn't faking an injury or just dropped the fucking camera.

Should Rogers be suspended? Sure, 20 games is fine by me. But the whole "criminal charges" for assault (what the fuck? Maybe desctruction of property) and the "outrage" that he only got 20 games (pretty much the same Rodman got for kicking a camera man, actually touching him). Is it just a slow time for the media right now?

[korme]

This wouldn't have been a story if the guy wasn't faking an injury or just dropped the fucking camera.
Yea, what an idiot. This guy should have just dropped his job while he was at. Might as well break your camera and retire than stand up to a guy who doesn't want to be filmed.

[sterlingice]

I agree with you 100% but you know what it really is. It's the "he attacked one of our own so we're going after him" mentality. If he had attacked a lawyer, you'd see all kinds of crazy legal proceedings. But he went after a reporter so it's like killing children to them. In other words, they're scared something will happen to them so they have to vilify him as much as humanly possible.

SI

[Balldog]

I like how David Wells only got 6 games for basically pushing an umpire during a game. Makes a lot of sense.

[Raiders Army]

You've got to know when to hold em. Know when to fold em...

[ISiddiqui]

But the whole "criminal charges" for assault (what the fuck? Maybe desctruction of property)
Well it's a clear cut case of battery. Battery involves the unwanted touching of a person or something connected to the person (a camera qualifies). Assault is attempted battery (basically). So assault and battery fit here, even if the guy had no injuries at all.

[stkelly52]

Why is he being charged with assault? Because he assaulted a person, it was caught on film and that person decided to press charges. Your comparisons to Kobe are way off base. Kobe WAS villified, (moreso than Rodgers even) but the simple fact is that there was no real proof that he committed a crime. Does the fact that he assaulted a member of the media add to the amount of coverage that the story receives? I am sure it does a little. However, having the attack on tape increases the coverage of if 20 times more.

[Draft Dodger]

Kobe was found guilty?

[stevew]

Suspending starting pitchers is always a tricky thing, since they only play once out of 5 days. Essentially he only misses 4 or 5 starts from this whole mess.

[cartman]

I think he should have some of the time reduced on the suspension, because when he found out the camera man was in the hospital, he...

wait for it...

wait for it...

just dropped in, to see what condition his condition was in.

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2110421

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers had another run-in with a cameraman Monday when he turned himself in on misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an earlier tirade against two cameramen.

Kenny Rogers
Rogers

The three-time All-Star, who is appealing a 20-game suspension and $50,000 fine, was released after posting $1,500 bond. Contrary to earlier reports, there has been no hearing date set for Rogers to appeal his suspension, players' association officials said Monday.

Rogers jawed at a cameraman for Dallas-Fort Worth television station WFAA as he was booked into the county jail. Just as with the incident that led to the charges, the exchange was caught on tape.

WFAA reported on its Web site Monday that photographer Mike Zukerman was videotaping the procedure when Rogers turned to him and said, "You're getting really close; you know that? Do you hear me?"

A few seconds later, Rogers again turned to the camera, saying, "You must be pretty proud of yourself, too."

After Zukerman replied, "It's just my job, Kenny," Rogers responded: "Yeah. Your job. That's just your excuse."

The Rangers declined to comment, referring questions to Rogers' attorney, who didn't return a telephone call.

Rogers, 40, faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of assault with injury in the shoving of KDFW-TV cameraman Larry Rodriguez, Arlington police spokeswoman Christy Gilfour said.

Police also will mail to Rogers' attorney a Class C misdemeanor assault citation for the shoving of Fox Sports Net Southwest cameraman David Mammeli, Gilfour said.

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000, or both. A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

On June 29, Rogers lashed out at the cameramen as they taped him walking to the field for pregame stretching. The episode led to Rodriguez being treated at a hospital after the camera was ripped from his hands and thrown to the ground.

Rogers apologized a week later, saying the incident was out of character and would never happen again.

Gilfour said Fox Sports -- which owns the camera Rogers damaged in the shoving of Rodriguez -- has declined to press criminal charges.

Rogers was booed at last week's All-Star Game, but he said he came because he wanted the players who voted for him to know he appreciated it. He didn't want those votes to be wasted.

