Monday, May 28, 2007

Unsung Heroes

This afternoon, at 1pm, Duke’s men’s lacrosse team will take the field to battle Johns Hopkins for the national championship. Today’s post looks at four of the unsung heroes of this year’s squad, not for what they’ve done on the field, but for how they’ve handled themselves over the past 15 months.

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Junior Bo Carrington (#31) is an ACC Academic Honor Roll Selection; those who watch today’s game won’t have any trouble picking out the midfielder, since he’s one of the two tallest players on the team.

Being recognizable had its drawbacks last spring. In late March 2006, Carrington was surrounded by a group of African-American students while walking across the quad in the middle of Duke’s West Campus. “You know what happened that night!” shouted one member of the crowd. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” As the crowd dispersed, a fellow student in one of Carrington’s classes came running up and asked: “Bo, why don’t you tell me what you know?”

But nobody wanted to hear what Carrington knew: the rape charge was a lie. Yet he kept his patience and didn’t lash out.

No one who knew Carrington—a quiet, deeply religious student—would have anticipated him responding in any other way. He behaved in a similarly professional manner with his professors. The day after the first two indictments, he talked over things with his Spanish instructor, a graduate student. She started out very hostile, saying that she lived in the Trinity Park neighborhood and feared that Duke students were committing rapes there. Then Carrington mentioned that Reade Seligmann was one of the two students indicted. The instructor had taught Seligmann in a course the previous semester. “All of a sudden,” Carrington later recalled, “she went from an accusatory position to being so sad that Reade was being caught up in a big lie. She started talking about how sad it was that Reade’s picture was all over the news. She knew Reade and therefore knew he was innocent. That’s all it took, knowing Reade, Collin, or Dave.”

During the fall, the campus was energized by the efforts of Duke Students for an Ethical Durham, which sought to register Duke students to vote in Durham in time for the November election. Their lawyers had counseled the lacrosse players not to participate in the effort, lest Nifong exploit any photographs of them handing out voter registration sheets. But DSED leaders needed help—and Carrington knew that assisting them was the right thing to do. So, he noted later, he “just said screw it and started to work.” More and more players joined him.

Carrington was present at the critical December 15 hearing, as well—in the front row of the jury box, almost directly in Mike Nifong’s line of sight. (Nifong didn’t look at him once in the nearly two-hour hearing.) “It was,” he observed, “a redemptive feeling as Meehan testified and everyone saw what Nifong had done.”

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Yesterday, senior Tony McDevitt (#44) was named a third-team All-American defenseman; he also was a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, given to a senior lacrosse student-athlete “who excels both on and off the playing field.”

When the players returned to campus this fall, McDevitt supplied critical senior leadership as more players became involved with the DSED registration effort. He later explained that “registering voters and working in the campaign were the only tangible things we could do for our teammates.” Following the lead of Carrington and McDevitt, the entire team was helping the DSED effort by the end of September. They decided on a major push outside Duke’s football stadium during the September 30 homecoming game.

McDevitt coordinated the effort, making up t-shirts with the (magic marker) slogan “Voice Your Choice” on the front. He bought 50 clipboards and distributed them to every member of the team, along with 30 or so registration forms apiece. The players had a “coaching” session on how to register people—what to say, what not to say, and how to answer common questions. To avoid unnecessary double registrations, McDevitt obtained a list of already-registered students from the county board of elections. Hoping for every member of the team to register at least 15 voters, the players assembled in groups of five at 11am to head out to the stadium parking lot. But, in one of the more controversial aspects of Duke’s behavior, a Duke security officer—later joined by an assistant athletic director—came up and ordered them to stop.

McDevitt pointed out the non-partisan nature of the effort, but behaved with grace, lest he give the Brodhead administration further reason to attack the lacrosse players—even though, as he knew and as Duke officials would later acknowledge privately, the security officer and athletic administrator were in the wrong. He helped organize another voter registration effort, came to the October 27 hearing to show support for the three players, and worked the polls on Election Day.

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Sophomore Michael Catalino (#29) joined Carrington as an ACC Academic Honor Roll selection. He noticed the different atmosphere on campus this past fall—“Students that I didn’t know went out of their way to show their support; it seemed like everyone on campus was 100 percent behind us. I also felt safer on campus—I didn’t have to hide who I was.”

Catalino thrived in the new campus environment. In September, a donor who wanted to give $6000 to the legal defense fund purchased 6000 “Innocent” wristbands. Catalino’s mother, Gail, decided that her son would be the person to distribute the wristbands. Between late September and the end of the case, he gave out more than 5000 of them—keeping the accused students’ effort visible, while infuriating some Group of 88 members at the same time.

Catalino had hip surgery last fall, but even though Election Day 2006 was chilly and rainy, he spent the day campaigning for the Recall Nifong effort. He taped Cheek signs to both of his crutches, wore a Cheek T-shirt, and stood in the rain at the bus stop where Duke students could catch a shuttle to their polling place, waiving the crutches to students, urging them to vote.

Five weeks later, he knew that he probably should have been studying for a 7pm final, but he wanted to show support for the three accused players, especially the two that he knew best (Reade Seligmann and Collin Finnerty), by attending the December 15 hearing. “I knew it could have been me,” he recalled, “and if it had been, I would have wanted my teammates there to show support.”

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Junior Rob Wellington (#48) is, like Carrington and Catalino, an ACC Academic Honor Roll selection. He is also one of the most courageous people in the entire case.

After the two initial indictments—when the risk of being the third player targeted by Nifong hung over all other 44 players on the team—Wellington swore out an affidavit (p. 22) confirming that he was with Reade Seligmann throughout the period of the alleged crime. He did so before Seligmann produced electronic confirmation of the affidavit, such as cellphone records and an ATM videotape.

Wellington also acted before the procedurally flawed April 4 lineup was made public. He had no way of knowing whether or not he was one of the people chosen in Crystal Mangum’s game of “Russian Roulette.” He told the truth, in public, even though he knew that by doing so—by saying he was with Seligmann every second from 12.14am through 12.46am—he was risking Nifong turning the power of the district attorney’s office on him.

