OK2LA
10/30/2007, 12:05 AM
http://blog.oregonlive.com/johncanzano/2007/10/colleen_bellotti_is_spitting_a.html
Sad, surreal scene: The nanny and the coach's wife launch an attack
Posted by jcanzano October 27, 2007 17:41PM
Surreal, sad stuff in the press box at Autzen on Saturday.. as I was working, I was tapped on the shoulder during the fourth quarter of the Oregon-USC game by Colleen Bellotti --- who angrily introduced me to a group of her friends and family, including her son Luke's girlfriend, and a nanny, holding an infant, and a few young children in tow.
Backstory... Colleen approached me several weeks ago in the hallway outside the Ducks' locker room angry about a column I'd written about Cal coach Jeff Tedford and Oregon coach Mike Bellotti.
I didn't write or blog about that at the time. I explained to her in that conversation that I write columns, with opinions, and I don't expect her to agree with everything I write. In fact, I'd worry about her. I told her I appreciated her sharing her opinions, and listened to her, and she stormed off.
This time, during the USC game, Colleen was hissing mad over my column which reported and columnized about the two DUII's her son got, and his plea agreement two weeks ago, and the program's decision to keep his suspension on the downlow... and Colleen said, "You've dragged our family through so much hurt and pain..."
I explained to her how serious and dangerous I think drinking and driving is, and why two DUII's by a college football player at a Top 25 program was fair game for a column.
I wondered if she was deflecting some of her feelings about the DUIIs, even as I don't expect she'd like what I wrote. I also told her I believe two DUIIs by an athlete, and coach's son, are newsworthy to all media outlets, especially considering how her son's double-secret suspension was treated by the same program that publicly suspended other athletes for alcohol-related offenses.
I was disappointed in her approach. Particularly that there were 4-5 children present with her, including the youngest Bellotti son, and I didn't think a working press box was the time or place for a heated discussion, especially given the high emotions and a big game.
She leaned in, grabbed by my suit lapel, and lit into me with a string of expletives, asking me if I have children, and telling me, "This is going to come back on you tenfold." And she threatened to slap me, which was not such a nice example in front of the kiddies.
I told it was poor form that she would approach me in the press box, with a strong smell of alcohol on her breath, hissing and spitting mad, talking to me about alcohol abuse.
Then, the nanny, still holding the toddler, unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade.
"Nice nanny," I said.
The nanny then stepped up, kid still in her arms, and launched another barrage of insults, laced with profanity. I mean, you don't mess with religion, the military and nannies, apparently.
During Colleen's rant, David Williford, Oregon's sports information director, called a security guard and positioned him near my seat in the press box. I didn't ask for that, but it allowed me to work. Williford also spoke with Colleen, and later, Williford told a New York Times reporter that her tirade was "certainly uncalled for" and "crossed the line."
Williford did his best, and reacted professionally to a strange situation. Still, there was a second small brush with Colleen near the elevator in which she stormed past me, and asked, "You got something to say to me?!?!"
I said, "Are you going to slap me or not?"
She walked off, and said, "I'm a better person than you."
She may be right. Or wrong.
I'll agree, she's got better hair.
I have tremendous empathy for the people whose families deal with alcohol abuse, and victims of accidents involving alcohol. And I write about lots of sensitive/difficult topics, involving public figures and column subjects. In part, it's my job. I write what I see. I report. I have opinions, as columnists do. I can understand how Colleen would be upset, offended, even angry. All understandable. I get that.
I stand by the columns I've written. I won't filter. Or be intimidated. Sorry, that's not my style. I'll continue to write columns, same as always, even if it means I'm going to make subjects uncomfortable at times. And I'll write positive, uplifting columns, same as always, when the material is there, too.
Read if you lilke. Don't if you don't.
What went down in the press box wasn't a good, or productive, scene, though. It was surreal.... but mostly it was sad. This isn't the first time I've been confronted by a reader or column subject who was upset at my opinions in a column, (and it won't be the last). It was just the first time I've had it happen during the game, and the first time I've had it be a coach's wife.... and nanny.
