Reporting the facts

Dear sir:
In response to Dean Bruyere’s letter to the editor regarding the article I wrote in Monday’s Daily Bulletin, I wish for him to check his own facts.
I, myself, had witnessed the whole proceedings from the sidelines and wrote Monday’s article based on what I had seen. I reported that Dryden assistant coach Glen Kawahara “approached” Muskie quarterback Gary Wager after the game.
After viewing the game tape of the incident along with Videon’s Chuck Croker yesterday afternoon, I came away with the notion I was 100 percent accurate.
No, Mr. Bruyere, Kawahara had not “grabbed Gary Wager and pulled him out of the line as he was about to shake hands,” as you first suggested in the second paragraph of the letter you had submitted to the Times (that later had to be changed after you viewed the tape).
You also say Bob “pushed him away” from your player. In fact, he didn’t. Wager already had separated himself from Kawahara when Whitburn charged in to confront the Dryden coach.
I suggest to you, Mr. Bruyere, that you get your facts straight.
Regarding your comment that I should “tell the whole story about what occurred and not relay it to the public in such a manner to discredit our fine football program.” Mr. Bruyere, I think Bob Whitburn is to blame for that.
Mr. Whitburn–on two separate occasions–left messages on my voice mail pertaining to the incident, and according to the videotape, he is plainly contradicted in his cries of innocence.
First, Mr. Whitburn said I should have all the facts, the facts being “their coach physically had a hold of our quarterback and . . . their other coach that came in punched me from behind before I tackled him to the ground.”
Mr. Whitburn, please view the tape, you appeared to have forgotten what actually happened.
On the second message, Mr. Whitburn states, “There was no scuffle between me and Glen. There was a yelling match. We were in each other’s faces but it was words, strictly words.”
Mr. Whitburn view the tape (and the picture I have of the incident).
He also suggests he was attacked from behind. “Cockriell flew into no fray,” Whitburn complained. “He came up behind me and hit me.”
Again, please view the tape.
In closing, I would like to defend my job as a sportswriter/journalist. I am there to report the facts and how I view the actions on the playing field. It is very rare I have to report on a fight among coaches–especially at the high school level.
I admit my use of the word “intervene” in Monday’s Bulletin story was inaccurate. It was the wrong choice of words but I feel that was my only mistake.
I reported the facts to the public. How the public views those facts is strictly their opinion.
Sincerely,
Brian Bowman
Sports writer