In the fall, Wellington joined Carrington, Catalino, and McDevitt as among the most active players in the election campaign. On Election Night, he was with Carrington, Catalino, and some other DSED activists at the Durham courthouse, awaiting the outcome. When the results came in and showed a narrow Nifong victory, the district attorney’s supporters taunted the trio. “Hope you lacrosse players get what you deserve,” said Harris Johnson. An assistant district attorney wandered over and laughed at how the “poor little Duke kids didn’t get your way.”

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Carrington, Catalino, McDevitt, and Wellington also did lots of things behind the scenes, when no one was noticing, just because they were the right things to do. The four players went out of their way to stay in touch especially with Seligmann and Finnerty—making sure the two players still felt part of the team, and knew that people on the Duke campus were thinking of them.

To quote Friends of Duke’s Jason Trumpbour: “It is worth noting that, to date, the players are the only actors in the entire saga who have expressed any genuine regret for inappropriate behavior on their part and who have been willing to examine themselves with an eye toward improvement. They are better people for this experience and will use what they have learned to make a difference in the world. Who else in all this can say that?” That comment certainly applies to Carrington, Catalino, McDevitt, and Wellington.

136 comments:

Gary Packwood said...

An assistant district attorney wandered over and laughed at how the “poor little Duke kids didn’t get your way.”
::
This is the challenge for the future.
::
GP

Chicago said...

Here is to hoping these "poor little Duke kids" get their way tomorrow and bring home a championship!!!!!

Go Duke!

Anonymous said...

KC said @ 12:01 AM:
But, in one of the more controversial aspects of Duke’s behavior, a Duke security officer—later joined by an assistant athletic director—came up and ordered them to stop.

McDevitt pointed out the non-partisan nature of the effort, but behaved with grace, lest he give the Brodhead administration further reason to attack the lacrosse players—even though, as he knew and as Duke officials would later acknowledge privately, the security officer and athletic administrator were in the wrong.


Oh my blanking God. A federal civil rights law violation... KA-CHING! Million$ and a consent decree.

Anonymous said...

I really, really hope those in the DAs office who acted in this way lose their jobs. They plainly deserve nothing less and probably much more.

I guess this provides an answer why at least some of the ADAs have not come forward...

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

I view these types of posts as very unfortunate. It does not matter if these guys were good guys, bad guys, indifferent guys, smart guys, dumb guys, conservatives guys, leftists guys, etc.

The three guys who were indicted were clearly innocent, as were the rest of the team. This telling so many stories about so many of the team members seemingly buys into the 88 gangsters view of let's frame some white oppressive males. It is as if the only issue is that these white guys were too good a bunch of guys.

Sorry the issue is they were and are INNOCENT. That should be the focus.

Anonymous said...

That taunting assistant DA wasn't named Brodhead, was he?

If not, what a striking resemblence.

KC, are you able to edit all the latest into your upcoming book? I certainly hope so, and with enough left over to expound on Nifong's June hearing.

Anonymous said...

JLS said.... "I view these types of posts as very unfortunate. It does not matter if these guys were good guys..."

It goes to motive, and character, crucial elements when weighed against cowardly, conniving prosecutors.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like the housecleaning shouldn't stop with Nifong.

Anonymous said...

"An assistant district attorney wandered over and laughed at how the “poor little Duke kids didn’t get your way.”

Fair and impartial? The rot does not begin and end with Nifong. These rotten people are still prosecuting! The term 'justice' needs to be reevaluated. Can you imagine being falsely accused and then being at the mercy of this ADA? Let's just call it 'the criminal system' and leave it at that. Just who the criminals are is open for scrutiny.

Anonymous said...

All the best to the Duke lacrosse team.

However, I do have to agree with:

May 28, 2007 12:53:00 AM

==========================

Anonymous said...

JLS says...,

re: legal eagle

Actually it goes to stupidity on the part of the DA that he picked on someones that could fight back. But it matters not a bit they whether they were good guys or not, etc. Nifongs motive was not to frame some good guys. The only thing that mattered to Nifong was that they were white.

To those worried about injustice, whether those being framed are white or black or yellow or red or some combination should not matter either.

Anonymous said...

Did anyone else see at the beginning of the ESPN Duke/Cornell broadcast the montage including the angry woman saying (something like), "These men must not be described as exemplary!"

IMO, she well exemplied the sort of person within the G88 who, when confronted with the fact that they had allowed their personal prejudices to permit them to be so easily misled by Nifong, had to fall back on character assaults of the lacrosse players.

Who was this woman? By appearances, she would fit in well with the G88 group of "angry studies" instructors (can't make myself call them professors), or perhaps she was simply a run-of-the-mill potbanger.

Anonymous said...

JLS,

I find your take on this unfortunate. The courage these young men showed was exemplary, especially when all those about them were making judgments against them (including, if not specifically, those with positions of power).

That courage has no color, goodness, intelligence, political bent, etc. Its just doing the right thing.

The 88 could have learned a lot from these guys, if they had taken off their guilt-colored glasses.

Tawny2 said...

Re JLS:

I don't believe that most posters would dispute that the critical focal point of this blog has always been to establish that Reade Seligmann, David Evans and Collin Finnerty were completely innocent of the felony charges brought against them.

I do agree with you that legal protections such as due process cannot be reserved only for the good guys of society.

However, pragmatically speaking I feel the players and their teammates would have had a much more difficult time establishing their innocence and incidentally garnering such a groundswell of support if they had actually been the spoiled, thuggish, racists the MSM relentlesly assured us they were.

But, of course, they weren't. Placed under the microscope of relentless public scrutiny these young men acted with courage and dignity. They are good guys one and all and they absolutely deserve a post that highlights the positive after so much corrosive negativity has already been thrown their way.

I will be rooting for Duke to win the championship!

wayne fontes said...

"The day after the first two indictments, he talked over things with his Spanish instructor, a graduate student. She started out very hostile, saying that she lived in the Trinity Park neighborhood and feared that Duke students were committing rapes there."

The residents of Durham do need to be protected from the violent crimes committed by Duke students. I imagine most residents of Durham pray that when they are withdrawing money from an ATM late night in one of Durham's sketchier neighborhoods the person behind them is not a marauding lacrosse player but one of Durham's own native sons.

We could test this theory. I propose the person who made uttered this quote from the listening statement would be the perfect subject (if that person does actually exist).

