Manti Te'o's Dead Girlfriend......Never Existed?

[Slyfox696]

His teammates seem to know he's narcissistic already, and this probably will not end well for Te'o.

I've not heard this. All I've heard is that ONE former teammate says he's narcissistic and that former teammate hasn't been named. And it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the former teammate was Aaron Lynch. And if it was Lynch, then I wouldn't take a word he said seriously.

Pure speculation on my part though.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

I've not heard this. All I've heard is that ONE former teammate says he's narcissistic and that former teammate hasn't been named. And it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the former teammate was Aaron Lynch. And if it was Lynch, then I wouldn't take a word he said seriously.

Pure speculation on my part though.

You might have more insight when it comes to this... I'm going based on a journalist perspective since that was my line of work for a good spell.

What probably happened is someone talked to certain players within Notre Dame, and the majority probably said to screw off or didn't want to talk about it. Then there's that ONE person who'll 'tell it like it is'. He'll say what's on his mind and say it for whatever reason, whether it's due to him being jealous of Manti, or that he's noticed how he always watches himself on TV.

The fact that he's unnamed means he didn't want his name mentioned, but didn't care that it was put on record. Which is cowardly if you ask me. I think there's plenty of smoke though...and where there's smoke... there's usually fire.

 

[Slyfox696]

You might have more insight when it comes to this... I'm going based on a journalist perspective since that was my line of work for a good spell.

What probably happened is someone talked to certain players within Notre Dame, and the majority probably said to screw off or didn't want to talk about it. Then there's that ONE person who'll 'tell it like it is'. He'll say what's on his mind and say it for whatever reason, whether it's due to him being jealous of Manti, or that he's noticed how he always watches himself on TV.

The fact that he's unnamed means he didn't want his name mentioned, but didn't care that it was put on record. Which is cowardly if you ask me. I think there's plenty of smoke though...and where there's smoke... there's usually fire.

Here's the thing about that though. I'm not saying your wrong, but what does it say when you're willing to believe the word of the unnamed source, who never actually said Te'o was in on the hoax, over the word of Te'o himself? It seems as if you're willing to be critical of one, you should be critical of both, especially since this "former teammate" isn't able to have his character examined for truthfulness.

Again, it wouldn't surprise me if it was Aaron Lynch. I think he and Te'o were somewhat close back when Lynch was at Notre Dame, but given the fact no one was sad Lynch left (addition by subtraction) due to his very poor attitude and the team didn't want him back for next year, he would certainly could have an ax to grind.

Again, I'm totally speculating on Aaron Lynch. But it's hard to know how seriously to take the former teammate without knowing who it is, especially since the former teammate never said Te'o was actually in on it.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

Here's the thing about that though. I'm not saying your wrong, but what does it say when you're willing to believe the word of the unnamed source, who never actually said Te'o was in on the hoax, over the word of Te'o himself? It seems as if you're willing to be critical of one, you should be critical of both, especially since this "former teammate" isn't able to have his character examined for truthfulness.

Again, it wouldn't surprise me if it was Aaron Lynch. I think he and Te'o were somewhat close back when Lynch was at Notre Dame, but given the fact no one was sad Lynch left (addition by subtraction) due to his very poor attitude and the team didn't want him back for next year, he would certainly could have an ax to grind.

Again, I'm totally speculating on Aaron Lynch. But it's hard to know how seriously to take the former teammate without knowing who it is, especially since the former teammate never said Te'o was actually in on it.

Exactly.

The thing is, in journalism these days, something's better than nothing. It's just important to report that an actual 'teammate' said something that can confirm the possibility of Te'o staging this whole thing.

The unnamed teammate thing makes me angry because they're willing to tell you whatever you want to hear, but they don't want their name mentioned. They just want to trash someone or whatever ulterior motive they may have. I would say this is a current teammate of his that's either a senior or is someone who knows how Te'o is up close and personal. If I were covering the story, I'd run with the unnamed teammate because it's someone who has a frame of reference.

I remember the profiles of Te'o saying that he wanted to get to know every teammate on the sidelines, no matter their role on the team and that he was their 'leader'. It didn't show during the BCS game. What I seen was a team who seemed to walk into a fog and didn't wake up until the game was over. The team simply looked different than it did during anytime this season. Seems to me that he may have lost the ability to lead his team. Te'o also had his worst game under the biggest spotlight. It clearly shows he had something on his mind.

Still speculation here, but as I've said... there's something more to this. And it's not good.

