Te'O's teammates and fans

[gator1986]

Well ESPN can't spin this one his way. I was just watching ESPN, his fellow teammates said " they knew it wasn't a real girlfriend " and " they went along with it, because Te'O played inspired, and he liked the attention."
Manti is currently in Bradenton practicing and refuses to comment on that story.

[gator1986]

Fans and fellow students also felt the same way. It's like when is it time for this loser to come out and say yea I screwed up. Since he's in Bradenton and its right up the road, I kind of want to go up there and tell him to ggggeeeeeetttt ooouuttt... We don't take to kindly to people who makes up their girlfriends around these parts..

[UGator]

This has been a major embarrassment to ND, all the coaches and players, and Manti who obviously needs any kind of recognition or fantasy to gain more attention.

Dr. Phil might lend some insight as to how and why a very good football player, maybe the best LB in college ball, to stoop to this kind of sickness. He and all those involved are really SICK!

[Go2gtr]

This has been a major embarrassment to ND, all the coaches and players, and Manti who obviously needs any kind of recognition or fantasy to gain more attention.

Dr. Phil might lend some insight as to how and why a very good football player, maybe the best LB in college ball, to stoop to this kind of sickness. He and all those involved are really SICK!
Don't even mention him as the best in the same year Kevin Minter played.

[SkyChimp]

Fans and fellow students also felt the same way. It's like when is it time for this loser to come out and say yea I screwed up. Since he's in Bradenton and its right up the road, I kind of want to go up there and tell him to ggggeeeeeetttt ooouuttt... We don't take to kindly to people who makes up their girlfriends around these parts..

This just wont go away period! If people thought Tim Tebow had the media circus because of his morals and beliefs in God, then we have seen anything yet for years to come with T'eo and what seems to be this naive emotional fumble or intentional lie. Too many people from T'eo to the program aren't owning up, and when I mean "own up" I mean be proactive and come forward before you get caught. Apologizing after the fact is reactive and poor crisis control.

[gator1986]

Completely agree, except Tim set great examples, Manti is not..

[Gatormb]

Fans and fellow students also felt the same way. It's like when is it time for this loser to come out and say yea I screwed up. Since he's in Bradenton and its right up the road, I kind of want to go up there and tell him to ggggeeeeeetttt ooouuttt... We don't take to kindly to people who makes up their girlfriends around these parts..

Gimme a call. IMG is 5 minutes from my office on Whitfield. We'll go together.

[FearNoSpear]

Gimme a call. IMG is 5 minutes from my office on Whitfield. We'll go together.

Gator 1986 doesn't exist. You've just been "catfished".

[gatorbogey]

it seems he/they want to keep perpetuating the lie(s). he was not the victim here. amazing, he gets caught in one lie/hoax, then to cover that one, he tells another lie. when the evidence is mounting against him. is he not smart? or just pathological?

one of the worst things to do is 'coverup'.

[BobK89]

I'd be careful putting "Manti" and "come out" in the same sentence.

NTTIAWWT

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[klgator]

The media are a bunch of dorks. It was bad enough that they shamlessly promoted Notre Dame all year long, but they did the same with Te'O. What a joke they both were when exposed in the national title game, and now Te'O is getting further exposed. As someone posted awhile back, it would have been a travesty to have tOSU and Notre Dame playing for the national championship.

[PSGator66]

I didn't know the backstory to this situation until the breaking news and I found myself wondering - who the hell cares!!

[pcolagator]

obviously, this is ND and Te'o's strategy...to perpetuate a web of lies and deceit with more, ever preposterous, series of lies and spin. "Victim" of a hoax...bullshit! At minimum, perpetrator of continuing the hoax after Dec. 6 (when he learned of it/the hoax) and, probably, we'll later learn that Te'o was in on it from the beginning (or close to it). Sad...

[gator1986]

Gator 1986 doesn't exist. You've just been "catfished".

Lol what

[Jupgator]

Lol what

That's what this type of hoax is called by hoax masters and the cops.

[Jupgator]

In covering up the hoax, apparantly in which Te'o was a part of, ND is just following the template.

[gator1986]

In covering up the hoax, apparantly in which Te'o was a part of, ND is just following the template.

Right... But if I was the university I would throw him to the wolves he gives the university a bad look... Not that ND could get any worse that is lol

[gatordee]

Makes no sense to do this. Why would he even te o lie like that?

