:10 Lets pretend…for the sake of all mankind, that the world is actually a good, fair, equal and moral place to be. And let’s further pretend that everyone loves everyone else and only want the best for each other and more than anything wants everyone to be treated with the utmost respect. Ok, good. Now we can talk openly, because in that make believe…it ain’t never gonna happen world, the Pittsburgh media would have done the right thing. But nooooooo, not in this world, no sir! Get to the point you say. Alright, here we go. On Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. the City of Pittsburgh was privileged to have one of the most important and influential men in America, I dare say the world, visit our “fair” city. The fact that he’s also African-American is an extreme added plus. Judge Reggie B. Walton was the keynote speaker at the 38th Annual Willie “Pops” Stargell Pittsburgh and Allegheny County “M.V.P.” Awards Banquet, hosted every year by Champion Enterprises.
By now you know that Judge Walton is a Donora/Pittsburgh native who has excelled to professional, social and judicial heights of superior levels and has done so through hard work, perseverance and tremendous parents. His highly impressive resume in short is as follows:
Chair, National Prison Rape Elimination Commission
Presiding Judge, U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, 2013-present
Judge, U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, 2007-2013
Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 2001-present
Confirmed by U.S. Senate, U.S. District Court of Columbia, 9/21/01
Nominated by President G.W. Bush, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, 9/4/01
Associate Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, 1981-1989, 1991-2001
Sr. White House Advisor, Crime Office of President G.H.W. Bush, 1991
Associate Director, Office of National Drug Policy, 1989-1991
Asst. U.S. Attorney/Executive Asst. U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia, 1976-1981
Staff Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia, PA, 1974-1976
That being said, and trust me, it’s only me doing the talking here, given this man’s accomplishments, status and importance in our political world, you would think each and every news operation in the city would have insisted on being on hand to interview him and seek some insightful information from him.
But no! Not one TV station saw fit to cover the event and Judge Walton. Of course the New Pittsburgh Courier was there. They always are. And the Tribune Review saw fit to call in to report on the event. And yes, everyone was contacted, e-mailed, and re-contacted, but to no avail.
One would certainly think a federal court judge would be worthy of the attention himself, but the event also featured 4-time Super Bowl Champion Larry Brown, Super Bowl Champion Judge Dwayne Woodruff, five of the city’s greatest basketball players inducted into the Connie Hawkins Basketball League Hall of Fame, five Pittsburgh superior athletes inducted into the Legends’ Hall of Fame, the Top 10 area student athletes, Top 10 middle school track champions and the 10 Willie Stargell M.V.P. Awardees were all recognized and honored…but still not one camera or the Post-Gazette.
As we count down to the final seconds on the clock, I will remind you that we are also running out of time on closing the gap and making things right. At a time when the Pirates and Steelers were not playing and the Penguins were out of town and neither of the Big Three college basketball teams in town were playing and to the best of my knowledge (and I could be wrong) no other major event or catastrophe was going on in this city, you would think coverage would have been warranted and expected.
I will conclude this soap box stand by once again thanking Federal Court Judge Reggie B. Walton for gracing us with his presence and giving of himself and his busy schedule to deliver a message to the youth we honored that will stay with them for a lifetime. Reggie, as you have done many times during your great athletic career, you once again carried the ball and scored the winning touchdown.
To all my media colleagues and associates I respect you and appreciate you but I just wanted you to beware.
:00 GAME OVER
