BDeutsch News Analysis

Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Yankees third baseman and confessed steroid user Alex Rodriguez has apologized to the reporter who broke the story.

According to the news outlet, Rodriguez called Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts on Wednesday to apologize for the comments he made in an interview with ESPN.

“I know this lady from Sports Illustrated, Selena Roberts, is trying to throw things out there that in high school I tried steroids. I mean, that’s the biggest bunch of baloney I’ve ever heard in my life,� Rodriguez said in the interview.
“This lady is coming out with all these allegations, all these lies.�

On Sunday, Roberts confirmed she had spoke with Rodriguez but said she would not comment until the three-time American League MVP’s press conference on Tuesday.

ESPN is reporting Rodriguez’s coach and some of his teammates plan on attending the press conference.

"I think it shows the unity of the club, and I think that's real important," Girardi said to ESPN on Sunday. "I think it's important that teammates back teammates, and they're there for each other, and they know during difficult times they can lean on each other. Because, you know what? There's going to be something else that comes up this year that's difficult maybe for a player to get through."

Posted by deuts060 at 5:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The pilot the airplane that crashed near Buffalo, N.Y. on Thursday may have ignored federal safety recommendations and violated the airline's own policy by putting the airplane on autopilot.

According to the Associated Press, federal guidelines suggest pilots flying in icy weather should not use autopilot while the company that charted Continental Flight 3407 requires pilots to turn off the feature in such conditions.

“You may be able in a manual mode to sense something sooner than the autopilot can sense it," Steve Chealander of the National Transportation Safety Board said in an Associated Press interview.

All 47 passengers aboard the flight were killed as was one civilian on the ground when the airplane crashed into a house near Buffalo.

Posted by deuts060 at 4:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Northwest Airlines flight traveling from Minneapolis to Cleveland was diverted to Grand Rapids, Mich., after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit.

The Associated Press is reporting the airplane, Flight 2125, landed at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport around 6 p.m. Sunday, and 39 passengers were safely transferred to another flight. Barton Dieters of the Grand Rapids Press is reporting the landing time at 6:30 p.m. Both reports said the passengers deplaned in normal fashion.

Airport spokesman told the Grand Rapids Press that “we have a number of diversions throughout the year.�

Officials say the airplane is being inspected to find the cause of the smoke.

Posted by deuts060 at 4:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Wisconsin man and his 9-year-old daughter died Saturday when their truck broke through the ice on Lake Winnebago according to the Star Tribune and television station KSTP.

According to the Star Tribune, Dan Kleinhans, 44, and his daughter, Savannah Kleinhans died when their vehicle hit a crack in the ice and sank after high winds opened the ice in that area on Tuesday.

KSTP is reporting the father was declared dead at the scene, and the Star Tribune added his daughter died from drowning.

Both reported a second girl, who the Star Tribune is calling a friend of the daughter’s, survived the accident and is in unknown condition at a Milwaukee hospital. KSTP is reporting her condition as serious.

The television station is also reporting an unrelated accident in Superior, where a 37-year-old man died Sunday when his vehicle broke through the ice of the St. Louis River.

Posted by deuts060 at 4:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will have the chance to run for an unprecedented third time in 2012 after the decade-long ruler won a referendum on Sunday that eliminated term limits.

“In 2012 there will be presidential elections, and unless God decides otherwise, unless the people decide otherwise, this soldier is already a candidate,� Chavez said in an Associated Press story.

According to the Associated Press, 54 percent of voters sided with Chavez, former paratroop commander, by voting to eliminate the 12-year presidential term limit Chavez pushed through in 1999. Ninety-four percent of the vote has been counted, and Information Minister Jesse Chacon said the turnout was as high as 70 percent.

Chavez, who failed to pass a broader version of the referendum in December 2007, said he needs more time to facilitate the country’s transition to socialism according to the Associated Press article.

"Those who voted 'yes' today voted for socialism, for revolution," he said.

