Buzz

Assumption of risk
Here's a health tip for all you youngsters out there: If you don't want to risk a raging case of herpes, never have unprotected intercourse with anyone in the NBA.

OK, so that one's a bit obvious. Apparently, however, some people are clueless, and one of them has a lawyer.

In a lawsuit filed New Year's Eve in Dallas County, a woman identified only as S.S. (Sexually Stupid?) claims that she had condomless sex with Dennis Rodman in 1996 after he told her he had no sexually transmitted diseases. That was a lie, the woman alleges, and Rodman infected her with herpes. She wants money.

Now, Buzz is all for giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. We're certainly not saying Rodman has herpes. But he is Dennis Rodman. He used to hang with Madonna. He's in the NBA. Put those facts together, and a reasonably prudent person would take precautions.

New broom
New Dallas Country District Attorney Bill Hill started the year with a bang, bidding farewell to Assistant District Attorney Mike Gillett and lead investigator Bob Whitney. Gillett, who had served for 25 years, has long been one of two unofficial powers behind the scenes at the district attorney's office--the other being First Assistant District Attorney Norm Kinne, who retired January 1. During that time, Gillett made his share of enemies. More than once, defense attorneys demanded his head as a condition of political support for former District Attorney John Vance. Whitney, in turn, was widely resented because under his leadership, assistant district attorneys had little say over which investigators were assigned to their cases.

The bloodletting at the top apparently has some holdovers from Vance's tenure a tad nervous, and wild rumors are floating through the Frank Crowley courts building. The latest involves claims that the outgoing administration shredded documents on its way out. One version had Vance and his secretary shredding personnel files; another had them chopping up files from the office's hot-check fund.

Hill says neither is quite right. "Oh, gosh, no. I think there must have been some question of some personal correspondence of John's that was shredded. But that was done out in the open, nothing secret. I guess it must have been 20 years of...whatever."

A fan writes. Poor fan.
Last week's Buzz item about state Rep. Jerry Madden, who asked that we stop sending a copy of the Dallas Observer to his Austin office because no one there was reading it (philistines), prompted this e-mail from state Rep. Will Hartnett (R-Dallas):

"Dear Buzz, I want you to know that I and my staff read the Observer every week. You have some of the best political information in town. While we are in session, I appreciate receiving a copy in my Austin office. Keep up the good work!"

Thanks, Will. That's mighty nice of you. It's not that we have trouble taking compliments or cynically think you're trying to suck up, but could you send us copies of all your financial records for the past six years?

--Compiled from staff reports by Patrick Williams