(Bob) Costas refuses to host show about Holloway (Aruba Missing Teen)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9013040/

While some cable TV hosts are making their living off the Natalee Holloway case this summer, Bob Costas is having none of it.

Costas, hired by CNN as an occasional fill-in on “Larry King Live,” refused to anchor Thursday’s show because it was primarily about the Alabama teenager who went missing in Aruba. Chris Pixley filled in at the last minute.

“I didn’t think the subject matter of Thursday’s show was the kind of broadcast I should be doing,” Costas said in a statement. “I suggested some alternatives but the producers preferred the topics they had chosen. I was fine with that, and respectfully declined to participate.”

Costas’ manager declined to elaborate on what Costas didn’t like about the topic.

<snip>

His decision is reminiscent of Keith Olbermann, the former sportscaster who left his MSNBC news show in the late 1990s in part because he was asked to repeatedly cover the Monica Lewinsky story. Olbermann is back now for his second run at MSNBC.

Why do former sportscasters Olbermann and Costas have more integrity than all the f'in rest of the media combined? Good for Costas. Dropping a supportive email to CNN might be a good idea.

[babylonsister]

1. Costas just went up a few notches in my book. nt

[neuvocat]

40. Same here.

I hate it when people make me re-evaluate my dislike or total disinterest in them.

[babylonsister]

41. Damn the bad luck! :o) nt

[Name removed]

88. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mairead]

105. Generally people have no teeth or deodorant because they're poor

not because they're willfully subhuman or unworthy of our respect. And if they're poor, then generally the only recreation they can afford is the telly. So why sneer at them?

[VegasWolf]

2. Good for Him!!! As opposed to that woman journalist who is sucking

the bone dry with vacations to Aruba!

[JI7]

3. good for him, i was impressed with a King show he hosted in the past

can't really remember what it was about but i believe it had to do with some important issues. i think foreign policy. and he was really impressive.

i like Olbermann but he has given a lot of time to this Aruba story so i'm not sure he deserves credit on this.

[RamboLiberal]

7. I'll give Keith a pass - you gotta do what your bosses ask

to a certain extent. Besides I understand things are heated as is between Keith and Klein.

Monday night Lou Dobbs had this stat on how many times the cable nets covered the Aruba story:
CNN: 75 (I don't believe it)
MSNBC 103
Faux 434

[Berry Cool]

31. Keith has given almost NO time to the Aruba story on his show.

What network are some people watching that they think he has?

I think he has mentioned it about twice.

[RamboLiberal]

37. I think it may get some Countdown coverage when Keith

is absent. Maybe that's what is being remembered.

[ElectroPrincess]

79. Olbermann has taken the "big vacation" on his anti-smoking obsession

Hey, I'm thrilled that ole' Keith has had an epiphany. Good for him that he "saw the light" after experiencing horrific symptoms after mouth surgery.

What I find obscene is he THINKS that his story will discourage kids and present smokers to quit.

I've counseled cocaine addicts in the country of Panama as well as those addicted to alcohol in the states. Guess What? Just like *any* parent of a rebellious teen, addiction counselors KNOW that it takes a hell of a lot more than testimonials or lectures to encourage them to "buy into" working a program for behavioral change.

What a schmuck Oberman is to think he will make any difference.

Back in the early 90s, some of the best breakthroughs I experienced in addition counseling, on a personal and group level, was to play the hard hitting film, "Clean and Sober" then discuss, in depth how it effects THEIR (the individual client) PERSONAL experiences.

Everyone has a personal story with regard to addition. Therefore, everyone must find their own individual way to BELIEVE that the recovery path is more important than the desire to use the drug.

Behaviorally, not unlike women who've had abortions, then suddenly *finds religion* and start preaching to other women "Thou Shalts." Keith Oberman has turned into a Non-Smoking Fundamentalist of the worst order.

It takes many facets of self reflection and social support to recover from an addition. Keith Oberman does not fit well with any effective long term plan to assist society into "giving up their smokes." Instead, he comes off as just another preachy self-possessed celebrity a**hole.

