New Demar Dorsey Freep Story (Interview)

Submitted by gater on

You have to love it when a kid talks like this. Hopefully he stays trouble free and erases his past from everyone's memory. He deserves a fresh start.

“My goal right now is to show everybody I’m not that person who I was a couple years back then, hanging with the wrong crowd and stuff like that, showing that I’m more focused,” Dorsey said Thursday in an exclusive interview with the Free Press. “I’m focused. I’m ready to move on with my life to bigger and better things.”

http://www.freep.com/article/20100204/SPORTS06/100204069/1354/SPORTS/A-…

Edit:
They added more with interviews from his dad and coach.

Demar Dorsey said he felt he could trust Rodriguez after hearing him comment on his legal troubles Wednesday. Dorsey watched his news conference online. “I was just happy he defended me how he did,” Dorsey said.

“If four years down the line and he’s a No. 1 draft pick and he’s helped Michigan win the national championship, this is a moot point,” James said. “We’ll all speak of how Michigan did a great job of developing the young man.”

Bird of War

February 4th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^

He's saying all the right things now and that's all he can do at this point. I always hope that our recruits pan out but it's going to be difficult not to root extra hard for Demar.

I, for one, hope his first INT return for a TD celebration involves lots of dancing and capping it off by spiking the ball down Sharp's throat. Or pissing on his "book".

Bryan

February 4th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^

"Demar Dorsey said he felt he could trust Rodriguez after hearing him comment on his legal troubles Wednesday. Dorsey watched his news conference online. “I was just happy he defended me how he did,” Dorsey said."

uniqenam

February 4th, 2010 at 10:11 PM ^

I'm actually ok with this article, even though it was written from Freep bias.

The reason: It seems as if the Asshats actually did some RESEARCH to write this thing, and although a little slant is still obvious, there are at least some sensible ideas here.

But still: Go Demar. I'm rooting for you.

rbgoblue

February 5th, 2010 at 12:10 AM ^

Agreed. This article actually did what RR asked and got the whole story. I can see why after talking to the coach and parents, RR had no problem signing Dorsey. I am completely comfortable with the move. I'm glad the kid finally has a voice. Its just too bad that most people wont read to page 3 to hear it.

wolverine1987

February 5th, 2010 at 7:25 AM ^

is a guy I know named Jim Schafer, who is their investigative reporter, usually working on political journalism. They brought him in to follow up after Rosenberg's hatchet job, and he has been following/writing the NCAA thing ever since. It just shows the Freep bias to me since they had to make it "an investigation' as if it was a serious potential UM story.

Victory Collins

February 5th, 2010 at 8:11 AM ^

I was actually encouraged by this -- by taking the story away from the talentless hacks in the sports department (who were never going to gather facts and present them objectively) and giving it to a legitimate investigative reporter, who is talented and ethical enough to get the whole story out, the FREEP seemed to signal that they were actually interested in getting this story right, rather than further promoting the usual hate mongering by simpletons who are desparate to hold onto their jobs and doing the only thing they know how to do (inflame readers and spark controversy) to reach that goal.

wolverine1987

February 5th, 2010 at 11:38 AM ^

I still think the fact that they sent an investigative reporter for something that doesn't require one shows they think Dorsey is part of of the "questionable RR decision" narrative they are on. The News handled it with one paragraph from Wojo in his column, and that was all that needed to be said.

Maize_and_Drew

February 4th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^

I love how the Freep tries to sound all high and mighty by claiming to have an "Exclusive Interview!!" with Demar. Well no shit Freep... that's because you're the only one on the phone with him trying to dig up dirt about his past.

While I give the Freep a little credit for contacting Demar for his side of the story, and actually publishing his side of the story, their intent was probably to find something else they could use against him and Rich Rodriguez.

To me, Demar sounded like a well spoken young man. A young man that has made some mistakes in his life, but is willing to work hard to put those mistakes behind him.

And you know that deep down the Freep is mad as hell that Dorsey didn't sound like the career criminal they portrayed him to be.

PurpleStuff

February 4th, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^

I agree that Demar was very impressive in addressing such a difficult issue in a candid, humble, and forthright manner in his first opportunity to publicly represent the University of Michigan after being unfairly thrust into the limelight by a major (snicker, snicker) media outlet. Still, I think I would have preferred it if he'd just put Sharp in a sleeper hold.

brown

February 4th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^

That should be his last interview for a while. Not that he looked bad in it, but Freep is just using him for website hits at this point. The article is mostly about how such a bad apple he is who got "breaks from the law" (mentioned about 7 times in the article for emphasis).

