Sunday, April 17, 2011

Steigerwald Still Doesn't Get It

A few days ago, I took John Steigerwald, a former Pittsburgh sports anchor, to task for blaming Giants fan Brian Stow for the attack he endured following opening day at Dodger Stadium. Stow remains in a medically induced coma. Steigerwald was, in fact, subject to a great deal of criticism for his position and deservedly so.

Today, he issued a half-hearted apology. While Steigerwald expressed regret for causing Stow's family any pain he blames the internet for the response he received to his article. Steigerwald said he had not receive one complaint until the article went viral two days after it went to print. But why did the article go viral? Because what Steigerwald had to say about Stow was so vile.

If Steigerwald was truly sorry he would accept full responsibility for his words and not blame it on the internet. The web might have disseminated Steigerwald's words to a wider audience but it doesn't change the fact that Steigerwald still wrote them. Steigerwald writes, "Nowhere in my column did I suggest Brian Stow deserved the beating." But then why would Steigerwald entertain asking Stow why he thought it was a good idea to wear a Giants jersey to a game at Dodger Stadium if he didn't think Stow deserved the beating or at the very minimum invited the attack? Steigerwald still doesn't get it and probably never will.

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