Tag: scandal

Boat involved in notorious walleye cheating scandal could be yours

Two men surrendered the $100,000 boat after they were found to have stuffed weights into their fish at a Lake Erie tournament. Now the vessel is up for auction.

Anglers around the country might recall the highly publicized cheating scandal in October 2022, involving two men who were found to have stuffed weights into their fish during a Lake Erie walleye tournament.

What anglers might not know is that, for the right price, they could own the top-line bass boat, motors and trailer used by the cheaters and later confiscated by Ohio authorities.

(Jacob Runyan and Steven Gall also received 10-day jail sentences.)

According to Government Deals, a public viewing and demonstration of the boat, valued at $100,000, will be held Saturday (July 13) at the Dempsey Fishing Access Area in Lakeside Marblehead, Ohio.

The 2022 Ranger 622 FS Pro Bass Boat is currently in the possession of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Bids are being accepted online through July 23 and the highest bid, as of July 11, was $82,000.

Michigan sign stealing scandal: Social media reacts

Did Harbaugh know?

The biggest story in college football this week is the sign stealing controversy at Michigan.  As the days have gone on we’ve learned that the depths Michigan went to get opponents signs ahead of games is quite thorough.

This from our colleagues at Wolverines Wire:

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Connor Stalions — the NCAA’s person of interest — has reportedly purchased tickets to more than 30 games of Michigan football’s opponents over the past three years, and he did so in his own name, per the report. Thamel says that ESPN has extensive evidence also of the paper trail and that 11 Big Ten schools have provided proof of the claims.

Woof.  Where there is smoke there is usually fire is all I’ll say for now.

In regards to Notre Dame and why it matters to Fighting Irish Wire:  despite Michigan not being on the schedule annually anymore, they’re still as big of rival that the Irish have outside of USC.  Anything that happens with Michigan is relevant to Notre Dame in terms of recruiting and program building.

With that in mind, here is how social media has reacted in the wake of the cheating scandal in Ann Arbor.

This is just the beginning with ‘suspicious wagering activity’

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

When reports surfaced that the Ohio Casino Control Commission was looking into suspicious wagering activity, many wondered if this was a one-time event or just the tip of the iceberg. It appears that it is the latter.

The probe into the suspicious wagering activity ended with the firing of Alabama baseball head coach, Brad Bohannon.

“Alabama director of athletics Greg Byrne announced he has initiated the termination process for head baseball coach Brad Bohannon for, among other things, violating the standards, duties, and responsibilities expected of University employees,” said Alabama in a press release. “Bohannon has been relieved of all duties and Jason Jackson will serve as the interim head coach. There will be no further comment at this time pending an ongoing review.”

It wouldn’t be long before we saw more reports surface about teams being investigated. On Monday, two more schools were reportedly dealing with investigations stemming from wagers being made. In the state of Iowa, both Power Five schools were reporting violations.

The Iowa Hawkeyes provided information on their potential violations through a press release.

The University of Iowa and the Department of Athletics are aware of the sports wagering investigation and are fully cooperating. We have alerted the NCAA of the potential violations and we have hired outside counsel to assist in the investigative process.

The athletics department provides education on NCAA rules regarding the the prohibition of sports wagering as well as the potential consequences.

According to the release, the university received information on 111 individuals. That number included 26 student-athletes across baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, and men’s wresting. One individual is a full-time employee of the UI Department of Athletics.

Iowa State released a statement on Monday afternoon as well.

“Iowa State University and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is aware of online sports wagering allegations involving approximately 15 of our active student-athletes from the sports of football, wrestling and track & field in violation of NCA rules. The university has notified the NCAA and will take the appropriate actions to resolve these issues.”

NCAA rules prohibit athletes, coaches and staff from betting on amateur, collegiate and professional sports in which the NCAA conducts a championship.

What remains to be seen is how the NCAA will handle any punishments for all parties involved. One thing you can be sure of, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Netflix trailer for documentary on Tim Donaghy scandal confirms the ex-referee’s involvement

Donaghy is in the trailer for Netflix’s “Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul.”

You don’t need me to tell you the story of former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, who infamously fixed games as part of a gambling scandal uncovered by the FBI.

It’s been told countless times, even by Donaghy himself, who was released from prison in 2009 after serving most of a 15-month sentence. And it’s going to be told again in a Netflix documentary coming out August 30. The trailer for that documentary was released Monday, confirming Donaghy’s involvement in Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul.

That’s right. The guy who illegally made thousands of dollars is probably getting paid legally to tell the story about how he made that illegal money. Check it out:

Hey, what can I say? The people who do the grimiest things often have the stories that attract us the most. And when it involves organized crime and illegal gambling, that’s almost a guaranteed hit.