What a waste. :thumbsdown:

[JoFerret]

85. OTT

IMO

[ElectroPrincess]

90. Please translate OTT?

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Oberman's countdown. Also, I get the impression some of you think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I like his show but fall far short of idolizing any human being. To do so would to be constantly disappointed. :hi:

[Berry Cool]

96. Who says anyone is idolizing anyone?

Don't see anyone doing that. No idolizing here. Admiration yes, idolizing, no.

[ElectroPrincess]

99. Please answer the question posed before you?

[Berry Cool]

95. Jeez, ElectroPrincess, you sure don't SOUND too thrilled.

unless you mean "filled"...with :sarcasm:

Why should you find it "obscene" that *anyone* is trying to help *anyone* quit smoking?

Maybe it takes more than testimonials and lectures, but Olbermann IS offering more. For the past two weeks he's been inviting people to send in their quitting tips and offering them on air along with his own...including "how to know when you're ready to quit" and acknowledging that you probably won't have much success until you are ready.

For this, the reward he gets is to have you call him a "schmuck"?

He is relating everything to the PERSONAL experiences people are having. He began with his own...NOT because he expected that people would necessarily be moved by HIS problem, but because he had a point to make...that a lot of people can't face the dangers of smoking until something happens to THEM...and he used to be one of them. Everything he is saying is encouraging self-reflection and social support...exactly what you're expounding. Nothing preachy or self-possessed about it. Just an honest attempt (short term or long...but so far, he's continuing with it) to help other people with the same problem.

If he gets even ONE person to quit, how can that possibly be a waste?

Maybe I'm mistaken, but you sound like someone with a personal vendetta against Olbermann who's just latched onto another excuse to vent venom upon him. I can't see anyone who has truly worked with addicts of any kind being so negative and vitriolic about anyone else who is trying to get them to quit. (You sure you're name's not Rush? Just kidding.)

*sigh* I now return you to the Costas love-fest. Don't mean to interrupt...the guy deserves kudos for refusing to play the game.

[ElectroPrincess]

100. That's the point ...

I've been an addiction counselor for over a decade. NO ONE person gets another to quit.

THAT'S THE POINT!

Name me one person who was ADDICTED who quit because a celebrity told them so? The answer is zero. Why? Because it takes a personal lifelong commitment to *recover* from an addiction.

Keith Oberman ranting his anti-smoking meme is not to far removed from the ranting of a "dry drunk."

Just like nobody appreciates a Preaching Religious Fundamentalist, no one will change an *addictive* behavior because a celebrity told them to.

I'd suggest Keith join a support group to "work through" his anger at not being able to huff one or two. Methinks this is displacement.

And for heaven's sake, I hope he gets back to the Quality Material that he used to present before this recent unbecoming CHURCH-LADY performance. ;)

Again, in addition to alcohol and other drug addiction counseling, I've worked with some of the most heartbreaking stories ... cocaine addicts in the country of Panama. I have little to no respect for obsessed celebrities who think that their *little* experience is going to make a difference and that constantly PREACHING is going to get people to give up an addiction.

Nope, it only makes the Once humble and insightful Keith Oberman look like an arrogant celebrity a**hole. If he continues, you won't have to get angry with me, just consider giving him a place to stay when his career ends sooner rather than later. :hi:

On Edit: I assure you that I really enjoy Keith Oberman's countdown on most other issues. After years of working with some heartbreaking cases, one cuts through the BS quickly. That's what makes Addiction Counselors different from your "run of the mill" Rogerians. But I digress. :blush:

[ordinaryaveragegirl]

4. Finally...

Someone who's smart enough to rise above the hype, and cover something other than a story that's become a tabloid media spectacle. Nancy Grace could take a lesson or two from him, since she's been on Nataleepalooza for the last few months.

