cases - Bad Sporters https://www.badsporters.com News Blogging About Athletes Being Caught Up Thu, 25 Jun 2020 14:23:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 Not a joke: Djokovic event under fire after Covid-19 cases https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/25/not-a-joke-djokovic-event-under-fire-after-covid-19-cases/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/25/not-a-joke-djokovic-event-under-fire-after-covid-19-cases/#respond Thu, 25 Jun 2020 14:23:26 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=7688 ZAGREB • Outspoken tennis star Nick Kyrgios led a barrage of criticism against the “boneheaded” decision to hold Novak Djokovic’s charity event in Croatia, after Borna Coric revealed he had become the second high-profile player to test positive for the coronavirus. Croatia’s Coric, who played in the Adria Tour exhibition tournament last week, joined Grigor […]

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ZAGREB • Outspoken tennis star Nick Kyrgios led a barrage of criticism against the “boneheaded” decision to hold Novak Djokovic’s charity event in Croatia, after Borna Coric revealed he had become the second high-profile player to test positive for the coronavirus.

Croatia’s Coric, who played in the Adria Tour exhibition tournament last week, joined Grigor Dimitrov in getting the Covid-19 infection.

Dimitrov’s coach Kristijan Groh and world No. 1 Djokovic’s fitness coach Marko Paniki also tested positive, raising concerns for governing bodies who are bidding to restart the sport after a shutdown since March.

Last week, the ATP and the WTA issued revised calendars for the resumption of the circuit from August. But those plans may need to be redrawn, after the risks of athletes from different countries mixing without adhering to social distancing norms were highlighted.

“Boneheaded decision to go ahead with the ‘exhibition’ speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols. This IS NOT A JOKE,” Australian Kyrgios said in a scathing social media post that featured three facepalm emojis.

Bulgarian world No. 19 Dimitrov played in Djokovic’s event in Belgrade and the second leg in the Croatian coastal resort of Zadar as did other top names like Austria’s Dominic Thiem (world No. 3) and Germany’s Alexander Zverev (7).

The tournament witnessed packed stands in Belgrade, players hugging at the net, posing for pictures and attending press conferences together.

Serbian Djokovic organised nights out in Belgrade and pictures and videos of him dancing with the other participants at his event were posted on social media. With both Serbia and Croatia easing lockdown measures weeks before the event, players were not obliged to observe social distancing rules in either country.

The Sunday final between Djokovic and Russia’s Andrey Rublev was cancelled as a precaution once Dimitrov tested positive.

Goran Ivanisevic, the director of the Zadar leg and Djokovic’s coach, was greeted with jeers from fans when he broke the news courtside.

BLAST FROM DOWN UNDER

Boneheaded decision to go ahead… speedy recovery fellas, but that’s what happens when you disregard all protocols.

” NICK KYRGIOS, Australian tennis player, on the lack of health measures.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Pure hubris. His exho so wrong on so many levels. And flaunting their no precaution behavior on Twitter.

” JON WERTHEIM, Sports Illustrated journalist, quoting a former player on the Adria Tour.

Fans also made their feelings known on social media, with Djokovic, who heads the ATP Tour players’ council, under fire from the tennis community for being irresponsible and not taking the pandemic seriously.

Responding to a Twitter user who was critical of Djokovic, Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim replied: “Can’t disagree… As a former player just wrote me: ‘Pure hubris. His exho so wrong on so many levels. And flaunting their no precaution behavior on Twitter makes everything moving forward for the sport tougher’.”

American great Chris Evert also criticised the organisers for the lack of social distancing, saying “… total physical contact, no face masks, even the fans were without masks.. I don’t get it.”

In a commentary for The Telegraph, tennis correspondent Simon Briggs’ described the positive test results as a “sad but predictable outcome of what can only be viewed as reckless management” and that the players “behaved as if they were immune to the virus”.

With international tennis suspended, 17-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic organised the tour as a charity event to be contested over four legs.

He reportedly took a coronavirus test yesterday after returning to Belgrade in the morning. The results were not available by press time.

Djokovic’s brother Djordje, the overall tournament director, told Sportske Novosti daily paper online edition: “Novak? He took this news very hard. We undertook all the measures prescribed by the governments of Serbia and Croatia.”

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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]]> https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/25/not-a-joke-djokovic-event-under-fire-after-covid-19-cases/feed/ 0 7688 Majority of ICC’s ongoing 50 fixing cases linked to corruptors in India: Official https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/20/majority-of-iccs-ongoing-50-fixing-cases-linked-to-corruptors-in-india-official/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/20/majority-of-iccs-ongoing-50-fixing-cases-linked-to-corruptors-in-india-official/#respond Sat, 20 Jun 2020 16:57:17 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=7551 Did the wide-ranging fallout of the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal work as a deterrent against corruption in Indian cricket? Not so, say anti-corruption (ACU) officials in the sport. These officials say the corruptors now look to target the state leagues as well as lesser known live competitions – smaller in scale and involving more vulnerable […]

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Did the wide-ranging fallout of the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal work as a deterrent against corruption in Indian cricket? Not so, say anti-corruption (ACU) officials in the sport.

