ESPN: The World Wide Leader In Hypocrisy

Hey, remember when a bunch of ESPN talking heads, including Michelle Beadle, Kirk Herbstreit, Jay Bilas, and Colin Cowherd went on a moral crusade against Joe Paterno for not doing more upon learning that Mike McQueary witnessed Jerry Sandusky in the shower behaving beyond inappropriately with a boy in the shower?  Good times, wasn't it?  Now, in a cruel twist of irony, the shoe is on the other foot, and then some.  While we do not know what Jim Boeheim did or did not know in terms of the Bernie Fine allegations at Syracuse, but we do know who did know of these allegations back in 2003.  That's right.  The Worldwide Leader, themselves.  ESPN knew.

ESPN did nothing.

What am I talking about, exactly?  It goes back to the Syracuse allegations against Bernie Fine.  Released today on Outside The Lines, a recorded telephone conversation former Syracuse ball boy Bobby Davis had with Bernie Fine's wife, Laurie in regards to Bernie Fine's behavior.  Due to the disturbing nature of this conversation, I will not post any quotes here, but if you want to read it so you have, click here to read excerpts of the conversation between Davis and Laurie Fine.

One slightly major issue.  The conversation in that transcript took place in 2002.  ESPN obtained a copy of the audiotape of that conversation in 2003.  Sporting News summarizes what ESPN did with the conversations (bold emphasis mine).

Davis, now 39, shared the tape with Syracuse police after Outside the Lines reported that allegations Nov. 17. He had given ESPN the tape of the recorded conversation in 2003, but ESPN did not report that accusations because it didn’t have enough information to back up Davis’ allegations.

 At least Joe Paterno went to the AD and the head of police, even though all he had to off of was hearsay.  ESPN had tapes from Bernie Fine's wife essentially implicating him in child molestation.  ESPN sat on these tapes.  They claim there was not enough evidence to go public, but they did not turn over the conversation to authorities for further investigation.  Is this beginning to sound familiar to anyone?

Now this is likely something that Michelle Beadle, Kirk Herbstreit, and other ESPN talking heads knew nothing about, but, it is worth pointing out that they are not directing anger at their own company.  Shocking.  Beadle has turned from mud-flinging at Paterno to "Monsters are everywhere," and "Focus on cleaning up" abuse at universities.  Amazing.  I know.

But instead of continuing on my moral high horse on the hypocrisy of some at ESPN, I'll just ask one question.

Is this too a conspiracy of cowards?

The Eagles Are Going Up Against A Bunch Of Perverts

While this is currently a rumor and is more than likely false, this rumor is just too hilarious to pass up. Remember ye olde' cruise ship scandal with the Vikings? Well not exactly that dramatic (yet), this story could easily be making waves in the next few days if there is any more confirmation of this. And guess what, it is somewhat similar to Cruise Ship Gate. From an anonymous tipster at Deadspin, I present to you Illicting Sex With Underage Girls Gate starring Vikings QB Tavaris Jackson and WR Sidney Rice.

"I went to high school at Cretin-Derham Hall, the sports powerhouse boasting alums such as current Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd, Joe Mauer, Paul Moliter, Chris Weinke, and Steve Walsh. I have a tip for a story that is potentially national-news worthy, especially now with the Vikings in the heated playoff contention. Anyways, around early August, rumors started flying around among the youth of St. Paul that two seniors (Class of '09) had illicit relationships with none other than Tarvaris Jackson and Sidney Rice of the Minnesota Vikings. According to stories, the two girls, seventeen at the time, were eating at a swanky restaurant in downtown Minneapolis, when someone paid for their entire bill. The gentlemen introduced themselves as Jackson and Rice, and took the two females (to their credit, smoking hot, and easily the most attractive girls in the school) back to one of their places for a night of drinking. Then, for the next week or so, Jackson and Rice would occasionally pick the girls up from St. Paul. The stories reached a climax when Rice rolled by a house party that a lot of friends and I were at to pick up one of the girls. Though I did not witness this, apparently my dealer sold him weed. Eventually, Jackson and Rice found out that the girls were underage and appropriately cut everything off. Somehow, the press found out, and sent reporters to the high school to interview the principal and other administrators about the situation. No charges have been pressed as there is some grey area as to what actually went on behind closed doors. I was told that the Minneapolis Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press have waited to release the story until Jackson or Rice gets in the news for another reason. This is where your tremendous opportunity to crack the story wide open lies. It would definitely take some investigative research, such as contacting the two newspapers to get sources, but trust me, they know all about the incident. I'm not sure if this story is actually even newsworthy for Deadspin, but I think it's hilarious, probably because of my bias that I know the girls. Should you in fact decide to pursue the story, I would ask that my information be kept anonymous because the two girls involved are acquaintances. I would love to be a Deadspin correspondent from the Twin Cities should you need such services in the future. It's actually a bigger sports market than people give it credit for. Hope this isn't a waste of your time, I can't believe I didn't think to email about this earlier."

That is HI-LAR-IOUS! Again, probably not true given the nature and the timing, but with the past history that certain Vikings have who can be surprised. Too funny.

Deadspin Deleted Scenes: The One With Chris Berman's Holiday Wishes (Deadspin)