Lightsout
MuscleChemistry Registered Member
<SCRIPT>var ESPN_GLOBALS = { "videoPlayers":{ "story09":{ "src":"http://assets.espn.go.com/espnvideo/mpf32/prod/r_3_2_0_15/ESPN_Player.swf", "height":324, "width":576, "adminOver":"3805638", "autostart":"true", "playerType":"story09" } }};espn.video.embeded.play();</SCRIPT>
Syracuse University chancellor Nancy Cantor sent a message to school alumni saying the school will "do everything in our power to find the truth" in the wake of allegations that associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine molested two former ball boys, starting in the late 1970s and continuing into the 1990s.
The two ball boys, Bobby Davis (now 39) and Mike Lang (a stepbrother of Davis and now 45) told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that Fine sexually abused them at his home, at the Syracuse basketball facilities and on road trips, including the 1987 Final Four in New Orleans.
<!-- begin inline 1 -->
Fine
<!-- end inline 1 -->
Syracuse police said Thursday night they are investigating the claims, including meeting with both men, and stressed to "Outside The Lines" that they are in the early stages of the investigation.
Syracuse campus police also opened an investigation.
Fine was placed on administrative leave by the school Thursday night "in light of the new allegations."
In on-camera interviews with ESPN, Davis said he was sexually abused "hundreds of times" and said that when he resisted, Fine would become more aggressive.
Asked why he didn't come forward during the 16 years he said Fine molested and sexually abused him, Davis said: "I honestly didn't think anybody would believe me."
Lang told "Outside the Lines" that Fine was like "a god to you. He can do whatever he wants."
Lang said Fine touched his genitals "probably 15, 20 times."
Onondaga County district attorney William Fitzpatrick promised Friday a full investigation into the allegations.
"I want to know who knew what, what they knew, what they did about it and what they didn't do about it," Fitzpatrick said, according to the Syracuse Post-Standard.
Fitzpatrick told the Post-Standard that his office was never notified of complaints to the police, which came in 2002 and 2003, or of a Syracuse University investigation in 2005.
Bond, Schoeneck & King, a local law firm, conducted the investigation for the university, according to the Post-Standard. Fitzpatrick said his office received a copy of the report Friday.
Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim defended his 35-year assistant in a series of interviews Thursday, including one with ESPN.
In response Friday, Cantor emailed alumni, saying, "Let me be clear. We are aware that many wonder if university administrations are willing to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing that may disrupt a successful sports program. I can assure you I am not, and my fellow administrators are not.
"We hold everyone in our community to high standards and we don't tolerate illegal, abusive or unethical behavior -- no matter who you are."
She reiterated a statement Syracuse made Thursday night. In it, the school said: "In 2005, Syracuse University was contacted by an adult male who told us that he had reported to the Syracuse City Police that he had been subjected to inappropriate contact by an associate men's basketball coach. The alleged activity took place in the 1980s and 1990s. We were informed by the complainant that the Syracuse City Police had declined to pursue the matter because the statute of limitations had expired.
<!-- start podcast -->
<!-- end podcast -->
"On hearing of the allegations in 2005, the university immediately launched its own comprehensive investigation through its legal counsel. That nearly four-month-long investigation included a number of interviews with people the complainant said would support his claims. All of those identified by the complainant denied any knowledge of wrongful conduct by the associate coach. The associate coach also vehemently denied the allegations.
"Syracuse University takes any allegation of this sort extremely seriously and has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. If any evidence or corroboration of the allegations had surfaced, we would have terminated the associated coach and reported it to the police immediately. We understand that the Syracuse City Police has now reopened the case, and Syracuse University will cooperate fully. We are steadfastly committed ensuring that SU remains a safe place for every member of our campus community."
Cantor added Friday: "At this time, all we really know is that a terrible tragedy is unfolding for both the accuser and the accused. I want you to know that we will do everything in our power to find the truth, and -- if and when we do find it -- to let you know what we have found."
On Thursday, both men spoke in on-camera interviews with ESPN, describing what they said were encounters with Fine that included reaching into their shorts and rubbing their genitals. "I didn't feel right about it," Lang said. "And I told him, 'Bernie, please don't do that to me.' "
Davis told "Outside the Lines" that Boeheim saw him in Fine's hotel room on several of those road trips, but Davis said he never told Boeheim about the alleged abuse.
Davis said sexual contact with Fine continued until he was about 27 years old.
Davis said he felt bitter emotions about the molestation as sex scandals have emerged in the Catholic Church, and lately with former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
Davis said he reported the abuse to Syracuse police in 2003, but a detective told him that the statute of limitations had run out. Davis said the detective told him that if he knew of boys being molested by Fine at the time, that Syracuse police would investigate those allegations. Davis said he told the detective that he thought other boys were being molested, but that he had direct knowledge only of Fine molesting him.
The statute of limitations in New York is five years from the last instance of sexual contact.
Boeheim came to Fine's defense Thursday.
"I know this kid, but I never saw him in any rooms or anything," Boeheim told ESPN. "It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told. You don't think it is a little funny that his cousin (relative) is coming forward?
"He supplied four names to the university that would corroborate his story. None of them did ... there is only one side to this story. He is lying."