These officials say the corruptors now look to target the state leagues as well as lesser known live competitions – smaller in scale and involving more vulnerable players. “We have 50 investigations that we are undertaking and majority have links to corruptors in India,” Steve Richardson, coordinator of investigations, International Cricket Council ACU said in a webinar on Sports Law and Policy on Saturday.

Of late, no high-profile Indian cricketer may have come under the lens, but the player-bookie nexus goes unabated, he said. “Players are the final link in the chain. Problem is with people who organise corruption, who pay the players; who sit outside the sport. I can deliver eight names to Indian governing agencies who are serial offenders and constantly approach the players,” Richardson added.

But for Covid 19 applying the brake on all state leagues, many of them would have been on by now. The Karnataka Premier League (KPL) remains suspended and police investigations are on after some players and a team owner were charged with fixing. “The police has filed partial charge-sheets in KPL matter. We are in the process of examination of that evidence,” BCCI ACU head Ajit Singh said.

“The entire malice emanates from (illegal) betting. Just to make windfall gains illegally through betting, they approach participants (players, support staff, officials, franchise owners) and the amount of money involved is unimaginable – an annual turnover of R30,000-40,000 crore; including sports and other activities. In state leagues, we got betting examined on certain matches and we discovered it comes to the tune of more than 2 million pounds per match,” said Singh.

ACU officials say nothing will change until match-fixing is made a criminal offence in India. “Sri Lanka was the first nation that brought a match-fixing law. For that reason, Sri Lanka cricket is better protected now. In Australia’s case, we are very proactive. At the moment, with no legislation in place in India, they are operating with one hand tied up,” said Richardson.

A robust law would also help protect ICC events better. “In Australia, they can stop someone coming to their country before the tournament. India too has ICC events coming up with the T20 World Cup (2021) and the 2023 ODI World Cup. Legislation would be a game changer.”

Singh said there would be a strong deterrent if the pending Prevention of Sports Fraud bill became law. “Fans put in a huge amount of emotion and this (fixing) happens… It starts at an early stage; those who are in sports betting nurture these players and start using them later for fixing. It needs to be curbed. For that you need a strong law. Currently it is archaic, and some of the conditions are laughable.”

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]]> https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/20/majority-of-iccs-ongoing-50-fixing-cases-linked-to-corruptors-in-india-official/feed/ 0 7551 Texas Tech men's basketball confirms positive COVID-19 cases – CollegeBasketballTalk https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/09/texas-tech-mens-basketball-confirms-positive-covid-19-cases-collegebasketballtalk/ https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/09/texas-tech-mens-basketball-confirms-positive-covid-19-cases-collegebasketballtalk/#respond Tue, 09 Jun 2020 05:20:59 +0000 https://badsporters.com/?p=7079 The NCAA had a chance to do the right thing on Friday and, in a stunning turn of events, completely missed the mark. Who saw that one coming? The punishment that the Committee on Infractions handed down to Oklahoma State on Friday, a one-year postseason ban to go along with scholarship reductions and myriad recruiting […]

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The NCAA had a chance to do the right thing on Friday and, in a stunning turn of events, completely missed the mark.

Who saw that one coming?

The punishment that the Committee on Infractions handed down to Oklahoma State on Friday, a one-year postseason ban to go along with scholarship reductions and myriad recruiting sanctions, was wrong and should be utterly terrifying for the other programs that found themselves caught up in the FBI’s investigation into college basketball corruption.

Oklahoma State faced a single Level I violation. It was an unethical conduct charge levied at former assistant coach Lamont Evans, who accepted at least $18,150 in bribes from financial advisors in exchange for peddling influence over one player from Oklahoma State and one player from South Carolina, where Evans was coaching before accepting a job on Brad Underwood’s staff in the spring of 2016. Evans was also accused of giving Jeffery Carroll $300.

That’s it.

Evans provided no competitive advantage for Oklahoma State, unless you consider the $300 he paid to Carroll — who was already on the roster and suspended for three games as a result — a competitive advantage. Evans was lining his pockets. He was not doing this to benefit the basketball program. Technically speaking, the players Evans claimed to have the power of persuasion over were the victims of the crimes that got him sentenced to three months in prison on federal bribery charges. He steered them to financial advisors that were willing to shell out bribe money. He knew nothing about the people that he was telling these players to invest their money with. One of the men Evans accepted bribes from was Marty Blazer, who sparked this entire investigation to try and avoid prison when he was caught by the SEC embezzling millions of dollars from clients.

That’s where Evans was guiding players who trusted him.

The players were the victims.

Despite that, Oklahoma State was still hit with a one-year postseason ban. Evans has been gone for three years. Carroll has been gone for two. Neither the current head coach — Mike Boynton — or the head coach the violations were committed under — Brad Underwood — were mentioned in the Notice of Allegations.

“There were no recruiting or other major violations on the part of the institution,” Oklahoma State said in a statement in November. “There are no allegations involving current student-athletes or coaching staff.”

None of that mattered to the Committee on Infractions.

They dropped the hammer on Oklahoma State, effectively neutering what was the most anticipated OSU season since Marcus Smart returned for his sophomore year. So much for seeing Cade Cunningham play in the NCAA tournament. Hell, we may not see Cunningham play for Oklahoma State, period. He was offered the chance to join the G League prospect pathway program, reportedly for as much money as Jalen Green. If he’s not going to play meaningful games at Oklahoma State, maybe he reconsiders the offer.