Seriously though, for someone like myself, who didn’t read Donaghy’s 2009 book Personal Foul, this documentary could make for an interesting account of what happened – it even appears to involve his co-conspirators. If this is just Donaghy seeking redemption and forgiveness, then miss me. But if he’s truly honest and upfront, I’m here for it.

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How the Washington Commanders allegedly scammed ticket holders and the NFL, explained

Snyder may have finally broken the camel’s back.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Are you confused as to why people are talking about the Washington Commanders allegedly hiding revenue from the NFL? We’re here to help.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Reform laid out a troubling case to Lina M. Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission. The Washington Commanders, under the supervision of team owner Daniel Snyder, have allegedly been the backdrop of decades of unlawful accounting that withheld millions of dollars owed to season ticket owners and hid money from the NFL’s revenue sharing system.

It’s a stunning report, but not a surprising one given the ongoing circus that has defined the Washington football franchise in the Snyder era. It could lead to serious discipline — and potential criminal charges — for Commanders’ leadership.

The 20-page letter, CC’ed to the Attorneys General of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. as well as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, alleges years of shady accounting that intentionally withheld $5 million in refundable security deposits from an estimated 2,000 fans. The team also purposefully misreported ticket sales in order to hide it from the league’s revenue-sharing program. It’s the latest accusation for a franchise defined by its toxic work culture and unavoidable failure at most levels.

Let’s talk about what that letter entails.

Report: NFL takes over Washington Football Team workplace investigation

Commissioner Roger Goodell told Washington Football Team owner Daniel Snyder the NFL is taking over the investigation into its workplace.

The alleged sexual harassment of women in the workplace of the Washington Football team gave rise to stunning headlines once the Washington Post broke the story.

More eyebrows were raised when owner and questions asked when owner Daniel Snyder said the team would run the investigation into the numerous incidents.

That’s not happening anymore. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to Snyder and told him the NFL will be taking over the probe.

The Washington Post summed up the breadth of the scandal in this article.

The original investigation detailed 15 women who said they were sexually harassed and discriminated against in the workplace.

When one thought the story could not become more sordid, it did. The Post reported videos were made of outtakes from the cheerleaders’ 2008 calendar shoot. Former SVP Baker said he was present when the former senior vice president and play-by-play broadcaster Larry Michael told staffers to make the unauthorized video for Snyder.

There have been numerous calls for Snyder to be forced to sell the team. It will be fascinating to see what determination the league makes and what action follows.

Former Florida Gators receiver Aubrey Hill dies at 48

Aubrey Hill, a former receiver and assistant coach for Florida and several other schools, died on Sunday after a battle with cancer.

Aubrey Hill, a former receiver and assistant coach for the Florida Gators, died on Sunday after a battle with cancer. His passing was announced by Florida International University, where he has been the wide receivers coach since 2017.

Panthers head coach Butch Davis gave this statement on the death of Hill.

“It was a shock to learn of Aubrey’s passing tonight after his long battle with cancer,” Head Coach Butch Davis said. “Aubrey was loved and adored by so many who saw him not only as a coach, but as an amazing husband and father. We mourn his loss, but we will also hold on to the great memories he left behind and how honored we all were to be a part of his life. We pray for his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

According to an article from The Athletic, Hill began an aggressive treatment plan for an unspecified form of cancer this spring after FIU’s spring practices were canceled as a result of COVID-19.

Hill played college football at Florida under coach Steve Spurrier from 1991-94, where he was a part of UF’s first three official SEC titles in 1991, 1993 and 1994. He finished his collegiate career with 86 receptions and 18 touchdowns, and he was a team captain his senior year.

After a year off, Hill began his coaching career at his alma mater, serving as a graduate assistant from 1996-98. His first season as an assistant in 1996, the Gators captured their first national championship.

He then landed a gig as the receivers coach at Duke, a post he held from 1999-03. After spending one year at Elon in the same role in 2004, he was taken on by Pittsburgh to coach receivers. He stayed there until 2008, before accepting the receiving coach position at Miami.

With the Hurricanes, he was promoted to recruiting coordinator in 2010. Though UM coach Randy Shannon was fired after the 2010 season, new coach Al Golden decided to retain Hill’s position on staff with the same responsibilities. However, shortly after Golden took the job, Hill accepted the receiving coach position under Will Muschamp at his alma mater.

Hill was a coach for the Gators during Muschamp’s first year in 2011, but just days before the 2012 season began, it was alleged that he was one of the Miami assistant coaches involved in a recruiting scandal that occurred from 2002-10. In response, he resigned from his position at UF. The following year, the NCAA served him a two-year show-cause penalty, essentially barring him from coaching in college football during that stretch.

