Comments on: Scorn For Te’o? How ‘Bout Scorn For Those Of Us In The Media Instead?

By: CDarwin

CDarwin — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:06:44 +0000

Which is worse, making up a girlfriend, or, for example, intimidating a woman who accused Notre Dame football players of sexual assault into committing suicide? Because that also actually happened this season.

By: DaveinExile

DaveinExile — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:33:06 +0000

The original story moved the needle. This story nukes the needle.

Same motive, same result.

By: I4Bama

I4Bama — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:06:30 +0000

@jMals
You are right – Jarvis Jones or CJ Mosley both had years when they could have been in the same conversation. Compare Mosley’s stats with Te’o's. Did the story and the fact that he played at Notre Dame sway voters? Add this to the fact that a team which wishes to be referred to as the most storied program n the game today obviously overplayed its true worth and took a spot in the title game from another team which deserved it. Is this an isolated story, or a larger theme? Is the same sort of “look the other way” behavor going on with Sullivan and Seeberg? I think the story is a microcosm of a larger portrait. This is the story.

By: jMals

jMals — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:24:55 +0000

It’s easy to see why it’s a national story: It’s so bizarre that it captures the imagination. Why do this? Why go through all of this? Why kill her off (either Te’o or the alleged hoaxers)? Plenty of people have had a fake girlfriend (I hear Canada is full of ‘em) or embellished about a relationship, but not many people have done so to ESPN and The New York Times while capturing Heisman votes over better players – looking at you, Jarvis Jones. Also, not many people take the time to kill their car crash victim, pretend girlfriends with lukemia.

Is this as important as the gun control debate, the economy or the upcoming DOMA trial? Clearly no. It’s not even nearly as important as Declan Sullivan or Elizabeth Seeberg – not that I can recall Swarbrick shedding any tears there. But it is completely fascinating. Lance Armstrong dopes? No big shocker. We know why. Successful golfer cheats? We see the motive. There’s no clear motive here for anyone, which makes it irresistible.

All that said, I love the site and think you guys have the best, fairest, most complete and interesting coverage. Keep up the good work!

By: jMals

jMals — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:18:57 +0000

It’s

By: Ag In FM

Ag In FM — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:03:45 +0000

John, I think it turned into a national obsession for a simple reason, Manti played for Notre Dame. If Manti played for any other program, the original dying girlfriend story would have had a shelf life of a week. The national media pushed this story because it was another Notre Dame legend in the making, another Rudy feel good story for the ages., now it is just CYA reporting.