“Whatever the best option is for him we’re going to support 100 percent without any reservations,” Boynton said.

This gets to the core of the problem when it comes to NCAA enforcement: They far too often punish players and coaches for violations that they took no part in. What did Cunningham, or anyone else on Oklahoma State’s roster, have to do with Lamont Evans accepting bribes from a white collar felon that had been flipped by the FBI? How was anyone associated with the Oklahoma State athletic department supposed to prevent one assistant coach from accepting those bribes?

“A postseason ban for a bunch of kids that were 15, 16 years old when a lot of this was going on? It’s completely, completely out of bounds,” Boynton said.

He’s not wrong.

A postseason ban is total overkill.

That is the most infuriating part is that the NCAA was actually able to punish the man responsible. That’s not usually the case. Evans received a 10-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA in addition to a three month jail sentence for pleading guilty. His coaching career is effectively over. He’ll never be a Division I head coach. He’ll never coach at a level where he is able to earn a couple hundred grand as an assistant. The person entirely at fault for this situation had his life blown up.

And Oklahoma State still got a postseason ban despite the fact that, as Larry Parkinson of the Committee on Infractions said, “the institution fully cooperated from the moment they learned about the circumstances.”

That should be a major red flag for everyone else caught up in this investigation.

USC, Arizona and Auburn all had an assistant coach plead guilty to similar charges as Evans. Louisville committed their violations while they were on probation from the last scandal the program was embroiled in. Oklahoma State faced one Level I violation. Kansas faces five, and they’ve made quite clear they aren’t going to be as cooperative.

If the Committee on Infractions has set the bar here, everyone else better be ready to catch the book that gets thrown at them.

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]]> https://www.badsporters.com/2020/06/09/texas-tech-mens-basketball-confirms-positive-covid-19-cases-collegebasketballtalk/feed/ 0 7079 Both sides rest cases in murder trial of ex-football player https://www.badsporters.com/2018/05/08/both-sides-rest-cases-in-murder-trial-of-ex-football-player-2/ https://www.badsporters.com/2018/05/08/both-sides-rest-cases-in-murder-trial-of-ex-football-player-2/#respond Tue, 08 May 2018 00:55:57 +0000 http://www.badsporters.com/?p=3824 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Tuesday in the first-degree murder trial of a former Division III college football player charged in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors rested their case against William Riley Gaul on Monday after jurors heard the defendant’s two-hour interview with sheriff’s investigators following the death […]

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Tuesday in the first-degree murder trial of a former Division III college football player charged in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend.


Prosecutors rested their case against William Riley Gaul on Monday after jurors heard the defendant’s two-hour interview with sheriff’s investigators following the death of 16-year-old Emma Walker of Knoxville, Tennessee. The defense rested without calling any witnesses.


Gaul, then an 18-year-old wide receiver, had just finished his freshman season at Tennessee’s Maryville College when Walker was found dead on Nov. 21, 2016. Gaul was dismissed from Maryville’s team after his arrest.


“I hope to God I’m not a suspect in her death,” Gaul says near the end of his interview with Knox County sheriff’s investigators Allen Merritt and James Hurst. “I wouldn’t hurt that girl. I would hurt myself before I hurt her, and that’s what I’ve done.”






Gaul spends much of the interview denying he possesses a firearm, even as the investigators repeatedly say that friends of the defendant told them he had stolen his grandfather’s gun.


“I don’t know where it’s at,” Gaul said. “I can’t be any more honest than what I’m being.”


Toward the end of the interview, the investigators let him know that rounds from the gun belong to Gaul’s grandfather were found outside Walker’s home.


Prosecutors say Gaul, now 19, used his grandfather’s gun to fire shots through Walker’s bedroom wall from outside her house. Christopher Lochmuller, who performed the autopsy, testified Monday that Walker died of a gunshot wound to the left side of head, just above her left ear.


Defense lawyer Wesley Stone has acknowledged that Gaul fired the shot but says the defendant never intended to kill Walker and was actually making a misguided attempt at “coming to her rescue, being her hero.” Stone said in his opening statement last week that “some of us who are familiar with handguns may very well know that by shooting into a wall blindly, it will go through a wall. Some of us may not.”


Merritt’s testimony disputed the defense’s notion that Gaul never meant to kill Walker.


The investigator said Gaul had visited Walker’s home enough times to realize that the top of her mattress was right in line with the bottom of her window sill. Merritt said Gaul’s familiarity with Walker’s room enabled the defendant to know exactly where he needed to shoot into the house’s vinyl siding exterior in order to have the best chance of “inflicting serious bodily injury.”


Merritt said “the actual entrance of the bullet into the residence was in a direct location or orientation of where Emma Walker’s head would be inside the residence, again based on intimate knowledge of the residence.”


Merritt said the shooter likely was 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 meters) from the back corner of the house when the shots were fired. Merritt also cited scuff marks behind the Walkers’ house as evidence that Gaul might have run and jumped over a fence after firing the shots.

