AnnArbor.com regrets inappropriate remark made during live chat

AnnArbor.com has high standards for its journalists, and an incident occurred Monday that did not meet our standards.

During a live chat on the site, University of Michigan football reporter Dave Birkett made an inappropriate remark relating to a player recruited to play for the Wolverines.

The comment involved Demar Dorsey, a blue-chip high school player from Florida who was arrested for burglaries during his teen-age years, but never convicted of any crime. He comes to Michigan with no criminal record and deserves to be treated as such.

During Monday's live chat, Birkett briefly left the discussion to allow a repairman into his home. When he returned, he explained why he was away. A participant in the chat, using the screen name "Demar'' made a joking remark about planning to come over to Birkett's home. The comment was screened, and did not appear in the chat. But Birkett thought it was being posted in the chat and responded: "And thanks Demar, I'll see you here shortly. No need to bring your crowbar.''

The fact that people following the chat did not see the comment from "Demar'' made Birkett's comment seem even more inappropriate, but it was inappropriate in any case.

Birkett is a veteran journalist with significant experience covering major college and professional sports. This remark was not typical of him, and does not reflect the good judgment that we want our journalists to demonstrate. AnnArbor.com regrets the remark and does not expect something like this to occur again.