[ACCecil]

You guys are jumping to conclusions.

It isn't certain Tao was involved yet so don't damn ND for investigating the matter and then backing him. If the investigation ND paid for didn't support Tao's story I am sure ND would not have backed him up.

I've heard the comments about Tao's teammates saying they knew Tao's story didn't add up but I've also heard about a former NFL players who said he met a girl of the same name and she was in fact real so there is something there beyond just a pure lie.

I agree that Tao can't hide. I said the same thing on another thread. This will not go away or get better he needs to speak up and he needs to be honest and he needs to do it sooner not later. But you all are lumping ND in with him and I have to believe ND is backing him for good reason. Otherwise ND would simply stay silent and let him twist in the wind.

Either way, no matter what he says, he is a national punch line probably for the rest of his life. His only hope is being honest and using humor to laugh at himself. Unless he was in on it. In that case, he is one weird MOFO.

[precboom]

Gator 1986 doesn't exist. You've just been "catfished".

Well played. Rep for that. :yes:

[gator85jd]

Gator 1986 doesn't exist. You've just been "catfished".

Excellent! I would think he's been T'eo'ed.

[regator]

He said he got a call after he thougth she was dead from the phone she used. That is when he said he found out he was duped.
Problem is there are intereviews he did after that date that has him talking about the girl dieing and how hard it was on him.
This one will be hard to expain away.

[sevmonster]

This is the same institution that covered up child abuse for hundreds of years.

[gator1986]

This is the same institution that covered up child abuse for hundreds of years.

And molestation

[TheRaid]

... and a recent rape by some on the football team.

At best, the VP/Athletic Director has poor judgment.

[Gatorduq]

The wrath of "the news media" scorned will be worse than the wrath of a women scorned. As much as they failed to do their job initially, they are going to be relentless in pursuit of this story NOW.

Of course that is if you consider TMZ etc., "media".

It's to late IMHO, but he needs to get out in front of this asap and basically say in fact he did make it all up and was in on it, because that's the only thing that has any chance of ending this frenzy any time soon. IMHO.

[gatorinmi]

I once had a business partner that was a pathological liar. He made for an excellent salesman, but once I started seeing it I high tailed it out of that business. Several years later I find out he's now in jail for running a ponzi scheme and sticking by his story that he's just a smart businessman that did nothing wrong. I see that since I've had anything to do with him he's also made up a degree from Vandy that he earned when we were working together in Michigan. lol

It's amazing to me how he really seems to believe his own BS and thinks that he can keep lying his way out of any situation even after he's caught.

[gator1986]

I once had a business partner that was a pathological liar. He made for an excellent salesman, but once I started seeing it I high tailed it out of that business. Several years later I find out he's now in jail for running a ponzi scheme and sticking by his story that he's just a smart businessman that did nothing wrong. I see that since I've had anything to do with him he's also made up a degree from Vandy that he earned when we were working together in Michigan. lol

It's amazing to me how he really seems to believe his own BS and thinks that he can keep lying his way out of any situation even after he's caught.

I knew a pathological liar named Greg down here in my town... Compulsive liar and all, told the high school he used to coach girls basketball and played football at OSU, I never knew I met him later on in life, he had pictures and all the gear. After he started coaching the girls high school basketball team for about three weeks they did an in depth background check come to find out he never coached at OSU... In fact he never played football at OSU, he actually cut copied pasted his face in all the photos, bought football gear and made elaborate lies... Jesus talk about crazy, of course in the end he got fired, banned from the school... Also got fired and banned from the little league here too...

[gator1986]

I also was a GM at big gym corporation won't say the name... My higher up boss, use to lie all the time. He would tell me get these sales, or do these numbers, if you do ill put this extra amount of cash in your bonus, for 6 months in a row or maybe a little more. The straw that broke the camels back was when I went on the computer and saw he was also stealing sales from me because I could see my districts overall progress report. Either way long story short I left that, he cheered for the noles so it makes sense... He ain't a gator fan, so I guess I couldn't expect honesty...

[Claygator]

You guys are jumping to conclusions.

It isn't certain Tao was involved yet so don't damn ND for investigating the matter and then backing him. If the investigation ND paid for didn't support Tao's story I am sure ND would not have backed him up.

I've heard the comments about Tao's teammates saying they knew Tao's story didn't add up but I've also heard about a former NFL players who said he met a girl of the same name and she was in fact real so there is something there beyond just a pure lie.