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]]> https://www.badsporters.com/2018/05/08/both-sides-rest-cases-in-murder-trial-of-ex-football-player-2/feed/ 0 3824 Both sides rest cases in murder trial of ex-football player https://www.badsporters.com/2018/05/07/both-sides-rest-cases-in-murder-trial-of-ex-football-player/ https://www.badsporters.com/2018/05/07/both-sides-rest-cases-in-murder-trial-of-ex-football-player/#respond Mon, 07 May 2018 23:06:15 +0000 http://www.badsporters.com/?p=3822 by Steve Megargee | AP by Steve Megargee | AP May 7 at 6:07 PM KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Tuesday in the first-degree murder trial of a former Division III college football player charged in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors rested their case against William Riley Gaul on Monday after jurors heard […]

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Tuesday in the first-degree murder trial of a former Division III college football player charged in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend.

Prosecutors rested their case against William Riley Gaul on Monday after jurors heard the defendant’s two-hour interview with sheriff’s investigators following the death of 16-year-old Emma Walker of Knoxville, Tennessee. The defense rested without calling any witnesses.

Gaul, then an 18-year-old wide receiver, had just finished his freshman season at Tennessee’s Maryville College when Walker was found dead on Nov. 21, 2016. Gaul was dismissed from Maryville’s team after his arrest.

“I hope to God I’m not a suspect in her death,” Gaul says near the end of his interview with Knox County sheriff’s investigators Allen Merritt and James Hurst. “I wouldn’t hurt that girl. I would hurt myself before I hurt her, and that’s what I’ve done.”

Gaul spends much of the interview denying he possesses a firearm, even as the investigators repeatedly say that friends of the defendant told them he had stolen his grandfather’s gun.

“I don’t know where it’s at,” Gaul said. “I can’t be any more honest than what I’m being.”

Toward the end of the interview, the investigators let him know that rounds from the gun belong to Gaul’s grandfather were found outside Walker’s home.

Prosecutors say Gaul, now 19, used his grandfather’s gun to fire shots through Walker’s bedroom wall from outside her house. Christopher Lochmuller, who performed the autopsy, testified Monday that Walker died of a gunshot wound to the left side of head, just above her left ear.

Defense lawyer Wesley Stone has acknowledged that Gaul fired the shot but says the defendant never intended to kill Walker and was actually making a misguided attempt at “coming to her rescue, being her hero.” Stone said in his opening statement last week that “some of us who are familiar with handguns may very well know that by shooting into a wall blindly, it will go through a wall. Some of us may not.”

Merritt’s testimony disputed the defense’s notion that Gaul never meant to kill Walker.

The investigator said Gaul had visited Walker’s home enough times to realize that the top of her mattress was right in line with the bottom of her window sill. Merritt said Gaul’s familiarity with Walker’s room enabled the defendant to know exactly where he needed to shoot into the house’s vinyl siding exterior in order to have the best chance of “inflicting serious bodily injury.”

Merritt said “the actual entrance of the bullet into the residence was in a direct location or orientation of where Emma Walker’s head would be inside the residence, again based on intimate knowledge of the residence.”

Merritt said the shooter likely was 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 meters) from the back corner of the house when the shots were fired. Merritt also cited scuff marks behind the Walkers’ house as evidence that Gaul might have run and jumped over a fence after firing the shots.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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]]> https://www.badsporters.com/2018/05/07/both-sides-rest-cases-in-murder-trial-of-ex-football-player/feed/ 0 3822 King, Corley, Vance reach plea deal, may avoid jail time in sexual assault cases https://www.badsporters.com/2018/04/04/king-corley-vance-reach-plea-deal-may-avoid-jail-time-in-sexual-assault-cases/ https://www.badsporters.com/2018/04/04/king-corley-vance-reach-plea-deal-may-avoid-jail-time-in-sexual-assault-cases/#respond Wed, 04 Apr 2018 15:06:50 +0000 http://www.badsporters.com/?p=3316 Buy Photo Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance each face sexual assault charges stemming from an incident during a party at a campus apartment in January.(Photo: Lansing State Journal file photos)Buy Photo LANSING – Three former MSU football players accused of sexually assaulting a female student during a party pleaded guilty to lesser charges of […]

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Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance each face sexual assault charges stemming from an incident during a party at a campus apartment in January.(Photo: Lansing State Journal file photos)Buy Photo

LANSING – Three former MSU football players accused of sexually assaulting a female student during a party pleaded guilty to lesser charges of seduction as part of an agreement with prosecutors.

Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance each faced sexual assault charges stemming from an incident during a party at a campus apartment in January 2017. They were charged in June and dismissed from the football team.

The agreement, made public in a hearing before Ingham County Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina this morning, calls for all three to have no up-front jail time. 

Their court records also would become non-public under a Michigan law that allows judges to close the records of young offenders as long as they meet the terms of their agreement and do not commit any future offenses. Aquilina said during the hearing that she was granting Holmes Youthful Trainee status to all three.

They can withdraw their guilty pleas if Aquilina includes jail time in their sentences, which are scheduled to be set in a hearing at 8:30 a.m. on June 6.

Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Kwasnik said the victim had been consulted and approved of the terms of the plea agreements.

