Posted on 10/30/2006 3:04:46 AM PST by abb
http://www.insidelacrosse.com/print.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=139974
The following is an excerpt from a story by IL Senior Writer Mike Keegan in the November Issue of Inside Lacrosse magazine. To read the complete story, buy a copy of the issue online or visit your local newsstand. To subscribe to Inside Lacrosse, click here.
THE LOCKER ROOM buzzes with energy as the guys hurry to and from the shower, change and head off to class around 10 a.m., Thursday morning. The room is so long and narrow that, if you couldn’t see the flatscreen on the far wall, you’d get the impression it stretched on forever, just an endless span of blue metal lockers and lacrosse equipment.
On the wall at this end of the room is a bulletin board that holds probably the best metaphor for the team’s current situation. Amid the hustle and bustle of the team going about its daily business, someone has fashioned a couple dozen blue thumbtacks into the numbers 13 and 45, the jersey numbers of the currently missing but not forgotten Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann.
“The team is still incomplete,” says coach John Danowski. “The junior class is hurting without them. Everybody feels bad, but the juniors especially. We hope they’ll be back here in the spring, both playing, one big happy family again.”
For now, Finnerty and Seligmann are living at home, taking classes at other schools. Matt Danowski says he spoke with them a couple of weeks ago. Some of the other guys speak to them more often. But for now, all they can do is keep their two teammates, as well as the graduated David Evans, in the back of their minds, while staying focused on school and lacrosse.
After a quick stop in the training room for treatment on his back, Matt Danowski heads home to kill some time before his afternoon class. His house, which he shares with classmates Ed Douglas, Nick O’Hara and Casey Carroll, is just a few minutes drive from Duke’s West Campus.
The house is about what you’d expect from a bunch of college seniors. The main living area has three couches, centered around a massive TV. The walls are covered in sports banners. In the corner stands a basketball pop-a-shot game. Two 30-gallon trash cans standing near the kitchen need emptying and a bucket in the middle of the kitchen floor catches the rain water dripping through the roof.
The only peculiar element to the house is a collection of Duke apparel — a hat, sweatshirt and shorts — pinned to the wall next to the TV like a scarecrow.
Story continued below...
The latest issue of IL gives an up-close look at being a Duke lacrosse player.
“That’s Coach Pressler,” says Matt Danowski. “He gave away all of his Duke stuff before he left.”
That morning while they were at practice, CNN aired its version of the “Duke gets back on the field” story. Matt Danowski, who made a point of recording the segment, is the main focus, including a posed father-son walk along the game field with the camera high atop the bleachers.
“What were you guys talking about right there?” Carroll asks as they watch the broadcast.
“I think it was what he needed from the grocery store,” says Danowski.
After spending the spring watching themselves get collectively pummeled on TV, in magazines and newspapers and on the Internet, they don’t have much of a reaction to this CNN report, just a mild story about a team moving on.
After so much major TV coverage, Danowski still admits to being a little uneasy watching a close-up of his own face on an international news network: “Some dude in England could be watching this right now,” he says.
But the players’ interest in the report isn’t new. Both Carroll and Danowski say they watched plenty of the coverage in the spring, as the likes of Geraldo Rivera and Nancy Grace threw them under a bus.
“I watched at first,” says Carroll. “But it was just the same thing over and over again. It got boring.”
“There’s only so much you can read about people who don’t know you trying to group you into … you know,” adds Danowski, alluding to the stereotypical portrayals in the media.
The media’s nasty labeling of the team as elitist hooligans has ceased — although Matt Danowski admits he doesn’t speak to Newsweek after its “Sex, Lies and Duke” cover story blasted the team — and their lives have somewhat returned to normal. They go to class and practice. They write papers in the library.
But socially, things are still limited. The lacrosse team doesn’t lead the way at Tailgate before football games anymore. The big parties at players’ houses are no longer. And when asked if the freshmen came onto campus looking for the social scene they might associate with normal college life, Matt Danowski replies simply: “Normal college life doesn’t really exist anymore.”...
... To read the rest of this article, pick up a copy of Inside Lacrosse.
IL Senior Writer Mike Keegan and Art Director James Schaffer spent time with the team this fall for an in-depth feature that appears in the current issue of Inside Lacrosse. The duo followed the players around for two days straight: to practice, the locker room, the training room, a weightlifting session, a scrimmage and even a team yoga session.
They also spent time following several players, including captains Matt Danowski and Ed Douglas and senior defenseman Tony McDevitt, seeing where they eat, go to class and even where they live.
”They welcomed us in to their daily lives as they attempt to get their lives back to as normal as possible, start a new semester of classes, adjust to a new coaching staff and work to build their team chemistry and confidence for the spring season," said Keegan.
