Lennay Kekua, A Hoax!

[yankeeND]

So the angle of the dangle is most proportional to the heat of the beat.

 

[Jason Pham]

Jack's Weekly Radio show link. Disucsses Manti's situation at length, and reiterates his belief that Manti needs to speak:

http://ec.libsyn.com/p/5/4/b/54bb65...1ce3dae902ea1d01cd8f32d3c05ccac4&c_id=5323801

Would love to know what Tom Condon is thinking right now and the rationale behind waiting it out.

 

[chicago51]

Please tell me what information you have seen that suggests he was in on it. Did he embellish the relationship? Quite possibly. Did he continue to talk about it after he supposedly found out? It obviously appears that way. I have not, however, seen any evidence that supports that he was "in on it."

Why does everything have to be black or white? Can't it be that he was duped and then lied about the extent of the relationship because the media was gushing about it? Who here has not exaggerated a story they told to their friends?

This one most sane reasonable post on a thread that has become total insanity. I totally agree.

My take:

Te'o was not in on it. Te'o did exaggerrate the relationship. Once Te'o did find out he was in fact catfished he likely felt embarrassed, and confused on how to deal with this. We have to remember that all these college athletes are young men and still kids to an extent. I'm sure it was a somewhat traumatizing experience for him. I think it is great that Notre Dame has really stood by him during this. Again this a very confusing time in the young man's life.

 

[zemaniak]

Sorry if this was posted. Too many posts too fast on this thread...more info on this tuiasosopo clown...

Report: Alleged mastermind of Manti Te'o death hoax auditioned for 'The Voice'

Read more: Report: Alleged mastermind of Manti Te'o death hoax auditioned for 'The Voice' | Fox News

Interesting.

FYI: In French, singing is "chanter" ; "faire chanter", ie make someone sing, means blackmailing

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Not a very well thought out reply here. Obviously there are going to be haters that are gonna hate [insert MEME here], but there are a lot (read: most) of people who are on the fence and don't know what to believe here.

Manti coming out and setting the record straight, no matter how publicly humiliating, would do more to help him than staying quiet and letting the rumor mongers continue to spew garbage.

I would say most people think its a fascinating story, but don't really care about Manti or anyone else involved. The court of public opinion rules very quickly on these things. Manti is already outside the window that would change most people's minds. Obviously, not ND fans or passionate sports fans, but most people will move on or already have without too much concern. Therefore, I think he should just let this thing blow over. I think there is more to lose by drawing it out further than to gain by making a statement/coming clean/condemning the perps/whatever else he may say.

If its going to go to court, then we'll be waiting quite awhile for more answers anyway. At this point its Manti's word against whoever else may or may not be a part of this hoax.

This is just my opinion with limited information. Hammer away.

 

[Ironman8]

Would love to know what Tom Condon is thinking right now and the rationale behind waiting it out.

Makes two of us.

Off-topic to this thread, but surprised to learn in that podcast that Cierre does not have his degree yet. Surprising, and disappointing.

 

[Jason Pham]

If there’s one thing we excel at in the 21st century, it’s running off at the mouth. Opinions are cheap. Everybody’s got one. So my file so far has little of value beyond the verifiable facts reported on deadspin (there is no Lennay Kekua) and what we learned from Notre Dame’s athletic director Wednesday night (Notre Dame hired private investigators and has concluded that Te’o is a victim of a cruel deception and the school is standing by its man).

It’s likely we won’t learn much more until Te’o himself takes questions. We don’t yet know enough to talk. But we sure have lots to say.

. . .

The point is, it doesn’t matter what I believe. What matters is what happened, what didn’t happen and who knew what when. There’s more to this story than what a pair of investigative reporters can turn up in one week, and there’s a name for that kind of writing, too.

Lazy I: Opinions are cheap // News // Notre Dame Magazine // University of Notre Dame

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Does anyone know who leaked her death to the media? Perhaps that would shed some light on involvement.

 

[IrishLax]

Listen, I know you're highly respected on this board. I know that crossing paths with you is a fast track to getting banned. I'm not being rude, disrespectful, or anything of that nature. To "circle back" to our conversation earlier simply to put me down or belittle me is dumb and a way for you to flex your muscles on the forum. Congrats, you're approach is better than mine.

I'm sorry.

No, not really. The only way you get banned is for breaking rules. And all that has happened is you made a post that called my thinking "dumb"... I said I didn't think it was dumb and why... then you replied. I'm just now seeing that reply and responding.

I think "anonymous" reports or "sources" are wrong more often than not so I don't listen... you think there is value to the reports even if some are wrong... so I'll stick with my approach and you'll stick with yours. Cool. No reason to turn this into something bigger than it is. It's just discussion.

 

[Irishtech]

I wonder how this will effect ND long term. The media is going crazy over all this.