Shannon Smith, King’s attorney, declined to comment. Attorneys for the other two players couldn’t be reached for comment immediately following the plea hearing.  

The seduction charge is a felony with a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison. It involves seducing an unmarried woman for sexual acts.  

Under the agreement, King, of Darien, Illinois, also pleaded guilty to a charge of surveilling an unclothed person. He originally faced the most serious charges:  one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, and capturing an image of an unclothed person. He faced up to life in prison if convicted.

Corley and Vance both of Detroit, had been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct. They each faced up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Michigan State University Police said at a hearing that led to the charges that the victim reported King invited her to “speak somewhere quiet,” then “pulled” her into a bathroom and forced her to perform oral and vaginal sex; Corley and Vance were each accused of later forcing her to perform oral sex. 

Police also allege that King recorded himself having sex with the woman.

The former players, who had been suspended from the team during the police investigation, were dismissed from the football team after they were charged in June. They were also dismissed from MSU following university Title IX investigations.  

A fourth former player, 20-year-old defensive end Auston Robertson, awaits trial on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with a separate incident.

Check back for updates.

Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.

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]]> https://www.badsporters.com/2018/04/04/king-corley-vance-reach-plea-deal-may-avoid-jail-time-in-sexual-assault-cases/feed/ 0 3316 Sex assault cases against three ex-MSU players move toward trial https://www.badsporters.com/2018/02/21/sex-assault-cases-against-three-ex-msu-players-move-toward-trial/ https://www.badsporters.com/2018/02/21/sex-assault-cases-against-three-ex-msu-players-move-toward-trial/#respond Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:17:54 +0000 http://www.badsporters.com/?p=2386 CLOSE A judge authorized charges Tuesday against three MSU football players: Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance. Wochit Buy Photo Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance each face sexual assault charges stemming from an incident during a party at a campus apartment in January.(Photo: Lansing State Journal file photos)Buy Photo LANSING – The […]

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A judge authorized charges Tuesday against three MSU football players: Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance.
Wochit

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Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance each face sexual assault charges stemming from an incident during a party at a campus apartment in January.(Photo: Lansing State Journal file photos)Buy Photo

LANSING – The cases involving sexual assault allegations against three ex-Michigan State University football players continue to move toward trial.

Josh King, Donnie Corley and Demetric Vance each face sexual assault charges stemming from an incident during a party at a campus apartment in January 2017. 

Attorneys representing the three players met with prosecutors inside Judge Rosemarie Aquilina’s chambers at a pretrial conference Wednesday morning in Ingham County Circuit Court. The players, who remain free after posting bond, waited outside the courtroom with friends and family.

After about 30 minutes, officials announced there would be no hearing held in open court.

Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor Steve Kwasnik said another hearing is set for April 4. He declined to comment further.

“I think we are gearing up for a trial just like any other case,” said Mary Chartier, who represents Vance. Attorneys representing King and Corley declined to comment.

In October, the attorneys and prosecutors discussed a possible plea deal during a conference in Aquilina’s chambers.

In what is known as a Cobbs agreement, defendants in Michigan sometimes reach plea deals with prosecutors that specify a maximum sentence. A judge can advise a defendant on what their likely sentence would be, but judges are free to change their mind after reviewing pre-sentence information or other factors. If the judge’s planned sentence is going to exceed the agreed-upon cap, a defendant has the right to withdraw his or her plea.

More: Report: Ex-Michigan State players Donnie Corley, Demetric Vance to play for Coahoma CC

King, 20, of Darien, Illinois, is charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct, as well as with capturing an image of an unclothed person. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Corley, 20, and Vance, 20, both of Detroit, are charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct. They each face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Michigan State University Police said at a hearing that led to the charges that the victim reported King invited her to “speak somewhere quiet,” then “pulled” her into a bathroom and forced her to perform oral and vaginal sex; Corley and Vance were each accused of later forcing her to perform oral sex. 

Police also allege that King recorded himself having sex with the woman.

The former players, who had been suspended from the team during the police investigation, were dismissed from the football team after they were charged in June. They were also dismissed from MSU following university Title IX investigations.  

More: Former Michigan State football players’ lawyers can visit site of reported sex assault

A fourth former player, 20-year-old defensive end Auston Robertson, awaits trial on two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with a separate incident.

Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel.

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]]> https://www.badsporters.com/2018/02/21/sex-assault-cases-against-three-ex-msu-players-move-toward-trial/feed/ 0 2386 WWE Mayhem Tips: How To Get Free Cases And Build Your Roster https://www.badsporters.com/2018/01/04/wwe-mayhem-tips-how-to-get-free-cases-and-build-your-roster/ https://www.badsporters.com/2018/01/04/wwe-mayhem-tips-how-to-get-free-cases-and-build-your-roster/#respond Thu, 04 Jan 2018 00:34:49 +0000 http://www.badsporters.com/?p=1213 World Wrestling Entertainment has returned to iOS and Android with WWE Mayhem, a new arcade-style fighting game featuring dozens of current and former WWE Superstars. The game includes single and multiplayer offerings, including a multi-season campaign, and it’s easily one of the best mobile WWE titles yet. But getting your own roster up to speed […]

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World Wrestling Entertainment has returned to iOS and Android with WWE Mayhem, a new arcade-style fighting game featuring dozens of current and former WWE Superstars. The game includes single and multiplayer offerings, including a multi-season campaign, and it’s easily one of the best mobile WWE titles yet. But getting your own roster up to speed can be a little difficult for new players, particularly if you’re averse to microtransactions.

