Summary: Jack
Miles, editor of the Johnson County Sun (and president of the Kansas City Press
Club), says pulling press credentials of radio reporters by the Royals "is a
kick in the groin to Kansas City taxpayers."
Royals owner strikes out by pulling press
credentials
By Jack "Miles" Ventimiglia
Editor, Johnson County Sun (6/22)
Strike one.
The Kansas City Royals' management decision to pull press credentials from a
couple of aggressive radio reporters is a kick in the groin to Kansas City
taxpayers.
Less than three months ago, on April 4, voters in Jackson County approved a
three-eighths-cent sales tax increase to renovate Truman Sports Complex,
including Kauffman Stadium.
The Sun advocated the whopping $575 million tax issue. Our editorial supported
the measure for reasons including the importance to this city of maintaining a
big league image and for the economy built around Royals games.
To hear club management now tell the public's proxy representatives, the media,
"We not only dislike your rude questions, we will make sure you cannot even ask
questions," is as ungrateful as it is detestable in a free society.
Management's bat whirled and whiffed on that decision.
Strike two.
Royals management had the sign - it's as plain as the Bill of Rights - and
simply fouled the pitch. They missed the fact that pulling press credentials
would not silence "offensive" reporters.
Instead, Bob Fescoe of WHB-810 and Rhonda Moss of KCSP-610 have attained a bit
of celebrity status, being thrust into the welcome role of quasi press martyrs.
They deserve their 15 minutes.
To keep a free society free, reporters must ask the tough questions on the minds
of thousands of fans and taxpayers. This means asking Royals owner David Glass
to explain why he let former general manager Allard Baird twist in the wind
while seeking Baird's replacement. Good question.
The question should have been asked nicer? Well, la-de-da. The game played at
Kauffman is hardball, not softball, after all.
Management had the sign, but managed only a foul ball.
Strike three.
Royals management may have wanted to make the story of "What the heck is
management thinking?" go away, but missed the ball badly and fell into the dirt
- meaning they either ignored or just did not realize that the media thrive on
such stories.
The Kansas City Press Club, with members from electronic and print media across
western Missouri and eastern Kansas, asked Royals management politely to
reconsider the decision to revoke the press credentials. Politeness so far has
not worked. Neither have vicious commentary and general news reporting. At last
count, there have been more than 50 news reports on the press club's statement
alone.
Management needs to face facts: The Royals have been a perennial basement ball
club and that upsets fans, taxpayers have a right to know what is up with the
weak team they invested in and reporters are paid to get facts, not ignore them.
Royals management can either suck it up, step up to the plate, admit an error
and return the press credentials...
Or keep on striking out.