 

[Megatron]

I also like how the media is focusing so much on Te'o while not acknowledging how pathetic they are that no one cared to look this up when it first happened. I mean, for months and months THEY talked about this, not Te'o. Why didn't anyone check the facts? Why didn't anyone bother to interview this girl's parents and get their thoughts on Te'o? It's because the media is a fucking JOKE and lazier than ever. It took a website whose biggest story before this was getting Brett Favre penis pictures to get the scope on this. Absolutely pathetic.

Awful Announcing has addressed this as well. Here's some info on why ESPN may not have broken the story right away, aside from lazy journalism.

http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013...st-story-in-sports-on-every-single-level.html

Here's the thing. I bet Deadspin got a tip from a source at the university. You're right, no one investigated it, so why did Deadspin all of a sudden decide to months after the fact?

No one seems to dispute that Te'o told his coaches and AD about the situation. This happened the day after the ESPN awards, so he informed his coaches on December 7th (I think). And only a few weeks after Notre Dame launched an investigation, Deadspin has the article.

My guess is Deadspin received a tip from inside the ND offices. Which is another reason that I'm leaning more towards this being a case of Te'o being a victim than a perpetrator.

Actually Te'o didn't inform his coaches until the 26th, 20 days after he knew. During that time he spoke publicly about it, bringing it up in fact, at both the Heisman ceremony and in another interview. Why would he keep bringing up his girlfriend after he knew it was a hoax? Embarassment? Attention ****e? That's all speculation at this point.

And the Awful Announcing article that I posted above attacks why ESPN may not have been all over the story. It could just be an excuse since ESPN has had stories of lazy journalism recently, or it could be valid.

 

[Slyfox696]

Still speculation here, but as I've said... there's something more to this. And it's not good.

No matter what else happens here, it's not good. Regardless of Te'o's involvement or lack of involvement.

Actually Te'o didn't inform his coaches until the 26th, 20 days after he knew.

Yes, you're right, I had my timeline mixed up.

During that time he spoke publicly about it, bringing it up in fact, at both the Heisman ceremony and in another interview. Why would he keep bringing up his girlfriend after he knew it was a hoax? Embarassment? Attention ****e? That's all speculation at this point.

It's the question which needs to be answered.

But I don't think anyone would have a problem understanding why embarrassment would play a part. And I wonder if HE brought it up or if he was asked about it. Because those are two entirely separate issues. I was talking with my dad before the BCS game even started about how much he gets asked about that stuff and how the media needs to let it go.

And the Awful Announcing article that I posted above attacks why ESPN may not have been all over the story. It could just be an excuse since ESPN has had stories of lazy journalism recently, or it could be valid.

I haven't read it yet, though I plan to, but my guess is because investigative reporting in general is simply not nearly as important as sensationalistic reporting.

 

[Megatron]

But I don't think anyone would have a problem understanding why embarrassment would play a part. And I wonder if HE brought it up or if he was asked about it. Because those are two entirely separate issues. I was talking with my dad before the BCS game even started about how much he gets asked about that stuff and how the media needs to let it go.

Here's the transcript of one of the instances courtesy of, again, Awful Announcing.

Chris Fowler: There were a lot of cameras around you this year, there was so much public sharing of very private moments, which shared moment will you never forget above the others?

Manti Te'o: I think I’ll never forget the time when I found out that, you know, my girlfriend passed away and the first person to run to my aid was my defensive coordinator, Coach [Bob] Diaco, and you know he said something very profound to me, he said ‘this is where your faith is tested.’ Right after that, I ran into the players’ lounge and I got on the phone with my parents – and I opened my eyes and my head coach was sitting right there. And so, you know, there are a hundred-plus people on our team and the defensive coordinator and our head coach took time to just go get one [of those players]. You know I think that was the most meaningful to me.

Fowler never brought up his girlfriend, Te'o did. You would think Te'o would avoid it and simply bring up his grandmother if he knew it was fake instead of just playing along.

 

[Slyfox696]

Here's the transcript of one of the instances courtesy of, again, Awful Announcing.



Fowler never brought up his girlfriend, Te'o did. You would think Te'o would avoid it and simply bring up his grandmother if he knew it was fake instead of just playing along.

Fowler did bring it up. He mentioned the very private moments (as if it's not obvious what was being asked) and asked Te'o to share the moment he won't forget. Fowler definitely asked about it. And as far as his grandmother goes, perhaps that moment with Diaco didn't happen after his grandmother passed, but after what he thought was his girlfriend passed.