"We want the absence of terror. But we don’t really know what that means . . . We
can’t think. That’s why we’re so silent; we can’t think about what’s on the other side of
this. Terror robs you of language and you need language for the healing to begin".

We could have her walk kitty corner across Duke's campus late one night. Then we could have her walk an equal distance through one of Durham's less desirable neighborhoods.

I bet she could find the language to describe the terror the second half of this proposal would induce.

Anonymous said...

"I view these types of posts as very unfortunate. It does not matter if these guys were good guys, bad guys, indifferent guys, smart guys, dumb guys, conservatives guys, leftists guys, etc."

JLS,

I agree that the primary point here is innocence, as it is for anyone falsely accused, regardless of their past history. But the team continues to be tarred unfairly by many who persist in making negative, prejudicial assumptions and statements about the entire group, grossly exaggerating prior less than exemplary behavior of Duke LAX players and insinuating that common college kid antics make these kids complicit in the false accusation, deserving of its aftermath and anything but really "innocent."

How better to combat that venomous nonsense than with a strong dose anti-venom--namely, some detailed reality about the admirable conduct of individual players? This is yet another important post in the ongoing process of exoneration.

I just hope the sportscasters today figure out how important their words about these players are and adhere completely to the facts. Public perception of our individual characters matters to all of us, does it not, and it matters especially now for the Duke LAX players whose collective reputation Durham officials, the media, and some Duke faculty and administrators so deliberately, vigorously, and thoroughly trashed. Public efforts to set the record straight are of utmost importance and most welcome.

Observer

Anonymous said...

KC, a great post today. I can attest to your readers that the strength of character of many of the members of the lacrosse team was exemplary during the most crucial times of this travesty. Several of the players you mentioned are friends of my daughter at Duke and I have heared many of these same examples from her as to how these young men handled themselves on campus. The sad reality is that Duke should be singing the praises of these men and be proud that good kids like this choose to come to Duke. Duke is getting better than it deserves.
Today my prayers are with this team as they play the most important game of their college careers. May their legs stay strong, their spirits soar and may they have the enduring strength to bring home the championship.

Anonymous said...

An assistant district attorney wandered over and laughed at how the “poor little Duke kids didn’t get your way.”

Will we ever know who this ADA was?

Anonymous said...

Thank you KC for highlighting 4 young men who are representative of the other 43!

Today is gameday, Go Blue Devils!! We are so proud of your achievements and hard work. Today you will play for the Men's Lacrosse National Championship-WOW

I also find myself asking what could any of the Gang of 89 (always include bhead)do that would attract 52,000 people plus to watch!?

Anonymous said...

An assistant district attorney wandered over and laughed at how the “poor little Duke kids didn’t get your way.”

Will we ever know who this ADA was?

May 28, 2007 8:20:00 AM


One way to find out would be to conduct a line-up with the presumed guilty ADA's photo in it. In order to be fair, several "filler" photos should be included in the line-up.

Following newly established Durham PD procedures, the "fillers" would obviously have to be photos of every ADA in Nifong's office.

Anonymous said...

Carolyn says:

If I was blessed enough to be a parent of just one of those Duke kids, 'poor' is NOT the word to describe how proud I'd be.

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't worry about the snarky ADA who made the rude comment after the election. The "poor little Duke kids" triumphed in the end. The LAX defendants were exonerated, and will go on to find fabulous jobs and live lives of prosperity and accomplishment. The snarky ADA meanwhile, will spend his/her pathetic life toiling away for low pay in the bowels of Durham, NC, DA's office -- a place now internationally recognized as a cesspool of incompetence and corruption. Or perhaps the ADA will try to escape that ignominious fate and search for a job in the private sector. Can you imagine having a resume that lists years spent working under the direction of Mike Nifong as your only professional experience practicing law? Mike Nifong -- worldwide poster boy for ineffective and unethical lawyering? I would almost feel sorry for the snarky ADA, except for the fact that the ADA is obviously too stupid to recognize that Mike Nifong's victory in the election was probably the worst thing that could have happened to the ADA's legal career. This poor tool should be feeling sorry for himself -- not the "poor little Duke kids."

Anonymous said...

I die laughing when rabid feminists moan about the prospect of being raped by rowdy athletes on campus, and specifically lacrosse players.
The constant fabricated stories of fear on campus is something which makes these women look like nuts.
Most of them probably dream of being attacked by someone in the dark because in daylight they're often so gross looking few men would even think about jumping them. Even stranded on a desert island.
Most of these potbangers can't find a man if their lives depended on it.

LutherM said...

The way to end discrimination against Duke attendees by Durham officials is to register the students, organize them, then use the power of the vote to get rid of the local offenders. The way to stop the University from illegally hindering voter registration efforts is to sue the individuals AND Duke for every penny they have.
For Duke University to request an extra year of eligibility for members of the Lacrosse Team is ludicrous. Crystal didn't stop the team, Nifong didn't end the games, the season for the Men's Lacrosse Team was suspended, then cancelled by Duke University. The Athletic Director, the President, and the Trustees all bear the blame for the cancellation.
Incidentally, just WHAT was the Athletic Director doing when the Lacrosse Coach was forced out and the season cancelled? By opposing those actions, even to the point of offering his own resignation, he might have stopped the process. If he agreed with the decisions, he should be fired. Maybe Joe Alleva just decided that disagreement without actions is politically correct.
I'll be at the finals, hopefully to watch a Duke victory.

Michael said...

Cooper should investigate the DA's Office to see who was complicit with Nifong. Or maybe that's the Bar's job.

Harris should learn that the goal is justice. Not his own petty jealousies.

LaxParent said...