Posted by deuts060 at 4:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Since I really didn’t have a chance to do this analysis because of the incident I’m about to e-mail you about I figured I’d just write a little bit about what I know about updating stories. I cover the Minnesota men’s hockey team for the Minnesota Daily and while I don’t have deadlines on game nights, some of the guys I work by do. Since I would like to work in the sports world at some point, I often watch Bruce Brothers of the Pioneer Press and Roman Augustoviz of the Star Tribune write their stories.

Both Bruce and Roman often have to deal with deadlines for the late games, which means they are in scramble mode by the time the final horn sounds. They’ll both often have a complete article written once the story is done (depending on how late the game goes) and in some cases they’ll have to send it in immediately. It’s not poetry, it’s just a basic game story.

Then, while the first edition gets edited, Roman and Bruce will run down to the locker rooms and get quotes from coaches and players. Then they’ll run back up to the press box and rewrite their stories – usually making it more of a story than a scoreboard.

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On Sunday, the Winona Daily news reported a holocaust-denying bishop, whose excommunication was lifted by the Vatican last month, taught at a local seminary for 15 years.
Bishop Richard Williamson served as the rector of the ultraconservative Society of St. Pius X from 1998 to 2003 when the order was located in Winona.
Williamson caused controversy recently when he told a Swedish news program he did not believe any Jews were killed during the Holocaust.
“ There was not one Jew killed in the gas chambers. It was all lies, lies, lies," Williamson said in an 1989 speech.

Posted by deuts060 at 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Analysis of Yahoo! Sports/Associated Press coverage of the Alex Rodriguez steroid story.
I thought this was an interesting story because of the sources. Writer Ben Walker chose to talk to a couple unusual sources since he was unable to get anything from the Rodriguez camp. And since it was a little bit after the initial story broke, he could take a different angle by talking to a few current players and administrative staff. Walker did a good job of spreading out his sources throughout the story and then wrapping the story up by returning to the first attribution. However I didn’t like how heavily he focused on Curt Schilling’s blog. Yes it is a decent source, but it would have been better if he did that as a separate story – one that showed how other players in the league felt about Rodriguez’s failed test. The main point of this story was that the tests never should have been released. Hence why I like the use of Sean Casey as a source who felt unprotected.
It was also important to point out how nobody was really coming to Rodriguez’s defense other than to say the tests shouldn’t have been released to the public. I’ve heard in PR classes, that saying nothing is never a good idea and that sounds like the case here.
Story link:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AujW3qi7C.wiUxLd_HUq6kc5nYcB?slug=ap-rodriguez-steroids&prov=ap&type=lgns

Posted by deuts060 at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Associated Press is reporting that the documents linking Major League Baseball player Alex Rodriguez to steroids in 2003 should have been kept confidential as per the collective bargaining agreement.
“2003 tests were supposed to be confidential. For whatever reason test results were not destroyed as they were supposed to have,� Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, said.
Sports Illustrated first reported the claim that Rodriguez, a 3-time MVP winner, failed two drug tests in 2003, while playing for the Texas Rangers.
Rodriguez, now a third baseman for the New York Yankees, told reporters “You’ll have to talk to the union� when asked about the positive tests.
“I’m not saying anything,� Rodriguez, one of 104 players listed in the 2003 report, said.
A day later, Rodriguez, the players’ union and the league still are not talking even though the third baseman is safe from any sort of penalty.
“Because the survey testing that took place in 2003 was intended to be non-disciplinary and anonymous, we can not make any comment on the accuracy of this report as it pertains to the player named,� Rob Manfred, the MLB’s Executive Vice President of Labor Relations said.�

Posted by deuts060 at 5:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Minneapolis mayor R.T. Ryback began his reelection campaign Saturday amid rumors he might not stick around for the entire four-year term.

Ryback, who took office in 2002, previously told the Star Tribune he is considering a bid for Minnesota’s governor in 2010.

Meanwhile, Ryback’s biggest opponent in the race, DFLer Bob Miller, said he is prepared to serve the entirety of the four-year term.

On Sunday, the Minnesota Daily reported Ryback will focus on achieving four goals in what could be his third term as Minneapolis’ mayor: reducing crime, improving infrastructure, education and creating economic opportunity in the city.

