The OtherArena

[jdw]

That is an odd story. ESPN had it back in 2003 and didn't have enough to support running it back then. Ditto the cops. The period of sexual contact is pretty unusual for cases like this too.

John

[Scott]

Jim Boeheim has come out and basically said the guy is full of it:


DanWetzel Dan Wetzel
Boeheim: I have never seen or witnessed anything to suggest that he would been involved in any of the activities alleged.

Dan Wetzel
DanWetzel Dan Wetzel
Boeheim: This matter was fully investigated by the University in 2005 and it was determined that the allegations were unfounded.

Pete Thamel
PeteThamelNYT Pete Thamel
Boeheim: "There’s absolutely no way that I believe any of this could possibly have happened. That’s the bottom line."

[Yakuza Rich]

I'd wait on this story. It's not really like Sandusky's story because this had been brought to the police and ESPN and neither could corroborate the story back in '03. And the only reason why ESPN is bringing it back is because of the Penn State story. If Fine really did this...then I'm glad the story was brought back and they should throw him in jail and throw away the key. That being said...ESPN should have actually done some more investigating since they couldn't corroborate the story the first time. But, that's ESPN's fine journalism rearing its ugly head. I'm sure they'll get scolded by the ombudsman, which nobody reads.

Anyway, Fine is not a 'God' in Syracuse. I can't think of anybody who thinks of him as a 'God' in Syracuse. He was a SU grad that didn't play ball. But, he was I believe an assistant trainer who had some good theories on basketball and Boeheim liked him and made him an assistant. If it weren't for Boeheim, he would have never gotten an asst. coaching job, anywhere.

Fine has never really been seriously considered to be a HC, even despite all of the successful former assistants under Boeheim like Pitino. In fact, when Boeheim had some health issues years ago, Fine took over and the tam went 1-2 and looked awful. In fact, it's been long known and reported to ESPN that when Boeheim retires...Mike Hopkins will be the HC. But, that's because:

1) Fine is too old.
2) Fine doesn't want the HC job and will liekly retire with Boeheim.

Boeheim isn't bigger than SU and neither is the basketball program. And having talked to Boeheim quite a bit and having people that work for the school and know him personally, the guy doesn't want Paterno type power and prestige (in fact, Boeheim hates Paterno...has for decades).

Furthermore, while by and large Boeheim is beloved, he's also very disliked in the city. Growing up, there were plenty of fans who thought he wuold never win the big one and didn't like that we didn't use set, motion offenses to move the ball. The Post Standard did a 16 page accusation of the basketball program's NCAA violationsa and out of the accusations, 95% of them were *found* to be untrue. And the true violations were tick-tack at best...but when your newspaper brings forth a 16 page accusation, the NCAA has to respond.

It's just an example to show that while Boeheim is overall beloved in Syracuse, he's just not bigger than the city or university and he's not shielded by the media there in any way, shape or form. Hell, ESPN couldn't do the courtesy of actually confirming the story they had almost 8 years ago and just felt it was okay for Fine to be labeled a child molestor without actual proof or evidence or an eye witness account.

But, my opinion still stands. If there's solid proof, throw him in jail. If Boeheim knew about it and tried to cover it up (which doesn't seem possible from reading the article), cancel the rest of the season and show him the door and take away the name to the court.






YR

[Yakuza Rich]

One more thing, I have plenty of family and friends on just about every level of the police force in Syracuse. Not a one of them would ever protect anybody from the basketball team for anything more than a speeding ticket.




YR

[Yakuza Rich]

Okay, from what it appears the police, the Syracuse Post-Standard, ESPN and the University could not get anybody to corroborate Davis' story in '03 thru '05. Now Davis' step-brother is speaking out, but in a separate story of his own abuse. That's why the police are opening up the investigation, but why Boeheim is sticking behind Fine.






