Toronto Star nervously reports that Rob Ford might sometimes be unpleasant
There’s an odd story in the Star this morning. Given a place of honour on the front page, the piece is tepidly headlined “‘Incident’ sidelined Rob Ford as coach,” and has “Star Exclusive” printed above it (the on-line version has a different title). Basically, the paper alleges that Rob Ford was asked to stop coming to a high school to coach football after “an incident” with a player. Somewhat shocking, we suppose, especially given how often Ford brags about his coaching while on the campaign trail. The problem is, the Star can’t quite make anything stick.
A sample:
Witnesses interviewed by the Star disagree on whether there was a physical confrontation between Ford and the student player.
Ford, one of his players and an assistant coach at the time deny any physical contact took place. But a parent and another player say Ford aggressively manhandled the student in anger.
The real surprise here is getting this kind of delicately couched writing from the same paper that has no-nonsense guys like Christopher Hume, who recently wrote that “as mayor, [Ford] would be a disaster and an embarrassment.” Reporting and opinion are two different things, sure, but it’s hard to believe that if the Star caught Ford dead to rights they wouldn’t be writing so preciously. Ford, for his part, is calling it a political hit and denying everything, saying that he left the school of his own accord.
It’s no secret that Ford has a temper or that he’s passionate about football coaching. The whole article is reminiscent of the 2008 New York Times piece that vaguely alleged that John McCain had an affair with a lobbyist. The NYT piece was roundly condemned for its sketchy sourcing. Now, as then, we wonder: if the paper had more, where is it?
• Rob Ford told he was unwelcome as a football coach at Toronto high school [Toronto Star]
First we hear about Rob Ford allegedly buying drugs for people on the street, and now this? Wow.
Sounds like more mud slinging by the left. The Star is starting to act and sound like Fox News more and more. Whatever happened to journalistic integrity.
Well done Toronto Life for staying neutral on this and holding The Star’s hand to the fire (so to speak).
Can’t wait for Ford to take office personally. 8 years of Miller has given us what exactly? Horrible deal with the union? Record deficit? Terrible commuting and traffic? Higher taxes and more fees? lets not forget the fiasco of the bridge to the island.
Like it or not, Ford is exactly what Toronto needs. let him prove he can do it.
I agree with the above writers. the Star has really gone downhill and dirty.I actually quit the paper a month ago, over their stupid news reports.The papers have power but I hope that people will use their own judgement on what they have seen or heard Rob himself saying.
Rob was into the football with kids years before he ever decided to coach a team.
Rob Ford is what Toronto needs to get Toronto out of their enormous debt.Miller’s team never thought Rob would get this far. LOL
ONCE AGAIN THE “MEDIA” WAS CAUGHT INVADING SOMEONES PRIVACY ………..AND THE ANSWER TO THIS IS ……IT’S MY JOB…..& I AM PROVIDING THE INFORMATION THAT THE WORLD “NEEDS” TO KNOW
THE ARTICALE IN THE TORONTO STAR THIS MORNING JUST SHOWS HOW THE “MEDIA” TRY TO PROTECT ONE OF THEIR OWN…….AFTER ALL THE “MEDIA” WOULD NEVER LIE TO US…….OR SLANT A STORY TO PROTECT “ONE OF THEIR OWN”.
THE ONE THING THAT MOST OF US HAVEN’T LEARNED YET IS; THEY MEDIA IS NEVER WRONG ……..DOESN’T THE WORLD UNDERSTAND THAT. (lol)
THEY ARE ANOTHER ONE OF THE “PROTECTED SOCITY” JUST DOING THEIR JOB (AS THEY LIKE TO SAY) AND WILL DO WHAT EVER TO PROTECT THE SACRED NAME OF THE “MEDIA”….AND IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO’S TOES THEY STEP ON OR REPUTATION THEY RUIN ….JUST SO LONG AS THEY CAN PROTRAY A INTERESTING STORY (THAT IS USUALLY VERY ONE SIDED) …AFTER ALL SENSETIONALISM IS WHAT SELL PAPERS OR GETS PEOPLE TO WATCH TV NEWS…….RIGHT OR WRONG IS A MUTE POINT…….AS LONG AS THE “MEDIA” GETS THE COLUMN SPACE OR THE 2 MINUTE COVERAGE