I agree that Tao can't hide. I said the same thing on another thread. This will not go away or get better he needs to speak up and he needs to be honest and he needs to do it sooner not later. But you all are lumping ND in with him and I have to believe ND is backing him for good reason. Otherwise ND would simply stay silent and let him twist in the wind.

Either way, no matter what he says, he is a national punch line probably for the rest of his life. His only hope is being honest and using humor to laugh at himself. Unless he was in on it. In that case, he is one weird MOFO.

You are dead wrong about his knowlege of the hoax. Te'o continued the story in December after it had already been established that there was no girl, and he knew it. He did it to help win the Heisman. Only a fool or a fraud would listen to all these media stories and not set the record straight. His dad was spinning the story too; where did he get his information? From Te'o of course.

[gator1986]

You are dead wrong about his knowlege of the hoax. Te'o continued the story in December after it had already been established that there was no girl, and he knew it. He did it to help win the Heisman. Only a fool or a fraud would listen to all these media stories and not set the record straight. His dad was spinning the story too; where did he get his information? From Te'o of course.

Exactly if he found out earlier that the girl was fake... Why not just come clean from the get go instead of drag it out?

[qwghlmgator]

The South Bend paper has extensive quotes from him and his father from September about him meeting the girl with the "soulful eyes" at Stanford and giving her his phone number, then later her coming to Hawaii on more than one occasion to spend time with T'eo. He now says he never actually met her.

Now how exactly is he the victim - or anything other than the architect of the hoax?

[gator1986]

The South Bend paper has extensive quotes from him and his father from September about him meeting the girl at Stanford and giving her his phone number, then later her coming to Hawaii on more than one occasion to spend time with T'eo. He now says he never actually met her.

Now how exactly is he the victim - or anything other than the architect of the hoax?

He looks like an overgrown baby doesn't he? Like he would cry all the time...

[gatorinmi]

I knew a pathological liar named Greg down here in my town... Compulsive liar and all, told the high school he used to coach girls basketball and played football at OSU, I never knew I met him later on in life, he had pictures and all the gear. After he started coaching the girls high school basketball team for about three weeks they did an in depth background check come to find out he never coached at OSU... In fact he never played football at OSU, he actually cut copied pasted his face in all the photos, bought football gear and made elaborate lies... Jesus talk about crazy, of course in the end he got fired, banned from the school... Also got fired and banned from the little league here too...

Once you know somebody like this none of these other stories surprise you. I truly believe my old business partner probably could've passed a lie detector test. The thing that amazed me about him once I figured him out was how well he could lie on the spot. It wasn't like he had to sit around for days and makeup a story, it was like a natural talent. This guy is sitting in jail and last I knew his wife was staying by him. If she's read about things he now claims she knows they aren't true.

[Speedofsand]

hahaaaa


https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/408507_10151347126294781_802057465_n.png

[gatorinmi]

The South Bend paper has extensive quotes from him and his father from September about him meeting the girl with the "soulful eyes" at Stanford and giving her his phone number, then later her coming to Hawaii on more than one occasion to spend time with T'eo. He now says he never actually met her.

Now how exactly is he the victim - or anything other than the architect of the hoax?

The oddest/funniest thing that I saw in the ND press conference was the way ND "explained" these "meetings". They said he supposedly set up times to meet her in person but she never showed. Of course that doesn't at all explain the reported meetings. Put that aside a second, so this guy is in love with a girl that repeatedly stood him up? Really?

[cocodrilo]

I feel for him. I've had girlfriends who were hoaxes too. Fake boobs, false teeth, and one turned out to be male.

[gator34654]

Was it Lola?

[gator1986]

Once you know somebody like this none of these other stories surprise you. I truly believe my old business partner probably could've passed a lie detector test. The thing that amazed me about him once I figured him out was how well he could lie on the spot. It wasn't like he had to sit around for days and makeup a story, it was like a natural talent. This guy is sitting in jail and last I knew his wife was staying by him. If she's read about things he now claims she knows they aren't true.

People are crazy man, they must of been beaten or had no attention when they were little

[USAFColonel]

Was it Lola?

"I met her in a club down in old Soho Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola..."

[rpmGator]

The media is already trying to make out like he was the victim in all of this.

Poor guy, get's run over by the Bama train, and then misses the Love Boat.

