The Daily Howler - 08/27/05

ENDLESS IMPROVEMENT! One more journalist changes the facts to produce a treasured contradiction

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2005

THE WEEKEND’S FEEL-GOOD STORY: Wake the kids and share this story! On Wednesday night, the Baltimore Oriole’s Sidney Ponson racked up his latest DUI. The team hopes to void the pitcher’s contract. But in this morning’s Washington Post, one of Ponson’s loyal team-mates says he’s planning to stand by his man. Jorge Arangue delivers:

ARANGUE (8/27/05): Ponson was asked by the team to stay home on Friday. Some teammates offered support.

"I'm not going to sit here and crucify him," Rafael Palmeiro said. "The one thing I'm going to do is stand by him. He supported me and I'm going to do the same for him."

Kids, there is no “i-rony” in the word “team!” In Arangue’s moving rendition, we see the modern face of teamwork: The steroid abusers stand by the drunk drivers. Once again, we beg our readers: Run, don’t walk—wake up the kids!