Kudos to Mr. Costas for standing up to the suits. :thumbsup:

[Andromeda]

30. deleted

[SlavesandBulldozers]

33. Nancy's never gonna change.

she's nuts.

[SharonAnn]

47. She was on ACATT (All Chandra All The Time) during August 2001

That was when all the CNN shows, every night, were ACATT.

It was absolutely nauseating.

Unfortunately, that nausea was brought to a close by the events of 9-11-01.

It makes me worry about what's coming when we're so distracted that "news" shows cover this kind of stuff.

[liberalcanuck]

92. I DESPISE Nancy Grace! She makes my skin crawl with are her

self-righteous remarks.

[al bupp]

94. I agree, Nancy Grace clearly has none /eom

[LibertyorDeath]

104. Cheers

" I DESPISE Nancy Grace! She makes my skin crawl "

:toast:

[MissMarple]

5. Well, another sighting of a shred of integrity, how refreshing.

What is with these sports guys? Olbermann, Costas, Ed Schultz, and Denver's own Reggie Rivers....are there more out there?

Thank you all. :)

[Botany]

6. Go bob!

She is dead and gone .... it is sad ..... IT IS NOT NEWS!

i had friend (female about 38 shot as she fought w/ a rapist who
knew she lived alone) he was a serial rapist ..... to this day
18 years later nobody has been charged w/ the crime ......
where is fox on this story?

[MissMarple]

11. Now ,charging a viable suspect might be news. The looking for one...no.

This is painful and should be embarrassing for the networks. But, they have no shame, as we have seen. It's all about the money, it's all just business.

[bostonbabs]

19. Tabloid T.V.

I think they will end up having people turn off their sets. I have and like many others have turned to the internet.The Costas refusal had a poll on aol 65% said Holloway was overdone yet 35% said NO it wasn't BUT......only 6,924 people bothered to take the poll...te aol story called the news season "slow".....wow...Sheehan, the birth of a peace movement, Rovegate, a nomination to the Supreme Court....slow???

[rucky]

86. Summers are slow for TV viewership...

that's what they usually mean in the TV world. It's not like they care much about their content...mostly ratings.

[ElectroPrincess]

80. FOX only covers Blond women of Upper-Middle Class Parents...

You also have to be drop dead gorgeous (excuse the pun). Otherwise the Corporate Media, in general, is OVERTLY telling us that society don't give a shit about people of color, nor those who are of the "non investor classes."

Get used to it because there are not many as powerful and brave as Bob Costas.

Damn the ratings, for they deny that they're bottoming out. The corporate national media will push this racist, investor class propaganda until the sheeple believe it. Over and over and over ... If I see that nasty broad "Twitty" on my screen while channel surfing again, I swear that I'll puke. :P

[libertypirate]

8. Simple in their line of work the call them how they see them...

They don't deal in bullshit in sports broadcasting.

[pacalo]

9. I heard him say this to Wolf on CNN the other day

as I was waiting to hear about Cindy Sheehan. The purpose of his being on Wolf's show was to promote the fact that Costas would be substituting for Larry King.

Costas has so much intelligence & common sense that I wasn't surprised that he felt that way; I was surprised to hear a CNN guest say it. Notice that this article came from msnbc, not CNN.

He mentioned all the fluff news we're getting these days about celebrities, etc., & said he's not interested in it. He said he's a fan of "Friends", but doesn't know Jennifer Aniston personally & doesn't think her private life is his business.

[Eloriel]

10. I hope I'm wrong about this, but isn't there

a sex scandal in his past?

[Career Prole]

15. You might be thinking of Marv Albert.

[wishlist]

18. No, that was Marv Albert?

I haven't heard of any scandals connected to Costas. He has reported and commented on quite a few scandals that have plagued other people though.

[Eloriel]

28. Okay. Not sure it was Albert I was thinking of instead...

but if no one can verify, then I suppose it must've been.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

36. it's Albert you're thinking of.

"i'd bet my life on it!"

[NNN0LHI]

83. No but I am sure if you sniff around long enough you can find one

If thats the the kind of thing you enjoy doing.