“At this period of time, especially, we need to continue a focus on creating opportunity in the city while navigating through tough waters,� he said. “I’ve shown I can do it, and I want to do it again.�

Posted by deuts060 at 5:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A small, Georgia town is worried about possible economic ramifications of the recent salmonella outbreak in peanuts that has been linked to eight deaths and 575 illnesses.

According to the Los Angeles Times, citizens of Blakely, Ga., the agricultural home to nearly 6,000, call their town the Peanut Capital of the World.

But Blakely – already reeling from the nation-wide recession – was dealt another blow when the Food and Drug Administration name a local peanut plant owned by Peanut Corporation of America as the source of the outbreak.

On Friday, the New York Times reported the plant continued to ship peanuts even after the contamination was discovered.

“We are sorry our process fell short of not only our goals, but more importantly, your expectations,� the company said in a statement.

But that’s not enough for one victim’s family, according to an interview with the Times.

“Our whole family was angry,� said Jeff Almer of Savage, Minn., whose 72-year-old mother, Shirley Mae, died in December after eating tainted peanut butter from the plant. “This could have been avoided.�

Victims aren’t the only ones upset with the company according to the Los Angeles Times.

“We've got an industry that has a good track record, and now we have a small processor that did something wrong and caused chaos for everyone," Don Koehler, executive director of the Georgia Peanut Commission, said. "Because of this, farmers are having a difficult time obtaining peanut contracts for 2009, consumers are confused, and the ripple effect is being felt throughout the peanut industry. This is unconscionable."

Posted by deuts060 at 4:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to U.S. media outlets, Australian authorities believe at least some of the more than 700 wildfires that have killed 128 people so far were set by arsonists.

The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that firefighters continue to battle the country’s worst-ever wildfire, which has spread throughout the southern region of Australia near Melbourne.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has established a $6.75 million relief fund for victims of the fires. Rudd believes the number of casualties will increase over the next several days.

“I fear in the days ahead, though, the news is going to be bad, and I believe the nation needs to prepare itself as the full facts become known,� Rudd said.

Authorities believe many of the 128 victims died while protecting their homes or attempting to flee the area at the last minute.

“You need to decide early, one way or another, what you're doing, you don't leave it until the last minute," a spokeswoman from the Country Fire Authority said to the Los Angeles Times on Sunday.

Posted by deuts060 at 4:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lead: “A Texas man's family will return to a courtroom this week with the hope that they'll be able to clear his rape conviction from more than two decades ago, giving the state its first posthumous DNA exoneration.�

Analysis: This is an AP story on Tim Cole, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for raping a Texas Tech Student in 1985. Although Cole died of a heart attack in prison in 1999, his family is hoping to have his name cleared after DNA tests proved he did not commit the crime.

The most important aspect of the lead is prominence. The fact that this case might be Texas’ first posthumous DNA exoneration makes it extremely relevant. The man’s name is left out of the lead because it is not important. It would be different of the man was Jeffrey Dahmer. The lead also only says it would be a “posthumous� exoneration. It leaves out that Cole died of a heart attack in prison, which would lessen the emotional reaction from readers compared to a story about a prisoner who was wrongfully executed. The lead is a hard-news lead. It tells the most important part of the story and includes just enough to entice readers but not enough to tell the whole story.

Read story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090202/ap_on_re_us/dna_exoneration_dead_inmate

Posted by deuts060 at 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympic -swimming hero Michael Phelps did not dispute a photograph published Sunday by the New of the World showing the 23-year old smoking a marijuana pipe.

“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,� Phelps said in a statement. “I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.�

The Associated Press is reporting the photo, supposedly taken at a house part Phelps was attending at the University of South Carolina in November, does not prove whether or not Phelps was smoking marijuana.

Even if Phelps was smoking the illegal drug, it is unlikely his record performance at the Beijing games would be challenged.

Phelps has never failed a drug test, which limits the power of the World Anti-Doping Agency according to a report by Yahoo! Sports.

“We don’t have any jurisdiction,� David Howman, executive director of the World Anti-Doping Agency said. “It’s not banned out of competition. It’s only if you test positive in competition.�

This is not the first time Phelps has been allegedly been involved in illegal activity.

