Cothran

But you can't bring up the Panther name anywhere, especially in West Oakland, and pretend as if nothing bad has happened. You open yourself up to the charge of cynicism. Hilliard has taken on a role for himself: central protector and arbiter of the Panther legacy. Good for him. But he ought to know his job a little better. He ought to know that you can't start a story without finishing it.

Most of all, though, he should know that the complete story of the Panthers is a much better one to tell than a part-truth, even if the telling exacts a price.

George Cothran (gcothran@sfweekly.com) can be reached at SF Weekly, 185 Berry, Suite 3800, San Francisco,