ESPN Doubling Down on MSU
More sexual assult charges hanging out at MSU Hoops. No?!?!
http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/22457780/michigan-state-freshma…
February 16th, 2018 at 1:48 AM ^
ESPN probably can't lose here. Regardless, it is looking more and more like ESPN will be getting kudos for starting the ball rolling. OTL has historically been one of their most worthwhile media contributions. This MSU case could be there magnum opus.
February 16th, 2018 at 7:44 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 9:23 AM ^
This is exactly what happened with Baylor. If you watched from the start it was a slow drip that continued to expose more and more information as cases went through the courts and the school couldn't keep documents hidden.
Based on what I saw with Baylor, I don't think OTL has fired all their ammo yet and wouldn't have come this far if they didn't have a reasonable belief that there was a serious problem here.
The main thing I'm waiting on is for a few of these victims, outside of the Nassar victims, to actually start taking their issues to the courts.
February 15th, 2018 at 11:53 PM ^
Burn. It. Down.
February 15th, 2018 at 11:53 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 11:54 PM ^
February 15th, 2018 at 11:55 PM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 2:08 PM ^
survivor to the list.
February 16th, 2018 at 12:04 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:22 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 2:22 AM ^
for that culture. They have created a monster that is so dependent upon and demanding of athletic success that it has consumed the entire system.
And Izzo/Dantonio are sitting at the top of it while everyone else cleans shit up around them, and they know it's happening (or have their heads seriously deep in the sand) and they are personally benefitting from it (like to the tune of millions of dollars, legacies being built, etc) while victims are left in the path.
February 16th, 2018 at 9:04 AM ^
Ever think that it is the entire "Spartan Nation" that is responsible for this? They are so consumed by their need to beat Michigan and to make a name for themselves through sports, that they virtually demand that their coaches (and adminstrators) do whatever is necessary to achieve those goals.
February 16th, 2018 at 9:54 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 10:30 AM ^
with this. "Spartan Nation" are the junkies. Izzo and Dantonio are the drugs and now that Spartan Nation have had some hits, they're fighting tooth and nail, leaving destruction in their path not to lose the high.
February 16th, 2018 at 11:07 AM ^
Absolutely, that's part of it. Had all this come to light 20 years ago, before Izzo was midwest John Wooden and Dantonio turned MSU into not awful, there would be much less obstruction and support of said obstruction. Spartan Nation is learning the unfortunate truth that success also puts a big target on you.
February 16th, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^
survivors along the way, that is just a part of doing business.
February 16th, 2018 at 5:52 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 6:38 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 2:12 PM ^
cooperating like he did before.
February 16th, 2018 at 12:04 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:42 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:05 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:26 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 1:05 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 4:15 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:18 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 2:28 AM ^
All the defense attorney has to do is show up with some written statements and it gets plead down? When I read that in the initial report, it was clear 1) either Walton's friends or any random Spartan slappy would be willing to oppose the victim testimony to protect a beloved bball player and 2) I can't believe that would get plead down that easily for a regular citizen with medical records and everything. Seems like this guy said that initially and is now backing off it?
February 16th, 2018 at 6:05 AM ^
My life long friend's brother-in-law is a cop in East Lansing (and a huge MSU fan with season tickets). He claims that:
(1) It actually is easy for anyone including non-athletes to get an assault charge plead down to littering if they have a clean record and one contradicting witness.
(2) That there are dozens of stories with MSU basketball and football players that have never made it out public....pulling a gun on a girl, hitting a girl, sexual assault, etc.... Too often when he shows up the woman will start to change her story, because she has already been pressured to not ruin the player's career.
Yes, he claims that girls have literally made calls to the police and then when they arrive those girls are saying I don't want to ruin his career and let everyone (Spartan Nation) down, etc...
I don't think he would lie and I am being straight forward with what he has said for years (he has been saying this for at least a decade now)...I hope this crap isn't happening elsewhere including Ann Arbor.
February 16th, 2018 at 9:05 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 9:59 AM ^
Friend of mine on the Football team had his car towed for having over $1000 worth of parking tickets. He showed up to get his car out of impound wearing his letter jacket and rose bowl ring and suddenly the fines disappeared. I realize its not the same thing as dismisiing sexual assualt charges but local police have cut M athletes deals in Ann Arbor for a long time.
February 16th, 2018 at 12:59 PM ^
Roy Tarpley could tell some stories about how friendly the AAPD was back in his day. And Derrick Alexander (aka the Unintentional Destroyer of Random Parked Cars).
To your other point, though ... to my knowledge none of that had anything to do with sweeping sexual assault under the rug.
February 16th, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:33 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 8:37 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 8:52 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 11:36 AM ^
Actually, I'm probably not remembering things correctly.
Was grant suspended before he was charged? Granted he was charged with a felony, I guess that could be the difference- no charges but still suspended?
February 16th, 2018 at 1:04 PM ^
Grant, having been arrested, would have been considered informally charged. He was suspended immediately.
Contrast that to what happens with a report of assault by an msu player and you get this (from The Land of 10):
"Prosecutors in Ingham County, Mich., are considering filing formal charges against Washington, who is named as the lone suspect in an alleged assault classified as fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct by Michigan State campus police, according to the report.
A female Michigan State student told police in August that Washington forcibly groped her without permission, according to the report. An investigation ensued, and police forwarded their findings to the county prosecutor’s office Dec. 13, but a police report has not been released publicly.
No Michigan State officials commented on the report."
It doesn't take 6 months to investigate a case like that. The cops failed to ask for a warrant first and foremost. Then to hear from the prosecutor that they're deciding whterh to bring charges is complete bullshit. Maybe they will now since they just got caught. I'm not saying Izzo knew, what I'm saying is that the handling of these situations couldn't be more different. It would be ridiculous to think the cases would have been handled the same way if Grant Perry were a msu athlete (and a starter no less) and this freshman was a walk on at Michigan.
February 16th, 2018 at 1:27 AM ^
Engler, Izzo, and Hollis stating ESPN sensationalized the article.
They've had like two weeks to rebut one statement in it, and haven't provided a specific example. That is damning and telling.
February 16th, 2018 at 12:38 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 8:27 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:48 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 12:50 AM ^
February 17th, 2018 at 9:11 AM ^
Cowards? But Hollis isn't running from something! He's running toward something!
February 16th, 2018 at 1:08 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 6:43 AM ^
February 16th, 2018 at 1:00 PM ^
What does your nephew have to say about him?
February 16th, 2018 at 8:20 PM ^