Why The Andy Reid Family Story Is More Important Than Any Football Game
Philadelphia Magazine has pulled off a coup – an exclusive cover story interview with Eagles coach Andy Reid and his wife Tammy. Much to the chagrin of sports writers who cover Reid, the coach has decided to open up now, and to the magazine, about the problems of his imprisoned sons who face a variety of legal challenges.
Besides being football-challenged in this current season, the Reids have been tarred and feathered in the media and on the talk shows for seeming to be indifferent to the storm around them. They were even lectured-to by the judge in the case, which I felt was a bit over the top.
There is a tremendous significance in the Reid interviews. What they have been apparently facing in the last several years is a problem faced by at least several hundred thousand American families. Addiction, at its highest levels, is ripping apart families at their roots. Parents go through so many stages of it – acceptance, resistance, assistance, and in some cases, tough love scenarios. The difference between the Reids and the rest of America is the fact that the coach is well known, very public, and a lightning rod for angry sports fans.
As a reporter, and a citizen, I have seen up close what alcohol and drug addiction can do to otherwise normal and caring people. Few of us can understand how difficult it is for addicts to find a solution, and how agonizing it is for their loved ones to cope and at the same time remain supportive and caring during a time of trial.
You may have your opinions about Andy Reid. I know the man as well as you do. But the facts remain that the Reid family apparently has been ripped apart by this ordeal.
Try and put yourself in their place. It is the holiday season two of your children will spend it behind bars. That has got to be unfathomable.
The coach said they were doing this interview to help other parents who face crises of addiction with their children. Sharing their ordeal and explaining their crisis will be less than a public excuse for the madness, but more as an attempt at helping others to cope with similar nightmares.
Will it work? That is hard to say, but it helps one other family, the article will have served its purpose.
Comments(13)
The Reids were black mailed into writing this article for Phila. Mag. Larry Platt called the Reids one day and said he was going to do a story about their sons with or without them. Andy had to ask himself, should I let this magazine sensationalize their son’s predicament or agree to participate in the article with full editorial powers. The Reids and their lawyer were given complete say over what was written. Larry Platt is a complete scumbag and should be shown for what he is. A self promoting no talent writer and “editor” of Phila Magazine… An elitist non influential piece of crap.
Andy I know you really didn’t want to go public with your personal matters, but scumbags like Larry Platt exist in this world, and you have to deal with them best you can.
The more I thought about it the more I realized that Larry Kane is a part of this sham. “Phila Mag Pulls off a coup”
This “coup” is a complete undermining of ones personal business. Andy Reid didn’t want to reveal his personal problems to the media. He hardly wants to reveal anything about the Eagles, for Christ’s sake. Larry as usual you’ve got it wrong. I might as well call you Larry Platt Kane.
Who cares? This whole story is overplayed. They ain’t kids. They’re adults. These dysfunctional delinquents been living in a main line mansion , never worked a day in their life , millionaire Coach-daddy giving them everything they want. When he was first hired , much was made about his strong Mormon faith and family values. By their own admission , these two have been running rampant for years. They BRAG about being celebrity drug dealers. Knowlingly or not , Coach Andy was enabling/bankrolling drug dealers and , as it has proven by driving high on herion , crashing into others , pulling guns , and ignoring judges orders , two contemptuous dangers to society.
NFL = National Felons League , players and coaches.
I agree that family problems of this magnitude are more important than any football game.
However, Red has coached well over 50 games with no indications of stopping while his children spiraled downward, victimizing citizens of this community.
The “Andy Reid Family” story is not even the highest priority in the Andy Reid home, why should it be “important” to the public?
It’s important that the public know that scum like Larry Platt be called on the carpet to explain their unacceptable behavior. Unless you are as moronic as he is, we have to let the Reids deal with this problem own their own. There is no simple answer to drug addiction. To force a family to air their personal problems in the public arena is an abomination to all that is fair and just.
Thank God Red has you to defend him against this bully.
Keep up the good work, Spidey.
Speaking of fair and just, let me know the next time you come to the defense of an innocent woman faced with a gun-wielding heroin addict driving two tons of steel.
ED:
LARRY PLATT KANE.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST LARRY PLATT?
LK
Larry, you’re in the business and you don’t see anything wrong with what Platt did? He gave the Reids an ultimatum. Either do this article or I’ll do it without you. (and Andy, if I do it without you it might not paint a very pretty picture of you and your family). All Platt was interested in was splashing the Reids faces all over the cover of Phila. Mag. That doesn’t sound very ethical to me. The article from what I hear is benign. No major insights or controversial matters were exposed. That is because Platt gave full editorial control to the Reids and their Lawyers. What a farce.
I feel bad for Reid. He is such a Philly guy and a great American. Unfortunately, public figures are usually targets of the media. It is news. Especially to the underprivileged elements of society. They are curious about how people who seem to have it all can have such problems. For example, it is perplexing to the underclasses how the young, rich and famous often seem to plunge into despair. Somehow, in gaining a little understanding of their troubles we can peer into the factors other than poverty that make all of us prone to a range of sadness. Can’t you just feel that something sad is lurking just beneath the international face we wear? There is a hint that a breakdown in the relationship to one another is at work, at least to some degree. I think that this aspect is the real news people are tuning into. Mr, Reid, you are like a general on the field. Everybody knows that. However, I think people are just looking for the general of our society, too. I know it is unfair, but try not to take it hard, brother.
A family has a right to some privacy. BUT when your kids step way over the line and start dealing drugs, driving drunk, and otherwise impacting society, SOCIETY HAS TO RESPOND. Just because they’re rich, white, and live in the suburbs doesn’t mean they can hide and claim privacy.
Deal with your own, or we will. Othwerise this world will go to pot (literally).
Does anyone out there GET IT. I’m not defending the privacy of the Reids. I’m attacking the extortion tactics used by Philly Magazine in order to get the Reids to write the story. This is the story. To get Larry Platt off their backs the Reids agreed to write some pabulum to satisfy Platt’s ego.
The Reids got to soft sell their problems and Larry Platt got a “coup”. Win win for both sides. Except if ANYONE thought about for more than a second they would realize the tactics used by Larry Platt are indeed unethical and not what the power of the pen is all about. For Larry Platt it’s just about selling more magazines. He cares nothing for the truth.
Ed– Do you have inside info or are you just presuming?
Larry
Larry, I don’t need to presume anything or have inside info.
Fact#1: Larry Platt sent the Reids a letter last summer. He told the Reids “we could and we are planning on going ahead and doing a story about your family without your cooperation.” Give Phila Mag an exclusive and the pages will be yours. (Jodi Mac interview)
Fact#2: Bob Huber ‘editor’of the story credited Larry Platt for landing the interview after “LOTS OF TALKS” with the Reids.
Fact#3: According to Huber the Reids were allowed to read the article before it was published and make changes. Which they did. (Inqlings 12/23)
Fact#4: Phila Mag acknowledged that they would donate an unspecified amount to a charity.
Larry, This was a four to five month negotiated deal between Platt and the Reids. Why do you think Phia. Mag agreed to donate to a charity (a charity they never named by the way ). I don’t know Andy Reid personally but I do know he is tight lipped and that it would take a whole lot of “persuation” to make him write this article. Andy’s purpose in doing this article was to protect his family’s reputation from further damage.
This entire episode stinks, and most of the rotton smell seems to eminate from the direction of Larry Platt.