SPORTSbyBROOKS » SbB 2001-05

Vermeil: Sandusky Misportrayed, ‘Cared’ For Kids

Brooks — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:21:22 +0000

Super Bowl-winning coach Dick Vermeil, who in 2001 wrote the foreword to Jerry Sandusky’s “Touched” autobiography and assisted the ex-Penn State football coach with his Second Mile charity over three decades, told Kelley Bydlon of ESPN760.com this week that, “Jerry really cared about (The Second Mile children) in a different way than is being portrayed right now.”

(”I knew Jerry very well“)

Vermeil also told Bydlon, that the revelations about Sandusky’s alleged sexual abuse of children, which has thus far resulted in 52 criminal charges against the former Penn State assistant coach, “is a real downer for me. I still hold hope that it’s not all true.”

On the subject of Joe Paterno’s ouster at Penn State, Vermeil this week labeled the situation to Marks-Peltz as, “Unfair. Especially for a man of his class and quality.”

When asked if Paterno did enough to help a child who in Grand Jury testimony Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary reported under oath was anally raped by Sandusky in the Penn State locker room, Vermeil said of Paterno’s decision to not report the incident to authorities, “I would never second guess him.”

Below is the full transcript from Vermeil’s comments to Bydlon:

Kelley Bydlon: “You were involved with The Second Mile, how well did you know Jerry Sandusky?”

Vermeil: “I knew Jerry very well, I didn’t know this side of him, I still want to really believe it to be true. I wrote the foreword to his book. I’ve been involved in helping him with that charity over thirty years.

“It’s a real downer for me. It’s disappointing as heck.

“I still hold hope that it’s not all true.”

Bydlon: “When the news came out, was it complete disbelief for you?”

Vermeil: “Yes it was. I’d heard rumors there were investigations like all of us did around Second Mile, you could not. You’d have to be deaf not to hear it. But I would always give him (Sandusky) more credit for those rumors being true.”

Bydlon: “How devastating was it for people involved in the charity?”

Vermeil: “I know for a fact they helped a ton of kids, and I know that Jerry really cared about them in a different way than is being portrayed right now.”

Bydlon: “What did you think of the way Joe Paterno was exited out of Penn State?”

Vermeil: “Unfair. Especially for a man of his class and quality. In two days he went from the epitome of what everyone should be like as a coach and I still believe he belongs in that category.”

Bydlon: “In your mind did he (Paterno) did enough to stop what was happening?”

Vermeil: “I wouldn’t second guess him because if he thought it was more serious than it was he would’ve reacted more seriously. I think he reacted according to what he knew, the way he felt he should.

“I would never second guess him.”

Mike McQueary testified in open court in Pennsylvania today that after he witnessed Sandusky involved in an “extreme sexual” act that resembled “intercourse” with a child in the Penn State locker room in 2002, he told Paterno about the incident the next day:

“I went to his house and sat at his kitchen table and told him I saw Jerry with a young boy in the shower. That it was way over the lines and extremely sexual in nature.

“(Paterno) was slumped back in his chair, he said well I’m sorry you had to see that. It’s terrible. I need to think and tell some people about what you saw and I’ll let you know what we’ll do next.”

Also revealed in the same Harrisburg court proceeding today was the transcript of testimony Paterno previously gave a Centre County (PA) Grand Jury regarding what he was told by McQueary about Sandusky’s alleged rape of a boy in Penn State’s locker room in 2002.

During a reading of Paterno’s previously recorded comments, it was confirmed that Paterno did indeed tell the Grand Jury that McQueary related to him that the incident involving Sandusky and a child in the Penn State locker room was of a “sexual nature.”

In a November 7, 2011, statement Paterno claimed:

“As my grand jury testimony stated. I was informed in 2002 by an assistant coach that he had witnessed an incident in the shower of our locker room facility. It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report. Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky. As Coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators.”

As part of his 2001 contribution to Sandusky’s “Touched” autobiography, Vermeil, who was coaching the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs at the time and in 1999 led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title, wrote of the ex-Penn State assistant coach, “He (Sandusky) could very well be the Will Rogers of the coaching profession.”

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Pryor Gone Wild: Where Is Columbus Police Dept?

Brooks — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:00:03 +0000

Just when you think you’ve seen it all at Ohio State with the insanity happening inside the football program, you get what we got today.

Despite it being widely chronicled now that Terrelle Pryor has been driving with a suspended license for weeks, Wednesday Pryor was caught - once again - driving illegally by WSYX-TV in Columbus.

WCMH-TV in Columbus reported Wednesday of Pryor’s 90-day license suspension:

It was unclear Tuesday if Pryor had been granted driving privileges, but the Franklin County Clerk of Courts told NBC4 Wednesday that Pryor was not given driving privileges.

To make matters worse, two individuals appearing to be affiliated with Ohio State were spotted by WSYX cameras guarding Pryor as he got into his car in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center parking lot on the Ohio State campus.

Where is the Ohio State and Columbus Police Department?

Ohio State President Gordon Gee? Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith? Ohio State Compliance Director Doug Archie?

Do laws not matter in Columbus if you’re a Buckeye?

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Jamie McCourt’s Lawyers: Over $50,000 Per Day

Brooks — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:01:46 +0000

Carla Hall and Victoria Kim of the LOS ANGELES TIMES reported last Friday that L.A. County Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon ordered Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt pay $225,000 a month in temporary spousal support to his estranged wife, Jamie, and an additional $412,159 a month in costs associated with the seven residences in her name.

(Fees don’t account for Lasorda’s porn per diem)

Jamie McCourt had asked for $988,845 a month to “maintain her homes and her lifestyle.”