KC,

Thanks for your recent post. I know all 4 boys will be slightly embarrassed by your generous praise. They like so many did only what they could. The whole lacrosse community was presented at different times with different opportunities to help and all came through. It was a wonderful flower to watch bloom in the wasteland surrounding the case. There were so many who did what was right, and it is an interesting comment on society today that doing what is right stands out so profoundly. In my opinion however, the real heroes are the bloggers and especially one, KC Johnson. Without their tireless pursuit of the facts in this case, this group of willing supporters would have been without a rudder. There was not one Duke lacrosse parent that didn’t read your blog daily to find out what was happening. In so doing we were much more effective and powerful in our efforts. As word spread about Durham in Wonderland, the ranks of supporters swelled into a power center with such reach that even the PC politicians had to take our views into consideration. You can ask any within the Lacrosse community from any venue and they will mention your name and blog as being their principle guide with respect to the Duke case. It is amazing. There is an inexpressible gratitude which we all feel towards you that will never fade. You and the other “blog hooligans” have set an example which is only going to grow as people realize the power that their ideas can have through the internet, where no matter what coloring the main street media wants to paint an issue, there is a place to go where someone is presenting the rest of the story.

Donna and I will be at the game losing our voices one last time this season. With any luck the fairytale season will end with a win, but if not it has still been one incredible ride

Warm regards from all of us,

Bob Wellington

Anonymous said...

"Is it unreasonable to expect an accurate portrayal of the case?"


Evidently yes it is. The media likes a good juicy story, even if not true, rather then a more complicated true story.

Makes me worried about how well we can perform our duties as part of a democracy when the media is giving us biased information.

Anonymous said...

Would like to refer everyone to John in Carolina's articles on the N and O,

Anonymous said...

Have these people . . . no shame. They are awful. The whole awful crowd of them. Good luck Duke lacross.

Anonymous said...

An assistant district attorney wandered over and laughed at how the “poor little Duke kids didn’t get your way.”
::
This is the challenge for the future.


Actually, cosmic karma seems to be in effect here. Many of the Assistant DA's are already bailing out...perhaps hoping that the Bar disciplinary committee won't do the 'What did they know and when did they know it?' thing on them if they are already gone.

But even if they leave North Carolina, the fact that they were in the office when it occurred....did nothing....let it happen...that will be an eternal blot on their resume's...and they know it.

Anonymous said...

JLS says....,

I view these types of posts as very unfortunate. .... This telling so many stories about so many of the team members seemingly buys into the 88 gangsters view of let's frame some white oppressive males. It is as if the only issue is that these white guys were too good a bunch of guys.

Sorry the issue is they were and are INNOCENT. That should be the focus.


Ah. but you make the point...the issue to Nifong...the gang og 88....the liberal media...the Jesse Jackson's of the world... It was NEVER guilt or innocence

Each of these groups and individuals used this case to promote their own agenda...none caring at all about the human lives they were ruining....as long as their ruin forwarded an appropriate political agenda.

And this truly shows the bankruptcy of the left...even what is left of the civil rights movement. It's no longer about right or wrong....if it were, the NAACP would have been defending the lacrosse players against the egregious actions of 'the man' Nifong. It's about identity politics and victimology now. Innocence was obviously an irrelevancy or else the case would have never been brought against these three.

Anonymous said...

This case has had, and will continue to have, profound consequences. There is no one who doesn't have an opinion.

Jackie_Mason_Sounds_Off

Debrah

Mike Schafer said...

For those who question KC's continuing comments about the exemplary character of the lacrosse players, I would say that there has been more than one injustice done to the young men on this team. While the victory in the criminal case was most important, remember that KC only got involved because of the injustice done by the Group of 88. He continues to try to counter negative comments that appear in the media to this day, with information about the true character of these student athletes. It is truly unfortunate that this effort is still necessary.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

KC> Mr. Wellington said it all. Keep going until Mr. Nifong gets what he deserves and the town of Durham cleans up if you can. It is a very scary thing if Duke is actually considering admitting Crsytal Magnum. I read another disturbing, racist article in a Black America news site that really shows the racists thinking behind the group 88.
I'll be interested to see how you frame this obvious overriding theme which almost put 3 innocent young men in prison for 20 years. I'd be more hopeful for all of us if serious black leaders spoke against the truth of the injustice, instead of the party line.

Anonymous said...

TO 1:18 PM--

You've made the most perfect point, haven't you?

The fact that almost none....that's almost NONE.....of the so-called black leaders spoke out then, or even now, about the real issues of what caused this hoax has been astounding to most.

And even those who have spoken out have done so tepidly. As if not to care one way or the other.

That reality has been the reason for a change in feelings toward the black community...from people who are of goodwill and expected them to work as hard as anyone and speak out for justice.

After all, when you talk about educated people.....people who are civilized and fair.....who believe in equality and justice, you would not expect those kinds of people to suspend all rationale in the 21st century just because Reade, Collin, and David are white.

But that is what has happened and the whole world has been a witness to it.

This does nothing to elevate black people. It just shows an unfortunate lack of evolution on many levels.

Sad, that.

Debrah

Anonymous said...

The black reaction to this case, like the reaction to the OJ acquittal, is spittle on the faces of white liberals.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Duke is looking very, very good. It's the end of the 3rd quarter.

The stands are packed.

Debrah

Anonymous said...

Reverend Jesse Peterson and Professor Coleman had a lot to say. They argued the rush to judgement against the team. Jesse J and Al got out of town immediately and were not heard from again on this issue. The way Nifong presented the case on TV inflamed a lot of black people and some whites also. The blacks did not come here. They were brought here in chains.

Anonymous said...

Who gives 2 s***s about the performance of the lacrosse team. That has absolutely nothing to do with this matter. I do not care if they are the best or the worst. The only issue is the frameup.

Anonymous said...

OMG!!!

Duke is fantastic!

This one is a nail-biter. It'll go down to the wire.

Debrah

Anonymous said...

3:04 As there was no frame, the game and team is much more interesting.

Anonymous said...

3 16
Oh, if you say so. Guess I am misinformed.

Anonymous said...

"Who gives 2 s***s about the performance of the lacrosse team. That has absolutely nothing to do with this matter. I do not care if they are the best"

It has everything to do this matter. Win or lose, it shows how much was taken away from last year's team - unjustly - that can never be restored.

Anonymous said...

I'm so pi$$ed off I can't see straight!

What a great game. Duke could just as easily have walked away with the championship. They played that well.

Just one tiny point. It isn't fair as hard as they have worked and what they were put through.

Think I'm going to give up praying. I might not be the religious type. I prayed for them to win....and it didn't work out.

Oh, well.......


Debrah

Anonymous said...

Lacrosse is a very sexy game.

