ESPN - Two former Syracuse University ball boys say they were molested by
associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine, starting in the late 1970s
and continuing into the 1990s. Police in Syracuse said they have opened an investigation into the
allegations. And in a statement Thursday night, Syracuse said it has
placed Fine on administrative leave. One alleged victim, Bobby Davis, now 39, told Outside the Lines that
Fine molested him beginning in 1984, shortly before Davis entered the
seventh grade. Davis, the team's ball boy for six years beginning in
1984, said the abuse occurred at Fine's home, at the Syracuse basketball
facilities, and on road trips, including the 1987 Final Four. The second alleged victim, Mike Lang, now 45, is Davis' stepbrother and
was also a ball boy for several years. He told Outside the Lines that
Fine molested him starting when Lang was in fifth or sixth grade. Both men spoke in on-camera interviews with ESPN on Thursday night. Both
described what they said were encounters with Fine, including reaching
into their shorts and rubbing their genitals.
Boeheim added: "Why wouldn't he come to the police (first this time)?
Why would he go to ESPN? What are people looking for here? I believe
they are looking for money. I believe they saw what happened at Penn
State and they are using ESPN to get money. That is what I believe. You
want to put that on the air? Put that on the air."Davis said that Fine molested him at Fine's home, at the basketball
facilities at Syracuse, on recruiting road trips and even at the 1987
Final Four. Davis said he was Fine's constant companion at all those
places. He said Boeheim would come into Fine's room and see Davis lying
on Fine's bed but never asked him any questions. Davis said sexual contact with Fine continued until he was around 27.
Not gonna lie this one seems a little far fetched. I mean I really don't get why you don't go to the police the second some old man touches your junk. He's running to ESPN and not the police, and he's doing it 30 years after it started happening?? Sketchy if you ask me. Like if some bro touched me on my wang when I was a little boy I would probably at least tell my parents and you figure your parents would go to the cops. Plus it's only a week after the Penn State allegations. I guess you figure you can catch everyone off guard and they will look past the truth to not get a bad rep in the press. Hopefully they are lying, but if not I might have to agree with Forrest Griffen. Rape is the new missionary.
