A cold one

After reading this story in ESPN, I'm a bit perturbed at what passes as "journalism" these days. Perry was an icon, a behemoth force to be reckoned with in the glory days of a juggernaut Chicago Bears defense. Surely, he is undeserving of the tale of woe presented for public consumption by ESPN.

Addiction is a malady no less deserving of privacy than that which we allot the AIDS or cancer sufferer. The media, unfortunately, believe that Perry, as a public figure, has forfeited certain rights for the fame he experienced in pro-football over 2 decades ago. Of course, let's not lay the blame entirely upon the shoulders of the media. WE are equally complicit in this crime against common decency. Our desire to consume, and to do so without boundaries and respect for privacy, creates an audience for ESPN to peddle gossip. After all, ESPN is merely reacting to our needs, and our needs are often woefully devoid of dignity.

Undoubtedly, supporters of such an article will employ the "if just one life is saved by reading this" defense. Shouldn't permission to disclose personal information that might lead to the saving of a life still lie with the article's subject? This article doesn't read like Perry consented at all. And that's a shame.

Perry's addiction should be addressed. There can be no doubt about that. It should, however, be on his and his family's terms, not for the purpose of satiating our morbid curiosity.