 

[Domina Nostra]

EDSBS's The List: People Who Never Looked Up Lennay Kekua:

Funny. Some of them did look her up, but then just eventually relied upon various sources (like the T'eos) when the trail came up cold. Kind of makes Manti look like he is not the only one that trusts people.

 

[Greystoke]

If anything, Wojo protected him. He noticed the facts didn't add up months ago and chose not to pursue it further.

Thats not the vibe I got from his ESPN talk with Maisel, or his article. But either way, I just don't care for even the casual mention of Armstrong (the King of Sports Liars) and Manti, regardless of missing info. I would rather assume he is completely innocent in this and risk looking stupid later. Gotta back your heroes. Its part of it.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think the reason Manti hasn't gotten in front of a camera yet is that he wants to let Tuiasoppo make a move first. If I'm Manti's people I'm willing to sign something that says we won't pursue legal action against Tuiasoppo if he comes clean.

Would love to know what Tom Condon is thinking right now and the rationale behind waiting it out.

I wouldn't be surprised if Lax's post above explains the delay. Getting the hoaxster to voluntarily clear Te'o's name in exchange for a Release and his 15 minutes of fame would probably be more effective than any unilateral statement Te'o could make himself.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I don't know...my personal view has always been that if I've ever potentially violated federal law, I don't confess until absolutely necessary.

 

[Kingbish01]

Diane O'Meara, the Face of the Fake Te'o Girlfriend, Must Have Quite the Story - National - The Atlantic Wire

sorry if already posted.

 

[china423]

@schadjoe: Live on @SportsCenter woman tells ESPNs Shelley Smith that man confessed to orchestrating Te'o hoax and that Te'o didn't know

@schadjoe: Two people told Shelley Smith on @sportscenter that man who allegedly duped Manti Te'o pulled exact scheme w same fake pics on family member

 

[Whiskeyjack]

@schadjoe: Live on @SportsCenter woman tells ESPNs Shelley Smith that man confessed to orchestrating Te'o hoax and that Te'o didn't know

@schadjoe: Two people told Shelley Smith on @sportscenter that man who allegedly duped Manti Te'o pulled exact scheme w same fake pics on family member

That supports Lax's theory about Condon delaying Te'o's press conferences in order to hash out a settlement with Tuiasosopo.

 

[Kingbish01]

She is really a pretty girl, I'm gonna start dating her right after I get back from lunch.

 

[Ironman8]

Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel

Watching now. Man tells Shelly Smith as soon as he saw pics of "Lennay Kakua," it was same woman his duped cousin showed pics of in 2008-09.

Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel

Woman says they figured out then that it was Tuiasosopo behind her cousin's hoax. "I believe that Manti was a victim of the (same) hoax."

Joe Schad ‏@schadjoe

Audio of woman who says she knows Te'o duper from church and he confessed to her that he and cousins "played game" on Te'o @SportsCenter

Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel

Another woman, who wouldn't go on camera, tells Shelly that Tuiasosopo confessed to her about Manti. "My cousins and I have been behind it."

Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel

The man and woman who went on camera w/ story about previous Tuiasosopo hoax of cousin are J.R. Vaosa and Celeste Tuioti-Mariner.

 

[ohara831]

Just read that on ESPN. Seems to clear Te'o of involvement.

 

[Ironman8]

Momentum swinging to Manti's side in a hurry right now. If he is going to say something, after all this might be the best time.

 

[PraetorianND]

Sweet vindication!

 

[Kingbish01]

Momentum swinging to Manti's side in a hurry right now. If he is going to say something, after all this might be the best time.

NICE

 

[In Lou I Trust]

http://m.espn.go.com/ncf/story?storyId=8857057

 

[Emcee77]

Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel


Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel


Joe Schad ‏@schadjoe


Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel


Stewart Mandel ‏@slmandel

Wow, J.R. and C. Tuioti-Mariner ... I assume that's JayRahz and ceeweezy, the people talking about this on Twitter (I'm certain of it with respect to Tuioti-Mariner ... her name is on her Twitter account).

 

[Ironman8]

Friend says Ronaiah Tuiasosopo confessed to Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax - ESPN

Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, the man who has been publicly identified as being behind the Manti Te'o girlfriend hoax, called a church friend in early December crying and admitted to duping the Heisman finalist, the friend told Outside the Lines Thursday.

The friend, a woman in her mid-20s, agreed to be interviewed under the condition that she not be identified, saying she was fearful for her family's safety because of the overwhelming publicity the story has generated. In the interview, she did allow for her voice to be recorded.

She says Tuiasosopo gave her the tearful confession and account of how he played, what he said was at first a game, on the unsuspecting Te'o. And, she says, he told her that it wasn't the first time he had done it.

