MOTOR SPORTS: After Earnhardt's death, no peace

By now, unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard about the tragic death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. Even people like me, who don't know a cam shaft from a carburetor, are now familiar with Barnhart's legacy and his contribution to making racing one of the fastest growing spectator sports in the United States.

But this isn't a story about Dale Earnhardt. Rather, it's a story that was buried on page six of many newspaper sports sections so that you may have missed it. This concerns autopsy photos taken by the Volusia County medical examiner following Earnhardt's fatal crash at the Daytona 500.

Teresa Earnhardt, widow of the driving legend, sued Volusia County on Feb.22, to stop the release of the autopsy photos.

A Florida judge issued a temporary order preventing the release stating that the photos aren't newsworthy. Subsequently, The Orlando Sentinel newspaper has requested "any and all photographs" of Dale Earnhardt be made available to them. The Sentinel claims that it does not want to publish or copy the photos. Friends, we're not talking about Earnhardt's wedding pictures here.

Listen, back where I'm from there's an old saying that goes something like this (and I'll try to sanitize it for you): if it smells like a pile of manure, it probably is manure. Come on, who are these Sentinel people kidding? I'd be willing to bet the farm that the Sentinel is looking to cash in on these photos in some way or another, either by printing them or selling them. Obviously, the Earnhardt family feels the same way or they wouldn't have taken action to prevent this from happening.

In a prepared statement, Teresa Earnhardt said, "And make no mistake, sooner or later the photos will end up unprotected and published, and most certainly on the Internet."

Following Mrs. Earnhardt's statements, the Sentinel claimed it wants to have a national expert review the photos to determine whether the physical evidence is consistent with NASCAR's explanation of Earnhardt's death. Hey, Sentinel- back off! It isn't your place to make that decision. If the Earnhardt family feels at some point that further investigation is warranted, they should be the one's to determine that, not you.

Unfortunately, many journalists have developed a reputation akin to that of, say, quack doctors, or shyster lawyers. It's because of actions like the Sentinel's that many people view journalists with contempt.

In this case, there is no greater public need to serve, no cause to champion. There needs to be a time of quiet and grieving. There needs to be a time for healing. Let's hope the staff at the Sentinel has a change of heart and retracts their request. Not for Dale, he's already at peace, but for his family.