Category: All Other Sports

Damn you rednecks!

Via Fark comes this great story about Brett Haber, a commentator for OLN’s coverage of Professional Bull Riders circuit, who didn’t know his microphone was still on during a commercial break. His remark, “Nod your head you fucking hillbilly. You’re not going to ride anyway” was broadcast to all the in-arena monitors.

Of course, OLN immediately fired him. However, Haber might still collect on the remainder of his $200,000 contract or he could sue OLN because OLN employees failed to turn off the audio feed.

By the way, has anyone see Danielle Sargeant on ESPNews recently?

Links:
[Rodea Attitude]: OLN, PBR brace for litigation following Haber’s dismissal

At this point, the tide seems to be turning in public sentiment that the Duke lacrosse team is innocent of rape charges. Not to be deterred, at a community forum at NCCU, Durham County DA Mike Nifong had this to say:

A lot has been said in the press, particularly by some attorneys yesterday, that this case should go away. My presence here means that this case is not going away.

Experts agree that not having DNA evidence does not make prosecuting the case impossible but that because of CSI, it’s going to be hard to get a conviction.

We wonder if this is the DA refusing to bail out of a sinking ship or if the lawyers for the lacrosse players are blowing smoke. Either way, someone’s career is going to be ruined. And since they’re all lawyers, does it really matter?

A doctor and nurse who examined the alleged victim said she had injuries consistent with rape. So, if not the lax boys, then who did it?

By the way, just so you know, one of the fathers of the lacrosse players said the boys are innocent. Gee, thanks, AP, for that stellar piece of investigative journalism … ’cause you know, there’s no bias there.

[Yahoo]: Prosecutor: Investigation of rape allegations at Duke lacrosse party ‘not going away’

A lawyer for one of the team captains said DNA tests show that the players are innocent of the rape charge. We don’t exactly trust lawyers so we’ll note that you should take anything coming out of their mouths with a grain of salt. Just because no DNA evidence was found that matched any of the players doesn’t mean that they are innocent. Although the case is looking more and more like a hoax with every new detail that comes out.

Remember that District Attorney Mike Nifong that he was “absolutely convinced” a rape had occured and that he could still file charges even if no DNA evidence was found. Hmmm… Nifong is someone who tops out list of people we wouldn’t want to be right now. He’s right above of the person who heads Detroit’s 911 service.

Links:
[News&Observer]: Attorney: No DNA found on victim

The ref clearly is excited to be there

Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2006 Rock Paper Scissors champion is David McGill from Omaha, Nebraska. In a grueling 5 hour tournament at the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas, it all came down to one final throw… and of course, the winner had no idea what it was. When asked about the winning throw, McGill replied, “I’m sorry. I’ve been here since 2 in the afternoon.”

People were dressed in costumes and the final rounds took place in a miniature boxing ring on stage. Talk about making a big spectacle out of nothing. But hey, $50k is a lot of money for a game that requires no training and no talent. The tournament is all dumb luck so we can’t wait to sign up next year.

The RPS championship could be HUGE next year. It’s the perfect combination of booze and easy money. Bud Light might have just stumbled upon something great here for their sponsorship dollars.

Links:
[Las Vegas Review Journal]: ROCK PAPER SCISSORS — BEER

One of the anonymous comments in a previous blog entry mentioned that the alleged victim had prior charges. Well, we finally found a source. WRAL in Raleigh reported that in 2002, the alleged victim gave a lap dance to a taxi driver, then stole his car and lead the police on a high speed chase. The chase ended when she hit a dead-end road. She had a blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit at the time. She served probation and some jail time for the “joyride”.

Her lawyer points out that what happened in the past should not affect the current investigation. We agree with this, however, not many people pointed this out when the media reporting that 15 of the lacrosse players had prior convictions for public drunkeness.

On the other side, Joseph Cheshire, a laywer for the Duke lacrosse team claims he has time-stamped photographs that prove there was no rape committed at the house. Cheshire claims that there is a photograph of the dancer smiling at the photographer, followed by one six minutes later where she is passed out on the porch. Another photograph, 3 minutes later, shows a team captain helping the woman into her car.

We wonder if this description of the photographs will change the public’s mind on whether a rape took place. Naturally, both sides are standing by their stories.

Links:
[WRAL]: Alleged Rape Victim Had Past Brush With Law
[News&Observer]: Attorney: Party pics help players

Most people defending the Duke lacrosse players (and there are very few of them) are quick to point out that despite prior charges for 15 players, they were all for just drinking and disruptive behavior. Well it turns out that’s not completely true.

