K.C. STAR SUSPENDS COLUMNIST WHITLOCK AFTER FOXBORO INCIDENT

          K.C. Star Assistant Managing Sports Editor Rick Vacek
     details the management's investigation of sports columnist
     Jason Whitlock in an account to readers in this morning's
     edition.  Whitlock, who taunted Patriots fans at Foxboro
     Stadium during the October 11 Chiefs-Pats game, "violated
     one of the cardinal rules of journalism -- don't become part
     of the story -- and a credo of sports writing: Never react
     to the taunts of fans.  But most important, what he did was
     offensive and unprofessional."  Whitlock has been suspended
     since October 13, and will remain suspended at least through
     Monday's Chiefs-Steelers game, while "further consequences
     remain possible."  Vacek writes that the Star "formally
     apologized" to the Patriots, and has "been in frequent
     contact" with NFL officials and the Pro Football Writers of
     America.  Whitlock said, "I regret if anything I do reflects
     poorly on this city" (K.C. STAR, 10/22).