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Law Politics

ALBERT TRIAL CONTINUES WITH MORE COMMENTARY ON HIS FUTURE

          A "surprise prosecution witness told the jury in the
     Marv Albert sexual assault trial yesterday that the NBC
     sportscaster bit her twice without warning in 1993 and 1994
     and that on the second occasion he tried to force her to
     perform oral sex," according to Masters & Stadtmiller of the 
     WASHINGTON POST.  The testimony came "over the strenuous
     objections of Albert's attorneys" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/25). 
     The defense is expected to begin its case today when the
     trial enters its fourth day (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 9/25).
          FUTURE: Columnists and analysts continue to speculate
     on Albert's future in sports.  In N.Y., Mark Kriegel: "He's
     probably finished with his big job with NBC Sports.  These
     might be tabloid times, but the sporting culture has a
     puritan sense of public relations" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/25). 
     In N.Y., Wallace Matthews writes under the header, "Case Too
     Pathetic To Be Funny Anymore," adding that yesterday's
     testimony by the new witness "serves no purpose -- other
     than to further emasculate, humiliate and ultimately, render
     unemployable Marv Albert, who still has been proven guilty
     of nothing other than being a philandering cad" (N.Y. POST,
     9/25).  N.Y. attorney Barry Slotnick: "It's unfortunate, but
     NBC will have to discharge him.  There is a morals clause in
     his contract" (N.Y. POST, 9/25).  Northwestern Univ.
     Professor Irv Rein said that much of Albert's future depends
     of "whether public opinion turns against" him.  Rein: "What
     happens if the affiliates start to complain, if the special
     interest groups start calling up, the feminist groups and
     the school boards -- and they start saying we're going to
     boycott Marv Albert?  That is going to force him out the
     door."  But MSNBC's Keith Olbermann thinks that "public
     opinion will allow Albert to continue his career" (PHILA.
     DAILY NEWS, 9/25).  In Philadelphia, Bill Conlin: "Marv's
     career has probably been damaged beyond repair.  You figure
     NBA commissioner David Stern has bitten his lip more than
     once while picturing a crew scooping panties and cheap wigs
     off the court during a playoff game" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS,
     9/25).  Also in Philadelphia, Sandy Grady: "Unmarvelous Marv
     is finished as a big-time sportscasting celebrity. ...
     [I]nnocent or guilty, [Albert] will be doomed by something
     more insidious -- laughter at his clownish kinkiness.  He
     shouldn't be deceived by silence from his employers, NBC and
     the MSG Network" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/25). 
          QUESTIONS ABOUND: In Boston, Diana White writes under
     the header, "Where Are Biting Remarks About Marv?"  White:
     "The whole seedy business must be terribly painful for
     sports journalists, which may explain why so few of them
     have weighed in to criticize Albert's behavior. ... If it
     were an athlete on trial it might be a different story, they
     might be all over him.  But it's not an athlete.  It's Marv
     the Martyr. ... [I]t's a mystery why so few sports
     commentators have been critical of Albert's behavior.  Maybe
     ... they're just embarrassed by the whole, ugly thing, and
     it certainly is ugly" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/25).  In N.Y., Sidney
     Zion writes on Albert's accuser's identity being held secret
     while Albert "was wiped out by the media even before his
     trial. ... [W]e in the media drag Marv through the muck.  He
     gets none of our delicacy" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/25).  In
     N.Y., Richard Cohen, under the header, "Marv Albert,
     Victim," writes that Albert "cannot win this case no matter
     what.  He is the one living the nightmare of having his sex
     life ... recited to the whole world" (N.Y. POST, 9/25).
          TV COVERAGE: "NBC Nightly News" reported on the trial
     in a 30-second report by Tom Brokaw ten minutes into the
     broadcast, referring to Albert as "NBC sportscaster" (NBC,
     9/24).  ABC's "World News Tonight" did not report on the
     trial on Wednesday (ABC, 9/24). "CBS Evening News" did not
     file a report for the third consecutive night (CBS, 9/24). 
          SPORTS SHOWS: ESPN's "SportsCenter" filed two reports
     on Albert's trial in its 6:30pm ET edition, the first one
     three minutes in.  ESPN's Bob Ley said that on Wednesday,
     "the sensationalism and lurid details of a celebrity trial
     burst forth," and added that Albert was "appearing to be
     shaken in the courtroom."  ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported
     live from VA (ESPN, 9/24).  CNN/SI's Nick Charles filed a
     three-minute report eight minutes into its telecast. Charles
     discussed Wednesday's events with SI legal analyst Lester
     Munson ("CNN/SI," CNN, 9/24).
          ENTERTAINMENT: CNN's "Showbiz Today" opened its
     Wednesday show with a 30-second report on the day's events
     at the Albert trial ("Showbiz Today," CNN, 9/24).   "Extra"
     opened its show with a 2:45 report on the Albert trial,
     focusing on the sportscaster's defense team ("Extra," 9/24).
          COVERAGE: NEWSDAY'S Rita Ciolli examines media coverage
     of Albert's trial as newspapers are giving the story
     "sensational front-page treatment.  Or no coverage at all."
     TV networks "also are uncertain on how to call the story."  
     NBC News VP/Communications Julia Moffett: "It deserves to be
     covered; it is an interesting story."  But she acknowledged
     Albert's association with the network: "Yes, we feel an
     obligation to cover it."  The N.Y. Times has given the story
     "restrained" treatment (NEWSDAY, 9/25).  
 

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