'09 HI LB Manti Te'o (Notre Dame Man)

[du Lac]

Love that dude. He’s always been a good soul. There aren’t many people that naive bc there aren’t many people that were like him - kind, gentle, approachable, famous, and thus an easy target for scum. Not many people grow up in a Mormon community in Hawaii. The press reaction to tear him down was a show of the shit culture of mainland and media crazed America. The degenerate pervert that messed with him is the antithesis of Manti Te’o. One thing he said brought a tear to my eye is that he has to love the people that love him like the people in the stands with the leis on. I was in that stadium swinging one of them. I’ll always be a Manti fan. I felt crushed when they made fun of him. I took it personally at that time.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

My favorite player since Bettis.

Quality Man then a quality player.

Got did dirty and I'm not a 100% convinced this transition isn't just an excuse to justify what was done to Manti.

 

[du Lac]

Manti did what Keon still has an opportunity to do. USC was like Alabama when Manti chose us over them. He was already a legend in my mind when he did that alone. Then when he rocked out at ND so consistently and with such passion, he was a hero here.

He was. But he was also unique and culturally different. I don’t see any similarities in this case.

 

[SoIll]

The whole situation was and still is fucked. Dude was never the same guy. Lost the swagger and edge that made him great. (also the fact that true Mike LB were starting to be irrelevant) That said, when Tuiasosopo got on the phone and said "It's me" and got a true picture from the girls identity he had been using, my mind exploded. Sick mf

 

[Irish#1]

I've only watched the first episode, but it appears to me, the producers are trying to make both out as victims. That dude cared about himself and no one else. Why else would you keep up the charade after you keep saying you know it's wrong?

 

[ACamp1900]

Manti did what Keon still has an opportunity to do. USC was like Alabama when Manti chose us over them. He was already a legend in my mind when he did that alone. Then when he rocked out at ND so consistently and with such passion, he was a hero here.

I still remember his commitment day,… someone here wanted a text update and thought I was joking about him going to ND. I forget who it was but maybe they’re still active here???

 

[IrishTusker]

It was an interesting documentary. I think when you grow up in a high-trust type of environment (e.g., LDS) that makes it harder to suppose this sort of thing would happen.

 

[IrishLion]

Haven't had a chance to watch it... did they bring up Deadspin or get a comment from Drew Magary?

Magary and his minions at Deadspin wanted nothing more than for Te'o and ND to be conmen trying to cash in on a magical season, and they played it that way in the big article that broke the story open... but then never addressed it again after it became clear that Manti was one of the first high-profile 'catfish' situations.

 

[greyhammer90]

Haven't had a chance to watch it... did they bring up Deadspin or get a comment from Drew Magary?

Magary and his minions at Deadspin wanted nothing more than for Te'o and ND to be conmen trying to cash in on a magical season, and they played it that way in the big article that broke the story open... but then never addressed it again after it became clear that Manti was one of the first high-profile 'catfish' situations.

Yep. Fuck deadspin forever.

 

[Irish#1]

On a side note, Alex is as hot as ever.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I was disappointed with the somewhat sympathetic edit he received.

That said, I think the doc is way more sympathetic to Manti and what he went through. Also not to excuse Manti’s naivety at the time, the doc also does a good job establishing the complexity of the con as well as the unique upbringing of Manti that made him a target.

Haven’t watched yet but plan to soon. If I know ND haters (& I think we all do), they’ll posit that this doc was a spin job by ND to reverse the embarrassement to both Manti & the University after all this broke.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I still remember his commitment day,… someone here wanted a text update and thought I was joking about him going to ND. I forget who it was but maybe they’re still active here???

I remember as well. Ran to my car to listen to his announcement on the radio. Was floored that it was ND. Alas, it was too little too late for the Charlie Weis regime.

 

[dublinirish]

i've watched 30 seconds and am already cringing...

 

[Luckylucci]

The whole situation was and still is fucked. Dude was never the same guy. Lost the swagger and edge that made him great. (also the fact that true Mike LB were starting to be irrelevant) That said, when Tuiasosopo got on the phone and said "It's me" and got a true picture from the girls identity he had been using, my mind exploded. Sick mf

Watched the first of the two episodes. Sick AF. I guess I never realized how far that sick mother fucker went to play this out. Very interesting and I'm glad they did it. But, could also do without the clear sympathy towards the Tuiasosopo's "situation".

Bringing his little sister into the con. Faking like he was laying in a hospital bed, heavy breathing, while Manti would talk to her.

 

[laughingirish90]

Terrible take. He did nothing wrong besides being too trusting and giving. Deadspin broke an article without all the facts and the mainstream media ran with it and never did any research. He was a victim but treated as a villain. This trans asshole cost him millions. He went from a high first round pick to the second round. If you watch the documentary you will see he also caused Teo huge mental issues (doubting everything he did) that hurt his play and shortened his career.

i'm not putting Manti down but just basically saing that i'm not going to shed a lot of tears for a guy who got a great degree at a school that most kids can't get into then went on to make millions playing in the NFL

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

i've watched 30 seconds and am already cringing...

This is why I don't want to. I really don't want to relive this. It was so bizarre and upsetting to me at the time.

I still remember his commitment day,… someone here wanted a text update and thought I was joking about him going to ND. I forget who it was but maybe they’re still active here???

I think it surprised everyone. I know I was. I watched it on TV. Credit to Brian Polian. He built up some frequent flyer miles to Hawaii to get that done.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Haven't had a chance to watch it... did they bring up Deadspin or get a comment from Drew Magary?