"Outside the Lines" investigated Davis' account in 2003 but decided not to run the story because there were no other alleged victims who would talk, and no independent evidence to corroborate it. In recent days, Lang contacted "Outside the Lines" with information alleging that Fine also had molested him. Lang said he was inspired to talk after seeing news coverage of the Sandusky case.
Syracuse University chancellor Nancy Cantor sent a message to school alumni saying the school will "do everything in our power to find the truth" in the wake of allegations that associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine molested two former ball boys, starting in the late 1970s and continuing into the 1990s.
The two ball boys, Bobby Davis (now 39) and Mike Lang (a stepbrother of Davis and now 45) told ESPN's "Outside the Lines" that Fine sexually abused them at his home, at the Syracuse basketball facilities and on road trips, including the 1987 Final Four in New Orleans.
<!-- begin inline 1 -->
Fine
<!-- end inline 1 -->
Syracuse police said Thursday night they are investigating the claims, including meeting with both men, and stressed to "Outside The Lines" that they are in the early stages of the investigation.
Syracuse campus police also opened an investigation.
Fine was placed on administrative leave by the school Thursday night "in light of the new allegations."
In on-camera interviews with ESPN, Davis said he was sexually abused "hundreds of times" and said that when he resisted, Fine would become more aggressive.
Asked why he didn't come forward during the 16 years he said Fine molested and sexually abused him, Davis said: "I honestly didn't think anybody would believe me."
Lang told "Outside the Lines" that Fine was like "a god to you. He can do whatever he wants."
Lang said Fine touched his genitals "probably 15, 20 times."
Onondaga County district attorney William Fitzpatrick promised Friday a full investigation into the allegations.
"I want to know who knew what, what they knew, what they did about it and what they didn't do about it," Fitzpatrick said, according to the Syracuse Post-Standard.
Fitzpatrick told the Post-Standard that his office was never notified of complaints to the police, which came in 2002 and 2003, or of a Syracuse University investigation in 2005.
Bond, Schoeneck & King, a local law firm, conducted the investigation for the university, according to the Post-Standard. Fitzpatrick said his office received a copy of the report Friday.
Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim defended his 35-year assistant in a series of interviews Thursday, including one with ESPN.
In response Friday, Cantor emailed alumni, saying, "Let me be clear. We are aware that many wonder if university administrations are willing to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing that may disrupt a successful sports program. I can assure you I am not, and my fellow administrators are not.
"We hold everyone in our community to high standards and we don't tolerate illegal, abusive or unethical behavior -- no matter who you are."
She reiterated a statement Syracuse made Thursday night. In it, the school said: "In 2005, Syracuse University was contacted by an adult male who told us that he had reported to the Syracuse City Police that he had been subjected to inappropriate contact by an associate men's basketball coach. The alleged activity took place in the 1980s and 1990s. We were informed by the complainant that the Syracuse City Police had declined to pursue the matter because the statute of limitations had expired.
<!-- start podcast -->
<!-- end podcast -->
"On hearing of the allegations in 2005, the university immediately launched its own comprehensive investigation through its legal counsel. That nearly four-month-long investigation included a number of interviews with people the complainant said would support his claims. All of those identified by the complainant denied any knowledge of wrongful conduct by the associate coach. The associate coach also vehemently denied the allegations.
"Syracuse University takes any allegation of this sort extremely seriously and has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind. If any evidence or corroboration of the allegations had surfaced, we would have terminated the associated coach and reported it to the police immediately. We understand that the Syracuse City Police has now reopened the case, and Syracuse University will cooperate fully. We are steadfastly committed ensuring that SU remains a safe place for every member of our campus community."
Cantor added Friday: "At this time, all we really know is that a terrible tragedy is unfolding for both the accuser and the accused. I want you to know that we will do everything in our power to find the truth, and -- if and when we do find it -- to let you know what we have found."
On Thursday, both men spoke in on-camera interviews with ESPN, describing what they said were encounters with Fine that included reaching into their shorts and rubbing their genitals. "I didn't feel right about it," Lang said. "And I told him, 'Bernie, please don't do that to me.' "
Davis told "Outside the Lines" that Boeheim saw him in Fine's hotel room on several of those road trips, but Davis said he never told Boeheim about the alleged abuse.
Davis said sexual contact with Fine continued until he was about 27 years old.
Davis said he felt bitter emotions about the molestation as sex scandals have emerged in the Catholic Church, and lately with former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
Davis said he reported the abuse to Syracuse police in 2003, but a detective told him that the statute of limitations had run out. Davis said the detective told him that if he knew of boys being molested by Fine at the time, that Syracuse police would investigate those allegations. Davis said he told the detective that he thought other boys were being molested, but that he had direct knowledge only of Fine molesting him.
The statute of limitations in New York is five years from the last instance of sexual contact.
Boeheim came to Fine's defense Thursday.
"I know this kid, but I never saw him in any rooms or anything," Boeheim told ESPN. "It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told. You don't think it is a little funny that his cousin (relative) is coming forward?
"He supplied four names to the university that would corroborate his story. None of them did ... there is only one side to this story. He is lying."
"Outside the Lines" investigated Davis' account in 2003 but decided not to run the story because there were no other alleged victims who would talk, and no independent evidence to corroborate it. In recent days, Lang contacted "Outside the Lines" with information alleging that Fine also had molested him. Lang said he was inspired to talk after seeing news coverage of the Sandusky case.
