Zitterman Seeks State Senate Seat

Accused Killer Insists Police Have Wrong Man 
Frank Little Has Selected Three 
Photos Of Men He Says Killed 
Geraldine Hutchins, But The 
District Attorney Does Not Expect Any More Arrests In The Case

Sunday, February 20, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





``Was the ice slippery?'' was one of my favorite examples of journalism at
its finestA `3' for CBS, a `10' for Dave Barry &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Unless you're dead, you've noticed that these are the weeks where
everything has been taking second place to the Olympics. And after hours of
television watching, scanning stories on the wires and reading more in
newspapers than a sane person probably would, I'm ready to bestow the first
annual Olympic Awards for Journalistic Achievement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before these awards are given, let me take a minute to explain the points
system and the judging criteria. (If I was CBS Sports, I would also stall with
30 minutes of commercial breaks, boring fluff and strolls down the Storgata,
whatever that is.) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But I'm not CBS Sports, so you're safe. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The scoring is divided into three major categories: 1) Creativity (30
percent of total); 2) Footwork (30 percent), and 3) Originality (30 percent).
Judging, as in skating, is purely subjective and based on nothing more than
what I think. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If this were really an Olympic event, you would already know the winners.
That's the result of an amazing time difference (I think Norway is already
into 1995) and our technologically advanced computer network that allows
future events to happen in the past. Or something like that. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But I've stalled long enough. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The bronze medal goes to... CBS Sports. That's some feat considering CBS
was the only network broadcasting the events. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It's difficult to isolate what specific event has earned this award since
CBS Sports coverage has set itself apart for its ability to show less Olympic
footage in more hours than anyone else. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If you or I had access to 300 hours of sports excellence and 300 hours of
air time, the key would be simple: show the sports on television. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But CBS, through its creativity, has taken 300 hours of air time and spread
30 hours of sports into it, using the leftover video tape as stuffing for Greg
Gumbel. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Besides consistency, CBS earns my vote because of its inability to
communicate much of anything despite its newscasters' nonstop blather. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Take, for example, the announcer's description of a blind boy's journey to
the rink where his hero, Norwegian speedskater Johann Olav Koss, would capture
two gold medals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Listening to a sportscaster describe a blind boy "see" Koss is exactly the
kind of excellence that captures the true essence of these awards. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Thank you, CBS. Now can we have another commercial, please. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The silver medal goes to... an unnamed CBS reporter who used his position
to terrorize Dan Jansen and his coach. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Most of you already know the sad saga of Jansen, an American speedskater
who struggled to shake his Olympic jinx and win a medal. Jansen slipped during
the 500 meter contest, causing him to finish out of medal range. Again. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was nothing short of heart-wrenching to watch Jansen collect his stuff
after the race and begin the long stride to safety -- from inquiring minds,
that is. We television viewers had just witnessed his slip 50 times in instant
replays from every angle except by Goodyear blimp. Sticking his microphone in
Jansen's face, this reporter began the typical "what happened?" and "how do
you feel?" line of questioning. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To Jansen's credit, he didn't stick his skates down the reporter's throat
as he followed him down the steps to the lockers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Do you think you'll be back in 2000?" were the last words you could hear
as Jansen finally disappeared. I was embarrassed for my profession: couldn't
you leave the poor guy alone? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 No. This enterprising reporter -- he probably got a raise for his
persistence -- tracked down Jansen's coach and started again. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Was the ice slippery?" was one of my favorite examples of journalism at
its finest."Ice is always slippery," answered the coach scurrying down those
steps to freedom. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Where was a commercial when you really needed one? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The gold medal goes to... Dave Barry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There is no denying the splendor of athletic glory and patriotism that
makes the Olympics such a special spectacle. There is also no denying the
ability of the press to blow all of this totally out of proportion. Barry
manages to capture both. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 From the image of a teaming mass of journalists stuck together with Velcro
to the description of the crowd covering the first practice of Tonya Harding
and Nancy Kerrigan as "the entire population of

``was The Ice Slippery?'' Was One Of My Favorite Examples Of Journalism At Its Finest.