Growing up with a father who has spent the past 25 years working for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, I think it would be fair to say that I have developed a strong sense for the law and all that its implications entail in this country. Over the years, I have seen many legal cases that have violated my views on fair justice and equality. Never, however, has my sense of justice been as violated as it has been during the past few months as I have witnessed the unfolding of the "Duke Lacrosse Scandal".
As someone who has followed this case closely, it appears -- barring any unpublicized bombshell evidence -- undeniably evident that the three accused players are innocent of the charges against them. Moreover, it appears that they, along with the rest of the Duke men's lacrosse team, are victims not only of the false accusations, but also of the hype built up by a media industry that is more beholden to what is deemed "politically correct" interpretation of events rather than the actual facts of the case.
I do not, however, want to delve too deeply into the legal minutiae of this case. I am by no means a legal expert and I certainly do not know anything about the complexities of a rape case. As a sports writer, however, I do want to focus on the unfair tarnish that this case has put on the image of collegiate lacrosse.
In recent months, college lacrosse has been castigated as a sport dominated by rich, white elitists who care for nothing except their own amusement and gratification. Countless social "experts" have paraded across our television screens painting images of boorish and irresponsible behavior that is supposedly rooted in the elite backgrounds of these athletes. Apparently, if one is white, male, athletic and rich, he is destined for life dominated by such reprehensible behavior.
This charge itself, however, is patently unfair and is reprehensible in and of itself. Yes, there are rich white athletes who exhibit this type of loutish behavior. But over the years, I have seen athletes and non-athletes, whites and others, as well as both the rich and the poor exhibit this same type of behavior. It has become convenient in recent months to put the spotlight for such social ills on college lacrosse. It is morally lazy, however, to keep that spotlight solely focused on the sport.
Let's get real. Are underage drinking and the hiring of strippers activities enjoyed only by college lacrosse players? Of course not. Also, should an entire sport be tarnished because one team happened to have a stripper party over Spring Break? Once again, I would have to let out a resounding no.
When the charges against the three players are once and for all proven untrue, who is going help the accused players rebuild their reputations? Who is going to repair the damage done to the lives of the other, uncharged Duke lacrosse players? Who is going to apologize to former Duke coach Mike Pressler whose professional livlihood has been destroyed by the charges? I am sure that it won't be the media or Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong.
On a personal level, I am also disappointed that this scandal marred Virginia's perfect national championship season. Fair or unfair, people could always point to the fact that the Cavaliers did not have to face a talented Duke squad as a way to minimize Virginia's amazing achievement.
As painful as this is for me to say as both a Maryland native and a Virginia student, I will be rooting for the Duke men's lacrosse team next season
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