Keegan and Schaffer also spent a great deal of time with the coaching staff as they try to manage a team that is under intense scrutiny.
The result is access to the team on an intimate level that appears in the November issue of Inside Lacrosse. From up-close photos to interviews with players and coaches, IL readers can get a feel for what it is like to be back on the Duke campus, what the adjustment is like and how the team is working hard to mold their image on and off the field.
That is false reporting, as Lietoppers points out:
http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/2006/11/ultimate-in-micro-management.html
Check out the background on Olatoye. From Liestoppers:
Without knowing on what Dr. Olatoye bases the statements contained in his affidavit, it is difficult to make an assesment of what value to place on his assertions. It appears unlikely, however, that his statements are based on first hand observations.
In addition to owning the Platinum Club in Hillsborough, Dr. Olatoye is also the founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Royalty Enterprises USA which started as a small consulting business in 1994 and has grown into a giant worldwide enterprise consisting of more than eight subsidiaries including an airline, a petroleum retailer, a vaccine marketer, a furniture distributor, an embroidery shop and, of course, "upscale" night clubs.
According to his website, each of these enterprises operate under his direct leadership. Given the extent of his business empire, it would be quite understandable for Dr. Olatoye to have missed the accuser's performance from the night described by Mr. Johnson and the dates given by Mr. Thomas.
In addition to serving as President and CEO for parent company, Royalty Enterprises, Dr. Olatoye is also the CEO of Royale Air Nigeria Limited, Director of Africargo International (located in Banjul, The Gambia) and President & CEO of RTP Scientific.
http://liestoppers.blogspot.com/2006/11/ultimate-in-micro-management.html
Greta stated that it had been awhile since Nifong had tried criminal cases. Wanted to know if his being in District Court was a demotion (before being appointed DA). Vann responded that it was neither a promotion or demotion, Nifong was there for personal reasons. Wouldn't reveal reasons, said Greta could ask Mike. Greta tried to press for more specifics but Vann declined to answer.
I assume Vann was referring to Nifong's prostate cancer for his move to District Court.
"In addition to serving as President and CEO for parent company, Royalty Enterprises, Dr. Olatoye is also the CEO of Royale Air Nigeria Limited, Director of Africargo International (located in Banjul, The Gambia) and President & CEO of RTP Scientific"
From what I know of Nigerian enterprises, I think the FBI might want to take a look at this guy and his investments.
I wonder what Olatoye would think if he saw a certain internet ad by a lonely woman in Raliegh, looking for a man, with the same name as his wife, who also happens to be from Africa?
http://royaltyenterprisesusa.com/management.html
Dr. Victor O. Olatoye
President & Chief Executive Officer
ceo@royaltyenterprisesusa.com
Royalty Enterprises USA and all its subsidiaries are under the direction and leadership of Dr. Victor O. Olatoye. He founded the company in 1994. Royalty Enterprises started as a small consulting company and grew to the giant that it is today with over eight subsidiaries.
Dr. Olatoye is a visionary and opportunist and that is why he is the President and the Chief Executive Officer.
World Corporate Headquarters: 9309 Royal Crest Dr. Raleigh, NC 27617
Tel: (919) 806-1936 Fax: (919) 806-1870
Email: info@royaltyenterprisesusa.com
Olatoye seems to have contributed some money (only a couple thousand) to the Bush campaign in 2004.
Maybe he also contributed similar sums from other states, where some of his other enterprises are located?
Maybe he is buying 'protection' from a federal investigation of his enterprises?
Is he allowed to contribute to US campaigns, since he is (I assume) a foreign national?
And maybe he is entirely an innocent, and this dog is barking up the wrong tree. . .
http://www.dukechronicle.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=1e1ffc37-a745-4d13-ac27-e2e81cf04a15
Vote!
Guest column
Jason Trompbour
Posted: 11/2/06
In an Oct. 20 column, James Zou encouraged Duke students not to vote in the upcoming election in order to ensure "due political and judicial process." As a matter of both civics and law, this advice is seriously misguided. Duke students should make every effort to vote on or before Tuesday, Nov. 7 in order to protect their own rights and to make Durham a more just and ethical place for everyone.
Zou argues that a candidate for district attorney should be evaluated on his entire career rather than a single case. This of course begs the question of how many incidents of manifest injustice are too many for a district attorney. In any event, in my experience as a criminal attorney, prosecutors do not suddenly go bonkers and start engaging in pervasive and willful ethical violations and other misconduct after years of loyal service. Rather, I strongly suspect that what we are seeing now are bad habits and even worse attitudes that Nifong has developed over the course of his career and which are now being illuminated for the first time by the Klieg lights he so desperately sought. Think about how many poor, anonymous people might have been denied a fair trial by Nifong over the years and how many more could be if he is elected.
