The New York Post is getting heat for publishing a picture on the front page of Tuesday’s edition of a man trying to escape an oncoming subway train seconds before it killed him.  The headline reads:  Pushed on the subway track, this man is about to die.  DOOMED.  Critics say the picture is disgusting…in bad taste and unethical.  I totally disagree.

In the 21^st Century newspapers are fighting for their lives against the internet and other mainstream and social media.  With that in mind a newspaper sells because of what’s on it’s front page.  That’s why pictures and headlines are of the utmost importance…those are the 2 key ingredients in getting someone to stop at that paper dispenser and buy the days copy.  You walk by and see that picture with that headline and you are going to put 2 quarters in that slot.  Is it hard to look at?  Yes.  But sensationalism sells….and we…the American people…are to blame for that.

Where I think the Post went over the line was with the headline.  Listen…pictures are worth a thousand words…that’s why this picture is so captivating.  But the headline of:  Pushed on the subway track, this man is about to die.  DOOMED….is in my opinion…over the line and insensitive.  All the NY Post had to do was publish the picture and go with no headline….or maybe:  Why Didn’t Someone Save This Man?  That’s the bigger story to me…even more than the murder itself (the man was purposefully pushed and someone is in custody).  How could this man be pushed on the tracks and for 15 seconds not one soul rush over to help him get out of the way of the oncoming train?

The criticism of the Post should come because of an insensitive and appalling headline….not the picture itself.  Great pictures tell great stories….and this picture tells the greatest story of all:  The rapid decline of humanity in our world.

I had a wonderful experience the past 5 weeks following the St.Clairsville Red Devils football team on their run to the state title game in Ohio Division IV.  My son is a freshman on the team which made it even more special….but just the sheer energy…excitement and passion of the people of St.C and surrounding areas made it a memorable month and a half.

I’ve covered state title runs by Ohio Valley teams many times in my 20 years of being in the local media…but never have I been so directly involved…and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.  Watching the parents…coaches….and community come together to support these young men on a quest so hard to achieve was inspiring and spiritual.  Even though we lost the championship game….I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.  

I told my son to absorb every moment.  Walk on that turf at Paul Brown Stadium in Massillon and look into the stands….grasping the moment.  Walk onto that turf at Fawcett Stadium in Canton and look into the stands…grasping the moment.  Soak up every second of an event 99 percent of the kids in the state of Ohio will never experience….and based on his reaction afterwards….he did.  I want to thank the coaches…players…administrators and fans of St.Clairsville High School for allowing my son and I to enjoy a truly unforgettable experience.  I will take to my grave the image of my little #60 standing on the sideline cheering on his teammates.  Thank you. 

Couple of random thoughts about Halloween:

 #1 The scariest movie to watch on Halloween is The Grudge.  I haven’t been that scared by a little Japanese kid since those twin girls sang in Godzilla vs Mothra

#2 Candy Corn is not the worst candy you can get in your Trick or Treat bag.  That honor goes to Wax Lips.  Really?  I mean do you know anyone who goes to the store looking for Wax Lips?  Just wondering….

#3 Americans spent over $300 million on pet costumes last Halloween….which makes no sense when you consider you don’t have to spend a dime for your dog to look like Snooki from Jersey Shore fame

#4 the best and cheapest costume I’ve ever seen was a friend of mine with cereal boxes covered with fake blood attached to her body.  She was a “serial killer”

#5 finding a costume for a picky, irritated 7 year old is about as much fun as putting a collar on a bobcat in a phone booth.  He didn’t want to be a mummy….or Dracula…or Captain America.  He didn’t want to be the Hulk or the Hulkster.  When I recommended he go as a princess to be different…he looked at me like he wanted to put me in the cemetery.......not the hospital.  So after 1 hour of nitpicking…we finally went with the costume you can’t go wrong with……..a zombie……the same outfit he said “no” to an hour earlier.  Sometimes you just can’t win.  Have a safe Halloween everybody!!!!

A father is removing scamware from his 13-year-old son’s computer when he finds porn…..lots of it….in the browser history.  So instead of confronting him or saying nothing…the father in question writes his son a note…which in essence says this:  Listen, I was 13 once too and it wasn’t so long ago that I don’t remember.  I’m not mad or anything.  It’s life and I did it too.”

 He goes on to tell his son that there are sites which are much safer and you can go there without your computer being turned into a piece of junk.  The father even goes so far as to list the sites for his 13 year old son and says he won’t tell the boys mother and it’s not going to be made into a big deal.  Apparently the boy decided to talk to his dad and the father says it was proactive.  He told his son those sites objectify women and porn is not like real life. 

So the question I posed on-air was did “Cool Dad” handle this appropriately?  The phone lines blew up with a lot of opinions…most of them saying “yes….Cool Dad handled it well.”  I couldn’t disagree more.  I have 3 young sons…and if I caught one of my boys looking at porn….they would be up the “you know what” without a paddle!!!!!  I realize at some point they are going to look at it….but I can’t comprehend how a father can condone it and then actually give him sites to browse!!!!!!  I would talk to my boys…make them understand why I was reacting the way I was…and then tell them if I catch them again they will have major problems with sitting down (yes I believe a good smack in the rear goes a long way).  I believe parents trying to be their kids best friend is a major problem in society today…and a major cause of a lot of issues.  I don’t care if my kids like me as a friend….I have enough friends.  I want my kids to respect my authority and grow up with accountability.  That can’t happen…in my opinion….if a parent is worried about being a buddy.

These NFL replacement officials couldn’t take a worse beating if they were in a ring with Mike Tyson!  Some of it is warranted…but the constant scrutiny by the media…coaches…and players have reduced this to juvenile levels.  Last night’s Monday Night Football game between the Seahawks and Packers….on the biggest stage…did little to soothe the replacement official's sentiment.  But it did prove to me a couple of things:

#1 grown men can act like 8 year olds.  After the game…Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy refused to answer any questions concerning the officials….who by all accounts….blew the last call of the game…which was a “Hail Mary” to win it for Seattle.  McCarthy acted like Ralphie’s little brother in “A Christmas Story” when he was told to put on his snow suit.  I realize he had a right to be upset over the fact his team intercepted the ball but it was ruled a catch by Seattle for the win….but maybe he should be more upset by the fact the best QB in the league (that would be his own QB) didn’t throw a touchdown pass.  Maybe he should be upset his RB Cedric Benson fumbled on the Packers own 2 yard line late in the game…making the Packers punt from their own endzone.  Maybe he should be upset 5 of his defensive players surrounded Seattle’s Golden Tate on the games final play yet not one of them knocked the ball down on the Hail Mary attempt…something they’ve been taught since the 7^th grade.

 #2 ESPN Analysts like Steve Young and Trent Dilfer get paid millions yet offer nothing better in the way of analysis than any middle aged drunk on a barstool in Wheeling.  They’re ripping the referees when they should be ripping the Packers for losing to a mediocre Seattle team with a rookie at QB!!!!!!  These 2 guys won Super Bowls in the NFL while playing QB….so they of all people should know a game is not decided by 1 play.  They also should reserve the same criticism for the “regular” officials that they did for the replacements on a couple of pass interference calls…because the last time I checked….the “regular” officials routinely blow pass interference calls that cost teams games.

The bottom line is there will be mistakes when using Division II guys at the NFL level.  They are not used to the speed of the game at all.  But that doesn’t give the players…coaches and media alike the right to show this much disrespect to a group of individuals simply trying to do a job.  Afterall…without them….we…..the fans… wouldn’t have football right now…and that would mean Sunday’s spent with your in-laws.  Exactly!!!!