We’ve split our WWE Mayhem tips into two categories: advice that will help you in the ring and advice for the moments between fights. And we’re hoping fellow Mayhem players will drop by the comments to share the tips they’ve picked up on their quest for the WWE title. You won’t find any PvP-specific advice here — we’re mostly trying to help new players get a foothold — but some of the advice shared below might benefit you in Mayhem’s competitive environment too.

WWE Mayhem Tips – In The Ring

Guard Early, Guard Often

From what we can tell, guarding is hilariously overpowered in WWE Mayhem. Players don’t have to manage an associated stamina meter, perform additional gestures to block special attacks or worry about a time limit. You’ll take a small bit of damage from blocked attacks. But guarding until you block a charged, heavy or special attack, which briefly stuns your opponent, and then responding with a quick three-hit combination seems to be the most effective strategy during the early seasons. It’s not the flashiest fighting style. But it’ll save you a bunch of money on health kits and revives.

Combo-Focused Offense

Your entire offense should be built around a pair of three-swing combinations: A heavy attack followed by two quick attacks or a pair of quick attacks leading into a heavy. Swipe, Tap, Tap or Tap, Tap, Swipe. The former is especially useful because the heavy attack will automatically be replaced by a dash forward if your opponent is trying to put distance between you. The latter is an effective tool for interrupting incoming attacks.

Charge After Parries

Parrying can be difficult in WWE Mayhem. But anyone who gets good at timing their blocks to incoming attacks will find themselves with numerous opportunities to fire off a Charged attack. The brief stuns that follow normal blocks don’t always give you enough time to channel each wrestlers penultimate offensive maneuver; however, the stun after a successful parry gives you more time to make use of those techniques.

Reversals > Specials

It doesn’t take long to figure out opponents can reverse specials too. Keep an eye on your opponent’s special meter, and let its current status dictate your willingness to use special attacks. If your opponent is stunned and hismeter is low — ideally, so low you know reversals are off the table — then let himfeel the wrath of a Phenomenal Forearm or the Tombstone Piledriver. But if your foe’s special meter is full, wait a special attack and then use your banked power for a reversal and the win.

Use Specials After Stuns

If you do have more stored special power than an opponent, it’s still important to know when to use it. Having a special attack interrupted will cost you however much power you spent on the technique and also gives your opponent an energy boost. We recommend deploying special attacks after stunning an opponent. Stuns happen after you block a Charged, Heavy or Special attack. Wrestlers are also stunned by any strike that depletes the last of their health. We should also note that specials used during a Low Health Stun can’t be countered by most wrestlers.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Each class of wrestler is stronger (and weaker) against another class. These strengths and weaknesses can sometimes create bigger level disparities than the natural abilities of your roster. Here’s a breakdown of the pseudo-rock-paper-scissors system:

  • Technician beats Powerhouse

  • Brawler beats Wildcard

  • Showman beats Brawler

  • Powerhouse (Weights) beats High Flyer

  • High Flyer beats Showman

  • Wildcard beats Technician

WWE Mayhem Tips – Outside The Ring

Claim All Your Freebies

You get a free loot case every day featuring a randomly-selected wrestler or upgrade item. A second case can be opened every four hours to reveal a randomly-selected health or stat boost. Both can be claimed from the Loot tab. There’s also a daily login bonus that becomes more valuable if you log in multiple days in a row. Don’t let the freebies go unclaimed because they’ll help build your roster faster, especially if you don’t want to spend money on microtransactions.

Spend Resources Wisely

You’ll have to upgrade some one-star wrestlers on your roster a few times. We recommend cutting them off when they start requiring class-specific leveling materials. All your specialized leveling items should be saved for your two, three and four-star performers. You may eventually have to start upgrading some of your one-stars to continue progressing through the story. But don’t start investing in them until you know it’s a necessity AND you have one-star wrestlers you want to invest in. Star rankings impact the scalability of the fighter’s stats, meaning those with more stars will be useful for longer stretches. They’ll all need upgrades eventually but higher ranked performers will remain viable much later in the story.  And try to limit your resources investments to one wrestler from each class. You’re already going to spend most of your time with WWE Mayhem struggling to acquire the proper leveling items. No point in ensuring two of your main guys are always competing for specialized resources.

Don’t Quit After A Title Fight

Players receive bonus rewards for any match they win in the first 15 minutes after winning or defending a championship belt. That’s usually enough time to tack the bonus onto at least three to five fight purses, depending on the strength of your wrestlers. And each fight you win during that 15-minute span will include extra rewards, usually in the form of cash or leveling materials, that will help improve your roster.

Use Events To Prep For Tough Seasons

A variety of time-sensitive scenarios are available via WWE Mayhem’s Events screen and we recommend using each as strategically as possible. There are going to be moments when your team doesn’t quite stack up to the next season’s competition, or you’d have to drop to a lower difficulty setting than you’re interested in, and these are the perfect moments to go complete an event. Each bestows a plethora of rewards, from leveling items to loot cases and title bonuses, potentially bridging the gap between your squad and the next wave of competitors. Some events are also repeatable, making it easier to farm for the items needed to upgrade star rankings.

