How a business owner silenced an outspoken journalist
Tony Kornheiser is a popular sports reporter with a large platform to spout his opinions. Thing is he won’t issue any opinions—or let his radio guests share their opinions—about one, very powerful man in the NFL. Can you guess why?
Take Dan Snyder, for instance. He’s the owner of the NFL’s Washington Redskins, and has been widely lambasted by fans and D.C.-area media members—with one notable exception. Former Washington Post columnist and host of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” Tony Kornheiser has outlawed public criticism of Snyder on his radio program on WTEM.
And it’s not like people in D.C. don’t want to discuss Snyder. They do.
This month, he filed a civil lawsuit in New York City, claiming the Washington City Paper‘s coverage of him had been unfair. Bottom line: This story is all the rage in D.C. sports—a city that has made its football team the league’s most profitable.
So, why would a sports reporter who has staked his reputation on holding his subjects’ feet to the proverbial flame deny his guests from criticizing arguably the most criticize-able owner in sports?
Here’s a hint: It has something to do with Kornheiser’s boss, the man who owns WTEM. His name rhymes with Shan Shnyder.
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