Before giving up six runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings at Los Angeles on June 22, Rogers won nine straight decisions, a career best, and was the AL ERA leader. It wasn't known until after he pulled out of a start June 28 against the Angels that he had a broken bone in his non-pitching hand by punching a water cooler 11 days earlier.

Okay, now either this guy is a complete idiot or he has some issues that are running deeper than a little anti-media sentiment. Or maybe both.

Personally, I'm guessing that his wife was caught in an affair with a camerman at some point or something.

[Ryan S]

I think that what happened today was barely worth reporting. People complain about TV cameras all the time without it making the front page of ESPN.com

[jeff061]

Yeah, but you think that oaf would let it slide this one time.

[sterlingice]

Rogers jawed at a cameraman for Dallas-Fort Worth television station WFAA as he was booked into the county jail. Just as with the incident that led to the charges, the exchange was caught on tape.

WFAA reported on its Web site Monday that photographer Mike Zukerman was videotaping the procedure when Rogers turned to him and said, "You're getting really close; you know that? Do you hear me?"

A few seconds later, Rogers again turned to the camera, saying, "You must be pretty proud of yourself, too."

After Zukerman replied, "It's just my job, Kenny," Rogers responded: "Yeah. Your job. That's just your excuse."

The Rangers declined to comment, referring questions to Rogers' attorney, who didn't return a telephone call.
I kindof have a problem with them sending the same guy out there and him getting close to Rogers to film stuff. If this guy was really scared or intimidated or whatever, he'd be staying away from Rogers. Instead, he's right there, close to Rogers, by the sound of it.

It's like walking into a "bad" neighborhood at night in a suit and luxury car and wondering why you got robbed. No, you didn't do anything wrong in that you weren't doing the crime, but you sure were stupid and should have known better.

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

i think it's kinda become a self-perpetuating thing at this point...he has pissed off a member of the 5th estate so now everyone is not necessarily gunning for him, but everyone is kinda seeing just how much they can push his buttons or take it, until he is forced to pay the price.

does that make sense?

[sterlingice]

i think it's kinda become a self-perpetuating thing at this point...he has pissed off a member of the 5th estate so now everyone is not necessarily gunning for him, but everyone is kinda seeing just how much they can push his buttons or take it, until he is forced to pay the price.

does that make sense?
It makes perfect sense. I'm just saying I don't like it. (also, isn't the press one of the four estates, hence not the 5th estate?)

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

It makes perfect sense. I'm just saying I don't like it. (also, isn't the press one of the four estates, hence not the 5th estate?)

SI
okay...yeah that may be so. maybe i misspoke, I don't know.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I kindof have a problem with them sending the same guy out there and him getting close to Rogers to film stuff.

One of us must be reading that wrong, because I don't believe it was the same guy.

photographer Mike Zukerman was videotaping the procedure when Rogers

and then
Rogers, 40, faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of assault with injury in the shoving of KDFW-TV cameraman Larry Rodriguez

This appears to be a different guy from a different station. Or am I just missing something here somewhere?

[JonInMiddleGA]

fifth estate
n.

A class or group in society other than the nobility, the clergy, the middle class, and the press.

[k0ruptr]

he should be suspended longer and get jail time. assault is assault.

[korme]

SI, you a big Rogers fan or something? The cameraman should stay away? It's a different guy, doing his (same) job. You're joking if you are completely 100% trying to take Kenny's side here.

[sterlingice]

One of us must be reading that wrong, because I don't believe it was the same guy.

photographer Mike Zukerman was videotaping the procedure when Rogers

and then
Rogers, 40, faces a Class A misdemeanor charge of assault with injury in the shoving of KDFW-TV cameraman Larry Rodriguez

This appears to be a different guy from a different station. Or am I just missing something here somewhere?
SI, you a big Rogers fan or something? The cameraman should stay away? It's a different guy, doing his (same) job. You're joking if you are completely 100% trying to take Kenny's side here.
Whoops. I completely misread it: I thought it was the same guy.

SI

[HomerJSimpson]

He is just pissed he has to constantly hear "The Gambler" jokes for the rest of his life.