If you thought that was jaw-dropping, then you missed this graf in the same story:

He (Judge Gordon) also ordered that an eighth property — land in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico — be sold and the proceeds split between the two McCourts for their legal fees. Jamie had requested about $9 million in legal fees.

Jamie McCourt filed for divorce on Oct. 27, 2009. Roughly six months ago. (more…)

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Steve Phillips Joins Website. As Baseball Analyst

Brooks — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:42:00 +0000

AOL announced today that former Mets GM and television analyst Steve Phillips is joining AOL Fanhouse as a MLB analyst.

(If announced on April Fools, would you have believed it?)

The sports website reports Phillips, who was dismissed from ESPN Oct. 25, 2009, after an extramarital sexual liaison with former ESPN employee Brooke Hundley became public, “will contribute weekly columns and video analysis.”

AOL Fanhouse currently is featuring a video interview between staffer Dan Graziano and Phillips covering his “life of recovery and his treatment for sex addiction after his dismissal from ESPN.”

(more…)

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Wanna Gouge iPhone App Users? Call Coach K.!

Brooks — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:38:56 +0000

Joe Ovies at wralsportsfan.com in Raleigh discovers a non sequitur association between Duke hoops coach Mike Krzyzewski and a generic iPhone application selling for $2.99.

(Dragons! Panda Bears! Bill Guthridge!)

Press release for what Krzyzewski licensed his name to:

The Coach K App utilizes innovative multi-touch controls that immerse the player into an exciting series of races against multiple artificial intelligence opponents. The game includes three levels of competition with stops in New York City, China and Durham, North Carolina, home to Coach K’s Duke Blue Devils.

Coach K provides personalized “coaching tips” to maneuver players through a series of dynamic obstacles which come to life through trend-setting graphics. Players also have the ability to customize their avatars.

Players will be challenged to dodge taxicabs and street vendors, while racing through the streets of New York; avoid dragons and panda bears while speeding along the Great Wall of China; and sprint around campus while avoiding the notorious Cameron Crazies and other obstacles. The game climaxes in an intense head-to-head shooting competition against another player over Bluetooth.

No, this isn’t a joke, as Krzyzewski is also quoted in the release. (more…)

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ESPN Radio: Masoli Prints On ‘Stolen Property’

Brooks — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:48:14 +0000

UPDATE (6:36p ET): ESPN Radio in Portland (KFXX 1080 AM) reports this afternoon that police found Oregon Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s fingerprints on “stolen property” that was reported missing from the same Oregon fraternity house where the football player was accused of theft.

KFXX show host Jason Scukanec added on-air that the stolen property was a Macbook Pro laptop computer that alleged theft victim Max Wolfard reported stolen and was subsequently recovered.

KFXX also reports that LaMichael James will “plead down” to a harassment charge tomorrow and face no suspension. James initially pleaded not guilty to five misdemeanor assault charges.

I’ve been told that Chip Kelly will not speak to the media until next week, though a statement from the coach may come tomorrow.

–

Two Portland-based ESPN Radio staffers are claiming that Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who will arraigned tomorrow on a felony burglary charge, has had his Oregon football locker “cleaned out.”

One of the on-air personalities is also claiming that LaMichael James will not face any suspension despite a looming “changed” plea to multiple charges of misdemeanor assault tomorrow. James had previously pleaded not guilty to all charges. (more…)

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Tiger PR: Clear Channel Report ‘Absolutely False’

Brooks — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:23:57 +0000

Earlier today I reported at least four Clear Channel radio stations in Asheville, North Carolina, including news radio station WWNC-AM, posted a statement on their respective websites claiming it to be a “leaked” apology from Tiger Woods.

Hank Gola and Corky Siemaszko of the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS report that Team Tiger wasn’t amused by Clear Channel’s “scoop.”

(more…)

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Tiger ‘Talk’: Wire Services, 1 Camera, His Writers

Brooks — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:30:59 +0000

ASSOCIATED PRESS reporter Doug Ferguson has more details on Tiger Woods Friday press conference.

(Woods agent Mark) Steinberg said he (Woods) would speak to a “small group of friends, colleagues and close associates” about his past and what he plans next, along with apologizing for his behavior.

He said three wire services would be in invited, and he was asking the Golf Writers Association of America to pick a small group of reporters to serve as a pool. Steinberg said there would be one pool camera, but it would be available live via satellite.

A source told me today that wire services Bloomberg and the AP have already been invited, with Reuters likely to be the third. CNBC’s Darren Rovell and Ferguson are obvious shoe-ins to be in attendance.

It has also been reported that there will be no questions allowe from those who are invited. (more…)

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Sapp Charged On ‘Misdemeanor Domestic Battery’

Brooks — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:01:04 +0000

The ASSOCIATED PRESS reports:

According to a police news release, Warren Sapp has been charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. The charge stems from an incident early Saturday morning at a South Beach hotel. An arrest affidavit was not immediately available.

Miami Beach Police spokesman Juan Sanchez says the 37-year-old Sapp was brought in for questioning Saturday afternoon.

That hotel was the Shore Club, as noted by Sapp himself with a Tweet. Darrell Reid of the Denver Broncos subsequently Tweeted that he saw Sapp being placed in a police car this afternoon.

The NFL Network has already removed Sapp from its coverage of the Super Bowl.

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Photos: Mike Tyson’s Wife And Daughter In Italy

Brooks — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:37:30 +0000

Here’s some recent photos of Mike Tyson, his wife Lakiha Spicer and daughter Milan:

Tyson is in Italy to participate in that country’s version of Dancing With The Stars.

(more…)

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