Marv Albert appeared in an Arlington, VA, courtroom
yesterday "as his attorney told a Circuit Court judge that
Albert will plead not guilty" to sexual assault charges
brought against him by a VA woman, according to Lan Nguyen
of the WASHINGTON POST. Albert's trial date was set for
September 22 (WASHINGTON POST, 5/28).
REAX: The charges against Albert and NBC's decision to
have him remain as part of its broadcast team were examined
in the weekend media. On ESPN's "The Sports Reporters," Bob
Ryan said, "Albert's name is ruined forever ... innocent,
guilty, acquitted, it doesn't matter. This is what he's
facing for the rest of his life. He's 53 years old, he's
got 20 viable years left, and in that sense, he's part of
the public discourse, and he's ruined. That's where we are
in this sick society" (ESPN, 5/25). On "Larry King Live,"
Dick Schaap said Albert's "life will never be the same. If
he is found innocent, I think his career will be intact."
Schaap also lauded NBC's decision and added, "too often
networks give in to anything, and the slightest pressure"
("LKL," CNN, 5/26). Howard Kurtz, media critic for the
Washington Post, said it was "really only fair for NBC
Sports to stand by its man until he has a chance to prove
his innocence in court. If it turns out that Marv Albert is
convicted of these charges, I'm sure NBC will dump him in a
heartbeat" ("ET," 5/27). In Baltimore, Milton Kent wrote
"one still can't help but question the propriety of his
working these telecasts. ... in the court of public opinion,
Albert's presence is a distraction" (Baltimore SUN, 5/27).
In Hartford, Jeff Jacobs: "NBC must be awfully confident in
his innocence, because I'm thinking maybe he shouldn't be
working NBA games this spring" (HARTFORD COURANT, 5/27).
