Mike - now that you have chosen to whack me publicly on the Maine list, let
me rise publicly with a defence. And, by the way, this is still confined to
the Maine list, which at least is a deference to those in the HOCKEY-L
world...
There are still unanswered questions, and they deal with two areas:
1. If non-hockey players were accused / investigated / charged / tried for
criminal trespassing counts (and not the ones with the players in this
case), would the non-student/athlete(s) have waited this long for a
disposition of the case ?
2. Coach Umile knew about the incident for a time before the article broke
on February 2. I quote from the Feb. 3 Foster's Daily Democrat:
>The three hockey players turned themselves in on Jan. 5, and were
>arraigned on Jan. 21, pleading not guilty to the charges.
>
>UNH head hockey coach Dick Umile and athletic director Judy Ray will
>determine if any disciplinary action is warranted once the investigation
>is complete, but no action has been taken on any of the three players yet.
>Filipowicz has played every game for the Wildcats so far this season, and
>both Ficek and Enders were playing up until recent injuries forced them
>out of the lineup.
Ray and Umile would decide "once the investigation is complete"; the quote
is in an article on February 3. When IS the "investigation" "complete" ?
Whose "investigation" were they referring to ? When did the
"investigation" they are referring to begin ?
They did NOT affirmatively say (as others suggested I do): we will defer
until the disposition of the court case (innocent until proven guilty).
No, Umile is now (in the press) associated with an equivocal statement that
discipline would be deferred until an unidentified "investigation is
complete". Their use of the term "investigation" rather than "the court
proceeding" left an implication that they might impose some kind of
sanctions even before the case was concluded in court.
I'll ask this also: Did Umile determine if the three broke "team rules" in
the incident ? I see that often enough with other NCAA teams - [insert
name] not in lineup for this game due to suspension for breaking team
rules. You should agree that players are sometimes suspended from NCAA
teams for infractions not rising to the level of criminal charges...
I will concede Durham Police would have difficulty sorting the incident out
during the semester break, completing their investigation once they could
directly confront and interview students having returned to campus, then
filing the charges against three New Hampshire hockey players, among
others. Police and prosecutors need corroboration of facts; facts whose
strength will sustain arrests and charges to be made in court. BTW, posts
to Internet discussion lists need not have such strength.
However, given what I said above: so there is no doubt for you -- my
questions are designed PRECISELY to help me in "learning the truth".
I'll ask one final question on the matter (not an "unfounded accusation"):
What was the disposition of the court matter reported as follows in
Foster's Daily Democrat, February 3, 1999: I will quote exactly so that
you cannot accuse me of some sort of spin...
>Junior defensemen Jayme M. Filipowicz, 22, and Daniel J. Enders, 23, and
>>sophomore forward Corey-Joe Ficek, 21, of Bedford, all regulars on the
>team, >were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing by Durham
>Police.
And if you know, when was the case before the court and the date of the
judgment entered ? If the case(s) were dropped, what was that date, and
what was the reason given by prosecutors for doing so ?
In the classic phrase: just the facts...
I'll be content at this point just to learn of the results of the case, and
publicly relate the same. I will shut up if they are found not guilty, nor
will I even call for suspensions if they are found responsible / guilty /
etc. Consider it my gift for Maine having won this year's championship.
But if others wonder...will you slam them ?
You did not disagree with my statement that if similar events had
transpired this season with Maine players, certain on the list would have
called for Coach Walsh's head.
I relayed exactly what was in the press (with attribution). And my
"accusations" are no different than similar (and worse) accusations hurled
against Walsh. I only wish the defense of Walsh was as strident.
Why are you so upset over my recent comparison of the trespassing incident
as a "scandal" ?
Mike, did you read William Corrigan's post on Thursday to HOCKEY-L titled
"A Disturbing Event in Anaheim" ? (I'll send it to you if you missed it).
Where is your public statement of disgust over the incident Mr. Corrigan
related ?
Why are you not indignant over the post-Anaheim writings of Greg Ambrose ?
He said of Shawn Walsh, also on Thursday to HOCKEY-L:
>"Decent men" don't cheat, and then lie to cover it up.
You made a choice to slam my post. I only wonder why you chose me over
others, and coming over to the Maine list to do so, no less.
BTW, any reply to me privately at this point will be forwarded to the Maine
list. You chastized me in the list, thereby making it public. My reply to
you is, therefore, also public.
You said --
>Dan, this is apparently a scandal only in your mind. I realize you would
>desperately like to believe it is one, and that there was some sort of a
>coverup, but there is no indication of either.
>>Dan, I could understand your original post back in February as one made
>without enough awareness of what took place. But you have had an
>opportunity to learn the facts and I believe someone even gave you the
>number of the Durham Police so you could educate yourself. Unfortunately
>it seems clear that you are more interested in making unfounded accusations
>than learning the truth, because two months later you are still doing it.
>That is disturbing.
>
>I understand you are upset and rightly so at people who have made unfair
>accusations against Maine, including some from UNH. But dealing with that
>by making unfair accusations against them is not something I can respect.
Have a good day...
Dan Doucette
*** Isn't it fitting someone named Garth Snow is playing ***
*** for a hockey team in Canada ??? ***
Maine - National Champions 1993 and 1999 -
first in the new Millennium ?
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