Don

[SKKY]

12. I've always dug his act.

[CHIMO]

13. Seems Like

Sportscasters may be one of the few telling it the way it is.

What's My Name Fool. Haven't read it yet but will when the library gets it in.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/1931859205/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/104-2220040-1420712?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

[jsamuel]

14. WOOT!

Go Costas!

[wicket]

16. Awesome!!!

I've always liked Bob Costas :)

[0007]

103. Mr. Costas gave up his friendship with O.J. upon learning the truth.

They were very good friends at one time.

I've always like Bob Costas also.

[quaoar]

17. Natalee Holloway's family lives just a few miles from me

There are yellow ribbons on mailboxes throughout the community. Her brother worked at the grocery store where I shop. So her case is rather acutely felt here.

But the nightly attention to every twist and turn in the case has become obscene. I turned on Larry King the other night and they were speculating whether she had fallen victim to some pornographer.

[RamboLiberal]

21. Exactly - one can understand local interest

but this national obsession that the cable nets invent with each missing white woman (guess for men missing honeymooning grooms on a Cruise now count) is obscene.

It is porn!

[Ilsa]

54. Someone here called it "emotional pornography". eom

[bluestateguy]

20. I was never a Costas fan

but I applaud this case of good judgement on his part.

[musiclawyer]

24. Actually I hate the smug Costas

But give credit where credit is due.

[Dr Fate]

22. Wolf, Larry and the other HACKS need to take a que from Bob.

This shit aint news. Kudos to Bob for taking a stand.

[deadparrot]

23. Good for him! And an adopted St. Louisan to boot...

The man's got class. He doesn't go whoring for cash on a family's grief.

[blondeatlast]

25. Integrity is hard to come by in current journalism.

Thank you, Mr. Costas.

[RamboLiberal]

27. Perhaps if the few remaining journalist with integrity

stood up and said hell no I'm not covering this shit on my show we'd have at least a few shows that would remain watchable.

I think there are a few cable pundits that are growing really disgusted with this night after night obsession on their cable networks.

[blondeatlast]

32. I do notice a subtle shift in attitude. I always thought that if we

made them realize they had lost a great deal of respect, it would start to turn things around.

It doesnm't hurt that it's apperently marketable as well.

[DeepModem Mom]

26. Sportscasters don't owe their livelihood to sucking up to the Bush regime?

Could that be it? They haven't had to sell their souls to put food on their family, as I think Shrub said?

I say put Bob Costas in Larry's chair from now on.

[RamboLiberal]

29. You have a point

Bob and Keith could tell their bosses screw you and go back to reporting sports.

And maybe sportcasters having spent years with owners like Steinbrenner and zillionaire spoiled brat athletes don't live in fear of Scotty and the WH cutting their access.

[jayfish]

34. Don't Forget Jim Lampley.

A total class act.

Jay

[Diamonique]

46. Lampley

Jim Lampley filled in for Ed Schultz on the radio one day last week. He was great!

[jayfish]

48. In Case You Didn't Know,...

he also contributes to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/. Good stuff.

Jay

[The Night Owl]

35. Respect!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

38. way to go Mr Costas.

Bob Costas - American Journalist


Another Pic of Bob Costas, taken in his days as a swashbuckling officer in the union army. :spank:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

42. Umm, that's Matthew Broderick in the

Union Officer uniform, not Bob Costas?
:shrug:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

58. it was a joke

:shrug:

[Botany]

84. No that is BOB COSTAS

Cutting a fine figure of a man.

[TomClash]

39. Costas is an unabashed liberal nt

[Berry Cool]

43. Keith gets points again tonight

for making Rush his Worst Person in the World for the second time this week.

Brent Bozell is second worst for accusing Keith of lying about what Rush said about Cindy and Rush is worst for lying about what he said himself. Keith said he has the transcript and is posting it on the Countdown Web site this weekend for all to see!