Magary and his minions at Deadspin wanted nothing more than for Te'o and ND to be conmen trying to cash in on a magical season, and they played it that way in the big article that broke the story open... but then never addressed it again after it became clear that Manti was one of the first high-profile 'catfish' situations.

The second episode has both Jack Dickey and Tim Burke quite a bit, who co-wrote the deadspin article. Basically said it wasn't anything against Manti/ND, their intent was to expose ESPN for not fact checking.

 

[ACamp1900]

The second episode has both Jack Dickey and Tim Burke quite a bit, who co-wrote the deadspin article. Basically said it wasn't anything against Manti/ND, their intent was to expose ESPN for not fact checking.

Yeah, they totally went after ESPN,…..

 

[Luckylucci]

The second episode has both Jack Dickey and Tim Burke quite a bit, who co-wrote the deadspin article. Basically said it wasn't anything against Manti/ND, their intent was to expose ESPN for not fact checking.

Wait, I’m confused, I thought it was dead spin that didn’t have all the facts. My memory of it, at that time, is shaky at best.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Wait, I’m confused, I thought it was dead spin that didn’t have all the facts. My memory of it, at that time, is shaky at best.

They didn't have all the facts either, but both stated they had to publish what they had when they did because they didn't want someone to beat them to it.

 

[du Lac]

Haven't had a chance to watch it... did they bring up Deadspin or get a comment from Drew Magary?

Magary and his minions at Deadspin wanted nothing more than for Te'o and ND to be conmen trying to cash in on a magical season, and they played it that way in the big article that broke the story open... but then never addressed it again after it became clear that Manti was one of the first high-profile 'catfish' situations.

They were made out to look like the good guys in my opinion. Same with the creeper. I will say they did a good job of getting Manti off the hook, but I would’ve liked to have seen it be less of a well it’s more okay now since he’s now a trans “woman” thing, which to me is an attempt to or at least will be able to divert some anger away from what he did. Some like me don’t give a damn if he’s trans. That tool should be in jail.

 

[FWIrish4]

i'm not putting Manti down but just basically saing that i'm not going to shed a lot of tears for a guy who got a great degree at a school that most kids can't get into then went on to make millions playing in the NFL

Damn man have a little empathy he’s still a human being that got his entire reputation tarnished by an incredibly terrible person.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Just finished watching
I think I literally learned zero new info other than

1) Damn, Brian Teo lost a ton of weight and looks good.
2) damn, ND used to look small and glad that Longos gone

 

[Henges24]

Tuiososopo is light on her feet

 

[SonofOahu]

Manti, is, was, and forever will be my favorite Domer of all time. He is also the best player I've ever watched in Hawaii. The only guy who came close to dominating a game like he did was Botelho in his junior year, but Manti also played RB and did it every game.

I remember that commitment day. It was crazy. No joke, he was going to USC; I talked to his coach about a week before. Totally blew my mind.

 

[IrishBoognish]

Watched the first episode and I feel it was fantastic.

Fantastic in the way that I hope I'll never have to explain to anyone again who the victim was here.

Manti comes off as who he is. An incredibly good human being who was sheltered through a culture at home that made him an easy target.

"Lenay" is an awful awful awful human being.

I say that as someone who has ties with and is an ally of the queer/trans community.

Being a horrible person is just that. Being a horrible person. We all struggle with our identities at times in our lives... but I'd dare anyone to find someone so hurtful while taking so little responsibility.

"Lenay" tried to convince the camera she is worthy of sympathy, even thanks for helping Manti "center" through the last stretch of the 2012 season. She just manages to come off as a sociopath, even if you are an ally of LGBTQ people. I think she does a disservice to the community by feeding into the cliches.

Awful is awful. Fuck her. She should have served time.


I cried out of both eyes. Lol... Seriously. That hurt.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Again, learned nothing knew. But I loved Ronaniahs "victimization" card reaction about how he felt after Manti released the voicemails "now I have to talk to Dr Phil about this too??"

Destroys a good man's life. Cries when she has to answer a question about his voice on a voicemail.

Gtfo

 

[Irish#1]

Awful is awful. Fuck her. She should have served time.

Hard pass for me.

 

[Irish#1]

Deadspins excuse of beating everyone else is BS. It sounded to me like ESPN and the others weren't really going to do a follow up. I don't think ESPN's ego would allow them to admit they screwed up. Deadspin was just trying to gain some credibility.

The fact that this affected his NFL career goes to show how deep and considerate of a person Manti is. I have no sympathy for Ronaniah.

 

[IrishLion]

The second episode has both Jack Dickey and Tim Burke quite a bit, who co-wrote the deadspin article. Basically said it wasn't anything against Manti/ND, their intent was to expose ESPN for not fact checking.

That's bullshit to the highest degree, and I'm pissed that they seem to be getting off in that regard. Their original piece had ONE line of media criticism, and even that line was more about Notre Dame controlling the media, than it was about criticizing the media. They were trying to make a statement about the ND media machine, and discredit Manti as a fraud.

The whole point of their piece was to make Manti and ND look complicit in the hoax. They had NO IDEA it was a catfish situation. They saw a dude at a university they both dislike (both are on record as ND haters) getting publicity, and went after him as soon as the story seemed funny. They get away with it because they edited the first cut of their story, but the whole piece lead up to a conclusion that mentioned an anonymous source saying Te'o was in on it.

Manti was a victim, but they painted him as a villain, and they knew exactly what they were doing. Fuck Dickey and Burke forever and always.