Is it possible to let Erin Andrews just do her ESPN job?

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

It seems wrong to even mention Erin Andrews’ name in a context other than the quality of her work.

Andrews (pictured at right) is a talented, hardworking ESPN reporter who is meticulous in her preparation, who understands sports and has a personality that makes both coaches and players feel comfortable talking to her. Heck, she even took a line drive off the chin in a baseball clubhouse and came right back to work, bruise and all.

But to some Andrews is a pretty face with an attractive body and is fair game to be cyber-ogled. Last summer a newspaper sports columnist, Mike Nadel, wrote a suggestive column taking Andrews to task for daring to wear summer clothes in the summer. USC player Rey Maualuga apologized to Andrews after he simulated a lewd dance with her on the field before this year’s Rose Bowl while Andrews was unaware of his presence. Andrews kindly accepted the apology and moved on.

Over the weekend Andrews was big on the Internet again. Again, unknown to her, she was apparently videotaped while she was alone in her hotel room. The videotape purportedly showing Andrews undressed was posted and linked to on various websites until her lawyer said lawsuits would be filed against sites that continued showing the video. One of the websites that linked to the video and is well known for often posting items with sexual slants about female athletes and broadcasters, actually wrote a self-righteous message about the so-far unknown videotaper having crossed a line.

Nope, guys, that line had already been crossed. But now it’s just a little scarier.

Even today there are people who are so eager to see Andrews undressed in the privacy of her hotel room that they are still looking for the video. In perhaps the best use of computer viruses ever, some sites that promise the now-banned video are downloading viruses onto the computers of those still looking. Payback maybe?

What is it about an attractive woman who is working in sports broadcasting that causes (I’m assuming here) men to behave in such unattractive ways?

Is Andrews going to have to register under a false name now when she checks into hotels? Is she going to need security to scan every square inch of every bathroom she ever uses? Should she dress only in turtlenecks and long-sleeved blouses and ankle-length pants? Can people ever grow up?

Once again, of all the participants in the sordid episode, Andrews is behaving the best. Keeping quiet, continuing to do her job.

-- Diane Pucin