If the number of telephone calls and emails I continue to get is any measure of the continued interest in Heidi Watney, the former KMPH, Channel 26 sports reporter, then she is gone but not forgotten. So here's an update:

As part of Watney's new job as a sideline reporter at Boston Red Sox games for the New England Sports Network, she was interviewed for a story that can be seen at BostonHerald.com. The contents of that story drew attention from many sports bloggers in the Boston area.

That’s because Watney had some interesting things to say.

One part of the story focuses on The Fresno Bee's reporting in December of how Watney was suspended by KMPH management after cursing at a school administrator.

Here's what I wrote at that time:

KMPH, Channel 26, sports reporter Heidi Watney has been suspended this month because of an incident with a Hoover High School vice principal that occurred in November. Watney cursed at the school administrator.

The exchange happened when Watney told the administrator she had permission to be on the high school campus. A check with the Fresno Unified School District office revealed she did not have permission. When Watney was asked to leave the school grounds, she made the offending comment in front of students.

KMPH general manager Charlie Pfaff would not comment on the action the station took in regards to Watney because it is a personnel matter. He did say that the station has worked hard to foster respect with the community and "we expect all employees to reflect this standard."

Watney yesterday denied cursing. She told the Herald "I think I have a little more class than that."

I guess she does if Watney's definition of class is calling a Hoover vice principal and her former boss a liar. It would have been easy for Watney to have just said she has a passion for her job and she let that get out of hand.

But wait. There’s more.

Watney told the Herald it was her decision to leave KMPH because "it was time for a change” and she was ready to move on. Then she added that “We parted on good terms."

When Watney left KMPH no one would say a word. General manager Charlie Pfaff wouldn’t answer a single question about Watney’s departure. Employees have been told they can not talk about her leaving.

Over the years I have written about hundreds of television and radio personalities leaving their jobs. Never has a person left under good terms and management been so silent. At the least there is a "we wish them good luck." Not a word has been said about Watney.

There is also video on the Web of Watney’s first appearance on the cable channel. She talked about how extensively she covered Barry Bonds last year. She went as far to say that she never had the problems that other reporters who covered Bonds on a daily basis had. Daily basis? I feel bad I missed most of that Giants coverage.

So Watney has obviously taken her new job to heart. She's already adopted the Roger Clemens approach to the truth.

(photo credit: nesn.com)