OT: Tatgate Memorabilia: The Rest of the Story

Submitted by MGoShoe on

The hits keep coming.

Transactions between Ohio State football players and a tattoo-parlor owner are far more extensive than previously made public by OSU officials.

A letter sent by the U.S. Department of Justice on Dec. 7, which was obtained by The Dispatch today, show that suspected drug dealer Ed Rife bought or traded for tattoos 36 different football-related items since 2008.

However, only some of the transactions were considered violations by the NCAA, which suspended five players for the five games of the 2011 season for improper benefits and preferential treatment.

"There may be items in this letter that do not constitute NCAA violations," OSU spokesman Jim Lynch said this morning in explaining why all the items were not previously disclosed. "The NCAA had this exact list as they prepared their notice of allegations."

The NCAA Notice of Allegations lists 14 items instead of the 36 listed in the DoJ letter.

But this was only about some low level stuff being traded for tatoos, right? Well, yes that happened, but it was much more.

In exchange for game-worn gloves, he gave the players free tattoos.

The financial transactions between Rife and the players total more than $14,000. The largest cash deal involved a 2008 championship ring he bought for $1,500.

I like this transaction the best:

One player gave Rife four passes to the 2010 Rose Bowl and his watch in exchange for a 2003 Tahoe, which Rife purchased for $3,500.


[Edit: Here's the link to the DoJ letter (PDF).]

WestSider

April 28th, 2011 at 12:38 PM ^

surprising at all. In fact, the more digging, the more evidence of corruption will be uncovered. OSU has become a satire of itself, a joke, a tragedy. From the goofy president, to the shady AD, all slurping from the Tre$$ell koodaid dispenser. C'mon Show Cause!

MGoAero

April 28th, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^

The argument is that they weren't included in the NoA because they were given to Rife for free.  Is there anybody alive that actually believes that all those additional items were given away for free to the guy who was paying other teammates handsomely for their items?  Come on.

GWUWolverineFan

April 28th, 2011 at 3:32 PM ^

Hell, I've had work done by artists which were 200 a hour..
<br>
<br>Those pieces are starting at 1500 for Pryor and probably running in to the 2500 range..
<br>
<br>Lewan I would estimate around a grand.

BlueTimesTwo

April 28th, 2011 at 2:36 PM ^

Good tattoo work often runs about $100 per hour (and can be more for highly sought-after artists).  Large pieces like Pryor's are very expensive.  If it is a whole sleeve (can't really tell from the picture), I would say that 20+ hours is not out of the question.  Even for just what you see in the picture, I would estimate at least 10 hours worth of work.  His tattoos have more depth, color and shading than Lewan's, which means more time and expense.  I had a piece done that only partly covered my shoulder (maybe about 4"X4" and approximately the same complexity as Pryor's) and it was 2.5 hours of work.

The Harbaughnger

April 28th, 2011 at 4:43 PM ^

It's highly likely that their tattoos would have been very expensive.

It depends on the artist's reputation for good work, the shop he/she tattoos for, the number of hours/visits it takes to complete the job, etc.

It's like taking your car to the shop- they'll charge you for diagnostics (custom art mock-ups), parts (ink), and labor (time in the chair).

Pryors tattoos, which look to be pretty good work (quality ink, not the message), probably would go for somewhere between $1200-$2000.  I'm assuming it doesn't stop at his shirtsleeve and runs over his back- if it does, that's where the high end number comes from...

Lewan is probably looking at somewhere $400-$700, again depending on the artist, etc.  Also, I'm only considering what's visible in his pic- those tattoos don't seem like the type that you could assume run up his arm and over his back...

When you know how much tattoos can cost, it's kind of suspicious when you see a 20 year old kid walking around with $2000+ in ink on his upper torso...

James Burrill Angell

April 28th, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^

I guess maybe the Reggie Bush thing involved straight cash for nothing in return but how is it OSU got away with just the five games of suspensions for these specific guys when they got cars as well.

Considering the improper benefits to Troy Smith, at least the allegations of the same with Clarett and the loaner car NCAA violations during the Tressel era at Youngstown, how the hell did the NCAA not slap a bigger violation on the OSU program.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

April 28th, 2011 at 2:00 PM ^

One player gave Rife four passes to the 2010 Rose Bowl and his watch in exchange for a 2003 Tahoe, which Rife purchased for $3,500.

That must have been a second-string lineman. You have to be the starting quarterback to borrow brand-new cars from the dealership for free.

Bodogblog

April 28th, 2011 at 3:23 PM ^

and not notice the large # of tats?  I know this is a generational thing (which - too many young people get tatoos as a substitue for personality), but they were everywhere.  All teams have it, sure, but it's so much more noticeable at TSIO given the scandal.

Tats are permanent - fans will be ruing that ink on their players for years to come.  They'll be reminded of Tatgate/Tresselgate every time they see their team play. 

burtcomma

April 28th, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^

Remember how this goes, when someone with subpoena power like a federal prosecutor is involved, suddenly the truth and the details start coming out......