ESPN to Produce Reality Show About Barry Bonds
KURTZ: Welcome back. ESPN has launched a new reality show featuring the most controversial figure in sports -- homerun king and accused doper, Barry Bonds.</s>BARRY BONDS, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER: I'll become a star, man. This is what you go through, dog. I'm telling you, man. Have you ever seen anything like it in your life? It's hilarious, isn't it?</s>BONDS: If it makes them happy to go out of their way to try to destroy me, or whatever they want to try to do, go right ahead, man. It doesn't bother me. You can't do anything. Anything else you've already done. You can't hurt me anymore than you've already hurt me.</s>KURTZ: The $4.5 million deal with a production company is getting new scrutiny now that baseball's investigating Bonds for steroid use, and with reports Friday that a federal grand jury has subpoenaed Bonds' personal physician in an examination of possible perjury by the San Francisco Giants' outfielder. ESPN's first ombudsman has called on the network to pull the plus on the series, at least temporarily. George Solomon, who is also a columnist and a former sports editor of the "Washington Post," joins us now. Why is this a bad idea?</s>SOLOMON: Well, I don't think any network or newspaper ought to be in business with someone they cover. And that's not just ESPN, whether it's the "Washington Post" or the "New York Times" or NBC -- I don't envision NBC wanting to get into a series with Donald Rumsfeld and into a relationship with Donald Rumsfeld. And I see ESPN and Barry Bonds in the same situation.</s>KURTZ: It needs to be clear, some of the money that's being paid to this production company will likely end up on Bonds' pocket -- not that he needs the money. But ESPN's executive editor John Walsh says that this is being done by the network's entertainment division. It's completely separate from the news division, and it doesn't affect their news coverage. What do you make of that argument?</s>SOLOMON: Well, you know, I don't completely agree with that argument, simply because the viewer sees ESPN. They don't see ESPN Entertainment. They don't see the production company, Tollin/Robbins, which is a very competent production company. They don't see that. They see ESPN as you would see the "Washington Post" -- perhaps not the advertising department -- if there is a similar publication that looks like the "Washington Post," feels like the "Washington Post," but is the "Washington Post."</s>KURTZ: And now if Bonds makes some news during these interviews the production company is taping, apparently the news department at ESPN isn't told about it. Isn't that a kind of odd situation?</s>SOLOMON: They have an agreement -- they have an agreement that if Bonds does say something newsworthy and something revelatory does appear on the show, that it's held for the show, not to be given to ESPN News.</s>KURTZ: Now, ever since the book "Game of Shadows" came out by the two "San Francisco Chronicle" reporters that details extensively allegations of steroid use by Bonds, now you've got him sitting in front of a camera for this reality show, and he is hardly ever asked about steroids. It's come up once or twice. How do you do that and not press the guy on the biggest single issue facing his career right now?</s>SOLOMON: I think the producers of the show have every intent of asking him. Now, whether he answers or what kind of response he gives is up to Bonds. See, that's what makes the thing so tricky, is that Bonds in a sense has control. If this was done by -- you know, if this was done without Bonds' control and people pursued and asked and had him walk off the set, that's a different story. But Bonds in a sense can be asked, but he does have control whether or not to answer.</s>KURTZ: You see these programs as basically being pretty close to puff pieces about Barry Bonds?</s>SOLOMON: They're favorable to Bonds, and the first one certainly is well done. They do ask some questions. He is probed somewhat, but his answers are pretty stock and they're pretty pro-Bonds, and he's not going to offer anything particularly revelatory. And other people are asked about Bonds and the steroid issue, and -- but you know, it is a pretty fairly controlled piece by Bonds.</s>KURTZ: And so in effect, ESPN is helping Barry Bonds rehabilitate his image, an image that has been absolutely battered by these investigative reports about drug use.</s>SOLOMON: And ESPN would maintain that its entertainment division is producing the show, that the news division is not helping it, but again, that's where I have a problem.</s>KURTZ: You are the first ombudsman in the history of ESPN. Do you feel like you're having an impact?</s>SOLOMON: Well, you mean does Michael -- did Michael Getler have an impact at the "Washington Post"?</s>KURTZ: When he was the ombudsman.</s>SOLOMON: When he was the ombudsman of the "Washington Post." You never know. All you can do is make your assessments, write your criticisms, write your compliments and see what happens. I mean, am I having an impact? I don't know.</s>KURTZ: But do readers and viewers have a way of accessing your...</s>SOLOMON: I hear a lot from readers and viewers, and I get a lot of response, and I think readers and viewers appreciate having someone to vent to and also appreciate having someone that offers internal criticism.</s>KURTZ: And we appreciate your being here. George Solomon, ESPN, thanks you very for joining us. Up next, how Katie Couric's upcoming move to the CBS anchor chair has produced a windfall for the man she's leaving behind. And later, CNN's Jason Carroll goes "ON THE STORY" of the investigation into the Duke lacrosse players caught up in those sexual assault allegations in North Carolina. "ON THE STORY" today at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.