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Do you have any WWE Mayhem tips or tricks to share with the Player.One community?

Let us know in the comments section

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]]> https://www.badsporters.com/2018/01/04/wwe-mayhem-tips-how-to-get-free-cases-and-build-your-roster/feed/ 0 1213 2017 in review: Key court cases, Brennan investigation dominated headlines https://www.badsporters.com/2017/12/27/2017-in-review-key-court-cases-brennan-investigation-dominated-headlines/ https://www.badsporters.com/2017/12/27/2017-in-review-key-court-cases-brennan-investigation-dominated-headlines/#respond Wed, 27 Dec 2017 15:50:15 +0000 http://www.badsporters.com/?p=830 Matthew Jordan Carrier is arraigned by video from the Livingston County Jail at the Livingston County Courthouse Wednesday, July 12, 2017.(Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily) Five die in fiery Oceola Township crash Matthew Carrier, 22, was driving 103 mph May 9 with a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when he drove through a […]

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Matthew Jordan Carrier is arraigned by video from the Livingston County Jail at the Livingston County Courthouse Wednesday, July 12, 2017.(Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

Five die in fiery Oceola Township crash

Matthew Carrier, 22, was driving 103 mph May 9 with a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit when he drove through a stop sign on Argentine Road and crashed the Subaru Impreza he was driving into a Cadillac CTS heading east on M-59, prosecutors said.

Five people died in the crash: Candice Dunn, 35, of Oakland County; Linda Hurley, 69, and Jerome Joseph Tortomasi, 73, of Macomb County, and Justin Henderson, 18, and Preston Wetzel, 24, both of Fenton.

Carrier is charged with five counts of second-degree murder and 14 other charges in connection to the crash. He remains in Livingston County Jail and is due back in court Jan. 5 for a pre-trial hearing before 44th Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty. 

A line of men, women and students chant “We stand with these girls,” led in the chant by Jennifer Mersch, Monday, Dec. 4, 2017 in front of the Livingston Judicial Complex, rallying support for the three young rape victims from Brighton. (Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

Community angered by sentence in sex assault

An outraged community rallied around three teenage girls at school board meetings and at a protest at the Livingston County Judicial Center after a 16-year-old boy was accused of sexually assaulting the girls was ordered to spend only 45 days in a youth facility.

The boy, who the Livingston Daily is not naming because he was charged in juvenile court, was originally charged with 31 felonies, including 20 counts of sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and several lesser charges.

The boy has exceeded 45 days in the youth facility, but remains in custody pending completion of a psychological exam and safety plan. Brighton Area Schools officials have said the boy will not return to Brighton High School. 

Livingston County District Court Judge Theresa Brennan (Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

Brennan faces investigation by Tenure Commission

Six months after police raided her home and county office, the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission took the unusual step of publicly confirming its investigation into Livingston County Judge Theresa Brennan.

Brennan has been under public scrutiny since her divorce proceedings revealed she was having an affair with Michigan State Police First Lt. Sean Furlong during the 2013 double murder trial of Jerome Walter Kowalski, a case in which Furlong served as the lead detective. 

Both she and Furlong testified the affair began after the trial, but phone records showed Brennan spoke on 37 phone calls with Furlong between the time the murder trial began and Kowalski’s sentencing.

In May, State police investigators executed search warrants at Brennan’s home and courtroom where they seized computers, iPads and other electronic devices. Furlong, 50, retired from the State Police in September.

The Tenure Commission hasn’t said when it will conclude the investigation. Formal action against Brennen, who was appointed in 2005, can include censure, suspension or removal from office after a public hearing is held.

Howell’s Sam Weatherly pitches in the East-West All-Star Baseball Classic at Comerica Park one night after being named Mr. Baseball. He was chosen in the 27th round of the Major League Baseball draft by Toronto, but chose to honor his commitment to play for Clemson University. (Photo: Bill Khan/Livingston Daily)

Howell pitcher drafted, wins Mr. Baseball

Howell baseball games became must-see viewing for pro scouts when Sam Weatherly was on the mound last spring.

Weatherly was one of the most celebrated baseball players ever to come out of Livingston County. He was chosen in the 27th round of the Major League Baseball draft by Toronto, but chose to honor his commitment to play for Clemson University.

The following week, Weatherly was named Mr. Baseball as the best player in the state and was the starting pitcher for the West in the East-West Baseball Classic at Comerica Park. He was 6-2 with a 0.83 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 50.3 innings.

More: Howell pitcher Sam Weatherly named Mr. Baseball

Tom Palmer, photographed Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, opted to skip larger protests against President Trump and speak out with a sign he modifies each day with a different slogan. He’s surprised by support from passers-by honking in support, particularly truckers, in a predominantly Republican county. (Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

Post-presidential election politics spark protests, rallies

Livingston County wasn’t removed from political divisions and protests going on across the country following President Trump’s election and issues such as racial tension and police violence.

