Winter Springs High gang-rape suspects to remain in custody

[Baitball Blogger]

This is tragic, on so many different levels. Five of the young men who were involved were bussed in from Sanford and all of them played high school football. Winter Springs does not have a magnet program, which is to say that you have to live in the area in order to enroll in the school. I imagine that the only other way in would be due to busing, because the population is 90% White Caucasian.

Clip of article:

Victim 'dazed,' report says

According to a police report, not only did the girl say no, she video-recorded herself saying it. The video reportedly shows the suspects badgering the girl for sex.

"During the video you clearly hear [the victim] advise 'no,' [and] 'she wants to go back to school' and ... the males keep asking and even say 'it's his birthday,'" said the report, describing the teens "circling" the victim.

snip

Police records show that five of the six suspects live in Sanford.

But all of them attended Winter Springs High, and school officials confirmed that the five juvenile suspects played either varsity or junior-varsity football this year.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-winter-springs-rape-court-hearing-20141120-story.html

[radicalliberal]

1. The reaction of so many football fans is predictable in these cases.

When there actually has been a rape, the victim can count on being victimized again. Many of the local fans will persecute her. This has happened time and time again. The decent fans should be appalled by the horrible way these rape victims are treated by their fellow fans, but I don't hear anyone like Scott Fujita express any support for the victims. Hardly any sports columnist ever says a word about these rapes. Pity any rape victim who "gets in the way" of a football program. Absolutely pathetic!

[Baitball Blogger]

3. So many thoughts entered my mind when I read that they were football players

Knowing how things evolve in this community, I suspect that they didn't make it into Winter Springs by random selection. I would think that it would be difficult to get that kind of grouping randomly.

Back when my daughter played high school sports, I had one coach from a different high school tell her that she should declare herself "white" because that way she could go to any high school of her choice. That may have been true at one time--depending on whatever statistics the schools were trying to reach that year.

We also had a relative of ours ask if we would accept their child into our home so he could go to Winter Springs High. We suggested that he look into magnet programs. I've known one person who cheated the zoning rules, but they had lived here for most of the child's life.

[radicalliberal]

2. I just glanced at the linked news article. The followiing caught my attention:

Outside the Juvenile Detention Center, a woman who identified herself as the aunt of one of the 17-year-old defendants lashed out at the victim in the case.

"She needs to stop lying and tell people exactly what happened. ... This is exactly what she wanted; now their lives are ruined," the woman said, adding, "I think she wanted it."

No sympathy for the victim! I'm sick and tired of this stuff! Some claim that sports can transform society and that sports have always been at the forefront of social change (as if non-athletes have never had a heroic role in anything), blah blah blah. Well, in the world of football, women's rights are taking a beating -- especially the rights of rape victims!

[radicalliberal]

4. One final comment:

Of course, I know some accusations of rape are false. False accusations have been made regarding every crime.

I was referring to actual incidents of rape. The football culture, which supposedly builds character , has, in fact, spawned a vicious rape culture. As the father of two fine daughters, I'm sick and tired of it! The men's rights advocates have no concern for rape victims. In fact, they make their lives miserable!

I'll tell you who the real "sports haters" are. They can be found among the fans. I'm referring to the enablers. People who believe that school athletes should not be held accountable for the way they treat others away from the game -- whether it's bullying, physical assault, or rape. These fans don't care that they themselves are corrupting their sport!

What a sick world we live in!

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I was able to observe the athletic High School culture.

In the academic circles the principal has it pretty much in control. But the athletic department is very good ole boy'd as coaches are apt to bend to the will of the power mongers in the community. The people who want to remind you that they're in control tend to show up at your kid's games, even when they don't have children of their own enrolled in the high school. They just want to add just a little intimidation into your life to remind you of your insignificance.

I wish this athletic garbage culture didn't have roots in a High School atmosphere.

[radicalliberal]

6. Please forgive me for my emotional outburst.

I was commenting on other cases. I hope the truth (whatever it is) comes out. Again, please forgive.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. There's nothing to forgive.

I'm not connected to the hive, but I believe everyone is handling this as best as it can be handled. I'm confident that the truth will come out--whatever it is. It's a tragedy no matter what the outcome.