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Despite outrageous party, media refuses to attack 49ers' "family value" image and frames it as a stadium/political issue

Unbelievable attrocities were committed at the now infamous Jack Davis party, acts that don't deserve repeating again. And yes, we're happy the 49ers are getting deserved bad publicity, rare considering the local press. However, one message seems to be ringing in the headlines: the import of this party is that it seals the fate of the stadium proposal. "49ers deal whipped thanks to S&M bash" read a May 8, 1997 San Jose Mercury headline.

There is a more important issue here being ignored.

While the media is packaging this as a local politics issue and a political blunder, it deserves to be looked at from the perspective of the character of the 49ers.

We've had to put up with hearing about the "classy, family-oriented" 49ers for years. Not too long ago, when the 49ers drafted the Manuel twins, the blatant P.R. stunt was labeled "a tribute to family values." We've been told over and over that character is very critical to the 49ers (see: Vinny Cerrato's answer on ESPNet: question, "How important is character in the draft?" answer, "It's one of the five things we look at. It's very critical.")

If the media is going to promote the 49ers for "family values" and "character," proper journalism dictates that they should now criticize them under the same standard. Yet, no one in the media seems outraged enough to tackle the 49er image facade.

True, this was not a 49er event per se. But Jack Davis is a hired 49er consultant. What he does reflects on the 49ers. Also, Carmen Policy and his wife were in attendance when the questionable acts began. Did they get up and walk out? No. Such a failure to act or protest amounts to approval in my mind, or at the very least condonation that should be criticized.

Playing devil's advocate -- wait, maybe that position's been filled -- what if the exact same situation had occured except that this was a Dallas Cowboys' consultant? Do you think the media would be focusing on the local political effect? No. National headlines would scream about the sleazy nature of the Cowboys associating with such depravity.

"The 49ers, a much-loved institution throughout Northern California, were blindsided by all of this, of course." (San Jose Mercury, May 9, 1997).

And there you have the message from the media: it's not their fault. The double standard lives.

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