Collin Finnerty and two lacrosse players from other schools were arrested in November for attacking a man in Washington D.C.

A man said he was minding his own business when the three men started picking on him. The man told them to stop “calling him gay and … derogatory names.” Then they attacked him, he said, “busting his lip and bruising his chin,” court records say.

Lacrosse players claim they get a bad reputation but so far, in court documents, members of the Duke lacrosse team have been shown to be racist and homophobic — we’ll reserve judgement on the raping and accessory to a crime.

[News&Observer]: Player in tussle in D.C

Screw this, I’m outta here

Things are not looking good for the lax boys. The Smoking Gun (how do they do it?) released the application for search warrant filed by the investigation officer. In it, an anonymous source forwarded an email from Ryan McFadyen that was sent less than an hour after the alleged sexual assault incident.

tommrow night, after tonights show, ive decided to have some strippers over to edens 2c. all are welcome.. however there will be no nudity. i plan on killing the bitches as soon as they walk in and proceeding to cut their skin off while cumming in my duke issue spandex.. all in besides arch and tack please respond

The note was signed with Ryan McFadyen’s jersey number. Now email forwarding can be easily faked (we’ve been victim to this many times as pranks) but you better believe the Duke IT folks were all over it. And I’m going to jump to the conclusion that this email was real because coach Mike Pressler immediately resigned and the AD has cancelled the rest of the season. McFadyen was also suspended from Duke.

A lawyer for one of the team’s captains immediately went into spin mode and issued this statement:

This e-mail, while the wording of it is, at best, unfortunate, if you read this e-mail and you also are aware of other e-mails that exist contemporaneous with these events, it’s quite clear that no rape happened in that house. These boys were frustrated because they, as is already been reported, they thought these women had come and taken a bunch of money and started dancing and just decided to leave

Interesting spin. This might be why he gets paid the big bucks. Still, saying that it is quite clear based on the email that no rape happened in the house is somewhat of a stretch. The only thing that is quite clear is that Ryan McFadyen has been watching Silence of the Lambs too many times.

Links:
[Duke.edu]: Statement on Release of Sealed Warrant and Cancellation of Men’s Lacrosse Season from Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead

[Charlotte Observer]: Father says accuser ID’d lacrosse players as attackers from photos
[News&Observer]: Duke lacrosse coach resigns
[News&Observer]: Lacrosse player suspended from Duke

You call this a riot?
Come on boys, let’s take ’em to school!

The crowd at a teen rugby match in Ipswich (in Queensland) got a little out of control when a ref decided to send 3 players to the “sin bin”. The family of one of the West End Bulldogs players didn’t like the call and attacked the ref when he left the field.

The referee barricaded himself in the changing room but the family continued to go after him and then started brawling with other spectators and police. The police had to call for reinforcements and pepper spray was used to subdue the rioters, including two women. Witnesses say it was all just one family fighting with everyone else.

The police got a copy of the match video and arrested several people. We’re waiting for the video to show up on YouTube.

Links:
[The Courier Mail News]: Fans see red on ruling

Well, either Day 5 or Day 17, depending on when you start the clock. In that timeline, it’s important to note that the university’s president claims Duke began investigating the incident on Wednesday March 15, yet the team played 2 more games before the story hit the papers.

Published on duke.edu is a statement by the Duke Lacrosse team captains:

The captains of the team met this morning with President Brodhead, and expressed sincere regret over the lapse in judgment in having the party on March 13 which has caused so much anguish for the Duke community and shame to our families and ourselves.

We also stated unequivocally that any allegation that a sexual assault or rape occurred is totally and transparently false.

The team has cooperated with the police in their investigation. We have provided authorities with DNA samples. The understanding is that the results of the DNA testing will be available sometime next week. The DNA results will demonstrate that these allegations are absolutely false.

Because of the intense emotions surrounding these allegations, we feel it is in the best interest of the University, the community and our families that the team should not play competitively until the DNA results verify our unequivocal denial of these allegations.

I’m quite naive in some aspects. I believe when people come out and say they aren’t guilty, that they are, in fact, not guilty. Hell, for about 3 months, I didn’t think OJ possibly could have done it.

A fact came out today that doesn’t really sit right with me. Remember we told you about the woman who called 911 because she was driving by and one of the team members called her a n******? Well, the police responded right away and found the place completely empty. At 1 in the morning. You don’t clear out a party by 1 in the morning on a college campus unless something really bad happened. Couple that with the finding of the stripper’s things at the house and it doesn’t look good for the lacrosse team.