:loveya: for ex-sportscasters with integrity!

[mandomom]

50. Rush is a person?

[Olney Blue]

44. This is good news.

:applause:

[msanthrope]

45. I have always loved Bob Costas, and he is the only sports braodcaster

today who SHOULD be doing the World Series EVERY YEAR--

His call of the 1996 Series was brilliant, just brilliant.

Much better than McCarver and Morgan, or Joe Buck!

[mandomom]

49. Now the Rolling Stones must step up.

How dare they accept censorship of their neocon song to keep their gig, and this on top of accepting sponsorship from AmeriQuest, that purveyor of unaffordable loans to the poorest among us? Next thing we know, Mick Jagger will take a bike ride with Bush.

[krkaufman]

57. What censorship? What did I miss? n/t

[NervousRex]

51. Cost-ass is a punk....

but he stepped up in this case. Everyone has his breaking point, and he apparently has reached his.

[Daphne08]

52. Good for Costas!

I wish there were more anchors out there with a conscience.

We must separate the News Departments (of these media companies) from partisan corporate owners or our democracy will be lost!

[TheDonkey]

53. Costas cares about real journalism!?! What a crackpot!

*sarcasm off*

[Old and In the Way]

55. Costas could do so much more.

I'd like to see him leave the artificial world of sports and start putting his capabilities to work on current events. I think he'd surprise a lot of people.

I agree with him. Halloway is getting ridiculous....this story directly effects .0000001% of the population. News you can't use. The only point of this is to avoid discussing the marco-events that effects everyone. Can't talk about the economy, the political corruption, the war in Iraq, the world. If they report the truth, they've got the RNC universe and the Washington power structure all over them. So they pick something that is totally irrelevant and rehash it nioght after night after night. What a waste of the public airwaves.

[NashVegas]

56. Good Sportscasters

Make their name by calling plays as they see them.

[I Have A Dream]

89. Good point, Crisco. You might be on to something there. n/t

[FlaGranny]

93. I was totally amazed at his

professionalism, as compared to other jounalists, when he was covering the earthquake that happened just before the World Series game started. He left them in the dust with his very excellent reporting. The man doesn't need a script. I believe sportcasters make the best reporters during live events - they can think on their feet.

[CrazyForKucinich]

59. Always the best sports play by play man IMO

Glad to see he has a working head on what is news and what isn't.

[Robert Oak]

60. Thank you Costas

Who is sick to death of that innane mantra news, favor of the week?

[Ruby Romaine]

61. Costas Refuses to Host Show on Holloway (!!!!!)

NEW YORK - While some cable TV hosts are making their living off the Natalee Holloway case this summer, Bob Costas is having none of it.

Costas, hired by CNN as an occasional fill-in on "Larry King Live," refused to anchor Thursday's show because it was primarily about the Alabama teenager who went missing in Aruba. Chris Pixley filled in at the last minute.

"I didn't think the subject matter of Thursday's show was the kind of broadcast I should be doing," Costas said in a statement. "I suggested some alternatives but the producers preferred the topics they had chosen. I was fine with that, and respectfully declined to participate."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050820/ap_en_tv/tv_costas_walks;_ylt=AiBa8DI7bUhfJP6Z4PguQwhY24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3YXYwNDRrBHNlYwM3NjI-

Sorry if this is not serious enough for LBN- but maybe it's a sign of the apocalypse?
Finally! someone in the MSM w/balls!

[wli]

62. proof positive the MSM "message" is dictated by the AEI & PNAC n/t

[Wetzelbill]

64. not too sure that you even need to seperate the two nt

[wli]

65. yeah, there's no distinction between the MSM and AEI/PNAC n/t

[Wetzelbill]

66. all comes from the same deep pockets really

[jobycom]

69. Going blank. AEI?

Sounds like y'all are agreeing with my sig, but I can't come up with what AEI stands for.

[lyonn]

71. American Enterprise Institute

Great repub thinkers and planners for our great nation.