"He (Ronaiah) told me that Manti was not involved at all, he was a victim. ... The girlfriend was a lie, the accident was a lie, the leukemia was a lie," said the woman. "He was crying, he was literally crying, he's like 'I know, I know what I have to do.'

"It's not only Manti, but he was telling me that it's a lot of other people they had done this to."

Notre Dame issued a news release Wednesday after Deadspin.com reported it could find no record of Lennay Kekua, Te'o's supposed girlfriend, existing.

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said in a news conference Wednesday night that coaches were informed by Te'o and his parents on Dec. 26 that Te'o had been the victim of what appeared to be a hoax. Someone using a fictitious name "apparently ingratiated herself" with Te'o, the school said, then conspired with others to lead him to believe she had died of leukemia.

Swarbrick said that the relationship took place online and over the phone. Te'o had described staying on the phone with whom he thought was Kekua for hours each night over many months. Tuiasosopo's friend from church told ESPN that Tuiasosopo admitted to having his female cousin speak to Te'o over the phone.

OTL also interviewed two other people who said they have a cousin who had the same online hoax pulled on them by Tuiasosopo.

J.R. Vaosa, 28, of Torrance, Calif., and Celeste Tuioti-Mariner, 21, of Whittier, said that in 2008 their cousin began an online romance with a woman who portrayed herself as a model. Vaosa said the cousin showed Vaosa a picture on MySpace of a woman from a Victoria's Secret catalog that he said was Kekua. Vaosa said that the online Kekua would agree to meet his cousin at certain places. Vaosa said he went with the cousin to meet her.

"When Lennay said she was gonna be at this park one day, we'd go to the park and Ronaiah pops up and then we go to the gym in Orange County where the kids have volleyball tournaments, Ronaiah's there," Vaosa said.

Finally, the family convinced Vaosa's cousin that something wasn't right and he needed to cut things off not only with Kekua, but Tuiasosopo, whom they were convinced was the real Kekua, Tuioti-Mariner said.

"I just knew that my cousin would invite her to certain events and Lennay would always say she would go to those things, but she would never end up going and instead of her going we would see Ronaiah," Tuioti-Mariner said.

Then this fall, Vaosa and Tuioti-Mariner saw the story of Te'o's dying girlfriend.

"When I found out about the Samoan football player (and) his girlfriend, his Grandma died the same day, I was like, 'Whoa this is crazy,' I feel so bad for him, so I just looked him up," Vaosa said. "I found out his girlfriend's name was Lennay Kekua. And right when I read the name Lennay Kekua, I immediately thought of Ronaiah. Then I thought of my cousin -- that this has to be the same person."

The cousins say they were convinced Te'o was being victimized, but say they were uncertain of what to do. They say they began tweeting their suspicions. Many of their tweets were laced with sarcasm including claims that "they" were the real Lennay Kekua. After Deadspin.com broke the story on Te'o and Swarbrick held a news conference, Vaosa and Tuioti-Mariner found reporters at their door and say there were threats made to them and their families on Twitter.

Another person involved in the hoax has come forward as well. The woman whose photos were portrayed as Kekua was identified by Inside Edition as Diane O'Meara. Her lawyer told the program that her client is also a victim and that her photos were stolen and used to create the illusion of Te'o's girlfriend.

Deadspin.com reported in its original story that the woman whose images were used as Kekua's was actually a former high school classmate of Tuiasosopo and that he used a ruse to get her to send him at least one photo.

Meanwhile, the woman who says Tuiasosopo confessed to her says she has urged Tuiasosopo to take responsibility for his actions.

She said he called her Wednesday as the news of the hoax was breaking. She says he sounded calm but she worries about his guilt, to what he did to Te'o and what he did to his family name, one of the most prominent in all of Polynesian sports. She worries what he might do to himself.

"I (still) am worried for him (Ronaiah), not just him and his family but I know that you can't judge people like that and that's why I continue to just encourage (him) to come out and tell the truth," she said.

 

[koonja]

Didn't read the last couple pages, but saw a lot of speculation on why Teo/agent are waiting...

Wouldn't it be wise to make an announcement Saturday or Sunday? The best writers are out of the office and everyone's focuses on the NFL playoffs. Monday, people will be hot about the superbowl matchup rather than focusing on embarassing Teo. My two cents.

 

[irishtrinity]

100% a victim.. Just said on COWHEARD. Thank God Now take back everything you guys said about Manti.. He is a victim.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Didn't read the last couple pages, but saw a lot of speculation on why Teo/agent are waiting...

Wouldn't it be wise to make an announcement Saturday or Sunday? The best writers are out of the office and everyone's focuses on the NFL playoffs. Monday, people will be hot about the superbowl matchup rather than focusing on killing Teo. My two cents.

Maybe they were pressuring the people who are fessing up right now, into fessing up.

People are such vultures!

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

I am glad Te'o is getting cleared finally.