Fort Lupton-based Judge Paul Sacco's method of punishing young noise-ordinance violators -- by sentencing them to an hour spent listening to Barry Manilow tunes and the like -- has gotten plenty of attention in recent days from the local press (here's a piece in the Rocky Mountain News), national news organizations (this article is on the Fox News website) and even global info purveyors (click on the appropriate links to see coverage in South Africa and Thailand). Yet this is hardly the first time stories about his approach have made the media rounds. In a search using the subscription Nexis service, I discovered that Sacco's fifteen minutes began at least a decade ago: The earliest article I found was an Associated Press offering dated December 10, 1998. Happy anniversary! And two years later, we weighed in: Robin Chotzinoff's "Beat Cops," from April 2000, features the subhed "Kids, this is Yanni. Turn OFF the boom box and come out with your hands up."
Granted, it's better that we see this topic resurface over and over again rather than grimmer subjects -- because at least it's funny. As evidence, check out the following CNN report, which shows a collection of teens wincing in agony at Sacco's song selection. The one exception: They clearly enjoy the version of Styx's "Come Sail Away" by South Park's Eric Cartman. Time to tinker with that playlist, Judge.
Click "More" to see the video. -- Michael Roberts
