Does anybody remeber the day when the sports police blotter was not mainstream news?
If you do then you will understand where I come from. Otherwise hold on to your hat or simply change channels. This is no sports rant.
Sigh, take a deep breath everyone... we have another Kobe Bryant public Trial going on. This from CNNSI about the Duke Lacross Rape case then there is this.
All I know is that now because the DA in the case is running for election and it looks to be close, he is doing all he can to make it look like he is tough on crime. Well here are the numbers. Then you have the defense attorneys of those accused basically trying the case in the press by leaking the names of the accusers, and dropping photos to be published. Pure crap.. That is the only way to describe it. The DA is grandstanding infront of the press to get releected, the defense is publically trying the case, and the woman who is the "victim" is now being put on trial. And people wonder why the percentage of rape cases that go to trial let alone to a verdict are dropping. It is the victim of the crime that is being tortured, being called a slut, whore, and bringing into light her whole life. While those accused sit back and hide behind the 5th amendment. Just to make one thing clear. I do not intend to make a judgement one way or another on this case. That is for an impartial jury of 12 citizens of Durham NC to do, that is if they can find 12 people who can be impartial. So the question that I put to everyone....
There is fault here. who is at fault and to what extent.....
Here is what I see as the problem, forgive me if I seem to simplify things a bit.
1) Duke University and the athletic department are at fault for not controlling their student athletes. why for the simple reason there had been complaints about this team and it's behavior before but nothing was done. Scoop Jackson on ESPN.com hits home with his article
2) the Strippers are at fault for allowing themselves to get into a situation that they could not control. Plain and simple they should have and could have turned around and walked out and not gone into the party when they saw the situation. But they were lured by the all mighty $$$ and now have to live with their decision.
3) the Upperclassmen of the Duke Lacross team are at fault for several things. First hosting the party and having alcohol available for minors. Second hireing the strippers, if you want to see naked women buy or rent a porn tape or 2.
4) Society in general is at fault for the insanity . Just look at the coverage of this on ESPN.com CNN.com foxsports.com.. and these are the tip of the iceberg. It all comes down to our society in general today. The problem we have in today's society of instant information, instant gratification, is also the fact that we now instead of letting the criminal justice system run it's course, and allow the properly elected and appointed officials do their job the press puts everything out to the public. We get to be Judge and Jury. Who is guilty, who is innocent. All the way back to the Rodney King, and OJ trials, the press has been guilty. Guilty of what you may ask. They are guilty of being more interested in scooping their competition than they are of letting the laws and law enforcement do their job. I mean, look what NBC did to the 94 NBA finals..... a great series between to teams trying to emerge from the shadow of MJ and the Bulls. The game is placed in a Picture window while we are subjected to a low speed chase on the LA Freeway with OJ in the back of a white Bronco. Ann Coulter hit the nail on the head yesterday and here is her article
I really prefer to keep Sports separate from the rest of the real world, however when the 2 collide I sometimes get a bit frustrated. If you like to discuss the other issues of the day I have a couple of good blogs for you to check out. First Lonestartimes.com then redink.texas then there is squawkboxnoise and finally right mom. Granted these sights have a more conservative base but everyone there likes to hear and debate the other point of view. Along that line there is a RINO (Republican in Name Only) hunt going on in Texas for more details go to Lonestartimes.
Realize this is coming from the father of 2 girls, who is also a former college student athlete and Fraternity member. So I have lived or am living on both sides of this story.
and now back to our regular routine I hope.
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