 

[ServantofTwilight]

So the question that has to be answered is "why"? Why would Te'o go through all of this hassle, talking on the phone for hours on end, go through the years of presenting himself as a truly good guy and then tell the ND coaches and athletic director he received the call from the voice he thought was dead, knowing the university would investigate? What's his end game?

Give himself an edge in the Heisman race. Defencive players never win it so he may have felt if he added another sympathy card to his deck he would have a better chance. Add to that the fact Notre Dame hasn't had a winner since Tim Brown and maybe that is why they went all in without checking anything.

on Mike and Mike this morning there was a journalist from Chicago on who implied that the passing of both Te'o's grandmother and girlfriend was a factor in how he voted.

Not saying this is a fact, but it is possible.

 

[Megatron]

Yes, but he didn't refer to his girlfriend specifically. Te'o brought that on himself. Again, if he knew it was a hoax, which he did at the time of this interview, why would he bring it up? Especially when he had a real tragedy that did occur. Again, this is a very bizarre story. Facts don't add up.

 

[Slyfox696]

Give himself an edge in the Heisman race. Defencive players never win it so he may have felt if he added another sympathy card to his deck he would have a better chance. Add to that the fact Notre Dame hasn't had a winner since Tim Brown and maybe that is why they went all in without checking anything.

That's a silly argument. This happened before the 3rd game, long before ND was a national title contender and Te'o was a Heisman contender.

That's not a valid argument to me.

on Mike and Mike this morning there was a journalist from Chicago on who implied that the passing of both Te'o's grandmother and girlfriend was a factor in how he voted.

I heard that, but he said that was the tiebreaker, not the reason. Te'o had no reason to believe he'd finished with 7 INTs, when he had 0 in his career coming into the year. Te'o had no reason to believe his team would play for the national title and that the ND defense would be the best in the country.

That argument just doesn't hold water, in my opinion.

Yes, but he didn't refer to his girlfriend specifically. Te'o brought that on himself. Again, if he knew it was a hoax, which he did at the time of this interview, why would he bring it up? Especially when he had a real tragedy that did occur. Again, this is a very bizarre story. Facts don't add up.

Yes he did. You're just being silly if you don't understand the clear implications of the question.

And again, if all the stuff he mentioned didn't happen after his grandmother, but only after his supposed girlfriend's death, what else is Te'o is supposed to say? Are you really saying the fact Te'o told the truth meant he lied? Should Te'o have lied and given a different example, just so you'd believe he was not lying?

That doesn't make any sense. Fowler brought it up and Te'o answered honestly (hypothetically).

 

[LoudClearVoice]

If he didn't do anything, and truly had nothing to do with this. He should offer to take a polygraph. If anything, it would help his draft stock. You know he's going to get grilled over and over again by every NFL team doing its due dilligence, so he might as well put it to rest with a polygraph. Some would question the accuracy of such a test but we're not in a court of law. If an NFL team is going to make a multi-million dollar investment in the kid, they'll want to know what his involvement truly was and what they're dealing with. Good teams leave know stone unturned when they do their due dilligence.

On a side note, does any know if he has responded to the gay rumors? Has Manti Te'o directly said he's not gay, since these rumors/theories surfaced?

If not, then that's suspicious to me. If you're not gay and you saw those rumors, ESPECIALLY if you were Mormon at a Catholic school, wouldn't you immediately come out and say you're not gay? If he is gay, I don't believe that would affect his NFL career at all. He's an extremely talented player and I doubt a team is going to care about that. BUT, if he's gay and he concocted this whole thing, and then it comes out later (perhaps when a team is doing its homework), it will look a lot worse for him. If he's gay, this is the time to admit it and I think EVERYONE would embrace him. THAT would be the ultimate story, moreso than the hoax. A gay athlete (who happens to be Mormon) was so scared or embarrased to come out that he created this elaborate cover-up.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I've changed my mind. I've come to the conclusion that is it socially acceptable in Hawaiian Mormon culture to date your own grandmother. Case solved.

 

[Slyfox696]

If he didn't do anything, and truly had nothing to do with this. He should offer to take a polygraph. If anything, it would help his draft stock. You know he's going to get grilled over and over again by every NFL team doing its due dilligence, so he might as well put it to rest with a polygraph. Some would question the accuracy of such a test but we're not in a court of law. If an NFL team is going to make a multi-million dollar investment in the kid, they'll want to know what his involvement truly was and what they're dealing with. Good teams leave know stone unturned when they do their due dilligence.

