Mark Chmura was acquitted of all charges of sexual misconduct over the weekend by a 12 person jury(5 women ,7 men). It has been a 10 month ordeal that might end or hamper the rest of his NFL career and his reputation. This is not the end of the story. In the fast pace lifestyle of modern America, most people do not take time to find the real truth. They depend on the media to hand the truth to them in a nice neat package. A local Atlanta evening news affiliate advertises their program as having “all the top stories in the first 11 minutes.” Is 11 minutes enough time to show both side of one story, let alone all the top stories? Yet much of the public swallows things as the truth and moves on with their lives.

    As in all high profile cases, the media has the ability to convict someone before the case even goes to trial. Chmura still has to be “acquitted” by the media and public opinion. Controversy sells papers, and forces people to stay glued to the evening news. Unfortunately as I believe in this case, it was the media that put Chmura on trial. The media would have you to believe that Mark Chmura decided to crash a prom party, and forced himself on an unsuspecting 17 old girl. The accuser knew she could use the media to her advantage to settle whatever vengeance he has in her heart - if I can’t have him, then no one can. If any reasonable person looked at the evidence presented in the case, he or she would agree that the correct decision was made. The party was thrown by the parents of a teen for her prom. The accuser was bad mouthing Chmura all night long. It seems obvious she was out to get him. . She voluntarily entered the bathroom even after the warning by fellow partygoer Michael Kleber that Chmura was using it. She gave Kleber a smirk and went in anyway. There was no scuffling or screaming in the bathroom that anyone could hear. Also there was no DNA evidence to support they even had sex. Who would the public believe? The “poor innocent “ 17 old little girl or the big powerful NFL star? She bet it would be the former. In this corner the accuser and the media VS. Chmura and the truth, and the truth won.

   Did Chmura really win this weekend? That remains to be seen. With the lack of talent in the NFL at the tight end position and Chmura desire to play again, I am hopeful that he will have another shot at continuing his NFL career. I hope the media did not ruin him for life. It will be hard for me to swallow seeing him in another uniform that is not green and gold. Good luck Mark! Thanks for your years in Green Bay.