Someone get the nanny a bar of soap.
Sad, surreal scene: The nanny and the coach's wife launch an attack
Posted by jcanzano October 27, 2007 17:41PM
Surreal, sad stuff in the press box at Autzen on Saturday.. as I was working, I was tapped on the shoulder during the fourth quarter of the Oregon-USC game by Colleen Bellotti --- who angrily introduced me to a group of her friends and family, including her son Luke's girlfriend, and a nanny, holding an infant, and a few young children in tow.
Backstory... Colleen approached me several weeks ago in the hallway outside the Ducks' locker room angry about a column I'd written about Cal coach Jeff Tedford and Oregon coach Mike Bellotti.
I didn't write or blog about that at the time. I explained to her in that conversation that I write columns, with opinions, and I don't expect her to agree with everything I write. In fact, I'd worry about her. I told her I appreciated her sharing her opinions, and listened to her, and she stormed off.
This time, during the USC game, Colleen was hissing mad over my column which reported and columnized about the two DUII's her son got, and his plea agreement two weeks ago, and the program's decision to keep his suspension on the downlow... and Colleen said, "You've dragged our family through so much hurt and pain..."
I explained to her how serious and dangerous I think drinking and driving is, and why two DUII's by a college football player at a Top 25 program was fair game for a column.
I wondered if she was deflecting some of her feelings about the DUIIs, even as I don't expect she'd like what I wrote. I also told her I believe two DUIIs by an athlete, and coach's son, are newsworthy to all media outlets, especially considering how her son's double-secret suspension was treated by the same program that publicly suspended other athletes for alcohol-related offenses.
I was disappointed in her approach. Particularly that there were 4-5 children present with her, including the youngest Bellotti son, and I didn't think a working press box was the time or place for a heated discussion, especially given the high emotions and a big game.
She leaned in, grabbed by my suit lapel, and lit into me with a string of expletives, asking me if I have children, and telling me, "This is going to come back on you tenfold." And she threatened to slap me, which was not such a nice example in front of the kiddies.
I told it was poor form that she would approach me in the press box, with a strong smell of alcohol on her breath, hissing and spitting mad, talking to me about alcohol abuse.
Then, the nanny, still holding the toddler, unleashed a foul-mouthed tirade.
"Nice nanny," I said.
The nanny then stepped up, kid still in her arms, and launched another barrage of insults, laced with profanity. I mean, you don't mess with religion, the military and nannies, apparently.
During Colleen's rant, David Williford, Oregon's sports information director, called a security guard and positioned him near my seat in the press box. I didn't ask for that, but it allowed me to work. Williford also spoke with Colleen, and later, Williford told a New York Times reporter that her tirade was "certainly uncalled for" and "crossed the line."
Williford did his best, and reacted professionally to a strange situation. Still, there was a second small brush with Colleen near the elevator in which she stormed past me, and asked, "You got something to say to me?!?!"
I said, "Are you going to slap me or not?"
She walked off, and said, "I'm a better person than you."
She may be right. Or wrong.
I'll agree, she's got better hair.
I have tremendous empathy for the people whose families deal with alcohol abuse, and victims of accidents involving alcohol. And I write about lots of sensitive/difficult topics, involving public figures and column subjects. In part, it's my job. I write what I see. I report. I have opinions, as columnists do. I can understand how Colleen would be upset, offended, even angry. All understandable. I get that.
I stand by the columns I've written. I won't filter. Or be intimidated. Sorry, that's not my style. I'll continue to write columns, same as always, even if it means I'm going to make subjects uncomfortable at times. And I'll write positive, uplifting columns, same as always, when the material is there, too.
Read if you lilke. Don't if you don't.
What went down in the press box wasn't a good, or productive, scene, though. It was surreal.... but mostly it was sad. This isn't the first time I've been confronted by a reader or column subject who was upset at my opinions in a column, (and it won't be the last). It was just the first time I've had it happen during the game, and the first time I've had it be a coach's wife.... and nanny.
Someone get the nanny a bar of soap.