When I was in school dating lacrosse players as well as basketball players, I didn't appreciate lacrosse as much because basketball was always hyped the most.

Wish I had appreciated then just how very sexy the sport of lacrosse really is.

Debrah

Anonymous said...

DEBRAH:

ET PHONE HOME

Anonymous said...

congratulations to duke on a phenomenal season. although they may not have won the championship, just as coach danowski said, "they lost A GAME" but nothing else can be taken away from them because of that.

Anonymous said...

we are supposed to pray for the grace and ability to accept Gd's decision - not to make it. Hopkins folk were praying just as hard.

Anonymous said...

Show one example of proof that a frame occurred - not wishfull thinking. Yes, you have been misinformed.

Anonymous said...

First:To Bob Wellington at 10:31:00 am. Well said for so many of us. Thanks again and again to KC.

Second:To Duke LAX 06 & 07, Coaches Pressler and Danowski,

You've never been licked!!! Your courage and tenacity are incredible. Thank God for your toughness and character. Words cannot express the pride we feel for you as individuals and as teams.

With sincere admiration
A proud Duke lacrosse grandparent
G. Holman King
Granbury, TX

Anonymous said...

So God decided the score? I did not realize that.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

3:16 wrote: "3:04 As there was no frame, the game and team is (sic) much more interesting."

The sub-third-grade level of writing identifies 3.16 as a pot-banging troll or one of the G88 (or both).

Anonymous said...

Debrah:

Duke would have won if it weren't for liberal professors.

Right, loser-face?

LOL!

Anonymous said...

TO 4:36PM and 4:50PM--

If I thought you two parlous degenerates had anything below your waist besides something made for a skirt, I might entertain a hint of priapic discourse.

But alas, my senses tell me that you are merely lost protégés of the rapper element of Duke's Gang of 88.


Debrah

Anonymous said...

An interesting take on the Duke Lacrosse case:

This is messed up


One way to look at the Duke lacrosse case - not necessarily the view I personally take - is that the players should not have been indicted because there wasn’t enough evidence.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Devorah, those perverted posts are from Polanski. I'm sure of that. Best to ignore the troubled man.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone understand Anonymous @ 3:53? What does that mean for all of us shut ins.

Anonymous said...

6:23

it's a cultural reference to "ET"--as in "ET phone home..phone home"

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 6:34

But that still doesn't explain what the point of it is. Phone home?

Anonymous said...

Oh lord, what Debrah gone' waste her time with now? Oh lordy.

Anonymous said...

6:13pm
I'd say those nasty ones are from a potbanger or two. They hang around here looking for a way to vent because so many have made fools of them. ;-))

Anonymous said...

Carrington, Catalino, McDevitt, and Wellington
thanks for reminding us today, KC, that so many of the lacrosse team members sought constructive ways to expose this hoax and to wake people up to the gross misuse of power that bore down on our innocent student athletes.
My 09 son tells me that his classmates on the lacrosse team are among the most intelligent and hard-working young men he has come across at Duke and he is amazed by their classroom performance along with the hours and hours of hard physical practice involved.
good article.
It rained hard off and on on Election Day and who knows..the number one reason Nifong won is because he was such a completely blithe spirit as a Liar and he abused the public's trust.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous@ 6:39

Pardon me, but some of us think the lacrosse championship is very important.

Anonymous said...

No one will ever accuse the team of having street smarts.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Another educated response !!!!

Anonymous said...

A major problem with this whole situation is that the Duke lacrosse players aren't really sympathetic figures. I competed in a minor sport in college (cross-country and track so not as minor as lacrosse) and we had team parties all the time where alcohol was involved even though we were underage. However, we didn't hire one or more exotic dancers to entertain us. Maybe it's just different times now as kids have a lot more money than when I went to school in the early nineties. It always upset me when the parents and friends of these kids say that anyone could find himself in this situation. Quite frankly, that's b.s. Let's not make the players out to be heroes when they weren't.

kcjohnson9 said...

To the 8.06:

In general, I'm uncomfortable with assertions that all 47 players were "heroes" or "villains." All 47 are different; all have different personalities; some are extremely impressive. In my opinion, the four people I profiled today are very impressive. The worst that can be said about any of them is they attended a party they had no role in organizing.

On the party itself: this was a spring break party--it's not as if the team had strippers over every weekend. College students engaging in raunchy entertainment over spring break is hardly a tremendous moral offense (except at BYU or Liberty or such schools). I don't think it's a good thing--but I certainly don't define any of my students on the basis of what they do or don't do over spring break.

Anonymous said...

First, will all the foul mouthed and the crazy please go to some leftist website where such inanity is appreciated?

Secondly, I was at the game today and had trouble holding back the tears at the end. Duke had a hard game on Saturday when JH had a walk-away. Duke did not play as well as they could have in the first half. It matters because these guys acted well and hung together in the face of adversity; none of them sinking into becoming publicity hogs or media lap dogs.

Third, God listens to prayers; sometimes he says no and always has a reason higher than yours. Does he decide the outcome of a game? He has always known it. We have the free will to alter our acts not his plan. God likes any reason for prayer because he likes to hear from his children whether he indulges them or not.

Fourth, they weren't framed? What planet are you on? Where is the proof? Ask the AG who investigated and found them completely innocent. But of course, I repeat myself see point 1.

Anonymous said...

For the life of me, I'm still trying to figure out what's so "bad" about young men who are old enough to be recruited to fight and die for their country drinking all the alcohol and having all the fun their hearts desire.

I despise the prudish responses of some people, and it seems that many of those under the age of 30 (women, mostly) are the most self-righteous of all.

Frankly, I hope that these guys party and have all the experiences they wish.

If they had not had the unbelievable bad luck of seasoned criminals Crystal Mangum and Kim Roberts showing up that night, none of this would have happened.

Please stop with this provincial-chastity-belt logic.

Debrah

Anonymous said...

"Third, God listens to prayers; sometimes he says no and always has a reason higher than yours. Does he decide the outcome of a game? He has always known it. We have the free will to alter our acts not his plan. God likes any reason for prayer because he likes to hear from his children whether he indulges them or not."

Dear me. Do you really believe this?

Anonymous said...

TO 8:20PM--

Those are nice thoughts.

