After spending the time on Thursday required to read the 44-page StarCaps opinion, we had to justify the investment by writing some stuff about it.
We exported one of the most intriguing aspects of the article to SportingNews.com. With the Minnesota court giving Vikings defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams a chance to prove that the NFL leaked the fact that the players had tested positive for Bumetanide in violation of state law, the reporters who broke the story in October 2008 could find themselves forced to choose between disclosing their sources or going to jail.
One of the reporters -- our good friend Jay Glazer of FOX -- provided one of the best on-the-record quotes we’ve ever harvested. (Then again, we don’t often harvest on-the-record quotes.)
“What the hell do I care? All I do is fight and lift weights anyway,” Glazer said, laughing. “Wait a minute, there’s no women in prison, is there? That would be a big problem.”
It’s unknown whether Glazer, who after turning serious (or as serious as he ever is) vowed never to give up a source, and/or Josina Anderson of FOX 31 in Denver will ever have to make that choice. Reached for comment on Friday, lawyer Peter Ginsberg declined to discuss his plans for proving at a trial scheduled for March 8 that the league leaked the information.
But Ginsberg generally expressed confidence that he’ll be able to show that the league leaked the results, despite acknowledging that the league already has suggested that the leak came from the NFL Players Association.
Regardless of how it all plays out, we’ll be paying close attention. Especially if Glazer ends up needing a work-release permit to tape the next season of Pros vs. Joes.