On the TunneySide of Sports August 12, 2019, #756 Blindsided!!
After further review… For 31 years on the NFL field, my responsibility was to ensure that justice was done with integrity. It was never important to me which T*E*A*M won, only that the game was played fairly within the rules. That same principle held true on the campus in my role as teacher, coach or principal. Being in the school environment for more than 30 years, it was important for me to support, guide and encourage students to do the right thing. Yet, young people find ways to manipulate the facts to “cover their tracks.” Mostly learned.
The story of Brian Banks surfaced in 2002 when he was arrested and charged with rape. Allegedly Banks, a promising southern California high school football star, dragged a classmate, Wanetta Gibson, into their school stairwell and had forcible sex with her. Faced with the possibility of a 40 years-to-life sentence, Banks’ lawyer persuaded him to accept a plea deal that put him behind bars for 62 months, to be followed by 5 years’ probation. The remainder of his life would be lived as a registered sex offender and branded with an electronic monitor. Banks dream of playing college football (the University of Southern California, with Pete Carroll as head coach, had offered him a scholarship) and hopefully in the NFL, was shattered.
The Gibson family sued the school district and won a $1.5 million settlement. However, once Banks had served his prison sentence and was released, he was “friended” on Facebook by Wanetta who said she made up the rape charge and admitted that what happened was consensual! (Note: The school district has recouped the money.) The NFL has removed “blindsided blocks” from its game. Evidently, society has yet to follow.
However, the proliferation of child molestation, domestic violence and sexual assaults today is beyond anything expected in a civilized society. The damage done to victims is tragic and lifelong. Given the nature of sexual assaults, we tend to side with the victim. Justice must serve both sides.
Banks has moved on. His dream of playing in the NFL was unsuccessful, even though, after his exoneration, six NFL teams offered him tryouts including the Seattle Seahawks under the leadership of Carroll. The NFL did step-up and employed Banks in their operations department. Banks responded, “I am honored to say I have taken an amazing position with the NFL.”
He has since moved on with his life. The movie Brian Banks was released in theatres last Friday, August 9th, 2019. It’s a movie that will inform and inspire you!
Will you ensure that justice is served for all involved?
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