Section 1

February 4th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^

But why give an interview to the Free Press at all? Why not give it to Chengelis?

I don't know why any Michigan coach or player would talk to the Free Press. For any reason. My answer would unifomrly be, "I've spoken to the Detoit News on that subject, and I have no further comment."

Clarence Beeks

February 4th, 2010 at 10:34 PM ^

Excellent article, I have to say. Although I didn't appreciate how they said Demar's record contrasts with what RR said in the press conference. They mesh perfectly. The kid made a mistake and learned from it. Hell, from the type of string of events that he had over a short period in 2006 and 2007 to go from 2007 to 2010 without anything coming up, that says enough to me about this kid cleaning this up. Good for him. One thing I wish people understood is just how bad this area where he grew up really is. I have a lot of family on that coast of Florida and lived in Florida for a while myself, and I can honestly say that the bad parts of Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties (right up the coast form Miami to West Palm) are some of the most absolutely awful places in the country in terms of abject poverty and crime. When this kid graduates from Michigan and goes on to whatever he's going to do after that it's going to be an absolutely fantastic American story. I really (and I mean REALLY) wish people understood just how bad of an area that is.

Section 1

February 5th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^

I have to say, my first taste of this was online, in the print-version .html page that somebody linked.

This morning, I saw the print edition. The print edition, as much as it could be with the same typewritten words, was as menacing and as deliberately worrying as it could possibly be.

Watch for this pattern; the Free Press will launch stories to coincide with days on which the print-edition goes out to all of the dinosaurs who still get home-delivery of the paper.

Section 1

February 5th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^

I have to say, my first taste of this was online, in the print-version .html page that somebody linked.

This morning, I saw the print edition. The print edition, as much as it could be with the same typewritten words, was as menacing and as deliberately worrying as it could possibly be.

Watch for this pattern; the Free Press will launch stories to coincide with days on which the print-edition goes out to all of the dinosaurs who still get home-delivery of the paper.

Anunbiasedfan

February 5th, 2010 at 11:53 AM ^

I really find it sad that so much has been wriiten and discussed about an item that should really be a non-issue. How many of us have been at the wrong place and at the wrong time in some point in our life, even us guys from nice suburbs? As someone posted earlier, the place this kid comes from is a high crime area. How many kids with scholarships from there have never hung with the wrong crowd in their lives?

With all the ink and air time this has gotten, you'd think we'd offered Micheal Meyers or Charles Manson a scholarship.

Clarence Beeks

February 4th, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^

Also, what the state attorney in that article is talking about (and the authors describe as "special breaks") aren't that uncommon in Florida. But they aren't just for athletes (so don't get any ideas, Drew). It is common practice in the Florida criminal justice system to look at the totality of a juvenile's circumstances and evaluate the kid's entire situation in determining an appropriate punishment. If a kid has ANYTHING that is likely to help him get out of a bad position they will use it so that the kid can build something out of his life. That's not favoritism or preference, but rather the reality that it's easier (and ultimately more cost effective for the community) to lock up the the ones who don't have anything going for them and are likely to just cycle right back through the system, but let the ones who do have something going for themselves try to make something with their lives. I really wish that for as much as they did finally reach out and do some actual reporting on this story that they would have taken a paragraph or two to talk about these two points that I've mentioned (i.e. the situation in the area he's from and how and why the court system in Florida does what it does). Too many people think of Florida as sunshine, beaches, and money, and have literally NO IDEA about how bad some of Florida really is.

GBOD79

February 4th, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^

I am proud that he is a Michigan Man. He made mistakes but he sounds like a maturing person with a bright future. I honestly am very proud that we have a coach like RR who has great character himself and is trying to instill that in these kids. This is something we all should be behind.

might and main

February 4th, 2010 at 10:37 PM ^

Great great statement by Dorsey. Great attitude. He wants to make something out of nothing. I'm really starting to feel like RichRod is building a team of awesome. Hungry and determined. I like it, and honestly, I'm feeling even better about our future than I did a few days ago.

sharkhunter

February 4th, 2010 at 10:55 PM ^

away from our recruits and players.

Just leave him and the family alone. He has earned a place here and deserves a fresh new start. It takes a lot of courage to leave home, its comforts and his friends and go north. He has been mentioned as possibly THE top recruit of ALL the B10 teams (during ESPNU coverage) and any BCS school would trade multiple recruits for him.

Tater

February 4th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^

...but if I had my way, the freep would never get a press credential again. If they want to shit on the program, let them fucking buy tickets.

Pea-Tear Gryphon

February 4th, 2010 at 11:32 PM ^

if the Freep put this much time, effort and research into the PREWB in EL. Most of the info that came out of that was from the State News and/or DetNews.