What are Nifong's apparent missteps? Let us review.
-Prejudicial and false extrajudicial statements in violation of North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct 3.6 and 3.8(f)
-Denial of the right to due process through a suggestive identification procedure
-Improper contact with persons represented by counsel in violation of Rule 4.2
-Conflict of interest in violation of Rule 1.7(a)(2) due to his political alliance with Mark Simeon, an attorney who has made it clear he wants to profit from a civil suit and has taken steps to pursue one
-Possible obstruction of justice through witness tampering
-Refusal to look for or examine exculpatory evidence in violation of Rule 3.8
The latter is the most serious transgression because it goes to the heart of the public prosecutor's role in the legal system. The comments to Rule 3.8 state "A prosecutor has the responsibility of a minister of justice and not simply that of an advocate; the prosecutor's duty is to seek justice, not merely to convict."
Nifong's sense of impunity is also disturbing. Even the school-yard bully is smart enough to stop hitting the other kids when someone is watching.
Zou complains that the Committee to Recall Nifong-Vote Cheek has received contributions from donors outside of Durham County. Yes, we have all heard Nifong make this complaint. Nifong habitually attempts to exploit or create some prejudice within the community. Nifong, however, has also received contributions from outside the state and the co-chair of his citizens' committee lives outside the county. It is no accident that the spokesperson for Committee to Recall Nifong-Vote Cheek reported that many of its out-of-state contributions have come from lawyers.
Lewis Cheek is a real and not a "dummy" candidate as Zou says. Cheek has made it painfully clear that he does not want to and, indeed, feels that he cannot serve as district attorney. He simply does not want Nifong to be district attorney. Cheek's motives are purely altruistic. They involve no benefit and much political risk to himself. Having the governor choose the next district attorney would not be unusual; 16 of the 34 district attorneys now serving statewide, including Nifong, were appointed to their offices.
Keep in mind that Nifong is more of a "dummy candidate" than Cheek. The Grievance Committee of the North Carolina Bar has indicated that it will not pursue the numerous grievances filed against Nifong until after the lacrosse case has been concluded. When they do, however, Nifong will be distracted and unable to effectively perform his duties and will spend up to a year defending himself against the bar inquiry. Because it is almost certain that Nifong will be suspended or disbarred, he will not be able to continue in office. And as the governor may be choosing the next district attorney in Durham County, the best option is to start looking to the future now and save the community the disruption and pathetic spectacle of Nifong's protracted death throws.
The United States is the only western nation where local prosecutors are popularly elected. In every other nation, prosecutors are selected by merit. They are centrally trained, supervised and evaluated according to exacting professional standards.
For better or worse, citizens here are specifically called upon to evaluate candidates based on their legal and ethical qualifications. If the public does not remain engaged in the process, the consequences can be disastrous. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to help a Nepali lawyer in his efforts to support the rule of law in his country. There the courts, by attempting to ensure that the laws and constitution were obeyed, were providing the only effective opposition to a despotic monarch who was trying to impose rule by decree. A community can survive momentary failures of its political institutions, but, if its legal system is compromised, then it is helpless.
The single greatest thing Duke students can do for Durham is to ensure that the rule of law survives in Durham County by voting on or before this Tuesday.
Jason Trompbour, Trinity '88, Grad '91, Law '91, also has a Ph.D. from Cambridge University ('96). He teaches law at the University of Maryland Law School and legal and ethical studies at the University of Baltimore. He formerly was an attorney in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Maryland Attorney General's office. He is the Spokesperson for the Friends of Duke University.
mark
http://www.dukechronicle.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=5215d680-2a58-499d-b900-de87ed24840c
DA Nifong seeks to keep office amid lax scandal
Bolin Niu
Posted: 11/2/06
Sitting behind his mahogany desk, with a view of Durham from his window, incumbent District Attorney Mike Nifong discussed his election platform and life outside the office-something for which he has had little time amid the continued controversy surrounding the Duke lacrosse case.
Nifong, whom friends and family describe as a thoughtful, professional family man and attorney, said his goals include improving communication with victims and promoting the needs of Durham children.
"I will do the same things as I have been doing so far," he said.
This year, Nifong has found himself at the center of one of the most heated political races in the state. Despite winning the Democratic primary, he has faced heavy criticism for his handling of the Duke lacrosse case.
One such criticism includes the district attorney's choice to publicly discuss the case in its early stages. Nifong said Monday that if he had known how the press would react, he would not have made any comments after the first day.
Despite criticisms, Nifong continues to lead contenders Lewis Cheek, who petitioned to be on the ballot, and Steve Monks, a write-in candidate, according to a recent poll conducted by the Raleigh News and Observer.
