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A Wrestler’s Porn Story
They learned to be players all right. From the ESPN story:
Think a wrestling singlet is revealing? The photos and video of [University of Nebraska wrestler Paul] Donahoe on Fratmen.tv left nothing to the imagination… The Web site’s producers masked the tattoo of his real last name on his torso. But that didn’t keep Nebraska wrestling coach Mark Manning from recognizing Donahoe when the images reached his desk. On Aug. 12, 2008, Manning kicked his national champion off the team.
He did the same to Donahoe’s cohort, Kenny Jordan, whom Fratmen.tv also paid to pose nude.
The coaches likely made a good faith effort with the obviously troubled students, and their “boys will be boys” attitude was tested by the gay porn pictures. Both of the wrestlers claim to be straight. Donahoe was their 2007 national wrestling champ:
In college, his bond with Manning became so tight that other wrestlers often razzed Donahoe to ask his “dad” whether he could take it easy on them in practice. Manning expressed his fondness in letters, written on Nebraska stationery, that Donahoe kept.
“You know I love you and would do anything I can for you. You’re part of my family!” one reads. Another says, “You’re an inspiration and life blood of our team.” [...]
“I really care for Paul, and some people probably fault me for that,” Manning says. “I spent four years trying to help him mature and provide very much of a family atmosphere for him, and I’m sure he’s hurt because of that. But he’s not bigger than the program, and he’s not bigger than the University of Nebraska.”
The coaches made a point of trying to bond with their wrestlers off the mat, inviting them over for dinner or to watch a football game. When Manning got married in Oklahoma, he tacked up an invitation in the locker room and invited the entire team. Donahoe says the coach even let him sleep on the couch in Manning’s hotel suite.
Donahue had been arrested for loud partying and alcohol and had a history of being late for practice and skipping class. Jordan topped that with two misdemeanor assault convictions. When they were finally kicked off the team for the porn, they claimed to be the victims of a double standard:
Other Nebraska athletes have committed more serious transgressions — hurt people, put people’s lives in danger — and didn’t get dismissed, he says. [...]
Of the 44 wrestlers on Nebraska’s roster during the past two seasons, at least 14 — in addition to Jordan and Donahoe — have faced criminal charges in the past several years. The charges include misdemeanors such as maintaining a disorderly house, marijuana possession, underage drinking, stealing, third-degree assault, littering and five citations for driving under the influence, according to Nebraska court records. Also, freshman Romero Cotton is awaiting trial on felony aggravated battery charges in his hometown of Hutchinson, Kan., for allegedly beating a man who was seeing his mother.
What those young guys needed was guidance, support and counseling. No doubt the coaches thought they were giving it. That they were shamelessly exploited by Fratmen.tv is obvious and easy. The role of the coaches in the mess is more complicated.
Donahoe is now in Edinboro University and is again ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 125-pound class. The second wrestler, Kenny Jordan, now goes to Purdue University. No word on whether the behavioral problems of either have been addressed.
Via Inside Higher Ed.
One Response to “A Wrestler’s Porn Story”
This is messy… But the bottom line is that there needs to be clear standards set with the expectation that they will be met. The linked article said that there were 14 other athletes who had problems, including problems with the law yet none of those others were kicked off the team.
But I think there is a clear double-standard here because people contacted the coach to let him know that Donahoe should be kicked off the team for posing on a gay site, even though Donahoe did nothing illegal by doing so. I can't help but wonder why these same people didn't ask for the removal of players who DID engage in unlawful behavior, which makes them criminals. These players tarnish the school's image just as much, if not more, than Donahoe. And some of these other players are a danger to the broader community.
But quite frankly the article said that Donahoe had previous problems as well and NCAA violations. So if the sum of his bad behavior merits his dismissal (and his posing REALLY WAS the “straw that broke the camel's back”, then I'm for it. But I would also expect to see similar dismissals of students who broke the law, had NCAA violations, etc. in a similar fashion but have not been kicked off the team because the coaches and/or players were able to cover up their misdeeds. To be clear, I'm not calling for the dismissal of all students who ever broke a law or had a violation, just that those in similar situations as Donahoe be treated the same.