[tilly]

The media is already trying to make out like he was the victim in all of this.

Poor guy, get's run over by the Bama train, and then misses the Love Boat.

Hey cmon...show a little fake sympathy will ya?

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

[gatorev12]

This is the same institution that covered up child abuse for hundreds of years.

Pretty sure every religion or faith system has its share of skeletons in the closet. Catholics, Protestants, Jews, even atheists have had people committing unspeakable acts.

But, inevitably, there's always one bigot out there whenever the subject of Notre Dame comes up to go on thinly-veiled anti-Catholic rants. You have chosen to be that person in this thread--which, to be clear, deals with the actions of a non-Catholic football player. Congratulations.

[WarDamnGator]

The oddest/funniest thing that I saw in the ND press conference was the way ND "explained" these "meetings". They said he supposedly set up times to meet her in person but she never showed. Of course that doesn't at all explain the reported meetings. Put that aside a second, so this guy is in love with a girl that repeatedly stood him up? Really?

Also, ND tried to downplay the use of the words "meet" and "met", by saying that he "met" her online, and that was consistent with his story.

[GATORDONE]

Does anyone find it very obvious that Espn is going out of their way to prove the teo story was a hoax.

Why aren't they pulling previous interviews when he said he met the girl.

Espn always has an agenda. They're awful

[GatorSean]

They have to... in doing so they are covering up their own crappy journalism.

[gatorman_07732]

Well they did buy in to the ND sob boo hoo story

[tilly]

I dont know. Im hearing some rumblings that this may have really been a prank. Isn't Outside The Lines reporting about a girl that IDs the guy who played the Hoax...as having really pulled the hoax? Is it possible that the meetings were part of the hoax as well?

I mean, I lean toward Manti being involved, Ive posted my share of jokes and tweets today.... but at this point it could go any number of directions.

ESPN doesnt gain much either way. They just want a juicy story to keep eyeballs looking on.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

[Dreamliner]

And all this could be that most despicable of human behaviors - piling on.

[GATORDONE]

Why aren't they playing his previous interviews?

Interview more teammates

[Brodeur]

Why aren't they pulling previous interviews when he said he met the girl.


You mean like this story, which is on top of their list of headlines on their main page?

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8856519/manti-teo-talked-girlfriend-knowing-hoax

While Manti Te'o huddles with family and advisers to figure out his next move, many are wondering why he continued to perpetuate the lie that his girlfriend had died after he found out that it was a hoax.

[StrengthAndHonor]

Yes, they are obsessed with it. But it's not just them, most sports media outlets are all over it. Just feels like they are making a much bigger deal out of it than it warrants. I means seriously, who gives a rats ass about the love life of a 21 year old kid. I hadn't noticed if they were trying to swing the story one way or the other though.

[GatorDuck]

Isn't Outside The Lines reporting about a girl that IDs the guy who played the Hoax...as having really pulled the hoax? Is it possible that the meetings were part of the hoax as well?

But then there is Arizona Cardinals fullback Reagan Mauia saying he has met her and she is real. I don't believe anything I hear concerning this matter anymore.

The girl could just feel sorry for Manti and is making stuff up. Maybe the guy did tell her it was all a hoax just to cover up its real purpose, a cover story for why Manti was never seen with any girls while at Notre Dame.

Mike Golic was discussing the other day that when he attended functions at Notre Dame, he met most all of the players and their girlfriends. Some were at games, others at tailgates after games, etc. Said he never really saw Manti as he "didn't go out much". Maybe he was tired of being asked why he didn't have a girlfriend.

Supposedly the guy who hoaxed him was good friends with him. They texted each other and Manti even said he should visit him at ND. Why would that guy then hoax him for years? Doesn't make sense unless it is covering up something else.

I expect others to come forward supporting Manti, too, just like people who know serial killers say "he could never hurt a soul, he would never do that".

[adamgator96]

I read somewhere that other ND players had said that he had a local squeeze.

I'll wait to get the truth. In the meantime, if Te'o really didn't see "her" on a birthday, after the accident, the diagnosis, the funeral, Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's Day, Arbor Day, Bastille Day...he was at least a REALLY SHITTY boyfriend.