Although the lacrosse case has dominated headlines, Nifong said he has been busy planning future goals, such as helping Durham children by decreasing truancy, preventing gang violence and providing an accredited child advocacy program.
Nifong explained that child advocacy has a special place in his heart.
"[My wife] and I first met on the steps of the courthouse. She was unhappy with the way the DA's office was handling child abuse cases," he said. "I, of course, wasn't handling any of those cases back then."
Nifong's wife, Cy Gurney, is the regional administrator for Guardian ad Litem, a state advocacy program for abused and neglected children.
She said Nifong maintains a healthy balance between work and family.
While Nifong was hospitalized for cancer treatment, Gurney would give him play-by--play descriptions of their son's Little League baseball games by cell phone, she said.
The walls of Nifong's office are plastered with photos of his son's Little League team, which he coached. A framed Oath of Office is displayed amid all the photos. When asked about his campaign platform, Nifong read aloud the words from his oath, promising to be fair and impartial in all his decisions.
"[Nifong] is an incredible trial lawyer who is very knowledgeable of law and procedure," Durham Criminal Attorney Mark Edwards said. Edwards added that Nifong's good managerial skills has allowed him to assemble a great staff.
Nifong said he finds his work as the district attorney energizing and challenging after 27 years of working as an assistant district attorney in Durham.
"Mike Nifong's extensive experience impressed me," said Robinson Everett, a Duke law professor. Nifong's familiarity with the people and culture of Durham allows him to work efficiently as district attorney, Everett added.
Nifong admitted, however, that he does not enjoy campaigning.
"I don't like to ask people for votes or money," he said. "I am the kind of person who believes that if I do my job, I shouldn't have to ask."
The lacrosse case was far from Nifong's first contact with Duke.
Both of the district attorney's parents are Duke graduates, and Nifong was offered an Angier B. Duke scholarship to the University, which he declined in favor of attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a different scholarship.
Nifong recalled his college days of protesting against the Vietnam War.
"I loved the realities of the late 1960s when everyone's opinion could be heard," he added.
Nifong said he is also an avid musical performer and owns a banjo, a mandolin and eight guitars, one of which resides in his office, next to an amplifier.
"Being in court is similar to performing improvisational theater, and I think music brings out my performer's ego," he said with a laugh.
Nifong recalled his college days of protesting against the Vietnam War.
Liestoppers is great, but I wanttoset the record straighton this one:
We were all over Olatoye a long time ago.
This is old news to Freepers.
Remember????
Possible relatives:
OLATOYE, OYEDOTUN VICTOR (age 44)
ROBERSON, CAROL A (age 60)
OLATOYE, CAROL P
OLATOYE, VICTOR O
OLATOYE, SEREH
NC Corporations:
http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/Corp.aspx?PitemId=4751338
ROYALTY INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED U.S.A. Legal
SAINT VICTOR'S INC. INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS:
SOSID: 0349765
Status: Suspended
Date Formed: 8/8/1994
Citizenship: Domestic
State of Inc.: NC
Duration: Perpetual
Agent Name: Olatoye, Victor O
Registered Office Address: 1404 Steinbeck Drive
Suite Q
Raleigh NC 27609
Registered Mailing Address: 1404 Steinbeck Drive
Suite Q
Raleigh NC 27609
Link to filings:
http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/Filings.aspx?PItemId=4751338#
Ostrich Farm, LOL! When business formed. 1994
Changed to retail sales of clothing, art & accessories in 1997
LOL He and Linwood Wilson can go on the road when this is over.
Live, One Night Only!
Straight from the Steps of the Durham Courthouse
THE IDIOT BOYS!!!!
PBR, reckon you can find the thread from way back when we talked about Olatoye? I would like to post that over on TalkLeft to show them how long we have been on the job...
Damned straight--
I'll be back!:-)
WHile going back, I found this question we asked---Did we have determine?
"James Kennedy (Teaser Owner) related to William Kennedy
of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co?
Still looking, I remember that thread plain as day.
FOUND IT!!!!
(and it was me, kool! patting myself on the back
xo lit the match patting xo on the back)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1647375/posts?page=679#679
Posted by Protect the Bill of Rights to maggief
On General/Chat 06/15/2006 12:00:27 PM EDT · 679 of 685
Lacrosse Scandal: The Duke Accuser—New Credibility Questions (Newsweek)
posted by xoxoxox Post #308
Customer reviews of the Platinum, Hillsborough, NC.
MickeyMirrors - 8/1
I arrived around 12:15 AM. The same guy who owned Cabaret Royale in Durham (african doctor) greeted me at the door.
Dr. Victor Olatoye is owner of Cabaret Royale
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