NFL insider has his defenders in Giant controversy
ESPN‘s NFL insider Adam Schefter found himself at the center of a media storm recently.
Critics and supporters weighed in after Schefter tweeted what appeared to be a medical document showing New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul had a finger amputated after a July 4 fireworks accident.
Some questioned the ethics of releasing private medical information.
Pulitzer Prize winner J.R. Moehringer, who collaborated with Andre Agassi on the best-seller "Open," was among those who sided with Schefter.
Out of the blue on July 8, Moehringer‘s email arrived while Schefter was riding a train from New York to Washington, where he was emceeing a diabetes conference.
"Nothing like staring out of the window of an Amtrak train and going over all your decisions," Moehringer wrote.
"Been there," he added.
Moehringer told Schefter not to second-guess himself.
"The photo is compelling and relevant -- isn‘t that sort of the criterion we‘re supposed to apply every day?
"Plus, it came to YOU," Moehringer added.
"Ask (expletive) Woodward and Bernstein what they would have done.
"I‘m sure the reaction has floored you. We‘re only human, and there‘s nothing like being in the cross-hairs of Internet rage.
"But, sooner or later everyone gets a turn. Thank God when your turn came, you were in the right."
Schefter, who was in Las Vegas this weekend to participate in the Fantasy Sports Combine, shared the email with Moehringer‘s permission.
"I still think I did the right thing," Schefter said.
We were colleagues at the Rocky Mountain News during the 1980s and 1990s.
Schefter said in an email that both he and Moehringer applied to be Colorado Rockies beat writers for the Rocky. "Both got rejected," he said.
"We even lived on the same block in Denver -- Milwaukee Street, about 10 houses part," Schefter said. "Even double dated."
Moehringer moved on to the Los Angeles Times and won a Pulitzer Prize in 2000.
Schefter jumped to the Denver Post, where he covered the Broncos for 15 years before moving to NFL.com as an on-air reporter in 2004. ESPN hired him in 2009.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Changes at KVVU, Channel 5‘s morning news: Dave Hall is returning to Fox5 after three years as morning anchor in Kansas City to team up with Marie Silva as morning anchors, 4:30 to 7 a.m.. Silva is moving over from Fox5‘s "More" show. They will join Monica Jackson and Jason Feinberg on "More" at the end of the summer. Hall and Silva are replacing Stefanie Jay and John Dabkovich. ...
Miss Oklahoma USA Olivia Jordan, who went on to win the Miss USA Pageant a week ago, won the $25,000 first prize at the Luli Fama Swimwear Model Search Finals at Encore Beach Club at Wynn hotel-casino last summer. ...
A local favorite, Streetcar Po-Boys Sandwich Shop, has moved to 5201 W. Charleston Blvd. in the Red Rock Plaza.
SIGHTINGS
LeBron James, playing blackjack at Wynn on Friday while his bodyguards kept fans at bay. ... Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, signing autographs outside the Wynn Tower Suites. Paul later attended the Jabbawockeez (Luxor) with his family. ... Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett, with friends at Wet Republic Ultra Pool at MGM Grand on Friday. ... Golden State Warriors star Andre Iguodala, the 2015 NBA Finals MVP, with friends in his cabana at Tao Beach in The Venetian on Friday. ... At Tao nightclub on Friday: John Wall of the Washington Wizards, Nerlens Noel of the Philadelphia 76ers, Jordan Clarkson of the Los Angeles Lakers, Bernard James of the Dallas Mavericks; Okaro White, who plays pro basketball in Italy, and Julius Thomas of the Jacksonville Jaguars. ... Julius Randle of the Los Angeles Lakers, dining at Lavo in the Palazzo with friends Thursday. ... At Tao nightclub on Thursday: Wall, Miami Heat assistant coach Juwan Howard and former Golden State Warrior Jermaine O‘Neal. ... Engelbert Humperdinck, filming at the Westgate Las Vegas‘ Elvis Exhibition on Thursday. Humperdinck headlined at the Las Vegas Hilton, now Westgate, for nearly a decade when he and Tony Orlando rotated between the Hilton and Riviera.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Caitlyn Jenner was given the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at (the) ESPY Awards. Caitlyn received the award for spending 24 years married to Kris Jenner." -- Seth Meyers
Norm Clarke‘s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter.
