Jim Boeheim’s vociferous defense of longtime friend and former assistant coach Bernie Fine has now become an issue for the Syracuse coach and the school.
When news emerged that two men accused Fine of sexual molestation, Boeheim called them, among other things, liars and implied they might be seeking a payday. Those two men, Bobby Davis and Mike Lang, are now suing Boeheim and Syracuse for defamation. Attorney Gloria Allred said at a news conference Tuesday that a suit has been filed in New York State Supreme Court and that the men had a strong reaction to Boeheim’s comments.
From the AP:Davis says “it really hurt me to learn coach Boeheim had accused me of lying.”
Lang says when Boeheim suggested “my little brother and I were lying” he “felt sick to my stomach.”
Lang adds: “Coming forward is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my life.”
Boeheim later apologized for his comments.
The news hasn’t seemed to affect his team, though The Orange are unbeaten and assumed the No. 1 ranking in the latest AP polls on Monday.
Related story:
- Bernie Fine now faces civil suit from Zach Tomaselli
- Boeheim defends Fine, says sexual-abuse accuser is ‘lying’
- Syracuse forcing out Boeheim is unthinkable … right?
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