Media Notes: Rushing to judgment: Albert isn’t convicted

Tim Graham

Wednesday, May 28, 1997 | 10:48 a.m.

I don't have a Marv Albert story to tell. No fluff, no dirt. Nothing good, nothing bad.

I've never seen him pet a puppy, tackle a nun or take off his toupee.

I don't know Marv Albert.

And neither do you.

For the past week, the accusations surrounding Albert have been a hot topic on news and talk shows. Most of the commentary and calls from Joe Fan focus on Albert's guilt. They don't know Marv Albert from Fat Albert, but they're pretty sure he did it.

The legendary NBC sportscaster was booked, fingerprinted and photographed Tuesday in Arlington, Va., after surrendering to authorities on charges of assault and forcible sodomy.

He was not convicted. In fact, his trial isn't until Sept. 22. But that hasn't stopped him from being tried through the media. Anyone who has read or heard the story has rendered a premature verdict.

That's a shame. If Albert, a 53-year-old father of four, were to be found not guilty today, much less this fall, it would be too late. His life has been irreparably damaged. Already he is being heckled while working the NBA playoffs. That probably will continue when he calls the Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat game tonight at 6 and for the rest of his life.

I'm not defending Albert. If guilty, he deserves everything coming to him, which could be life in prison in addition to losing his status as a most prominent sportscaster -- but not until the gavel falls for the final time.

There are reasons to be patient with Albert right now.

Less than 24 hours after Albert's charges went public, the character of his accuser came into question. She faces charges in two separate cases. She is accused of threatening to kill a former boyfriend and of discrimination for physically harassing a female co-worker.

Then there is the matter of the investigation. Police didn't think it important to question Albert about the incident and didn't contact him until they were ready to take the case to court. Albert wasn't able to speak to the grand jury.

It is more than possible the charges against Albert aren't valid and the U.S. Constitution demands people remember that. Although he has been sentenced to a life under a microscope until the real verdict is announced, Albert is innocent until proven guilty.

Wait a few months. Hear and see the evidence presented.

Give Marv Albert a chance to explain his own story.

Static

* MERCHANT OUT OF BUSINESS?: A Boston Globe report states HBO (Prime Cable Channel 54) boxing analyst Larry Merchant may be pulled from the June 14 Oscar De La Hoya vs. David Kamau bout in San Antonio for his own safety. HBO and Merchant have been the source of protests and threats from the Latin community for remarks he made about a mariachi band playing prior to De La Hoya's victory over Pernell Whitaker at the Thomas & Mack Center last month. The music was an obvious attempt by promoter Bob Arum to help De La Hoya win over more Hispanic fans, and Merchant claimed it "slights the fans of the champion (Whitaker), whose title is at stake. As wonderful as the music is -- and it is -- in this setting, it sucks ... unless they follow it with some soul music." Merchant since has apologized profusely, but the outcries leave HBO in a lose-lose situation. The network now must consider the potential harm its crew faces by being thrust with Merchant into a predominantly Hispanic crowd. But if HBO yanks Merchant, it compromises its journalistic integrity by not standing behind its commentator. HBO executives had no comment Tuesday.

* SOAP BOX INDY: The Indy 500's two-day rain delay caused problems all around. ABC was forced to pre-empt its usual daytime programming to accommodate the race and likely lost "several million" dollars in commercial revenue and overtime pay to its crew, according to advertising executives. Causing the most grief was the loss of soap operas, which drove many viewers to call their local affiliates. "We didn't log (the complaints), but the phone rang off the hook for 20 minutes, and it was the same thing (Monday)," said Hazel Wong news administrative assistant at KTNV Channel 13. "We're still getting them right now." KTNV scrubbed "Jerry Springer," "Geraldo," "Daytime to Remember," "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" in addition to its 11:30 a.m. newscast. "Whenever we pre-empt the lineup, for whatever reason, we get a whole bunch of calls," Wong said. The soaps continued today without missing an episode.

* CUP RUNNETH OVER: Fox Sports (KVVU Channel 5) and ESPN (Prime Cable Channel 19) will share coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. Fox has Games 1, 5 and 7 while ESPN has Games 2, 3, 4 and 6. All start at 5 p.m.

* MAN AGAINST MAN: CBS Sports (KLAS Channel 8) will provide live coverage of the 150-meter sprint between American Michael Johnson and Canadian Donovan Bailey for $1 million. The race takes place in Toronto Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Johnson holds the world 200-meter record (19.32 seconds) and Bailey holds the world 100-meter record (9.84 seconds). Local sports books make Johnson a --200 favorite.