October 26, 2009 Broadside: One distraction after another Play video

(NECN: Jim Braude) - Lately, the news is just one distraction after another.

Number one on the list is those Northwest pilots. They were either distracted by sleep, or an argument or hanky panky. No proof of any of this, of course, but they did overshoot Minneapolis by 150 miles, so we can speculate all we want.

The latest is the pilots claim they were using laptops, against all the rules by the way. So, yes, there was something in their laps, but apparently it wasn't flight attendants.

My second favorite distraction is the story of the ESPN guy, Steve Phillips, who was getting "fatal attraction action" from a young producer.

It took a week for ESPN to do the right thing and fire Phillips. My favorite quote is the sociologist who said, in her expert opinion, Phillips was, quote, "being a jerk".

Amen, professor.

And finally, the talk shows got all distracted by allegations that the Obama White House was nothing but a glorified locker room. Lots of guy stuff and no women allowed.