Pierce Official Says Article Was Biased

I am writing in regard to your article dated Dec. 3 entitled “Harbor Had Its Season Marred Because of Brawl.” It is articles such as this that justly give sportswriters a bad reputation for telling only part of a story.

When an article is published that includes a picture of Pierce football Coach Bill Norton with quotes from biased parties claiming he started a fight, with additional quotes from a rival coach at a third institution wherein the coach questions the professionalism of Norton, there is no adherence to ethical standards that ought to require a reporter to at least contact Norton or the Pierce athletic administrator for comments. I think the editor of the sports section ought to call in the writer, Kirby Lee, for a lecture on journalism ethics.

Pierce reviewed the unfortunate (Sept. 25 brawl), which occurred at Harbor, and felt comfortable reporting to the conference commissioner that had it not been for the Pierce coaches trying to break up the fighting and attempting to maintain control, far more people would probably have been taken to hospitals. There are numerous witnesses available to support this position.

The Western State Conference Hearing Board reviewed the reports compiled by both colleges and acted according to conference guidelines and their good judgment. Both Harbor and Pierce were penalized. Pierce was placed on supervisory probation for the rest of the season, and at a league hearing Nov. 29 it was decided that no further action was required with regards to Pierce.

Perhaps West Los Angeles Coach Rob Hager ought to be reminded that general coaching etiquette requires that coaches scouting opponents do not stand on that team’s sidelines while the game is in progress. USC doesn’t do that at a UCLA game, and West L.A. shouldn’t have been doing that while there was still time in the Pierce game. One would have hoped that Hager might have focused his hostility toward the Norton by motivating his team and then after his team lost, acting like a mature adult.

Your readers might be interested to know that assistant Pat Swift, who was struck on the head (during the brawl) by a Harbor player, could not resume coaching, but did attend several Pierce games. He is still recovering. Coach Phil Wijmer, who suffered chest pains while attempting to break up a confrontation, was able to resume coaching.

Although Pierce is not scheduled to play Harbor in 1994, we at Pierce hope that Harbor will find some way of retaining its football program. Football can provide a marvelous opportunity for students to continue their education and, hopefully, earn scholarships to four-year institutions.

RICHARD A. MOYER

Associate Dean and Athletic

Administrator, Pierce College