[Jaggator]

Top Ten Signs You Have An Imaginary Girlfriend

10. You describe her to friends as "a nondescript female with eyes and hair"

9. "Photo" of girlfriend looks suspiciously like SunMaid raisin lady

8. You keep referring to her in the first person

7. Have a patent pending for a machine that gives you a hickey

6. Someone says, "Tell me about your girlfriend," you say, "Hmm...let me think of something"

5. Your imaginary friend is dating her sister

4. Everyone can tell you're arguing on the phone with Siri

3. She's never upset when you forget her imaginary birthday

2. Always pressuring you to pretend to buy engagement ring

1. Said she's too shy to meet your friends, your family, and you

[luciaboy]

they don't have to do too much. it was a hoax. the media does not like being fooled. teo will now see the wrath as the media will leave no stone unturned. the kid needs to come out and admit it and ask forgiveness. nip it in the bud so the media can jump on someone else. the longer this goes on then the more stupid teo looks. it's not like he shot the prez or did anything criminal

[jagervol01]

Yes, they are obsessed with it. But it's not just them, most sports media outlets are all over it. Just feels like they are making a much bigger deal out of it than it warrants. I means seriously, who gives a rats ass about the love life of a 21 year old kid. I hadn't noticed if they were trying to swing the story one way or the other though.
It isn't the kid's personal life that they are interested in. It is shocking / embarrassing that in 2012 a high profile 22 year old can get such audacious lies printed and reported in major media outlets all over the country unchecked and that Deadspin is the one who reveals the truth. It is too late for ESPN or SI to save face in this matter and they know that but it is never too late to do your homework if the goal is to learn how and why you failed a test. Fwiw, they have shown the Te'o interview with Gene W many times and have grilled him over it.

[atlantagator86]

I dont know. Im hearing some rumblings that this may have really been a prank. Isn't Outside The Lines reporting about a girl that IDs the guy who played the Hoax...as having really pulled the hoax? Is it possible that the meetings were part of the hoax as well?

I mean, I lean toward Manti being involved, Ive posted my share of jokes and tweets today.... but at this point it could go any number of directions.

ESPN doesnt gain much either way. They just want a juicy story to keep eyeballs looking on.

Ronaiah Tuiasosopo is apparently the guy behind it and clearly a personal friend of Te'o.

Is it possible this was a hoax and Te'o didn't really know what was going on? I suppose that's possible but if so and if the "relationship" was really what it was reported to be, then Tuiasosopo went to a LOT of effort and had at least his "female cousin" willing to spend a LOT of her time talking to Te'o ... and what could she have possibly gotten out of it?.

But even if this was a prank on Te'o, and he had no idea what was going on, he AT LEAST flat out bold-faced lied to the media several times. He stated they met face to face on more than one occasion. And even after "she" supposedly called saying she wasn't dead, he continued to perpetuate the story of her death for his own benefit.

Bottom line is that either way, Te'o has kind of shown himself to be a piece of crap. Either he was in on it from the beginning, which is personally what I tend to believe or he is a liar and a guy who took advantage of the situation for personal gain.

I think the that it's very conceivable that this was a big publicity stunt that Te'o and Tuiasosopo came up with to gain media publicity for Te'o. I think what you have to look at here is motive. Who would stand to gain from this? What would Ronaiah Tuiasosopo get out of this?! Does somebody really go through this much effort just for kicks? I don't think so. And what would his cousin get out of spending hours on the phone with Te'o?! I honestly can't imagine.

But the real question is what did Te'o stand to gain from the publicity this hoax brought?! That one is simple. He gets his name on TV, which clearly he liked a lot from all accounts. He probably gets a sympathetic push for the Heisman Trophy and as a result, he probably gets a bump in the NFL Draft, which could easily increase his NFL salary by millions of dollars.

As for ESPN, I think their credibility takes a hit as a news organization if they were duped by a hoax. I think their position serves 2 self-serving benefits. By covering it, they get viewers and by taking the angle the Te'o was duped, they maintain their credibility.

[tilly]

Now the OTL report that Tuiasosopo allegedly has done this to another person....using the same pix and same girl.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

[StrengthAndHonor]

It isn't the kid's personal life that they are interested in. It is shocking / embarrassing that in 2012 a high profile 22 year old can get such audacious lies printed and reported in major media outlets all over the country unchecked and that Deadspin is the one who reveals the truth. It is too late for ESPN or SI to save face in this matter and they know that but it is never too late to do your homework if the goal is to learn how and why you failed a test. Fwiw, they have shown the Te'o interview with Gene W many times and have grilled him over it.