Debrah

Anonymous said...

I think we need to put the game into perspective: a win would not have "vindicated" the team any more than a loss did not "vindicate" it. These young men started the season under a huge cloud.

Furthermore, we forget that they had MOST of last season taken away from them, which means that they started this season in the hole. They had been away from the sport for nearly a year, and yet were able to come within a goal of winning it all -- and probably had the best team in the tournament.

(I agree that the Cornell game most likely ensured that Duke would not be as sharp today. I saw Duke play JH last month, and Duke CLEARLY had the better team.)

What ultimately vindicate the players is that all of us know that last year, when under the gun, they told the truth. Any of them could have lied. The DA tried to get Ryan McFayden to lie, and when he would not agree to doing it, his infamous email was released and he still is being vilified for it.

Yes, these young men should not have had the strippers, but I guarantee you that what they did pales in comparison to the fact that a large number of people in positions of authority lied and lied and lied. In the end, who set the better example, Ryan McFayden or Richard Brodhead (and Michael Byron Nifong)? I think we know the answer to that question.

Thank you, K.C., for the post today and for all of the great work you have done. Indeed, you deserve the accolades you are receiving, and I am one of those who is giving them to you.

Gary Packwood said...

Anonymous 5:51 said...

...An interesting take on the Duke Lacrosse case:

...One way to look at the Duke lacrosse case - not necessarily the view I personally take - is that the players should not have been indicted because there wasn't enough evidence.
::
The author is just trying to get some traction for her weak article by referencing DUKE.

She is talking about another sexual assault case involving an underage girl who knew the college athletes.

The ...SHE KNEW THE COLLEGE ATHLETES is the problem. Another underage youngster having
a red carpet moment...being around college kids.

For the last 10 years at least, we have been telling undergraduate students not to have any contact with 'locals' who are 'hanging out' inside or outside bars or clubs...including young girls or guys who are selling grass.

The only way I know to deal with this issue is to increase the social opportunities ON CAMPUS ...including a campus bar. The campus bar at Rice University is named ...Valhalla.

The real story of the Duke Lacrosse case is all about what the players had to say about the party ...words and testimony which had the added benefit of ...being the truth.
::
GP

Anonymous said...

8:31--
I used to be an atheist too. No longer.

Debrah--Thanks

KC and Bill: I'm not even remotely bothered by a spring break party featuring alcohol and strippers. When I arrived at Duke, 18 year olds could buy beer on points! We had an awesome time, graduated, matured and became (most of us) upstanding members of society. Strippers? So what--you can look at much worse on cable or the net. A little too gross for me but I don't see the huge moral abyss. I doubt they were planning on touching them.

Good job KC.

Anonymous said...

ESPN continued its inaccuracies and its "holier than thou approach" today in its commentaries. One anchor referred to the "acquital" of three players; another commentator said that Coach Pressler should have responded to the party and the underage drinking by suspending several players from the next two games before the season was cancelled. The network knew that its people would be commenting on the entire year, but it could not get it right even now.Ah yes, attitudes of the media continue.

Anonymous said...

8 20
So God does decide the score. Why play?

HTL said...

This has become ESPN-in-Wonderland - ridiculous.

David said...

If someone told me a year ago I'd be watching a lacrosse game today, even the championship, and with the enthusiasm of a Super Bowl...

But there I was, in front of the TV, flailing in the air yelling, "GO DUKE!"

Good game, but not as good as the last-second shot in the semi-final. Still, Duke's 5-0 run in today's 3rd quarter was a thing of beauty-- certainly worth the price of a ticket. And credit to JHU for weathering the Blue onslaught.

At one point, the ESPN camera zoomed in on Collin sitting in the stands. Hey!.. I know that guy!. And there was Coach Pressler, out of uniform but looking like a nervous father. And a sad father, divorced by the school he loved.

And so, the boys almost won the big one... but after I put down my beer and pretzels, I realized they had fought and won much more than any game.

Anonymous said...

When Duke plays the Nifongs I will watch.

Anonymous said...

9:27

So what ??????????

Anonymous said...

Seems a wee bit self centered to think that God cares about a lacrosse score. There are some intellectual giants on this blog.

Anonymous said...

9 27
Because this case has absolutely nothing to do with lacrosse - for those who have not figured it out. This despite the white privilege meta-narrative so often espoused herein.

Anonymous said...

6:38pm
The poster who wrote "ET: Phone Home" was trying to tell Debrah that he/she thought that the idea of lacrosse being a sexy game was a bit eccentric or maybe alien like ET.

That's just my take. I agree the idea is a little over the top. The "phone home" thing is outdated. I wouldn't worry about it.

Anonymous said...

Bit of a dry spell. God fixing lacrosse games. Which God would that be, pray tell?

Anonymous said...

Carolyn says:

Sorry - I'm a hopeless romantic. I was hoping for the Championship!

But you people are right. They were champions long before they walked on the field today. And still are.

Anonymous said...

The AF made no comments about a frame. All his criticizm was researved for NIfong. Its that simple.

Anonymous said...

Great English 9:58. Second language or G88 superstar?

Anonymous said...

9:24. No, He knows the score. We have free will. It's ridiculous to pray for a lacrosse game but not to pray for innocent boys to overcome a corrupt DA and be exonerated. People pray for all kinds of things and it never does harm. I'm mystified why someone who doesn't believe in God cares whether others pray or not.


Not about lacrosse?
Lacrosse is, not entirely but mostly, a white middle to upper class sport. The crowd at Ravens Stadium today was not diverse by any measure. Some people hate anything that smacks of that or "privilege" and can't wait for a reason to target it. Why did the media and the group of 88 have such a vehement reaction to Crystal's accusation? Because it fit with their own bigotry. So the case had nothing to do with throwing, checking, shooting, catching the ball but it did have to do with the perception or the reality of lacrosse as an "elite" sport and the desire to punish those "elitists."

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Anonymous said...

Duke 85, don't bother with this scurrilous clown. This is someone who hates the Duke lacrosse team and is here to throw some trash.

Anonymous said...

The crowd at Tosca is not diverse by any measure either.

Anonymous said...

Why would one hate a team? I merely point out that this is not what the matter is about.

Anonymous said...

