It's Not About the Truth

I've just finished reading a book I mentioned earlier about the Duke lacrosse case, entitled It's Not About the Truth written by Sports Illustrated writer Don Yeager with former Duke lacrosse coach Mike Pressler. Simply put, this will be the definitive contemporary history of the Duke lacrosse case. It is simply but dramatically told.

Those of you who read this blog regularly know that I have a special interest in this case as I claim Duke as one of my alma maters. As a result, perhaps I hold it to a higher standard than some others but as the case unfolded, I was continually disappointed in the actions and inactions of the Duke administration and most of the faculty. The administration, specifically in the guise of President Richard Brodhead and Athletic Director Joe Alleva, failed to support their students and coaches and in fact deserted them in their time of need, preferring instead to believe the lies being told by a prosecutor whose story changed whenever necessary to suit the changing lies of his accusing witness. Political correctness won out over due process.

What Yaeger was able to portray so well in his book was the deeply personal cost of this entire sordid affair. The effect of the charges not only on the three indicted Duke students and their families but on the other 43 lacrosse players and their families and particularly on Mike Pressler, their coach who was perhaps the major casualty. He was summarily fired for standing by his players and refusing to throw anyone under the bus, yet never wavered from the truth or his players. He was steadfast in his support of his players and never uttered a critical word in public even after it cost him his job. Why Duke felt it necessary to fire him has never been satisfactorily explained by anyone to this day and remains one of the great mysteries of this case. Of course, most of Brodhead's actions in this matter are mysteries - the man was in so far over his head it's almost sad really. He should never have left his safe, secure post as a dean at Yale - he's clearly not cut out for this job. The closing letter from Janet Pressler, Mike's teenage daughter, to Brodhead, eloquently sums up not only her or her family's pain but Brodhead's ineptitude.

Anyway, I digress. If you have any interest inthe Duke at all, I strongly suggest you buythis book - which you can do here. You won't regret it.