In 2004, Phelps, 19 at the time, pled guilty to driving under the influence just months after the Athens games, where the swimmer won six gold medals.

Posted by deuts060 at 5:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

St. Paul Police arrested three men early Saturday morning in connection with the murder of a St. Paul man, the Star Tribune reported.

Jeffrey Lamont Logan, 44, was shot and killed outside the Attucks-Brooks American Legion Hall after stepping in to defend his cousin – the initial victim of a botched robbery.

Charles Walker Jr., the victim’s brother, told the Pioneer Press his brother was doing what he always did – looking out for his friends and family.

“He watched out for everybody,� Walker said.

Walker told the Pioneer Press his brother “didn’t deserve to die the way he did,� and reiterated his comments to the Star Tribune.

"I know his death is going to impact this community pretty big," Walker said. "When a nice person goes out with his friends and this happens to him, it's not right.�

Police responded to the scene around 1 a.m. Saturday morning when they found Logan lying shot in an alley near the club at 976 Concordia Ave. After a brief chase, authorities apprehended three males, who await possible murder charges in Ramsey County jail.

The Pioneer Press listed the three suspects as Ronald Hill, 20, of West St. Paul; Elston Marc Williamson, 28, or St. Paul; and Henry Marcello Reed, 27, of St.Paul.

Posted by deuts060 at 5:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Authorities have identified the three victims who died in plane crash Friday night near Menomonie.

On Sunday morning, the Star Tribune reported Laurence Berg, 51, died after crashing his Cirus SR20 aircraft while flying towards his home in Houlton.

Also killed in the crash were Berg’s 53-year-old wife, Vicki, and 44-year old Brett Weller.

WCCO.com is reporting the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash but has not issued a cause for the crash.

“We are doing wreckage documentation and a diagram of the wreckage site," Jim Silliman, the Air Safety Investigator for the NTSB said to the Star Tribune. "The impact and going through the ravine and woods did create significant structural damage to the aircraft."

The Pioneer Press interviewed two who paint separate pictures.

Menomonie native Jackson McMahon was driving home when he witnessed the crash.

“I saw something that looked like a big shooting star. Then, on the horizon, I saw a big, pink glow,� McMahon said.

Meanwhile, Gay Evenson said neither she nor her husband heard anything from their nearby home.

“I don’t think the motor was going, or we would have heard it,� Evenson said.

Posted by deuts060 at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

607,000 customers went without power after last week’s winter storm in Kentucky – the largest power outage in state history according to Business First of Louisville.

For many customers, the storm also wiped out telephone lines, cellular phones, cable and internet service according to the Kentucky Public Services Commission, which announced it may take a week or more for services to be restored.

Meanwhile, the Star Tribune is reporting Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear deployed the state’s entire National Guard in an effort to deal with the situation.

“With the length of this disaster and what we're expecting to be a multi-day process here, we're concerned about the lives and the safety of our people in their own homes," Beshear said.

While temperatures are rising in Kentucky, many victims are still without electricity and a lack of fuel has slowed the process.

As many as 42 deaths have been blamed on the recent storm.

Posted by deuts060 at 5:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Johanna Sigurdardottir became the world’s first openly gay leader when she was sworn in as Iceland’s Prime Minister Sunday accordng to CNN.

Sigurdardottir, 66, also became the nation’s first female premier at a time when Iceland is in financial crisis – a week after Sigurdardotti’s predecessor, Geir Haarde, resigned along with his cabinet.

The New York Times is reporting Iceland is the first country to adjust its leadership due to the financial crisis.

In October, the nation’s stock market, top banks and currency collapsed from the world-wide financial recession.

Sigurdardottir, a former social affairs minister and leader of the Social Democratic Alliance who once worked as a flight attendant, could have a short stay in her new role. Iceland’s next election is in April.

But the Prime Minister will make use of the time she has in office.

“All the ministers in my cabinet must work fast, take firm action and accept responsibility for their actions,� Sigurdardottir said. “The people of this country must see that there is a new government in place which will defend their homes and rebuild the job market.�

Posted by deuts060 at 5:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)