Opera buffs are white, elitist and privileged. They probably rape minority persons at every opportunity.

Anonymous said...

"Third, God listens to prayers; sometimes he says no and always has a reason higher than yours. Does he decide the outcome of a game? He has always known it. We have the free will to alter our acts not his plan. God likes any reason for prayer because he likes to hear from his children whether he indulges them or not."

LOL, so if Duke loses, God said "no"... but didn't he say "yes" to anyone who was praying for the other team? Does being declared innocent of a crime you didn't commit automatically make you a member of "God's team", or does it not have any bearing on the quality of person you are?

In my mind, it means you went through a lot... not that your innocence of said crime makes you Mother Theresa, and worthy of God's meddling with the score of the game.

And maybe I'd believe in God... if only that idiot poster Debrah didn't. She is the proverbial butterknife: dull, and utterly without a point, especially now that DU lost.

Did I mention Debrah is a moron?

Anonymous said...

***Opera buffs are white, elitist and privileged. They probably rape minority persons at every opportunity.***

Unfair comparison. Opera has MUCH more appeal than lax! Don't smear Opera's lame (yet more popular) status in American society!!!

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

10:34pm, it seems you might be the dull butterknife. In a rush to slam someone who is far from what you try to describe, you have quoted another commenter.
Your quote was from another person. Not Deborah. I think you might have something personal going on.
Hehehe. Chill. :-))

Anonymous said...
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Gary Packwood said...

Duke 85 10:10 said...

...Lacrosse is, not entirely but mostly, a white middle to upper class sport. The crowd at Ravens Stadium today was not diverse by any measure. Some people hate anything that smacks of that or "privilege" and can't wait for a reason to target it.
::
Before we go round the bend with this white 'middle to upper class' sports, lets remember that the Americans Indians (Native Americans) gave us Lacrosse.

The game was called 'stickball' and was specifically designed by the elders council for young braves of the tribes to practice defending the tribe without causing an un-needed tribal war of sorts.

Apparently braves were a little quick to defend the tribe and needed humility associated with playing stickball.

What we see as the net at the end of the stick was at one time, the sun-bleached skull of a range animal.

The pictures are below. I have no idea why the professors at Duke don't ask the Lacrosse Team to study the history of this sport.

Stickball A Cherokee and Iroquois Tradition

http://www.oneida-nation.net/
culture/lacrosse.html

http://www.texasindians.com/
cherokee.htm

http://www.ccs.bia.edu/
ccs/Elem/projects.html
::
GP

Anonymous said...

My daughter was the person that founded the Ethical Durham group. These boys that KC has named today were names that she constantly talked about. She always said she didn't know what she would have done without them. There were also many more team members that were amazing and giving of their time. Those boys are outstanding young men and I am still shocked that President Broadhead can not bring himself to publicly apologize to the boys.

Anonymous said...

Enough already. Yes, the three charged went through hell and Nifong should be burned, but...

These are not choir boys. Charges aside, there are plenty of reasons to revile these racist, homophobic, misogynistic little pampered pricks.

Seriously, get over yourselves. What happened to three of them, legally, was a travesty. What happened to the team, they begged for.

Anonymous said...

No, they did not beg for this. A misjudgement of the Captains to be sure. They needed to think though the possible bad end to this event. No, the team are not choirboys, but they are decent, polite and studious guys with manners and an incredible work and study ethic.

Anonymous said...

12:04
Who are you?

Chan Hall?
Greg Childress?
Bob Ashley?
Karla Holloway?
Houston Baker?
Orin Starn?
Timothy Tyson?
Bill Chafe?
Ubuntu hogs?
Wahneema Lubiano?
Thug Anthony Neal?

Who? Don't be afraid. Let us know what kind of filthy slime would spend the time to attack three young men after what they've been through?

Are you upset that a rat-infested prostitute wasn't raped? Are you that messed up and angry?

Get some mental help, and if you are who I think you are, I hope you are kicked out on your ass and sent to some community college where you will fit in better.

Anonymous said...

12:22 This is America and the guy or gal has a right to disagree with us. Don't let different opinions distress you in the debate. All I ask is they defend their opinions.

Anonymous said...

to "pampered, misogynistic..."

aren't a lot of honkies like that? why pick on lacrosse players?

is there any skill in lacrosse? don't know the game, but it looks easy

Chan Hall

Anonymous said...

Chan, being an unaplogetic racist like you looks easy, too.

Anonymous said...

The only one that pious is Alex Rosenberg,

Anonymous said...

to Gary Packwood...

you obviously are not a lacrosse person. If you were you'd know just how much the Native American roots of the sport are revered by those who play. I, and several of my teammates used to wear t-shirts that said "Lacrosse...the original American sport" with a picture of a Native American player cradling a ball. The very name Lacrosse comes from the French trappers musing that the sticks used by the players looked much like the shepherd's crook carried by the Catholic Bishops..."La Croix". I would challenge you to find any twenty current or former lacrosse players and ask them if they know anything about the origins of their sport...I think you'll find that all of them know a lot more than you would seem to expect. Also, I'll bet that YOU don't know that one of the greatest players of the game EVER was Jim Brown...oh, gee...not white, not from a rich family, not privileged in any way I can see when he started playing at Syracuse.

Anonymous said...

Like the announcers for espn have shown, not everyone has bought coopers declaration of innocence; only a judge or jury can declare innocence anyway. all a prosecutor like an attorney general can say is not enough evidence to proceed. period.

The players were out of order in their behavior and had been for some time. no amount of internet flaming can change the fact that 35 of them had been in disciplinary and criminal trouble since 2003 and that was the most of any sports team at duke. pressler knew this and therefore ran a loose ship. the young men involved did nothing heroic that night unless underage drinking, lesbian sex shows, requests to see sodomy with a broomstick, racial epithets, and emails with mutilation and sexual sadism have suddenly become heroic but the last time I checked that is far from good behavior. I am very glad that God has decided not to reward these non-heroes with a national title. they did not deserve an honor like that.

Anonymous said...

One of the best T-shirts ever. Picture of American Indians with bows, arrows and war paint. Written under the picture - Defending America from Terrorists since 1492.

Anonymous said...