About 200 Trump supporters held an August rally in the wake of widespread criticism of the president following his comments on violence in Charlottesville, Va. and racial tensions in the country. Among speakers at the event, State Sen. Joe Hune, R-Fowlerville, inspired the crowd to chant “build the wall” and “fake news.”

An October appearance by controversial former Milwaukee County sheriff David Clarke Jr. at the Livingston County Republican Party’s Reagan Day dinner inspired both applause and protests. 

More: Racial slur in Facebook post prompts investigation of school bus driver

George Hicks said he heard a “snap” and watched as a 180-foot pine tree fell next to his home on Griffith Road in Genoa Township in March. Some 35,000 county residents lost power during the storm. (Photo: Lisa Roose-Church/Livingston Daily)

High winds knock out power, trees

March came in like a lion on the eighth day of the month, with roaring winds gusting over 60 mph knocking out power to more than 35,000 Livingston County residents.

Countywide, in a 24-hour period from 8 a.m. March 8 to 8 a.m. March 9, county 911 dispatchers handled 1,637 calls — an estimated 75% increase from a typical day, with firefighters and emergency crews responding to 126 calls for fallen trees or related hazards; 194 downed power lines and 84 outdoor fires that started as a result of sparking from trees falling on power lines. In addition, there were four gas leaks and one vehicle fire.

Southbound traffic takes advantage of a third lane of traffic Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, on U.S. 23’s new Flex Route. (Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

U.S. 23 revamp wrapped up, finally

State road officials proved it takes creating congestion to ease congestion.

All year long, motorists were up against detours, road closures and slowdowns on U.S. 23 between the Whitmore Lake area south of Brighton and M-14 near Ann Arbor. About $92 million in construction projects included new overpasses with roundabouts, revamped ramps and other bridge and road work.

An experiment began in November when the Michigan Department of Transportation opened left-hand shoulders during rush hour traffic and switched on digital signs.

The new U.S. 23 Flex Route system is the first of its kind in Michigan, and if state road officials are pleased with results they expect to duplicate the idea in other parts of Michigan. 

More: See the new U.S. 23 Flex Route in action

Michael McGraw of Pinckney, in the foreground, and a small group of people protest the E.T. Rover pipeline in a gathering at Pinckney’s town square Friday, May 19, 2017. The pipeline which will go through Putnam Township brought a number of residents, as well as a family from Livonia considering a move to the area, out to voice their concern for the safety to residents and the water supply. (Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

ET Rover pipeline installed to the chagrin of some

Ongoing construction of Energy Transfer’s Rover natural-gas pipeline through about 15 miles of the county inspired some opposition from local residents, environmentalists and property owners who faced lawsuits aimed at seizing their land through eminent domain.

In July, someone attempted to sabotage construction by pouring dirt, sand and gravel into the gas tanks of three large backhoes, prompting general contractor Layton Services to hire off duty Livingston County Sheriff’s Office deputies for added security to for a second time in 2017.

In October, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality cited Energy Transfer for releasing gasoline into wetlands east of Silver Lake near Pinckney, concluding pipeline construction had disrupted the site of an old gas station.

The multi-state pipeline remains under construction. It is not yet in operation through the county. It is expected to be completed and in operation by March 2018.

More: Viewpoint: Rover pipeline is the kind of infrastructure investment we need

Brighton hockey players spill onto the ice to celebrate a 5-2 victory over Detroit Catholic Central in the state Division 1 championship game. (Photo: Timothy Arrick/For the Livingston Daily)

Brighton wins state hockey championship

Brighton goalie Logan Neaton was in a reflective mood after backstopping a 5-2 victory over Detroit Catholic Central in the state Division 1 championship game March 11 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth.

The victory came one year after Brighton lost 3-0 to Catholic Central in the final.

“You just represent so much more than yourself,” Neaton said. “You’re representing all the boys who came before you, who came so close and couldn’t get it done. Everyone in your city, we just had so much support throughout the year.”

The Brighton hockey team, led by Mr. Hockey winner Jake Crespi, was the only Livingston County squad to win a Michigan High School Athletic Association state championship in 2017.

More: Brighton hockey ‘good fit’ for newcomer, who scores big goal in win over Jesuit

An Emagine Entertainment theater is expected to open this spring in the Hartland Towne Square shopping complex which currently includes a Meijer store and Taco Bell restaurant. (Photo: Gillis Benedict/Livingston Daily)

Coming soon: Emagine Theater 

Movies are coming in 2018 to Hartland after Emagine received some rotten tomatoes from the county, but a glowing review from an investment company. 

The Hartland Township Board and the theater company had originally proposed establishing a commercial redevelopment district on 7.5 acres off M-59 near Meijer that would allow Emagine Entertainment to apply for a seven-year tax abatement and save an estimated $438,000 in taxes on the land and personal property.

When the Livingston County Board of Commissioners rejected the plan in a 5-4 vote, Ramco-Gershenson stepped up to save the day. The property investment company, which was selling the land in the Hartland Towne Square shopping plaza to Emagine, offered additional financial incentives for infrastructure improvements to the property. It was sufficient enticement for the entertainment company to move forward with a scaled-down plan of a 55,000-square-foot, nine screen theater on the property. 

The theater is expected to open this spring.

More: Emagine movie theater approved, waiting on liquor license

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