By Tabitha Redder/nw news editor

Originally, I intended to write my column about the absurdity of a certain boxing match involving a killer and a rapper that had recently been thrown into the limelight.

However, the match has been called off. Many were outraged Others breathed a sigh of relief. For me, though, I no longer had a topic for my column but still had a deadline.

Then on Feb. 11, I attended a seminar in Arlington where journalist and talk show host Anderson Cooper spoke about his career and life. I walked back to the car deep in thought about some of the things he said.

Cooper said it was his personal policy while reporting to not name the people who had committed crimes and instead focus attention on the victims, the people who have lost. This approach appealed to me.

Getting away with murder wasn’t enough for this man. It’s like he literally can’t stand to be out of the public eye. He’s reached a horrific level of fame. I scowl every time my eyes stumble across his name on Twitter or hear it via radio during my morning commute.

But he isn’t the only one to blame. The media seems to love reporting on him. People, even those who despise him, can’t keep his name out of their mouths. And what are they doing? Ultimately, he’s reached celebrity status.

So when I first learned of the “celebrity” boxing match, as he called it, my mouth dropped. This man was not only mocking Trayvon Martin, a boy he killed, but was hoping to profit off of him. Adding insult to injury, the official announcement was made on what would have been the young man’s 19th birthday.

And people took this and ran with it on social media. Many claimed the match was going to be the justice Martin and his family deserved. But what if the man’s opponent lost? The killer was an experienced boxer, after all. The humiliation would have been crippling.

So when the match was called off, I was one of those who breathed a sigh of relief.

This slimy excuse of a man schemed his way into national news publications and local radio shows yet again but didn’t even get a black eye. Perhaps this was his plan all along.

This professional sleazebag is probably shedding layers of skin, slithering around chuckling and thinking of other ways to steal the spotlight.

Hopefully, the media won’t take the bait next time.