"New Times" co-owner is under fire for using "N" word

Michael Lacey, co-owner of Village Voice Media which owns the "New Times," is being slammed for his use of the "N" word in reference to one of his employees.  The event was a celebration of the career of East Valley Tribune black sports journalist Bob Moran. 

Soon after Moran's elderly mother accepted the award on behalf of her son, Lacey accepted his own award.  During his acceptance, he said the following:  "... it brought me back to our guest speaker who was speaking about Tom Fitzpatrick, who, if you don't mind the expression, was my nigger."

Lacey is being criticized from many fronts on his use of the word, and correctly so.  But let's be real hear folks, what are we to expect from a guy who peddles shoddy journalism, deviant lifestyles, and near pornography in his newspaper.  No respectable person takes that rag seriously, and very few respectable advertisers advertise in it.  This might be a story if Lacey were hailed as a pillar of the community, but he just isn't.  Really this is just a story about a very sad individual recklessly using the right to free speech.