1:41 Your post is meanspirited to the extreme. You must be having a fun life with that attitude.

Anonymous said...

1:46

Yes, it's meanspirited, but the question is: How does he know?

Really, I wouldn't know Collin Finnerty from Panties.

People BS too much--it's plain old sloppy thinking. Perhaps it's flaming...

Polanski

Anonymous said...

Jim Brown is considered the greatest Lacrosse player ever.

Anonymous said...

Jim Brown is one guy who was allowed to play for Manhassett because his mother was a maid in a wealthy person's house.

The fact that he is a black man who is the best lax player ever doesn't really help the "privileged" image, IMO.

You either live there as a child, or your mother is a servant at one of their palatial estates. Wow, what an open, diverse sport!

Gary Packwood said...

A LAX alum in TX 12:51 said...
to Gary Packwood...

....Also, I'll bet that YOU don't know that one of the greatest players of the game EVER was Jim Brown...oh, gee...not white, not from a rich family, not privileged in any way I can see when he started playing at Syracuse.
::
That was my point.
I was suggesting that we not go round the bend with Lacrosse being defined as a sport for the wealthy.
::
GP

Anonymous said...

Gary:

I like your posts and usually like what you have to say... but I don't see why someone who supports the lax 3 cannot also acknowledge the obvious about the demographics of lacrosse.

Its not a secret and its blatantly obvious that it is only played by those who are at least defined as middle class, and probably middle class of the "upper" variety.

Anonymous said...

"Duke would have won if it weren't for liberal professors.

Right, loser-face?"

1) Ah, neighborhood intellectual values just went down.

2) Everybody say together now: They were accused of RAPE, not bad behavior.

3) Don't stand too close to those deriding and/or giving motive to God...in case of lightning.

Ed

Thanks, KC and Lacrosse team families. These boys and their families DID behave with grace during a long, stressful time. We are proud of all of you, and we thank God for your lives.

Anonymous said...

I came here to support the boys, but the idiots ranting and raving non-stop about liberal professors and some local village trustee in Oklahoma who might be a Democrat not having stepped up and spoken about a criminal case in Durham made me so jaded I can't help but resent most of the posters here.

Talk about being counter-productive.

Anonymous said...

10:49 (no name)-

Yes, the "other side's rants ("loser-face", etc.) are hardly worth mentioning...

Thanks for not pointing that out - it would have been counter-metanarrative- productive.

Ed

Anonymous said...

oops, posted on wrong thread. this is the correct thread.

anonymous 1:41 said:
"not everyone has bought coopers declaration of innocence; only a judge or jury can declare innocence anyway. all a prosecutor like an attorney general can say is not enough evidence to proceed. period."

A judge and jury can only declare guilty or not guilty, they have no choice of innocent. It is almost unheard of for someone on the prosecution side to declare "innocent", which is what really shows how overwhelming the evidence of innocence was.

Bill Alexander

Anonymous said...

Ed, all of these comments against the lacrosse team and certain other commenters are Polanski. He does this kind of thing all the time pretending to be Duke professors and the like.
Polanski is the mental case who needs to be shown the door for trying to hijack this blog.

Anonymous said...

hey, bub--I don't diss lacrosse players or other posters (except Debrah, which I do in a satirical way).

Go bust someone else's balls.

Polanski

Anonymous said...

i am the 1;46 poster. i am not polanski, who i think writes lots of racist things and has used the name of a statutory rapist as his name. i am about anti-racism and justice and morality; subjects that most of you know nothing about. i am not meanspirited; i am telling God's truth whether you like it or not. Man's laws and courts are corrupt and can be manipulated as the defense has shown in this case but God cannot be manipulated as proven by the defeats of both the duke men's and women's lax teams and by the premature deaths of Bradley and Osborn; they were all judged for their behavior in this case and were found wanting by the Almighty and therefore have paid the consequences. the teams were denied their ultimate prizes and Bradley and Osborn died way ahead of their time. when you violate God's laws and encourage perversion and hateful language and lies, you cannot get away scott free, there is a price to be paid. Nifong's punishment is next but because he was trying to bring justice when he made his mistakes, you will see he will not be as severely punished as some of you hope. he tried to do what he thought was right but went about it the wrong way. he will be punished but he will be shown mercy.

Anonymous said...

WOW - We all see Gds will as different. I see Gd as loving and wants the best for us. I don;t think he micromanages the universe. Having written that, I do think it is bad Karma to wish other folk bad luck. If it is true, that what goes around - comes around, those calling for others to lose their jobs, go to prision and scrub toilets need to be doing a lot of praying.

Anonymous said...

TO 10:41PM--

Please, dear G/d almighty.....(and I'm not really religious).....

.....get some counseling or some degree of mental help that will bring you out of your schismatic abyss.

Debrah

Anonymous said...

Obviously, some try to use religion through which to vent their own personal demons.

Ignorance-is-bliss

Debrah

Anonymous said...

debrah,

you do not have to tell me you are not religious. anyone looking at this blog can tell that by the vile names you have routinely used to describe the accuser and the racism you routinely post. you cannot even bear to type out God's name as you are an obvious supporter of evil and like sowing discord and negativity.

Anonymous said...

10:41 & 12:35 (no names)

Your judgemental attitude ("...justice and morality; subjects that most of you know nothing about...")is incompatible with a Godly attitude.

Also, "...you are an obvious supporter of evil..."

To be a supporter of evil would be to support the 88, Brodhead, Mike "going about the right thing the wrong way" Nifong (That's plain nuts!), the Durham PD, et. al.

Name calling is your style, but it decreases your credibility.

Ed

Anonymous said...

12:35

You are a very uneducated person if you don't know why she doesn't type out the word god.

Anonymous said...

only a person dedicated to evil would fear to write out the name of the Lord. There is no problem in writing His name as long as it is used with respect and not taken in vain. one look at debrah's foul mouthed and racist rants on this blog shows you what side she is on and it is not His side by any means. Also, the G88, Nifong, etc were on the side againist the doers of evil and therefore are not on the side of evil for a house divided againist itself cannot stand. the mcfayden email itself shows the lurid taste and bad behavior the team routinely indulged in and this time they got caught is all and they have had to pay the consequences. i can't help that you all want to minimise the immorality of the situation.