After a courtroom kerfuffle Weds., which ended with Judge Spector allowing a Seattle Times photographer to take Mike Webb's photo while he testified, the rare picture appears with reporter Natalie Singer's story in Thursday's paper.
The daily story was written before BlatherWatch's late-breaking exclusive story of Webb's trip to Harborview psych ward for observation after a lunchtime altercation reportedly witnessed by at least four jurors about to deliberate on his insurance fraud case.
Webb has resisted being photographed for years, in two separate incidences, he attacked photographers in the courthouse hallways. Webb says he's had death threats for years and harkens to talk host Alan Berg who was shot down in Denver in 1984 by white supremacists.
At least she left out the part about him having a melt-down outside...
I had heard of his aversion to being photographed, but yet, when he would appear on "Battle of the Talk Show Hosts", it was taped and re-broadcast on some local cable channels, so it doesnt make much sense that he would be so angry at this point...except that he is not well.
Posted by: sparky | September 14, 2006 at 09:50 AM
wellll.....i hate even seeing the guy under this microscope, but...he did it to himself. i CAN say, he pours himself into his radio and he's fun to WORK around, but not to DEPEND upon.
i really do hope he gets help and gets better.
Posted by: Scrilla | September 14, 2006 at 10:03 AM
Right now, I think the best Mike can hope for is to spend his time in Jail at Western State. Might do him some good.
Posted by: JDB | September 14, 2006 at 10:19 AM
If you want to keep your puss out of the newspapers, Webb, keep your nose clean, and don't violate insurance fraud laws.
Posted by: Tommy008 | September 14, 2006 at 10:52 AM
So Webb does not want to be photographed. Who da hell does he think he is...The T-Man?
Posted by: umo | September 14, 2006 at 11:18 AM
Mikes web show is looping a Simon and Garfunkel song today. You sure can read a story in this one:
_____________________
Many's the time I've been mistaken
And many times confused
Many's the time I've been forsaken
And certainly abused
But it's all right, it's all right
You can't be forever blessed
When I think of another working day
I've just got to get some rest
I've got to get some rest
I don't know a soul who's not been battered
Don't have a friend who feels at ease
Don't know a dream that's not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh but it's all right, it's all right
We've lived so well so long
And when I think of the road we've travelled on
So far away from home
So far away from home
And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
In a dream I was flying
We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age's most uncertain hour
And we sing an American tune
Oh but it's all right, it's all right
You can't be forever blessed
And when I think of another working day
I've just got to get some rest
I've got to get some rest
Posted by: JB | September 14, 2006 at 12:06 PM
Wow, you mean that story about him going to Harborview wasn't a joke?!!
Posted by: David Tatelman | September 14, 2006 at 12:09 PM
As I said in a comment a week or so ago, Mike has been acting like a person with some kind of genuine delusions, perhaps some sort of severe manic-depression. I mean this sincerely. I could see him having a break down as some of the reality of his situation finally trickles through the delusions. On the other hand, he could be delusional enough to think this will get him out of the mess, but having put that much energy into putting on such a dominating case I would be suprised if the prosecutors office isn't ready to finish him off in another trial.
Still, this could be an opportunity for him to make some kind of deal for a misdeamenor including mental health treatment.
I don't think he's Western State material though. He probably just needs to have his meds adjusted in a quiet atmosphere for a couple of weeks.
Posted by: Mirror | September 14, 2006 at 04:15 PM
From Webb's blog:
http://www.mikewebb.org/blog_frame.htm
Thursday, September 14, 2006
The Mike Webb Show
Hi Friends and Listeners,
I will be taking a much-needed and long overdue rest. The show will be suspended for a brief time - and we'll run a mix of other progressive media and some of my past shows.
As some readers and listeners know, these have been some trying times on a personal level which I believe did not belong in the public spotlight -- that my court case was in no way connected to my professional work. That aside, I hope you will digest any and all media coverage with the kind of impartiality and intelligence you have regularly shown as listeners. That's all I ask.
Best wishes to you and a big thank you to Korum's Puyallup Nissan/Suzuki for their self-less and consistent support of our programming. I'll be in touch soon.
Mike Webb
I didnt know you could get sponsered for being psychotic. Call me, Korum
Posted by: mercifurious | September 14, 2006 at 10:35 PM
Don't be mean, Merci. The guy's on his knees . . .
Posted by: joanie | September 14, 2006 at 11:37 PM
Easy for you to say, Joanie, he never tried to kill you...
Posted by: blathering michael | September 14, 2006 at 11:45 PM
Don't be mean, Merci. The guy's on his knees...
Pun intended?
Insert joke here____________________
Posted by: mercifurious | September 14, 2006 at 11:59 PM
Mike manipulates people. This is his latest scam--- "suicide watch"
Posted by: sclub | September 14, 2006 at 11:59 PM
So you suppose he's a dry drunk? I always thought he had simmering aggression just under the surface. But, I have a heart . . . sorry.
Posted by: joanie | September 15, 2006 at 12:05 AM
But Joanie, mentally ill people are just that--they are ill and they dont act rationally. Mike doesnt think his problems are related to his job, but it was during a shift when we was AWOL that he got into the accident, and his subsequent problems.
He blames Bla'M for this instead of himself.
Yet he took time to thank a sponsor of the nonsense he was broadcasting....I dont think they really sponsored him, either..I think he recorded commercials and played them online...
Posted by: sparky | September 15, 2006 at 05:18 AM
Don't get me wrong Joanie - contrary to popular belief, I have a heart too. If this Webb tantrum had occurred elsewhere, I would be pretty sympathetic - he is under considerable pressure after all.
BUT this all occurred - all too conveniently - in front of jurors in his own case. All this mind you, outside a court building holding thousands of people in 100s of cases.
Ask yourself: What are the odds that this was a random encounter?
Posted by: mercifurious | September 15, 2006 at 05:27 AM