Deadspin: Manti Te'o's dead girlfriend story was a hoax

It probably does IF it's true. However, it's certainly reasonable to be suspicious, considering that 1) this guy is most famous for perpetuating an elaborate hoax; and 2) using a molestation victim explanation would seem the most obvious means of transforming yourself from villain to sympathetic figure here.

Are we sure this claim isn't just another Roniah hoax?

 

The lesson, as always: people are stupid.

 

One of ESPN's top headlines this morning was that Te'o had deleted his Twitter account "indefinitely." Accompanied by a full 14-15-inch story by Darrell Rovell.

"Idiocracy," the movie, is coming true.

 

Over praised due to his Notre Dame affiliation, over damned because of it.

I think most Americans, as casual sports fans, think he revelled in the spotlight so much he would milk the death of his girlfriend to get more attention and when it turned out she was fake, rather liked the sympathy and attnetion he received more than the shame of admitting he was duped, for years.

 

And most Americans would be pretty much correct on every one of those points.

 

The "duped for years" premise assumes a level of functional stupidity on the part of Te'o which would make it difficult for him to figure out which door in his apartment leads to the bathroom and which to the broom closet.

I guess I wouldn't want to hang my coat in Te'o's closet.

 

Because it would end up on the floor when he comes out of it?

 

Craggs speaks!

http://sportsjournalism.org/uncategorized/journalistic-standards-in-reporting-of-the-teo-hoax-qa-with-deadspins-tommy-craggs/

The most interesting part to me:

"In light of ESPN’s report that Ronaiah Tuiasosopo admitted to the hoax and that Te’o was not involved in it, does the (80 percent) quote in the Deadspin story accomplish anything other than leading the reader to believe that Te’o was somehow involved?

A: This is a concern troll’s complaint. It’s moronic. That’s a quote from a source who knew both the hoax and hoaxer better than anyone we’d spoken with. It contains its own grain of salt."

Overall, it's a fun read, as this rookie from the ISJC tries to badger Craggs and gets his hat handed to him.

 

Where and when exactly did the Cult Of Tommy Craggs begin?

 

Joe Morgan story a few years back.

 

Is there a cult?

I thought that foolishness with Grantland was a waste.

But I enjoy the way Deadspin has gleefully tweaked all the critics on this Te'o story.

 

Not a cult, but everyone with a soul was bound to like him more than Daulerio.