DEATH BY TOOTHBRUSH, BUT NOT EXHAUSTION; A WORD FROM THE MASSES

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MEDIA FARM'S coveted Award for Distinction in Community Journalism goes to the South End News, a newspaper that's not afraid to ask the tough questions. Chief among these tough questions: How in the F does a dude try to kill himself with a toothbrush?

A man being held in an Area D4 holding cell attempted to commit suicide by shoving a toothbrush in his mouth on Sept. 5, according to a police report of the incident. Stephen Costa, a 45-year-old South Boston man who had been arrested earlier that day on charges of shoplifting from Lord and Taylor's, was found by police in his cell, shoving the toothbrush in his mouth. It is unclear from the report exactly how he was shoving the brush into his mouth in manner such as to result in his death, however, the report does indicate that Costa said he was trying to kill himself.

CONGRATS to the Globe for going all the way to BC High -- a school directly across the street from the newspaper's Morrissey Boulevard headquarters -- for much of the color for a story about kids being sad over last week's Patriots cheating scandal.

"I'm really mad about this," said Tom Duffy, 18, a BC High senior who plays linebacker. "How do they go out and cheat and expect us to look up at them? They really let me down." ...

"It's really disappointing," said McClune, 17, a senior who plays linebacker. "This really sets a bad example."

You're telling us, kid. Still, we're curious: Did the paper's reporter drive over to the school's football field, or did he hoof it? Because the pedestrian walkway over the road is, like, half a block down the street -- almost far enough away to break a sweat!

BOSTONHERALD.COM'S NEW story commenting feature got its first real workout Friday, when normally reliable columnist Peter Gelzinis scolded Pats coach Bill Belichick for betraying his dead father. It read even more dubiously than it sounds, and the readers' retribution was swift, hilarious and highly sic-able. Some of the many, many, many highlights that may help illustrate just why Boston.com hasn't enabled reader comments yet:

The media is a total jerk about the way it's handling this.

Gimme a break, he probably picked that tactic up FROM his dad.

Buddy, you couldn't crawl under a snake. This makes me sick. You should be fined for impersonating a reporter. In fact, you're a poor excuse for a human being -- jerk.

If you want to indite BB for not playing by the rules, I suggest you study the rule book of life. You are a cheater Mr. Gelzinis for breaking the rules of legitimate reporting (what does your Father think of your article)

It's true ... the HERALD sucks. This is our championship team you idiot. Everyone does it, everyone knows it, we got caught, thats all. Can't beat us any other way! Quit your day job buddy, you suck at it!!

Peter Gelzinis, go crawl back in your hole.

This article just goes to show what people will do to have their name on a byline. This guy should be fined for not having any class!!

Oh, please ... Gelzinis' moral preening and bleating is as nauseating as his bum-kissing of Teddy Kennedy in every other column. Leave it to the sports desk, Pete.

Gelzinis, stick to writing about youth soccer and influential seniors.

I wouldn't even line my hampsters cage with this article -- his terds have more class than you.

I can't believe you could even look at yourself after writing something like this. Did you go to the melrose place school of journalism?

what can you expect from a state that continues to send a Senator to DC that killed a woman while he was drunk. let me know when you NE fans actually draw a line in the sand re: when something is illegal.

Gelzinis, I doubt your dad, if you even have one, would be very proud of you writing this. Loser. Patriots forever.

Crimminy. After reading your column I had to make certain I wasn't reading the Globe. What a bunch of maroons the Herald staff has become. It's no wonder that MSM reporters are rated lower than Congress Critters these days.

Belicheat is worse than Hitler.