Larry Fitzgerald's Alleged Domestic Abuse Buried Deep in Pages of Arizona Republic

The New Year's Eve news exclusive from sleazy entertainment Web site TMZ.com about Arizona Cardinals player Larry Fitzgerald alleged domestic abuse incident was the "kind of momentary headline that can damage a good name," writes Funny thing is, the incident never rated a headline -- or any other kind of...

By Ray Stern

January 2, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

Funny thing is, the incident never rated a headline -- or any other kind of mention -- in the state's supposed paper of record. Now, Barkley's reported rush for oral sex -- that's the kind of entertainment news the Republic puts in lights.

In an order of protection filed this week, Angela Nazario alleges the star wide receiver shoved her and pulled her hair last October in his Phoenix home -- while he was holding their infant son.

The story wasn't exactly kept quiet among Valley reporters. According to Minnesota's Star Tribune columnist "C.J.:", the Arizona Cardinals' Mark Dalton "informed me via e-mail that "Larry did speak to the local media during our open locker room period" on Wednesday about the allegations. East Valley Tribune reporter Mike Sakal had an article on the order the same day as TMZ.

But a search of the

Local TV news also seems to have failed to cover Fitzgerald's spat with Nazario, a former Oakland Raiders cheerleader (at left). A Google news search uncovers reports of the order of protection from Florida to California, but almost nothing from Arizona.

You'd think the local media are worried they'll jinx the Cards' great season. -- Ray Stern

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Phoenix New Times has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.

Ray Stern is the former news editor of Phoenix New Times. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won numerous awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.