Seems like their making a mountain out of a mole hill to me. I have to think if ESPN wasn't devoting so much of their programming to this story, other media outlets wouldn't be following suit.

[fubar1]

Occam's razor, people.

[G8R8U2]

ESPN is proving it was a hoax AND that Te'o was the one who continued to perpetuate it even after he and ND found out it was a hoax. ESPN is roasting them both over an open fire; excerpts from their article this morning about how Te'o continued to play the sympathy card after Dec. 6th...

Manti Te'o kept tragic story going

At the Heisman Trophy presentation Dec. 8 in New York, ESPN's Chris Fowler asked Te'o what moment of his very public story of tragedy he would remember.

"I think I'll never forget the time when I found out that, you know, my girlfriend passed away and the first person to run to my aid was my defensive coordinator, Coach [Bob] Diaco, and you know he said something very profound to me," Te'o said. "He said, 'This is where your faith is tested.' Right after that, I ran into the players' lounge and I got on the phone with my parents -- and I opened my eyes and my head coach was sitting right there. And so, you know, there are a hundred-plus people on our team and the defensive coordinator and our head coach took time to just go get one [of those players]. You know I think that was the most meaningful to me."

Te'o also said on ESPN Radio the same day that he hoped his grandmother, who died Sept. 12, and his girlfriend, who was reported to have died on the same day, were proud of him.

The Associated Press turned up two more instances during that gap between Dec. 6 and Dec. 26, the date when Te'o told Notre Dame that he knew of the hoax, when the football star mentioned Kekua in public.

During another interview at the Heisman ceremony that ran on WSBT.com, the website for a South Bend TV station, Te'o said: "I mean, I don't like cancer at all. I lost both my grandparents and my girlfriend to cancer. So I've really tried to go to children's hospitals and see, you know, children."

In a column that first ran in The Los Angeles Times, on Dec. 10, Te'o recounted why he played a few days after he found out Kekua died in September, and the day she was supposedly buried.

"She made me promise, when it happened, that I would stay and play," he said Dec. 9 while attending a ceremony in Newport Beach, Calif., for the Lott Impact Awards.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8856519/manti-teo-talked-girlfriend-knowing-hoax

There's no longer any question Te'o continued to perpetuate the lie and that Notre Dame went (and continues to go) along with it. Te'o and ND learn of the hoax Dec. 6th.

- Te'o is still talking about the "tragedy" with Chris Fowler at the Heisman ceremony, and on ESPN radio the same day, and on WSBT.com, the website for a South Bend TV station on Dec. 8th.

- He's still talking about it and playing it up at the Lott Impact Awards on Dec. 9th.

- And he's still using it for an L.A. Times interview that ran on Dec. 10th.

That's at least 5 instances of him still playing the sympathy card after he and ND learned it was a hoax. And ESPN is ringing them up every time they or the AP find another instance.

[WarDamnGator]

Steven A. Smith tore into Te'o yesterday morning.

[G8R8U2]

Steven A. Smith tore into Te'o yesterday morning.

Yep, Te'o and ND supporters are falling by the wayside every day. ND is urging Te'o to hurry up and say something on the record publicly; they now know they hitched their wagon to the wrong horse, with that lame vote of confidence from Swarbrick, and better scramble to save their own rep and quit worrying about Te'o's.

[ufgator4ever]

Te'o only showed that there is little to know journalism left today. Opinion/Editorial and lazy reporting, yes. But no journalists.

[LimeyGator]

I'm all Te'od out. Neeeeeext!

[rschick]

And he has a degree from Notre Dame ? Do colleges teach Logic any more ? Critical Thought ?

[UGator]

The media these days, whether general, sports, or whatever..........reflect their ulterior motives of greed and the utmost exposure they can provide for their advertising sponsors. This mentality breeds what we view so many times today--half ass discovery and playing the company game.

Who cares if journalistic integrity plays a part, just splatter the screens with any "story" that can gain them the most favorable ratings. Truth and fairness are rarely in the equation so we have to do our own research to discover that for ourselves.

[rpmGator]

A hoax is even worse for Manti. It means the guy was dating someone yet hadn't slep with her, hadn't kissed her, didn't take her out, and yet called her his girlfriend.

Saying its a prank at the very start, and letting the media loose on those who did it, would have nipped it in the bud. You can't be hoaxed into having a fake girlfriend. You can tell friends you have an online friend, but it isn't to the level he said it was.

