TONY DODERO -- Second Thoughts

I feel like the Daily Pilot may have fallen into a curse or funk and that

I may just be the cause of it all.

It involves the University of Michigan and our penchant for mixing up

that fine school with its bitter foe, Michigan State.

Some of you may remember a headline (I’m hoping you don’t), written by

me, that appeared in the Daily Pilot a couple of years ago. Michigan fans

were in town for the upcoming Rose Bowl battle with Washington State and

we were running a story and pictures of their show of spirit.

But in the middle of all the fun, I mistakenly surmised that Michigan

Wolverines hailed from East Lansing, Mich. rather than Ann Arbor.

It caused great acrimony, that headline. And Wolverines from miles around

jammed the Daily Pilot phone lines to gnaw on us a bit for getting our

facts so blatantly wrong.

It’s a moment in my career I’d love to forget.

But last Friday, it all came back to haunt me, and -- I fear -- the

paper, once again.

A new story written about Newport Beach’s Conference and Visitors Bureau

luring this year’s Rose Bowl attendees featured a photograph resurrected

from that Michigan year.

Only problem, we identified the band as being from Michigan State.

Ouch.

*

So enough about Wolverines, let’s talk about cats.

I was very impressed with most readers of this column, who pretty much

disagreed with my squeamishness over running the story of the women who

allegedly cooked her cat.

Almost overwhelmingly, they said we shouldn’t hesitate to print the news.

And that was news.

One reader did agree with me, saying “it’s not information we are better

off by knowing.”

*

Many of you will be happy to know that we have hired a full-time reporter

to cover the debate over building an airport at the closed El Toro Marine

base.

Susan McCormack, a journalism masters graduate from Columbia University,

is busy learning all she can about the airport issues and the many

controversies surrounding it. She also will be covering environmental and

political issues.

Funny thing, though. We created a separate beat devoted to El Toro

because readers had been clamoring for it. But at least one reader, who

called our Readers Hotline, had this to say:

“I am really beginning to get sick and tired of reading everyday abut the

El Toro airport ... Can we try to cut back a little bit? ... I really

would appreciate it.”

I’m afraid that’s not possible. Remember, some headlines never go away.

*

Finally, I wanted to thank all of you who have either written or called

to congratulate me on my new job. It’s fun hearing from you all again and

I look forward to lots of good stories.

* TONY DODERO is the editor of the Daily Pilot. Comments or suggestions

for Second Thoughts can be Mailed: 330 W. Bay St. Costa Mesa, CA 92627.

E-mailed: [email protected] or o7 [email protected] Faxed:

949-646-4170. Phoned: 949-574-4258.