Oct 20, 2005 1:01 am US/Central
No Escape: Scandal Coverage Continues
Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP) ―
Media coverage of the Minnesota Vikings has long been thorough, if not intense. And the swarm of writers, columnists, camera operators and reporters has significantly thickened since allegations of the out-of-control boat party emerged last week.
Usually the excess comes and goes when the latest controversy arises and dies down, but this time there's no sign of it disappearing -- at least not until authorities complete their investigation and owner Zygi Wilf decides on the subsequent punishment.
On Wednesday, cable network ESPN had at least a half-dozen employees at Winter Park to cover the story. And just like the past several days, coach Mike Tice was barraged with questions about the scandal.
He answered a couple of them, once noting that the Vikings ranked first in the league last year in community-service appearances by their players.
Tice also defended his discipline, pointing to a specific schedule for fines and a dress code for road games that he has implemented since taking over for Dennis Green in 2002. But there were many subjects he declined to address.
"Can we talk about the game, please?" he said.
After initially refusing to comment about last Friday's scolding from Wilf, some players began to speak up about the topic.
"It was definitely good for us," tight end Jermaine Wiggins said. "I've never seen him that way."
The Vikings, at Wilf's command, are crafting a conduct code that they'll heretofore expect their players -- and employees -- to adhere to.
"Just do the right things," Wiggins said. "Putting yourself in the right situations. Guys have to do the right things and be portrayed off the field with good character. We have to carry ourselves in a classy way off the field.
"As pro athletes, there are always going to be people who try to put us in a situation to take advantage of you. You just have to make the right decisions. Everyone's going to try and put you in a bad light. We've got to try and stay out of the light."
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren, whose free safety Ken Hamlin was recently hurt in a fight outside the nightclub, weighed in on Minnesota's situation during a discussion about off-the-field decisions.
"What a foolish thing to do," Holmgren said. "You have so much to lose and very little to gain. And now it's really, I think, a distraction -- a huge, huge distraction for their team. We try, as coaches, to minimize everything. And, heck, we are so control-oriented, you know? ... You just hope they use good common sense and be responsible."
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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