Scandal at Syracuse

The Jerry Sandusky scandal was sickening enough. But at least we thought it was an isolated incident.

What do they say about ignorance and bliss again?

Sunday night, after 38 seasons on the Syracuse bench as a highly respected assistant coach and Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim's top lieutenant, Bernie Fine was fired after allegations of child sexual molestation surfaced against him by two former team ball boys. On Sunday, a third victim alleged that Fine had assaulted him as well.

With everything that is wrong with college athletics and what fans and administrators will tolerate in terms of sinister shenanigans for the sake of wins and prestige, it seems as though the line is drawn at pedophilia. Perhaps we should just be thankful there at least is a line somewhere.

After steadfastly standing behind Fine, his close friend of almost 50 years, for the last week and a half, Boeheim Sunday night reversed course. "What is most important is that this matter be fully investigated and that anyone with information be supported to come forward so that the truth can be found," Boeheim said in a statement. "I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring or been insensitive to victims of abuse."

Jim Boeheim, meet Joe Paterno.

Now, their ultimate fates may not turn out to be identical, but that is only if there is no evil cover-up for the sake of the program's reputation, as there was in Happy Valley. If Boeheim truly knew nothing of his top assistant's fondness for young boys, he will escape the eternal damnation in the court of public opinion that Paterno shall forever be resigned to.

If not, he'll be gone quicker than a 3-on-1 fast break, just like Paterno was.

Bobby Davis was a 12-year old Syracuse ball boy when he alleges that Bernie Fine began molesting him. Davis says the abuse went on for more than a decade, well into his young adulthood. Davis first brought his allegations to Syracuse police in 2002 and got nowhere, mostly because he had no proof.

After being rebuffed by a detective, Davis set out to get his proof. Little did he know it would take more than nine years for that evidence to become the smoking gun that he needed for people to believe him.

Oct. 8, 2002, Davis taped a telephone call with the one person he knew had direct knowledge of the abuse he had endured. The one person he knew he could talk to was none other than the wife of his abuser, Laurie Fine. The call was made without Mrs. Fine's knowledge, but was legal according to New York state law.

"I know everything that went on, you know," Laurie Fine said on the call, which was first released by ESPN on Saturday night. "I know everything that went on with him ... Bernie has issues, maybe that he's not aware of, but he has issues ... And you trusted somebody you shouldn't have trusted."

Davis, now 39, first sent the bombshell tape to ESPN and the Syracuse Post-Standard shortly after it was recorded. ESPN has said that they did not report or follow up on the story at the time because no one would corroborate Davis' allegations.

ESPN now says that an independent audio expert they hired has confirmed the voice on the other end of the tape to be that of Laurie Fine.

From what Boeheim had said until late Sunday, it appeared his fate might be tied to Fine's. When the allegations first were reported, the only thing that Boeheim had said on the matter was that Davis was simply looking for a cash grab.

'"The Penn State thing came out, and the kid behind this is trying to get money," Boeheim said Nov. 17. "He's tried before. And now he's trying again. If he gets this, he's going to sue the university and Bernie. What do you think is going to happen at Penn State? You know how much money is going to be involved in civil suits? I'd say about $50 million. That's what this is about. Money."

In the case of Penn State, while there certainly will be civil suits filed, the case wasn't about money. It was about a monster.

Bernie Fine, meet Jerry Sandusky.

The parallels between the two are staggering. A decades-long, highly respected top assistant to a revered legendary figure who used his power to have his way with little boys. Sandusky is 67; Fine is 65. Accusers say the abuse has been going on for decades at both places. Accusers say that both of the accused plied them with the awe of traveling with the team all over the country.

Perhaps most stunningly, both of the accused are still married to the same women that for decades turned a blind eye to the violation of the most sacred trust there could possibly be in society; the one that says adults should protect children from predators.

The only difference between the cases may be to what extent the cover-up was at Syracuse.

Common sense says that there had to be whispers, right? Rumors? Hushed gossip? An offhand remark that might have shed a small flicker of light on the subject?

Moreover, how can it be possible that no one might have at least mentioned something to Boeheim? And with the nature of coaching the way that it is, how can you spend 80 hours a week in the same proverbial foxhole with someone for almost 50 years and not even have a whiff of something untoward going on?

For now, the focus of ire and derision is on Bernie Fine, as it should be. But soon the spotlight will focus on who was in charge of Bernie Fine.

Just as football is the lifeblood of Central Pennsylvania, basketball – Syracuse basketball to be precise – is the lifeblood of Central New York State. And if Paterno can unceremoniously be shown the door, so can Boeheim if evidence surfaces that he was in any way complicit.

At one point, Fine appears to have evolved from being a child molester to being a powerful gay man with a penchant for abusing the mental control he had over his victims until Davis finally put an end to the cycle.

"If it was another girl like I told you, it would be easy to step in because you know what you're up against," Laurie Fine continued on the 2002 telephone recording. "(When) it's another guy, you can't compete with that. You know, he needs ... that male companionship that I can't give him, nor is he interested in me, and vice versa."

What further makes this sordid tale even more unseemly is that Bobby Davis and Laurie Fine began a sexual relationship themselves shortly after Davis turned 18. Davis confessed the relationship to Bernie Fine, who was described as angry at first, then indifferent.

Years after that morally bankrupt (even if consensual) relationship ended, Davis knew that his former lover possessed all of the proof he needed if he could just broach the subject.

Laurie: What did he want you to do? You can be honest with me.
Bobby: What do you think? What he always does.
Laurie: He wants you to grab him? Or b--- him?
Bobby: He tried to make me grab him. But first he'd try to grab me and start touching me. ...
Laurie: But you never had any oral sex with him?
Bobby: No. I think he'd want to.
Laurie: Of course he would. Why wouldn't he?

Bobby: You know how he'd always try to get me in the shower. You knew about that, right?

Laurie: Yeah. I still have a graphic memory of that, thank you.

The entire transcript is difficult to read, and details that while Laurie Fine cared for Bobby Davis, she really didn't ever do anything to help him until she unknowingly confessed her husband's sins for all to eventually hear.

There are so many questions that need answers one struggles to find an appropriate starting point.

Why did Laurie Fine turn a blind eye to the abuse? Why does she, even to this day, stay with her husband knowing what she has known about him for decades? How could this abuse continue well into adulthood? How could Laurie Fine then begin a sexual relationship with the victim of her husband's abuse?

What is wrong with these people?

Furthermore, how could Jim Boeheim not know something this fundamental to the character of one of his closest allies for almost 50 years?

Why did Bobby Davis get nowhere with Syracuse Police in 2002? Why, when armed with evidence (the taped conversation) and a manner in which to verify said evidence, did he not get anywhere with ESPN, the Syracuse Post-Standard, or the university years ago?

The final question ironically won't have anything to do with Syracuse. The final question doesn't even have anything to do with Bernie Fine, Laurie Fine, Jim Boeheim, or even Bobby Davis.

The final question is after the events of the last three weeks, who could possibly be next?