MSG Network's decision not to report allegations that a
"mob-connected Atlanta strip club provided thousands of
dollars worth of ... girls and booze to athletes" --
including Knicks players -- "raises serious questions of
both news judgment and an undeniable perception that comes
into play when a team and network are linked under the same
ownership umbrella," according to Bob Raissman of the N.Y.
DAILY NEWS. No players have been named in the indictment of
the club's Owner, Richard Kaplan, and there are no charges
of any wrongdoing. MSG Exec Producer Mike McCarthy: "There
is a definite train of thought here. And that is this
subject matter is on a gossip level and not on a wholesome
family entertainment level, which we are trying to present
to our viewers." McCarthy added if one of the players is
arrested or "is impacted in terms of his playing ability by
whatever happens next we're going to have an obligation to
cover the story." McCarthy: "But for now, to report that
these guys may or may not go to a strip club after hours is
way out of line for a 10-year-old kid to get confronted
with." Raissman writes that it is "impossible to argue with
McCarthy's stance as it relates to children," but, "news is
news. And these stories are more than relevant." Raissman:
"'SportsDesk' has been billed as MSG's sports news gathering
arm. In order to live up to that billing, legitimate stories
must be reported" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/10).