An online "girl" is not a girlfriend.

Before Te'o had said a word, Jim Rome who calls himself a Notre Dame fan, had already put all the blame on others.

That still doesn't explain how Te'o got ran over by Bama. Nor does it explain why this went so far, and no one caught it at ESPN during the love story of the year.

[Go2gtr]

If ESPiN doesn't pursue this story they will be accused of trying to help kill it for ND's sake. They take a lot of criticism for being in the tank for ND. It is a legitimate story that includes not only Te'o but also the highest athletic officials at ND.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Brian Kelly move on sooner rather than later. Why was he out interviewing just days after the NC game? Why did ND play like zombies on the big stage?

[warhorsegator]

It isn't the kid's personal life that they are interested in. It is shocking / embarrassing that in 2012 a high profile 22 year old can get such audacious lies printed and reported in major media outlets all over the country unchecked and that Deadspin is the one who reveals the truth. It is too late for ESPN or SI to save face in this matter and they know that but it is never too late to do your homework if the goal is to learn how and why you failed a test. Fwiw, they have shown the Te'o interview with Gene W many times and have grilled him over it.

Funny thing is that the writer who exposed this is, I think, a student at Columbia. I imagine that his job prospects shot up with the attention the article received. Heard him interviewed on radio; a restrained sharp guy for a mere student -- sorry to any student for the backhanded compliment. :joecool:

[rpmGator]

One of the two deadspin guys lives in St. Pete. Heard a radio inteview with him on thursday while I was in Bradenton.

Funny part was, Te'o was in Bradenton also, just a big bridge away from the guy who caught the lies.

[SoonerDean]

In spite of this, Te'o has gained one very famous, multiple championship winning fan...





Lance Armstrong

[62gator]

Te'o only showed that there is little to know journalism left today. Opinion/Editorial and lazy reporting, yes. But no journalists.


Using the words journalism and ESPN in the same sentence is a joke. Biased opinion and spin would be more appropriate.

[G8R92]

Using the words journalism and ESPN in the same sentence is a joke. Biased opinion and spin would be more appropriate.

Jeremy Schaap was very thorough with his questioning of T'eo. I especially liked the close up pictures of T'eo's claws. Someone introduce him to nail clippers

[BobK89]

If he was NOT in on it, then why in the hell did he tell reporters how they met at Stanford after a football game?!!!??

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[LimeyGator]

I'll say one last thing on Te'o.

If he wasn't in on it for PR and it was a genuine hoax, I can't help but think he's one of the most naive 20 somethings I've ever come across. Who professes genuine love for someone he'd never even met? 13 or 14 years old, sure. But this redefines gullibility... or maybe we're the gullible ones for believing it...?

[fubar1]

I'll say one last thing on Te'o.

If he wasn't in on it for PR and it was a genuine hoax, I can't help but think he's one of the most naive 20 somethings I've ever come across. Who professes genuine love for someone he'd never even met? 13 or 14 years old, sure. But this redefines gullibility... or maybe we're the gullible ones for believing it...?

Agree. And I refuse to believe he was this naive. I just don't think it's possible in this day and age unless he grew up on a hippy farm or was Amish.

[619_Gator]

^ He's Mormon. So..... Yeah. I can believe that he is that sheltered and naive.

[fubar1]

^ He's Mormon. So..... Yeah. I can believe that he is that sheltered and naive.

Not sure why a Mormon would necessarily always be sheltered. Not a religion I ascribe to and one with some very strange beliefs, but I don't equate them with isolation like the Amish.

[magnafides]

Either way this should put an end to the perception that ND has higher admission standards for their athletes...

[whitelakegator]

He's either a major fool or a major scumbag. I would be very hesitant to give him millions of dollars. Every con man in the world will be calling him. He does have to tithe 10% to the Mormon Church though. First dibs.

[Nubla]

Manti is gay and this is a coverup of the truth

[atlantagator86]

Manti is gay and this is a coverup of the truth

I know you were probably kidding but this thought has actually crossed my mind, especially when it was stated that most of the ND players didn't believe she was really his girlfriend. I wondered what made them think that.

[LimeyGator]

Manti is gay and this is a coverup of the truth

If this is the case - and there may be legs to it - I feel exceptionally sorry for the guy. Whatever his reasoning might be - home pressure, pressure from the field of sport he is in etc - it's just not worth it in the long term if he's now trying to make the lie bigger.

