Svnla
Lifer
- Nov 10, 2003
- 17,986
- 1,388
- 126
A LB of ND that did not show up in the BCS Championship vs. Bama a few weeks ago.
A LB of ND that did not show up in the BCS Championship vs. Bama a few weeks ago.
KidNiki1
Platinum Member
- Oct 15, 2010
- 2,793
- 127
- 116
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,549
- 6,374
- 126
crashtestdummy
Platinum Member
- Feb 18, 2010
- 2,893
- 0
- 0
This seems to be the most understandable set of circumstances.
It doesn't make any sense that he was duped. The profile for someone being taken advantage of like that over the internet is someone without a lot of social outlets and options. All Manti had to do if he wanted a girlfriend is show up anywhere on campus and announce "I'm Manti Te'o, all-American linebacker, and I'm single." I can't believe he'd be that desperate.
So that leaves two explanations: the cynical one put forward by deadspin, and the one above. The cynical view is that this was all a publicity stunt manufactured to win him the Heisman. This seems too high-risk, though, as he has a lot more at stake than just the Heisman. Even without winning the trophy, he was considered a top-end pick and most likely has an excellent NFL career ahead of him. Why risk all that to try to get a couple extra interviews?
I would totally buy going to these lengths if he were gay, though. It's the Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada setup. He was probably getting hounded all the time: "Are you dating anyone?" "Who's the lucky lady?" "Will you sleep with me?" The easiest way to diffuse that is to say "Oh, I have a girlfriend in California." Once he becomes a superstar, though, and word gets out that he has a long distance girlfriend, he starts hearing, "We'd love to interview her for our show about you." or "You're playing in California this weekend. Will she be in the stands? Do you mind if Brent Musburger ogles her?" So to throw them off, he says something like "She got in a car accident. Actually, she has leukemia. Actually, she's dead." And by then it's too late. He has to run with it now.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,549
- 6,374
- 126
not sure how many people are aware of this, but they had a highschool teammate of his on the local sports radio here this morning (1067 the fan in DC).
he said that in highschool that his home was about an hour from the private school they went to, and that all 4 years he always "had a girlfriend back home" but no one ever met her.
he also said that his dad was VERY into his life, and that after football practice was over, that he would see the guys dad setting cones up because he made manti do MORE training after practice. he said that his dad basically knew EVERYTHING going on in his life and there really wasn't anything that was hidden from him.
this guys personal opinion is that if this is all a hoax and manti is in on it, then the father also had to be in on it.
he also did mention that he doesn't believe that the dude is gay. but that really is the only plausible reason for this as of right now. at least it is the one that could make the most sense.
he said that in highschool that his home was about an hour from the private school they went to, and that all 4 years he always "had a girlfriend back home" but no one ever met her.
he also said that his dad was VERY into his life, and that after football practice was over, that he would see the guys dad setting cones up because he made manti do MORE training after practice. he said that his dad basically knew EVERYTHING going on in his life and there really wasn't anything that was hidden from him.
this guys personal opinion is that if this is all a hoax and manti is in on it, then the father also had to be in on it.
he also did mention that he doesn't believe that the dude is gay. but that really is the only plausible reason for this as of right now. at least it is the one that could make the most sense.
AstroManLuca
Lifer
- Jun 24, 2004
- 15,628
- 5
- 81
Why would he go through all this shit if it's just that he was gay? He couldn't find a single woman willing to cover for him?
But I guess the long-distance girlfriend story (turning into a dead girlfriend once people ask too many questions) could be a decent explanation. For someone as religious as him, a devout Mormon going to a devout Catholic school, being gay is a much bigger deal than it would be for some average Joe. Could cause him to panic. The fact that he's so religious makes me think it's more likely that he's gay.
What would be REALLY funny is if it actually was a publicity stunt all along, but he PRETENDS to be gay, thus winning the sympathies of the nation who get to wag their fingers at those naughty, naughty religious people who forced him to go to such lengths to hide his sexual orientation. He'd have to live his life as a closeted straight man!
But I guess the long-distance girlfriend story (turning into a dead girlfriend once people ask too many questions) could be a decent explanation. For someone as religious as him, a devout Mormon going to a devout Catholic school, being gay is a much bigger deal than it would be for some average Joe. Could cause him to panic. The fact that he's so religious makes me think it's more likely that he's gay.
What would be REALLY funny is if it actually was a publicity stunt all along, but he PRETENDS to be gay, thus winning the sympathies of the nation who get to wag their fingers at those naughty, naughty religious people who forced him to go to such lengths to hide his sexual orientation. He'd have to live his life as a closeted straight man!
AstroManLuca
Lifer
- Jun 24, 2004
- 15,628
- 5
- 81
Correction: It's the only reasonable explanation in which Te'o is not a huge scumbag.