[wli]

72. home to the "universal fascist" Michael Ledeen n/t

[Wetzelbill]

78. yeah the wannabe Iran "expert" who doesn't know anything about the country

:)

[ElectroPrincess]

81. Many AEI

pundits are Un-f**king-Believable with regard to high intelligence.

Their presence and spewing of palatable Bush-Co promoting propaganda poses a profound danger to society for their souls have been sold to the dark side of "Corporations first and always" belief.

Sometimes I get shivers up my spine when one's on C-SPAN's Journal. I want to dash out and get garlic and crucifixes to counter the more intelligent Neo-Cons. They're seemingly vampires, ghouls and just plain CREEPY beyond belief! :shiver:

[Wetzelbill]

63. wow, now that is interesting

[fearnobush]

67. And I refuse to watch CNN... Go Costas.

It makes me sick to my stomach. There worse than Fox in many ways.

[jobycom]

68. Costas and Obermiller are both famous for refusing these types of stories

Interestingly, both have sports reporting backgrounds. I've always said the only investigative journalism being done these days in in sports, and if we held our leaders to the same standards we try to hold our atheletes, we'd have done away with the Republicans long ago.

[nine23]

70. Simple explanation: Costas is a stand-up guy.

He was also the first sportscaster to call serious bullshit on steroid use in major league sports. I forget what sport he was referring to (basketball?), but I seem to remember a rather (now) famous statement he made that went something like: "When I started seeing these guys in the dressing room looking like they were inflated by a bicycle pump, I knew something was up...". Priceless!

That was a great late nite talk show he had back in the day as well, and I'm not really even a sports fan. But the guy is so likable, it wasn't just about sports either. I wish him well with CNN.

[Bluebear]

73. Not only "serious" enough but recommended!

Someone in the media with a few cajones to put their foot down to this pandering sideshow!

[Sean Reynolds]

74. Go Costas!

He was the only guy I could stand back when NBC had the NBA.

[yorkiemommie1]

75. They cling to these tabloid topics

with a manic tenacity that I cannot understand. We all recall the

obsession with shark attacks in the summer of '01.

I refuse to watch such insanity.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

76. Just another reason why we should support independent media

Sorry, but I have to write this every chance I get. Please support FSTV and LinkTV by subscribing to cable or satellite broadcasters who carry them. By taking ratings (ad advertiser revenue) away from the corporate-run networks and building up independent media, we are doing the one thing the manipulating parasites will understand.

[anitar1]

77. I find myself having attacks of narcolepsy,

if I see 2 minutes of one of those shows. So sickening , so boring. There is something so creepy about most of the shows that are on now.

[gasperc]

82. and Jim Lampley!!!

he's been an awesome fill in for Ed Shultz!!!!!!!

[WhoWantsToBeOccupied]

107. Yes! Yay for Lampley and Costas and Olbermann!

[stlsaxman]

87. Thanks, Bob!

he's had a home here for the last 20 years, originally to help assure replacing Jack Buck. Guess he likes it here in the 'loo.

[THUNDER HANDS]

91. sports writers don't like to be hacks

some of the best journalism out there today is sports journalism. If politics was covered like sports is covered the country would be in better shape.

[Greyhound]

97. Comment link to the Larry King Show

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?12
Maybe enough comments will get them off this travesty.

[Greyhound]

98. Dupe

[IndianaGreen]

101. Perhaps it is because Costas and Olbermann are sportscasters

and you cannot bullshit your sports audiences like you do the ones that watch the 24/7 chattering class ad nauseum.

Olbermann is still doing sports on ESPN radio.

[NashVegas]

102. Aye

I don't know if you ever got to see Costas' late night show, when he was on after Letterman (?) but he's a great, thoughtful interviewer.

If nothing else, he'd be a LOT tougher on these people than the usual softball pitchers. So, no, he shouldn't be doing this, until CNN is ready to stop pretending what they're doing is journalism.

[bagimin]

106. "Love That Bob"

Lampley's great too.