Another view of Barnicle debacle

             I will not join the " feeding frenzy " in the Mike Barnicle

    scandal. He still seems to be a GOOD man -HONEST ,well most of the

    time. ( The same is true of the " disgraced " Patricia Smith .)

           The problem with Mike, I suspect, was also 25 years as a STAR

    columnist. There are lesser Mikes on every major newspaper. There is

    also a YOUNGER generation with a lot to say.  Mark Patinkin , for

    example, is a  " star " columnist for the Providence Journal, a man

    only in his mid-forties, but already a little " tired " for the job ,

    which really demands freshness of mind, the enthusiasm of the unjaded.

          These OLD PRO columnists begin to irritate many readers when

    they start wallowing in tripe and banality. Imagine precious column

    space in major newspapers - like the Boston Globe and Providence Journal -

    devoted to cheap -and second hand ! - JOKES; or the up and downs of

    domestic life and THE DOUG !

            Patinkin's column are so bland ( but he IS a good writer ) that

    I am surprised that I have not caught him doing radio or TV commercials

    - a REWARD for being non- controversial.

            Perhaps newspapers should give those hard working REPORTERS -

    who respect REALITY - an opportunity to be a STAR columnist, at least

    a few times a year .

           Perhaps STAR columnists are an anachronism nowadays .