In response, Hill moved down to the high school ranks, accepting a position at head coach of his alma mater Carol City High School in Miami. He led the Chiefs to a state championship as a coach in 2016.

Following the conclusion of his show-cause penalty, Hill was hired by former Miami coach Butch Davis at FIU in 2017, where he coached up until his death.

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Sports Illustrated report raises questions about Saints’ involvement in Catholic abuse crisis

Sports Illustrated suggests the Saints were more intimately connected to the local Archdiocese public relations response than they claimed.

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A new report from Jenny Vrentas for Sports Illustrated suggests that the New Orleans Saints were more intimately involved with the public relations campaign for the local Catholic Church following a sexual abuse scandal than the team’s management initially claimed.

Saints owner Gayle Benson, who inherited the team from her late husband Tom Benson, issued a statement back in February that said the team’s executive vice president of communications, Greg Bensel, was asked to assist the church in preparing its public response to allegations and the ongoing lawsuit from abuse survivors. A list of 50-plus clergy who had been charged or identified was released Nov. 2, 2018, with Benson describing Bensel’s involvement as having begun just weeks earlier.

However, Vrentas’ report disrupts that timeline. An email exchange between Benson and Benson added to the public record was dated July 8, 2018, coming a day after a local report from The Advocate on one accused clergy member. While the text of those messages remains confidential, the timing and its inclusion in a subpoena would imply Bensel had been working with the archdiocese communications staff for months, not weeks, before the list was published.

And that’s the crux of the issue here. The church’s initial list included 57 names, but it’s grown over time to 63. An Associated Press report claims at least 20 more names should have been listed, leading plaintiffs’ attorneys to ask how big of a role, if any, the Saints played as an organization in determining which of the accused should be listed and who should not.

With the trial on hold — the Church filed for bankruptcy in May — it could take time for correspondence between Saints executives and the archdiocese to come to light, if it ever does. Vrentas’ reporting digs deeply into the experiences of abuse survivors and their now-complicated relationship with the Saints, but it’s a tough read.

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College Football Morning Announcements for May 20

Good morning and happy Wednesday. Miss recent college football headlines? Get caught up right here, right now!

Happy Wednesday and welcome to the midweek.  I know it’s been a few days since I’ve gotten one of these episodes of the podcast out – sometimes a leaky roof and flooded garage will cause things like that, though.

Subscribe to Nick Shepkowski’s CFB Morning Announcements on Apple Podcasts

In this edition of the College Football Morning Announcements:

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Notre Dame set to re-open for students but school president non-committal to football in the fall

A top linebacker makes his college choice as the rich get richer

An SEC dynasty just fired all of their coaches

And which teams are under the most pressure to win in 2020?

New allegations detail Saints’ involvement in Catholic abuse crisis

The New Orleans Saints are involved in a lawsuit against the Catholic church, and new allegations suggest the team’s role was significant.

The New Orleans Saints recently were involved in a lawsuit against the local Roman Catholic diocese, which alleges the team actively helped cover up years-long systemic sexual abuse by clergy. Jim Mustian of the Associated Press reported Thursday that the lawyers representing abuse victims detailed the Saints’ role in the still-developing story.

“This goes beyond public relations,” accused the plaintiffs’ attorneys, “The Saints appear to have had a hand in determining which names should or should not have been included on the pedophile list.”

While the Saints have maintained that their role was limited to assisting with public relations work surrounding the allegations and lawsuit, these latest claims characterize hundreds of emails between the Saints organization and the church as helping to determine which alleged abusers’ names should be made public. Plaintiffs claim that multiple Saints staffers are involved, including Senior Vice President of Communications Greg Bensel. Whether Bensel acted on his own or under the instruction of team owner Gayle Benson is unclear; both are ardent supporters of the church and friends of Archbishop Gregory Aymond.

In 2018, the church released a list of 57 clergy credibly accused of abuse, but eight new names have since been added. The Associated Press report suggests at least 20 more clergy members should have been included. And that runs against the Saints’ own explanations of their role in the events.

These new allegations follow a Wednesday report from The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan that the NFL is not investigating the Saints for their involvement with the church regarding the lawsuit and the incidents that prompted it. The Saints are fighting in court to keep 200-plus emails exchanged between the team and the diocese private, arguing that the documents should not be made public so long as the trial remains private. Kaplan adds that the NFL does not plan on investigating the Saints unless those emails are made public and reveal actions that would violate the league’s personal conduct policy.

We’re early in this process, and this is very much a developing story. Check this space for updates in the days ahead.

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