It does not make any sense at all that he got duped for THREE FUCKING YEARS by a long distance "girlfriend" he never even once met in person. I've been in a long distance relationship before (with a girl I actually knew existed); the longest time we went without seeing each other was about 4 months and we broke up at the end of it. An LDR cannot survive for 3 years without seeing the person even once.
Actually, now that I think about it, if he actually did get duped for a long time, it's conceivable that he was so embarrassed once he did find out that he didn't want to admit it. Paints the picture of someone who is unbelievably gullible and stupid, but not NECESSARILY malicious.
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
- 111,710
- 31,074
- 146
well, that's not what I'm saying. these bozos stole her photo to perpetrate a very public hoax.
was your cousin involved in a hoax where her photos were blasted all over ESPN, CNN, CBS, etc?
I know this happens all the time--hello CL dating
--I just can't fathom someone being dumb enough to do this with the intent of posting this image all over the media and using it for a highly publicized Heisman campaign.
zinfamous
No Lifer
- Jul 12, 2006
- 111,710
- 31,074
- 146
and this is probably why he is going to push the cover up as far as possible
well, that's not what I'm saying. these bozos stole her photo to perpetrate a very public hoax.
was your cousin involved in a hoax where her photos were blasted all over ESPN, CNN, CBS, etc?
I know this happens all the time--hello CL dating
I find it odd that her picture was all over the news channels and no one that knew the girl in the photo noticed who it was and was like hey, saw your picture on CBS this morning, what's up with that
Abe Froman
Golden Member
- Dec 14, 2004
- 1,057
- 4
- 81
BrownShoes
Golden Member
- Dec 28, 2008
- 1,055
- 0
- 0
crashtestdummy
Platinum Member
- Feb 18, 2010
- 2,893
- 0
- 0
Yeah, if it comes out that he's gay, it's going to be hard on him the first year. I honestly don't think he teammates will mistreat him, but there will be a media microscope looking for signs that they are. Te'o shows up to practice with penis carved in hair. Rookie hazing or homophobia? If it came out a few years into being with a team, it'd be a much smaller story.
I agree, though. This is now the biggest story in sports. If there's something to hide, no way it doesn't get revealed.
sactoking
Diamond Member
- Sep 24, 2007
- 7,634
- 2,894
- 136
I don't think that the "he's gay" angle is the only valid one for why he might have been involved. As has been mentioned, there was the Heisman publicity that went along with it. A third option, one that hasn't been mentioned yet, was that he did it because it was fun.
It's fairly obvious that he knew Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. It's also fairly obvious that Tuiasosopo had been pulling this scam on people, albeit on a smaller scale, for a few years before he met Te'o. Option 3: Tuiasosopo confessed to Te'o about his scamming and they decided to team up to scam the country for fun. Face it, at 20/21 years old, they're still childish. This type of thing would appear to be pretty harmless fun for them, until it started to get out of hand.
It's fairly obvious that he knew Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. It's also fairly obvious that Tuiasosopo had been pulling this scam on people, albeit on a smaller scale, for a few years before he met Te'o. Option 3: Tuiasosopo confessed to Te'o about his scamming and they decided to team up to scam the country for fun. Face it, at 20/21 years old, they're still childish. This type of thing would appear to be pretty harmless fun for them, until it started to get out of hand.
Abe Froman
Golden Member
- Dec 14, 2004
- 1,057
- 4
- 81
I wouldn't doubt that in the end, it comes out that Monti Te'o and Ronaiah Tuiasosopo end up being some sort of romantic involvement.
GagHalfrunt
Lifer
- Apr 19, 2001
- 25,284
- 1,997
- 126
And the homophobia of Notre Dame. And the homophobia of the Mormon Church. It's easy to see why he would want to invent a fake girlfriend if he was gay and it would be easy for his people to spin this if that's the case. Not only would he seem less crazy, he could come off as a victim who gets sympathy rather than scorn.
If however he's straight and this was done only as a publicity ploy that went horribly wrong he's screwed.
Abe Froman
Golden Member
- Dec 14, 2004
- 1,057
- 4
- 81
Imported
Lifer
- Sep 2, 2000
- 14,679
- 23
- 81
I know someone who got duped for almost a year in an online relationship.. but three years sound inconceivable.
Te'o being gay makes all the sense in the world though.
I never believed he would be a first round pick as some experts (the numbers aren't there).. but I wouldn't be surprised to see him drop to the second or third round.
Te'o being gay makes all the sense in the world though.
I never believed he would be a first round pick as some experts (the numbers aren't there).. but I wouldn't be surprised to see him drop to the second or third round.
GagHalfrunt
Lifer
- Apr 19, 2001
- 25,284
- 1,997
- 126
Imported
Lifer
- Sep 2, 2000
- 14,679
- 23
- 81
Too much hype surrounding him. I saw many mocks having him as a mid-late first rounder.
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