Clarity and Transparency: Shedding Light on the Dennis O' Donnell Story--415 Media Exclusive

The latest Dennis O'Donnell posting has caused quite a stir, both pro and con. Many of you have taken issue with me on whether I should have made public a situation that should be private.

So I want to address with you my feelings and try to explain both the O'Donnell situation specifically and other aspects with regard to my reporting in general.

It's important.

The O'Donnell matter is particularly sensitive and deserves furhter explanation and clarity.

I had no intention, now or in the future, of trying to either hurt or exploit Mr. O'Donnell and his very private (in theory) situation. That's not my MO. In fact, I had no knowledge of what was going on. I only became aware of something unusual when I got emails and tips from readers asking me "where was Dennis?" He'd been absent for a few weeks in August from KPIX and I assumed he was on vacation and I told people as much. I myself, reached out to a friend of his (O'Donnell) and the friend told me, yes, Dennis was on vacation (in early August).

Turns out that was either simply incorrect, deliberately misleading, or out and out a lie.

I became alarmed when I noted Dennis's absence from the first 49ers' pre-season game, at home in August. A game that is broadcast by KPIX. Its coverage includes O'Donnell on the sidelines and for which KPIX pays a lot of money to carry exclusively in Bay Area homes. The fact O'Donnell was not present sent out alarms and I immediately began to make calls and wonder aloud. Even at that, I figured, maybe he decided to take an extended vacation before the beginning of football. It made sense. Covering sports in the fall can be demanding. No big deal, I thought.

Then O'Donnell was MIA on the sports anchor desk at PIX. For a week and then, more weeks. And not a word from the station and not even any mention of his name. Weird, I thought.

So I reached out to some of my KPIX sources, some of whom work at the station, some, who are usually privy to what's going on and such. They knew nothing. Swore they had no idea, which triggered immediate red flags. Because some of these people always know, they'd have a direct line to the boss's office. They were always dependable in most prior circumstances, they HAD to know, at least that was what I was thinking.

I became frustrated because clearly, something was going on. I remember receiving emails earlier in the year ('21) from people saying O'Donnell was slurring his words; was he "drunk?"--was he OK? I didn't think anything of it at the time and passed it off as some over-reaction. Then I began to watch O'Donnell and he didn't look right but I put it aside.

Until KPIX hired another sports anchor. And O'Donnell's whereabouts were still unclear and not explained. By both PIX (sources) and my contacts. O'Donnell's invisibility stretched into the holidays and the new year with continued silence and mystery. There is something going on. Something amiss.

CLARITY and backgound.

I began to get info from various sources, mostly sketchy and nothing concrete. I put two and two together and began to realize, indeed, that O'Donnell had some sort of "medical issue"--he'd been gone now several months and he was nowhere to be seen, outside a dinner event in February and at a SF restaurant a few weeks prior. He hadn't said a word to friends at both locations but a source told me that he didn't sound so good and that "he was done at KPIX".

The source even told me that PIX continued to pay O'Donnell's health coverage so he could continue to receive a doctor's care. The source added that CBS (PIX) paid off O'Donnell indicating he would not be back at the station. There was no way of corroborating that part of my info but the source was dependable.

Even with all this information, plus, a detailed account, unsolicited, from a source with knowledge of O'Donnell's current and prior (health) status; an account that said he had some sort of neurological malady; I was hesitant to write anything. Even if I had total confirmation, I passed. I didn't want to write anything because I myself was sensitive to the matter, O'Donnell's and in general.

I understand both sides here. KPIX's responsibility to its employee and Mr. O'Donnell's right to privacy. But I also understand the very legitimate concerns of the Bay Area public who were mystified over Mr. O' Donnell's continued absence; where is he? what is going on? Is he OK? Where's Dennis? It's not something anyone was losing sleep over but there was a want to know what was happening--why are we not being informed? I know firsthand because of the lengthy emails I had received and continue to receive.

Of course, Mr. O'Donnell has a right to privacy. But there's no such thing as "absolute right." Maybe legally, but not in the everyday public domain.

I said if this matter took place in LA, NY, Philly, Chicago, or any other major market; a well-known anchor, sports or news, was GONE for many months, unexplained, no matter the circumstances and no matter what type of rights, medical privacy, etc, there'd be at least a story, some story. But no such thing in the Bay Area, not even an ounce of speculation by the papers or some local Internet news site.

Which is why you come here.

I don't normally post such lengthy articles but I wanted you to know what I did and reported on this matter. There will be those who will still castigate me because that's what they always do no matter what. It's their missive.

I want to, as I always try to, provide clarity on matters such as this, as complicated as they sometimes are.

I also want to say this too: I wish and hope for Mr. O'Donnell's speedy recovery.

*Rich Lieberman 415 Media EXCLUSIVE