The KPIX-Dennis O'Donnell Cover-Up

A sentiment at KPIX on the continuing MYSTERY that is Dennis O'Donnell.

"He's never been MIA --he always comes to work...unlike her." The "her" in this case is Veronica De La Cruz, the PIX anchor who has batled a number of personal issues (some real, some not so real) and whose frequent disappearing acts has resulted in a bitter divorce from CBS-SF (PIX) --unlike O'Donnell, at least VDLC's status is fairly well known, if not in the public domain, then at least here and in the industry.

SOME KEY BULLET POINTS:

*KPIX could alleviate a whole bevy of speculation and innuendo by having its anchors saying the followingg: "Dennis (O'Donnell) is away tonight." It's vague enough; it protects DOD's privacy and it also respects its viewers without going into detail, any detail for that matter. It also negates any formal gossip. That may not make any sense but you get my point.

*Duane Kuiper made the decision to go out in front and say he was having a medical "issue" and that he'd be missing some time. We all pretty much know the issue Kuiper's dealing with and we've all given Kuip his privacy and not talked (publicaly) about his "condition:" even though we know what that "condition" probaly is. I give Kuiper and the Giants credit for that tactic. It worked.

Kuiper has the same "privacy" rights O'Donnell has. The Giants and Kuiper know that but they went public anyway. They know the deal.

O'Donnell is suffering from some sort of medical issue(s). I've heard (but not yet corrborated) several stories. Does Dennis owe us an explanation? "None of your damn business!," say some folks. In theory, sure, but Dennis O' Donnell is a public person and when that public person is gone from the sports anchor desk for a month and misses a 49ers game; a game he's NEVER missed in almost twenty years; and when his CBS station says nothing and goes out of its way to say nothing, we have a problem.

Again, KPIX could have AVOIDED all this turbulence by saying, benignly, "Dennis is off tonight." KTVU said as much when Dennis Richmond was absent for an extended time and was dealing with his own issues. But KPIX wants it both ways. They can privately say its a hipaa issue (fine) but even their own staff inside the building (855 Battery) are wondering what's going on here (Dennis) and speculation has gone rampant.

Some people close to the matter have gone out of their way to lie. They said Dennis is "on vacation" even though he's not really on vacation. YOU, the VIEWERS, are left out in the dark. It's not a privacy issue. It never has been. O'Donnell's status was never a story until KPIX hired a new guy (without explanation) and force-fed BS to one of its own sports guy, who subsequently went out of their way to spread the BS. And KPIX is now engaged in its own COVER-UP; not only to its working personnel but to YOU. the Bay Area viewing public.

What a sad time.