Friday, August 31, 2007
Sports

Richard Jewell was richly screwed

Long before we learned that Michael Vick is one sick and twisted puppy...

Long before we learned that Michael Vick is one sick and twisted puppy, he was lionized and vilified for his play, or sometimes lack thereof, on the football field. And now having pled guilty in federal court, Vick has become a lightning rod on a myriad of levels. We’re not so dumb as to think that racism doesn’t exist in this city, because it does, big time. But Vick’s case was not about race. It was about stupidity, and now he’s paying a very large price because of it. He deserves forgiveness, but he also deserves to be punished.

Richard Jewell did not. The low-key man, who was transformed from heroic security guard to Olympic bombing suspect, died last week of natural causes. He was 44. Those who knew him described him as humble, with a deferential manner. Minutes before the Olympic Park bombing 11 years ago, he spotted the abandoned green knapsack containing the bomb that was planted by the coward of all cowards, Eric Rudolph. Working as a temporary security guard, Jewell not only notified police, but began moving visitors away from the bomb that would kill one person and injure 111 others. He saved lives and won praise for his quick thinking.

But as we know, the story turned. Led by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reporters and investigators quickly and wrongfully pointed the finger at Jewell. He would later say that the news media personnel that hounded him and turned his life upside-down were “like piranha on a bleeding cow.” His life was never the same; he was never able to outrun his notoriety. Of course, we all eventually learned that he had nothing to with the bombing, and instead was a real American hero. After his name was cleared, he sued several major news outlets and won settlements from NBC and CNN.

But Cox Enterprises, the parent company of the AJC, battled him to the end. The AJC was the first to start the frenzy that changed Jewell’s life. The lawsuit wound its way through the courts for much of a decade without resolution. In the end, Cox Enterprises and the AJC never so much as offered an apology to Jewell. What a disgrace.
Far from a disgrace, though, is my new favorite appetizer in the city—the fried goat cheese in honey at Ecco in Midtown. The chic restaurant, located on Seventh Street in the former home of the Atlanta Fencing Club, sits in the middle of the Midtown development boom, with Trump Towers Atlanta being built not too far away. But what’s with the gay male prostitution racket that has continued to thrive in the area for years? Can’t the APD clean that stuff up? And why do male whores loiter around the Cheetah? Does that make sense? If Idaho Senator Larry Craig worked for this state, I’m sure he’d have it taken care of—one way or the other. And I’ll say it: Ivanka to clear my head of such impure thoughts when I see pictures of Ivanka Trump. Talk about beauty and brains.

I’ also want to see the Braves make it into the postseason after missing out on the October playoff party last year for the first time in 15 seasons. This is a make-or-break home stand they’re currently on. But the sad reality is that this team is going nowhere. Add sub-par starting pitching with an inconsistent bullpen and it’s another October at home for the Braves. And that blows for Atlanta’s baseball faithful.

Meanwhile, recently some intoxicated female blew a hole right through the front entrance of Buckhead bars Five Paces Inn and One Pace Over. Rumors that it was actually the Kool-Aid pitcher man bursting through the wall were found untrue. There were several witnesses on hand to see the inebriated not-so-young lady Ricky Bobby it straight through the brick wall. Oh Yeah!

And just for the record, when I finally do meet Ivanka Trump, here’s what my pickup line is going to be: “What do you call a 5,000-pound polar bear? An ice-breaker! Hi, my name is Hunt.”

Or maybe not.

Happy times….and don’t bogart that Boo Boo Bama at the Allman Brothers concert.