Media have flaws, but treatment of T.O. episode not one of them

But today in the Philadelphia Daily News the headline says, "Press drags itself though muck again."

What?

The press screwed up? That's the kind of ignorance a myopic, protective Dallas Cowboys fan might think up. That's not the kind of thing I should be reading in a newspaper in Philadelphia or Miami or anywhere else in this country, where the media gets paid to turn tiger when there's meat on a story.

And there is no story meatier than Terrell Owens. When he's riding a stationary bike instead of practicing, he's a story. When he's dancing in the end zone, he's a story. When he's catching 20 passes for 300 yards, he's a story. And by all means, when he's the subject of a police report that says he has attempted suicide, he's a story.

Did the media overreact during Wednesday's evolving news cycle? Short of a reporter sneaking into Owens' room dressed as a doctor, I'm not sure it's possible to overreact to this story. Terrell Owens? Suicide? That's one hell of a story.

Terrell Owens, allergic reaction? Not so big. No question there. But that wasn't what Dallas police were saying. They were calling it a suicide attempt. If they were wrong, so be it. They were wrong.

But after being worn out, again, by Terrell Owens, the media today is griping and looking for fresh angles, fresh meat. And so in some places the media has turned on itself.

Look, media. If you want to gripe about something, if you want to go cannibal and eat your own, here's some fresh meat: Attack any newspaper that would transparently pander to athletes or readers in a pathetic attempt to apologize for the rest of us.

And as for you media in Philadelphia and Miami and anywhere else trying to further that position, here's some advice: If you're going to attack the media, you damn well better be right.