The NFL isn't going to care if he made up a girlfriend. The NFL is going to care how strong he is and how fast he runs. Numerous coaches and former coaches have already said that.

On a side note, does any know if he has responded to the gay rumors? Has Manti Te'o directly said he's not gay, since these rumors/theories surfaced?

As far as I know, he hasn't said anything.

If not, then that's suspicious to me. If you're not gay and you saw those rumors, ESPECIALLY if you were Mormon at a Catholic school, wouldn't you immediately come out and say you're not gay?

People thinking Te'o is gay isn't really nearly as big of a problem as people thinking he was involved in the hoax. And since Te'o (to my knowledge) hasn't said anything at all publicly, including answering reasonable questions people have, I don't think him not saying he's not gay isn't really suspicious.

If he's gay, this is the time to admit it and I think EVERYONE would embrace him.

I think it would be the only way people could at least accept him being involved in the scheme.

Then again, he could just be a victim. That's what makes this story so fascinating...we simply don't know and it is so bizarre anything is possible.

 

[Slyfox696]

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 said 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 said, 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."

http://espn.go.com/college-football...uiasosopo-confessed-manti-teo-girlfriend-hoax

So does this balance out the "unnamed former teammate" who said Te'o likes publicity? How does this advance the story?

And how does it explain the woman whom the Arizona Cardinals fullback said he met?

 

[LoudClearVoice]

http://espn.go.com/college-football...uiasosopo-confessed-manti-teo-girlfriend-hoax

So does this balance out the "unnamed former teammate" who said Te'o likes publicity? How does this advance the story?

And how does it explain the woman whom the Arizona Cardinals fullback said he met?

Very interesting development. I'd like to hear something from Tuiasosopo himself.

Also, as you mentioned, what about the AZ cardinals player who said that he and Troy Polamalu both met the "girlfriend" in 2011?

I don't think this totally discounts Te'o from being involved because if they were both in on it, it's possible that Tuiasosopo agreed to take all the blame.

Also, what about the times after Dec. 6 that he continued to reference the dead girlfriend? In his defense, that could have been a situation where he didn't want to let news of the hoax out just yet until Notre Dame did their investigation, so he kept the story going. BUT, he was better off to not say anything about the "girlfriend" rather than to lie.

This thing gets more bizarre and confusing by the day.

 

[CDR]

This is coming from a Notre Dame fan, raised by a family full of Notre Dame fans:

When I first read the initial DeadSpin story, I was angry. I felt like Te'o had lied to ME, merely a fan. However, a few days later, as more and more (and confusing as hell) details come out, I'm having second thoughts about my judgement. As I read comments on ESPN.com and other sporting news websites, it seemed that the general consensus among fans like myself is that Te'o absolutely created, killed off, and constantly lied to the media about his "girlfriend" and there was no question about it. And I agreed, but now I just don't think that's the case.

People who say Te'o was behind this hoax often point to his post-December 6th interviews. They say, "Well, if he knew he was tricked, why keep going along with the story of his girlfriend, rather than admit she didn't exist right there?" That's such foolish thinking. We have to assume the university is telling the truth. If they are, then at the awards ceremony in December, where Te'o was interviewed, he had not yet a) talked to his family about his discovery or b) talked to the university about his discovery. There was a right time to come out publicly with the information and it definitely wasn't until the proper people were notified. Besides that, by the time that Lenny Kekua supposedly died, Manti Te'o was not yet considered a legitimate, top, Heisman contender. And nobody was predicting that Notre Dame would make it to the National Championship game. So, to say that he created this story to gain leverage in the Heisman race just doesn't add up.

I believe that Te'o was hoaxed, but I'm still reserved in that statement. In fact, I'd say I believe that because I don't know what to believe. I want to just wait and see what more details come out as the story continues to unfold. Hell, even a few hours ago, a newspaper in Hawaii reported that the girl was real, but faked her own death to escape drug dealers that she owed money to. Everyday it's something new, so I do think that to come to a final judgement so early, as so many people are doing, is not very wise.

I will say, though, that this is 100% the strangest sports story I've ever heard of.

 

[Slyfox696]

After Jeremy Schaap's interview with Te'o, more and more it seems as if Manti Te'o is telling the truth, that he was the victim of a very cruel joke.

If it is indeed proven that Te'o was simply the victim, will all those people who were so quick to crucify him as a liar and gloryhound come back later and apologize? Doubtful.

 

[jmt225]

After Jeremy Schaap's interview with Te'o, more and more it seems as if Manti Te'o is telling the truth, that he was the victim of a very cruel joke.