YR

[Yakuza Rich]

According to former assistant coach, Tim Welsh, he shared a room with Fine every time they went on a road trip for the 3 years he was the assistant there. This would be after Davis' allegations, but points that if the assistant coaches shared rooms on the road that Davis' allegation has a major hole in it.

http://blog.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/2011/11/former_syracuse_basketball_ass.html





YR

[jdw]

I saw the ESPN piece late last night. It was rather uncomfortable. ESPN really should have just forwarded Davis and the step-brother back to law enforcement and not run the story until law enforcement did what they need to do.

If I were Fine and innocent, I would sue ESPN, Disney and Hearst for everything they have. There is no justification for running the story *now* rather than waiting to see what law enforcement does with the piece. Especially given ESPN's knowledge that in 2003-05 that the story was a dry well for law enforcement.

Of course if he's guilty, send him away. But that's beside the issue of whether ESPN handled this well.

John

[Yakuza Rich]

It wasn't too long ago that I had been claiming that Penn State covers up football players off the field transgressions. I never thought they would stoop that low with a case like Sandusky's, but unfortunately they proved me right...in spades.

I've long been critical of ESPN's integrity and from everything I've read...I'm confident that Fine will be found innocent and Davis and Lang will be proven to have lied. And I'm confident that ESPN will prove my criticisms right as well.

My guess is that Fine will eventually come forward with an interview and be forced to bury Davis and Lang, probably telling a story of how he helped these guys out and they had issues with drugs so he finally got fed up and cut them off.

If Fine is innocent, I'd love to see him sue although I think ESPN will hide behind the 'he's a public figure' defense or the 'we were reporting an allegation, not accusing Fine of child molesting' defense.

I guess I see the irony in ESPN reporting a sex abuse scandal.






YR

[Yakuza Rich]

DA Fitzpatrick is a bit upset with some things, although I think he's been misinformed a bit:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/da_promises_full_investigation.html

He's angry about not being told by police about Davis' accusation because of Davis' claim that the police told him that the statute ran out. Although he's immediately taking Davis' word. If Davis is right, then I would be upset if I was Fitzpatrick. But, I'm guessing it's a lie. Also, the Post-Standard and ESPN knew *before* the police did in 2003 and could not uncover anything and could not corroborate the story.

His anger at the school is a bit goofy to me. Davis never went to the school, the police did. And it appears the police said 'hey, this Davis guy accused Bernie of molesting him. We investigated and got nothing. Just though you should know to protect yourself.' Then the school did an investigation and found nothing as well.

Even if the police said the statute ran out, can't see how Fitzpatrick would blame the school for not telling him as one would assume that the police had already done that or that because the police found nothing...there was no need to go to the DA.






YR

[Yakuza Rich]

Here's where I see a major crack in Davis' story.

He claims that he was molested up to 27 years old.

He's 39 years old right now. So, he was 27 in 1999.

He went to the police in 2002-2003. Claimed that the police told him that the statute ran out.

NY state law says that the statute runs out 5 years from the *last* sexual contact.

So, the statute didn't run out.

Meanwhile, ESPN's stories are hard to listen to because Mark Scwharz is acting like a sleezeball.

In one interview with Davis, *Schwarz* states that Fine violated his trust (so much for innocent until proven guilty) and asks Davis if he would give up the perks of being a ball boy for having his innocence back.

Then later on in the report Schwarz goes on about how he's had countless interviews with Davis and that his story is remarkably consistent with what he said back in '03. Yet, they didn't go forward with the story in '03 because it was more or less a lie (at least those he said would corroborate his claims, didn't).

I mean, does that really pass for journalism these days?

Davis is claiming that Fine molested him literally over a 1,000 times now.

Good grief.











YR

[Yakuza Rich]

Boeheim takes his obligatory dig at Joe Paterno.

Just a note, Boeheim hates Paterno and has for years

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/syracuse_coach_jim_boeheim_im.html






YR

[JAG]

So any way of finding out how many other ball boys Fine kept a strange relationship with into their late-20s?

Jagdip

[Yakuza Rich]

[jdw]

Hoback: I'm posting this especially for you.

The Problems With Austin Rivers

John

[Rian]

OSU falls to Vandy 64-62, this Beaver team looks like it might actually win some games this year!