Still, I have to point out that nothing is ever how it plays out in the press. Despite the fact that most lacrosse players are dicks, it doesn’t mean they’re rapists. Does anyone remember Tawana Brawley?

Someone is quick to remind us that the three accused men are innocent until proven guilty. However, someone should learn to spell alleged.

(via Signifying Nothing)

The Smoking Gun has published the search warrant obtained by the North Carolina police to search the premises of house where the alleged rape took place.

Included in the warrant are the names of the three alleged rapists.

The victim stated she tried to leave and the three males (Adam, Bret, and Matt) forcefully held her legs and arms and sexually assaulted her anally, vaginally and orally. The victim states she was hit, kicked and stranged during the assault and she attempted to defend herself, but was overpowered. The victim reported she was sexually assaulted for an approximate 30 minute time period by the three males.

As a way to thwart us hardworking bloggers, Duke University has removed the lacrosse team roster from their site. However, this is the internet and there’s more than one way to skin a cat. By looking over the 2006 stats, we were able to weed out the names of all the Duke players. See Duke, information wants to be free.

Ok, I better put a disclaimer here. We’re not saying these are the guys who did it. Innocent until proven guilty. But, the victim stated that her three attackers were team members. So, my extensive investigative expertise (learned from Encyclopedia Brown) yields only 1 Bret, 3 Matts, and 0 Adams.

Another aspect of this case is the media coverage of it. This is a story that didn’t make ESPN (i.e. national) coverage until the sordid details started filtering out. Yet, Dhani Jones getting arrested for dancing in Miami Beach makes Sportscenter immediately. I don’t often play the race card but this has me scratching my head more than Adam Morrison.

One piece of reporting that I question is that 15 members of the team had prior charges including underage alcohol possession, having open containers of alcohol, loud noise and public urination. I understand this is relevant, but is it really relevant? It’s practically a rite of passage in college to drink beer, make noise and urinate in public. Yes, technically, they had prior charges but the AP headline was “15 Duke lacrosse players had prior charges”, which leads you to believe they have something criminal in their backgrounds. Sorry, but being a drunk asshole isn’t really that big of a crime. (Yes, I know, headlines are sensationalistic and I’m being naive.)

This scandal will catapult Duke lacrosse into the national conciousness negatively for a long time. As much as I dislike the overuse of the term “perfect storm” (thanks to that terrible book and movie), this guy has got it right when detailing why this story is front page news: rape and gender, race, class, timing, and the team’s foolhardy adherence to a code of silence.

Barry Bonds on the juice gets the attention of sports junkies and makes the rounds on the sports blogs. Duke lacrosse players raping a black woman gets on everyone’s radar.

Reactions from the blogosphere:

[Justice 4 Two Sisters]: This blog is keeping track of a ton of the blog entries on this scandal.

[My All time top 5]: “If the lacrosse scandal turns out to be true… and as much as I hope it’s not, it’s hard to shake what appears to be serious evidence to the contrary or at the very least, a major violation of “the stupid rule”… not only does it smear every good student at the University and obliterate any semblance of relations with Durham, but most importantly, it’s a lasting, stinging reinforcement of the Duke Prick Stereotype: that if you’re a rich white kid, you can do no wrong. Get in, get out, get your 6-figure i-banking job, and don’t give a shit about anybody else.”

[Under the Dryer]: “To Devon Sherwood, the lone African-American player on the Duke University Men’s Lacrosse Team. (this is listed on Duke University Athletics public website www.goduke.com) I know you are a freshman, you are probably on scholarship, you are the only brother on this team. I’d be scared to death in some ways if I were you. Despite all this, I am appealing to you young soldier to come forward and tell what you know and or saw and see that these your sisters receive the justice they deserve. This could have been your mother, your sister, your cousin, your girlfriend,your classmate. They are college students just like you, one is a mother, trying to support her children and make a better life. What are you going to do? The activist Angela Davis said “If they come for me in the morning, they will come for you in the afternoon.” Don’t think you can’t or won’t be racially terrorized my brother. You OWE all the hundreds of thousands of our forbearer whose backs YOU stand on, who suffered, worked, protested,marched, sat-in, bled, and died so that you could go to an institution who historically did not always admit African-Americans to be educated or play organized sports. YOU OWE THEM DEVON. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? HOW LONG WILL YOU SIT AND LET THESE SISTERS SUFFER?”