If it is indeed proven that Te'o was simply the victim, will all those people who were so quick to crucify him as a liar and gloryhound come back later and apologize? Doubtful.

The people who lashed out at him when they first heard the story are not going to change their stance, no matter what facts come out about it.

Notre Dame's success this year really showed me something I didn't know before... a LOT of people hate that school and football program. Those same people are simply loving this story and nothing will ruin their glee over this happening to ND's best player from this year. That's just how sports fans are. I know if Roddy White of the Falcons was accused of something like this... I'd bring up a tired joke about it every time his name was mentioned in the future simply because I despise him and the team he plays for.

 

[Slyfox696]

The people who lashed out at him when they first heard the story are not going to change their stance, no matter what facts come out about it.

Notre Dame's success this year really showed me something I didn't know before... a LOT of people hate that school and football program. Those same people are simply loving this story and nothing will ruin their glee over this happening to ND's best player from this year. That's just how sports fans are. I know if Roddy White of the Falcons was accused of something like this... I'd bring up a tired joke about it every time his name was mentioned in the future simply because I despise him and the team he plays for.

There's no doubt about it, far too many people hate Notre Dame to be reasonable. And what I don't understand is why. Notre Dame, and you'll hear this if you ask the haters, hasn't been a part of the national title picture for 20 years. They don't cheat, their players graduate and overall they run as clean of a program as possible.

What is there to hate?

 

[jmt225]

There's no doubt about it, far too many people hate Notre Dame to be reasonable. And what I don't understand is why. Notre Dame, and you'll hear this if you ask the haters, hasn't been a part of the national title picture for 20 years. They don't cheat, their players graduate and overall they run as clean of a program as possible.

What is there to hate?

2 Reasons I think why people hate them.

1. College football fans are used to the top teams demolishing all their opponents, so when Notre Dame was squeaking by almost every team they faced, it drove them nuts that they didn't eventually lose like they were supposed to. Every week we kept hearing THIS was the week Notre Dame would finally lose, and when Notre Dame would get "lucky" and win, their hatred for them grew stronger and stronger.

2. This might sound silly, but we're becoming more and more of an atheist nation, especially people who frequent the internet. That combined with the controversy the Catholic church has been apart of the last 15 years or so... people will despise Notre Dame for only the fact that they're a Catholic school.

 

[shattered dreams]

Religious beliefs and their annoying independent douchiness.

I am far from convinced either way. I think those that have concluded this guy did nothing wrong are overreacting as much as the opposite side did at the beginning of the story and as much as the sports fan base did to the initial death angle. Have people really still not learned that living your life like a PTI segment is the real issue here?

We are not an atheist nation. I think we might be up to 5% atheist which is maybe a couple percent increase.

 

[Slyfox696]

2 Reasons I think why people hate them.

2. This might sound silly, but we're becoming more and more of an atheist nation, especially people who frequent the internet. That combined with the controversy the Catholic church has been apart of the last 15 years or so... people will despise Notre Dame for only the fact that they're a Catholic school.

Religious beliefs and their annoying independent douchiness.

Very possible. Though I don't understand what's annoying with independence, especially as so many college fans have expressed their disgust with the way teams have been jumping from conference to conference.

I am far from convinced either way.

I'm not convinced, but I'm definitely leaning, perhaps even leaning strongly, towards Te'o being the victim.

I think those that have concluded this guy did nothing wrong are overreacting as much as the opposite side did at the beginning of the story and as much as the sports fan base did to the initial death angle. Have people really still not learned that living your life like a PTI segment is the real issue here?

I don't know if anyone think Te'o is completely innocent. Even if you accuse him of nothing else, you have to accuse him of foolishness and a lack of good judgment.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

There's no doubt about it, far too many people hate Notre Dame to be reasonable. And what I don't understand is why. Notre Dame, and you'll hear this if you ask the haters, hasn't been a part of the national title picture for 20 years. They don't cheat, their players graduate and overall they run as clean of a program as possible.

What is there to hate?

Television contract, Mike Golic, Football Jesus, their independence, past success, exploitation of leprechauns, media coverage, South Bend, and mostly the obnoxious fans.

But not Rudy, no one can possibly hate Rudy.

It's all irrational jealousy but that's sports.

 

[shattered dreams]

The more I read today I have to say I am leaning the other way. At least in the sense that the story Te'o is trying to tell doesn't make complete sense and seems convenient at best. His motivation for the inconsistencies is still ambiguous though. I am not buying the moron defense.