Oh, and Ron Burgundy told me that Drew Sharp is German for "Whale's Vagina". 'Nuff said.

Blueisgood

February 5th, 2010 at 12:03 AM ^

I think Dorsey getting out of Florida will benefit him greatly. Between getting out of the crowd he was hanging with, having big cousin Denard watching out for him, and having the Michigan family watching for him also, he should be alright. As long as he doesn't go out and try to find that crowd in AA he'll be fine. Good luck to you Demar. Put it in Drew Sharps ass.

mgm 05

February 5th, 2010 at 1:02 AM ^

look at the contrast in UM Sports front pages between the Freep and Detnews... one page has 3! articles about a single recruit's past and the other has Ricardo talkin about being Braylon 2.0 (minus the dropsies i hope) and focuses and the positive direction of the program...

dahblue

February 5th, 2010 at 1:30 AM ^

Drew Sharp come out swinging at the press conference, and then with his well-loved opinion piece. As noted by a ton of people, that piece was short on research/details.

Why then did it run at that time?
Clearly, the paper was working on a more detailed story. That story was actually researched (albeit not as fully as some of us might have liked). Then, we get yet another story with comment from Dorsey himself. Where's the editorial control there?

The opinion piece was a hatchet job, no doubt. The researched piece was lacking comment from the person at the center of the article. If anything, the researched story should have been combined with the interview. The opinion piece runs last...and then Drew actually has some researched facts to include.

This CYA, drip by drip, method of reporting does no justice to the story, the kid, or the University. It's just odd.

Don

February 5th, 2010 at 5:44 AM ^

Nope, if you really want DD to stick it to DS in a way that Sharp will hate, Dorsey will go directly to the referee, hand him the ball, and then celebrate with his teammates. You have to understand that if DD celebrates with some wild, crazy, Ray Lewis-like dance in the endzone, it will only confirm in Sharp's mind that DD is a thug, and he will write as much.

ijohnb

February 5th, 2010 at 7:42 AM ^

really click the link and read this artile. This is NOT anything close to a positive or even nuetral article, and it can barely be classified as an interview. It is one of the most passive aggressive, "witch hunt confirming" articles that I have ever read from the freep, and there have been a lot.

Dorsey's words are only used as set up props to divulge contrasting details in a very disparaging way, and repetitive to the extent of being an awkward read. This confirms it to me, beyond a doubt, there is more than meets the eye to the freep's relationship with Rich Rod and Michigan. I don't know what it is, but it is only escalating.

But for the freep, and all others that have came out of the woodwork in the last 24 hours to resume bashing Michigan, Dorsey means one thing: help has arrived, please, can we introduce you to our friends, Mr. Dorsey, Christian, Robinson and Furman. You will get to know them real well, promise.

Mattinboots

February 5th, 2010 at 8:12 AM ^

“They’ve got a great young class from last year,” Dorsey said. “So they’ve got young players that we can get chemistry with the next two, three years and try to build a program from the ground up, making Michigan how it used to be, try to win the national championship again, start a new era instead of jumping on something that was already a big dog.”

While I know we all wish they were jumping on a big dog, you can't argue that coming back to national prominence will have different, amazing feeling than what we're used to as Michigan fans. I'm glad we have a kid on our team with both the talent to help do that, the smarts to realize the opportunity is there, and the drive to get it done.

Mattinboots

February 5th, 2010 at 8:20 AM ^

I do love how MSU fans think that we are hypocrites for accepting Dorsey with open arms. But it's clear that there are two things very different between the crimes Dorsey was associated with and the PREWB - 1) convictions and most importantly of all 2) Dorsey's crimes were NOT violent crimes. Yet somehow in MSU fans eyes Dorsey is the same as a roaming, violent gang

dahblue

February 5th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^

Actually, the main difference is that the MSU players committed those violent crimes WHILE enrolled students and players for MSU football.

As to the media hypocrisy...
There were not any articles (or a single drop of research) into Jenrette's charged felony burglary counts (which could've landed him in jail for 15 YEARS). There was not ONE question to Dantonio about Jenrette's past. Dantonio answered no questions about Winston and the potluck posse. Dorsey, by contrast, was just 15 and in high school.

So, MSU says players deserve a second chance. I think everyone agrees with that (unless the crime is egregious - like nearly killing a hockey player). Dorsey has done nothing wrong since he was 15. He's done nothing wrong in A2. If he does wrong, he'll get the boot. If he did wrong at MSU, he'd remain on the team and get a ride from prison to practice. That is the big difference.