I really hope for his sake, anyway.

[elrongator]

I agree. He's gay. This is the only reason he still disputes his obvious involvement in the whole deal.

[95Gator]

Does anyone find it very obvious that Espn is going out of their way to prove the teo story was a hoax.

Why aren't they pulling previous interviews when he said he met the girl.

Espn always has an agenda. They're awful

Yeah, I thought it bizarre when the story broke it was on CNNs headlines on their website and not ESPN. Made me wonder a little. I think ESPN might be feeling a little of their journalistic integrity was hurt here. Just a little. Ha.

[Gatormb]

Wonder when he's going to be invited to the White House? Sorry, wrong forum.:cry:

[rpmGator]

Manti and ____ sitting in a ____, t y p... i n g.

First came ____ then came ____

The media keeping him in a baby carriage.

Lots of blanks left to fill in except for ESPN not finding the story, and now trying to change it. That we know.

[nortonis]

If he was NOT in on it, then why in the hell did he tell reporters how they met at Stanford after a football game?!!!??

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I think this was a story he made up to save face with his dad. I think he was embarrassed to tell his dad that he never met her.

[atlantagator86]

What I have to ask of Te'o is why would he want to have an online girlfriend in the first place. He's a superhero in South Bend and can have any girl he wants. Or even the choice of girlfriends when he went home to Hawaii. Why would he want an online girlfriend?

Whether he was hoaxed or part of it, I think maybe there was a reason an online "girlfriend" was convenient for Te'o.

[wygator]

If Manti was hoaxed, then ESPN is somewhat off the hook for their slavish devotion to the story and the narrative.

If Manti was in on it, ESPN is guilty of failure to fact check their stories. While I understand that reporting human interest stories generally carries a little bit of a different standard of fact checking than perhaps a report on govt. corruption, Wojo admitted that he did some checking and nothing verified but he ran with it anyway.

[fubar1]

If I had a son and he was gay, he'd look just like Manti Teo. :)

[Phil_Elliot]

Manti Te'o is not part of a hoax he is the hoax.

[JerseyGator01]

Speaking of a hoax, he'll be interview by serious journalist, Katie Couric. Maybe she'll ask what newspapers he reads.

[geauxgator1]

If I had a son and he was gay, he'd look just like Manti Teo. :)

Nice

[rpmGator]

What is that dude doing wrapped around your waist.

It's called a Man-Tie...

[RayGator]

Well played. Rep for that. :yes:

The best part of this thread may be your signature! :wave:

[gator85jd]

... and a recent rape by some on the football team.

At best, the VP/Athletic Director has poor judgment.

They turned me into a . . . newt!!

[GatorPrincess8]

anyone with a brain knew he and his family made it up.

[fubar1]

You guys are jumping to conclusions.

It isn't certain Tao was involved yet so don't damn ND for investigating the matter and then backing him. If the investigation ND paid for didn't support Tao's story I am sure ND would not have backed him up.

I've heard the comments about Tao's teammates saying they knew Tao's story didn't add up but I've also heard about a former NFL players who said he met a girl of the same name and she was in fact real so there is something there beyond just a pure lie.

I agree that Tao can't hide. I said the same thing on another thread. This will not go away or get better he needs to speak up and he needs to be honest and he needs to do it sooner not later. But you all are lumping ND in with him and I have to believe ND is backing him for good reason. Otherwise ND would simply stay silent and let him twist in the wind.

Either way, no matter what he says, he is a national punch line probably for the rest of his life. His only hope is being honest and using humor to laugh at himself. Unless he was in on it. In that case, he is one weird MOFO.

I don't hold the same faith you do in ND. I think if their investigators told them there's a bad story here but the likelihood of it ever all coming out was minimal, ND would be more than happy to help cover it up. Not saying I believe that's the case…but it's either that or the firm they hired are a bunch of $hitty investigators.

Take your pick.

[NJG8tor]

Its a fact that Teo was part of the hoax. He went on TV and made up a bunch of crap that never happened. Thats why he is in the situation he is in. Which is why NDs "investigation" that supposedly absolved Teo of culpability was so stupid. The only question is whether Manti really thought he had a girlfriend who died of cancer or not; and I find that claim doubtful as well. His boyfriend is probably taking the rap for him which is probably sensible under the circumstances.