Selling T-Shirts and Wristbands for Duke Defense?

[LaxTchr]

While in spirit I feel this is great (presuming they are innocent), I question how people will feel when their donations go to a defense of these young men if they are in fact found to be guilty of the crimes they are charged with. This is not meant to be a debate on whether or not the players are guilty or innocent, merely to spark conversation about this fundraising effort, thoughts?

http://www.lax.com/stories/1722

[ZagGrad]

I'm sure those people buying these items whole-heartedly agree that these men are innocent. I don't think they're going to buy this stuff, then, if a guilty verdict is read, say: "I can't believe I suported these guys and now they're guilty."

[Campbell]

since the money is probably going towards paying their legal fees, you can at least feel good about helping them receive a fair trial, win or lose. I would agree that most people donating probably belive they are innocent. It is also a great burden that their parents are having to shoulder, so it helps them too.

[StrykerFSU]

I'm sure those people buying these items whole-heartedly agree that these men are innocent. I don't think they're going to buy this stuff, then, if a guilty verdict is read, say: "I can't believe I suported these guys and now they're guilty."

since the money is probably going towards paying their legal fees, you can at least feel good about helping them receive a fair trial, win or lose. I would agree that most people donating probably belive they are innocent. It is also a great burden that their parents are having to shoulder, so it helps them too.

Two very good reasons why I donated money and bought Duke wristbands. Of course, everyone should be sure to investigate the groups to which they are donating to be sure that the money will be used properly.

[Pinball]

and

[onpoint]

I'm sure those people buying these items whole-heartedly agree that these men are innocent. I don't think they're going to buy this stuff, then, if a guilty verdict is read, say: "I can't believe I suported these guys and now they're guilty."

since the money is probably going towards paying their legal fees, you can at least feel good about helping them receive a fair trial, win or lose. I would agree that most people donating probably belive they are innocent. It is also a great burden that their parents are having to shoulder, so it helps them too.

Two very good reasons why I donated money and bought Duke wristbands. Of course, everyone should be sure to investigate the groups to which they are donating to be sure that the money will be used properly.

I don't mean to keep picking on you - who knows, maybe I do - but I find it hard to make the connection here. You are extremely quick to attack the character of Reggie Bush - someone who may or may not have taken illegal contributions and given them to his FAMILY - and yet you defend the actions of the Duke guys - who whether or not are guilty of rape, are absolutely guilty of the moral crimes of throwing a huge (underage drinking) party and hiring strippers, especially as scholarship athletes.

Let me make myself clear. I feel no moral outrage towards the Duke guys by any means. I've likely been part of much worse situations than theirs during my years in college. But to support them out of one side of your mouth and to take shots at the character of Reggie Bush out of the other is a little confusing.

My thoughts are that I will leave both circumstances with a much more sentimental view (in the moral sense) towards Bush than the Duke laxers.

[PigPen]

can someone give a quick low down on the Bush situation-I have been in cave (aka Beaumont, TX) for the past two weeks. did they find him guilty fo that whole housing thing from a few months back?

[StrykerFSU]

I don't condone the party that the Dukies had or the hiring of strippers but I also don't equate those two activities with accepting what amounts to bribes. In any case, the three players are not charged with underage drinking and the hiring of strippers is not a crime as far as I know. In my opinion, they are being baselessly charged with a violent crime and, at least in one case, had mountains of exculpatory evidence ignored. I am sympathetic to the suffering they are having to needlessly endure while I have no sympathy for Reggie Bush, who chose to accept cash and gifts from potential agents.

In either situation the parties should have known better but Bush is now making millions of dollars and faces only the possibility of losing a trophy while the Dukies must sit and pray that justice will be served so that they might be able to get their lives back.

[sohotrightnow]

These guys have the money to pay for legal fees. Let's not kid ourselves in thinking these players are poor and desperate.

[Sonny]

These guys have the money to pay for legal fees.

Falsely accusing them of a crime doesn't mean its OK just because they have money.

Your good name is worth far more to most people with common sense.

[Beta]

They showed one of the guys' houses...trust me...him nor his parents have $400k to throw at a lawyer. I do believe that one of the familes had to do some mortgage work to afford it. Stereotyping someone for playing lacrosse and being rich is as bad as assuming the opposite for football players.

[sohotrightnow]

Dude, I think they are innocent, but they are rich. You are fooling yourself if you think otherwise. Seligmann's high school cost $22,000 a year and Finnerty's was $23,000. In addition, Finnerty is from Garden City, N.Y., and lived in a Dutch colonial house on a cul-de-sac and lives right by a private golf course. Seligmann grew up in Essex Fells, N.J., where multimillion-dollar homes also abound and the current mayor grew up with the lacrosse player’s dad. Essex Fells has a median household income of $148,000, according to the Census Bureau.

I'd say that qualifies as well-to-do. If they were poor or middle-class I would say they are. They are not, so I will not say they are.

[LaxTchr]

This thread is quickly moving away from its initial intention.

[FLALAX]

There are a myriad of charities and causes available for people to donate to and yet people choose the Duke Player's Defense Fund? I find it sickening to know that instead of helping the poor and down trodden we would give these kids money.

[StrykerFSU]

This thread is quickly moving away from its initial intention.

My reaction to a guilty verdict would depend on whether I thought that they received a fair trial, something I believe will be difficult in Durham. I have to be honest, a guilty verdict here would surprise me as much as OJ's innocent verdict.

The merits of donating have already been discussed in another thread and like was said there, folks can do whatever the heck they want with their money.