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[bakes]

On the other hand, here's a letter to today's Minneapolis Star Tribune:

My 12-year-old son and I came to Minneapolis last weekend for a basketball tournament. We decided to stay and go to the Vikings game against the St. Louis Rams. We discovered, to our delight, that our hotel was the one where the Vikings stayed the night before the game.

On Saturday night, Koren Robinson and Michael Bennett both stood in the lobby and signed autographs for anyone who wanted one. Everyone on the team got their picture taken with the players. They were both extremely cordial and talked to each kid.

On Sunday, we got to the game early and took our seats low in one of the Metrodome's end zones. Robinson, stretching out before the game, looked up in the stands and -- perhaps recognizing my son from the night before -- picked up the football he had and threw it to my son. Needless to say, my son was in heaven.

With all the negative publicity that seems to cover the airwaves and print, we should remember that there are some truly wonderful sports personalities. And two of them happen to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

That is awesome.

Agreed. There are a ton of really good eggs in the NFL - Giants training camp is here in Albany and the number of players that go out of their way for the community is impressive. The sad part is that there are hundreds of stories just like that one that go unreported while the stories about things like the sex boat make the headlines.

 

[ZJilla]

"Smoot used a sexual instrument on two of the women"

 

[Marc Levin]

2nd part sound like a reporter who found the crimes in the municipal code and found the penalty, but doesn't know it can't be prosecuted..

The first part of what you found sounds like it is more acurate an dcomes from a person familiar with the law.

So what do you think is going on here? Personally, I think the four Vikings are guilty of something and should be released from the team. But legally, what could they be guilty of? It really sounds like the prosecution might be trying to extort the certain celebrities.

I think you are WAY overreactingNothing should be done criminally, civilly, by the team, or by the league.

They are football players who were partying - big f-in deal.

 

[Marc Levin]

If you were to go partying downtown after work on Friday night and got caught pissing against a wall whle drunk and were charged with indecent exposure AND prosecuted and you now have to pay a 50 dollar fine and do 20 hours of community service, should you LOSE YOUR JOB???????Just b/c it is connected with some sex scandal, who gives a rat's A.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

Nothing will come of this, Kobe raped a girl for goodness sakes and he still is playing for the Lakers.

 

[Gr00vus]

2nd part sound like a reporter who found the crimes in the municipal code and found the penalty, but doesn't know it can't be prosecuted..

The first part of what you found sounds like it is more acurate an dcomes from a person familiar with the law.

So what do you think is going on here? Personally, I think the four Vikings are guilty of something and should be released from the team. But legally, what could they be guilty of? It really sounds like the prosecution might be trying to extort the certain celebrities.

I think you are WAY overreactingNothing should be done criminally, civilly, by the team, or by the league.

They are football players who were partying - big f-in deal (as long as everything was consentual).

Fixed.

 

[Marc Levin]

Nothing will come of this, Kobe raped a girl for goodness sakes and he still is playing for the Lakers.

he didn't rape her - not even close.

 

[Marc Levin]

2nd part sound like a reporter who found the crimes in the municipal code and found the penalty, but doesn't know it can't be prosecuted..

The first part of what you found sounds like it is more acurate an dcomes from a person familiar with the law.

So what do you think is going on here? Personally, I think the four Vikings are guilty of something and should be released from the team. But legally, what could they be guilty of? It really sounds like the prosecution might be trying to extort the certain celebrities.

I think you are WAY overreactingNothing should be done criminally, civilly, by the team, or by the league.

They are football players who were partying - big f-in deal (as long as everything was consentual).

Fixed.

is there ever CONSENSUAL indecent exposure? No. Just because I swing my thing while I am at a sex party on a boat with my fellow employees doesn't mean I should lose my job.

 

[BlueOnion]

2nd part sound like a reporter who found the crimes in the municipal code and found the penalty, but doesn't know it can't be prosecuted..

The first part of what you found sounds like it is more acurate an dcomes from a person familiar with the law.

So what do you think is going on here? Personally, I think the four Vikings are guilty of something and should be released from the team. But legally, what could they be guilty of? It really sounds like the prosecution might be trying to extort the certain celebrities.

I think you are WAY overreactingNothing should be done criminally, civilly, by the team, or by the league.

They are football players who were partying - big f-in deal.

I think it depends where the franchises allegency lies, if their allegency lies with the NFL then they should keep the players. If their allegency is to the State of Minnesota (and those citizens0, then I think they should release the players.

 

[BlueOnion]

2nd part sound like a reporter who found the crimes in the municipal code and found the penalty, but doesn't know it can't be prosecuted..

The first part of what you found sounds like it is more acurate an dcomes from a person familiar with the law.

So what do you think is going on here? Personally, I think the four Vikings are guilty of something and should be released from the team. But legally, what could they be guilty of? It really sounds like the prosecution might be trying to extort the certain celebrities.

I think you are WAY overreactingNothing should be done criminally, civilly, by the team, or by the league.

They are football players who were partying - big f-in deal (as long as everything was consentual).

Fixed.

is there ever CONSENSUAL indecent exposure? No. Just because I swing my thing while I am at a sex party on a boat with my fellow employees doesn't mean I should lose my job.

But from a business perspective if your activity turns off a large majority of your potential consumers, I would consider that enough justification for your boss to let you go.

 

[BlueOnion]

Nothing will come of this, Kobe raped a girl for goodness sakes and he still is playing for the Lakers.

he didn't rape her - not even close.

I am pretty sure Kobe didn't rape her either.

 

[Brock Middlebrook]

Any guy who exposes himself in public ought to be hung

 

[Screwball]

Interesting that after the investigation Stephen Doyle (Hennepin County Sheriff) decided to send the case to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and not to the Hennepin County Courts.

Stephen Doyle is the attorney representing Al and Almas boat charter company.

 

[Christo]

The phrase "all that for nothing?" comes to mind.

Wow, indecent exposure. Anyway, good luck in court trying to find them guilty of that crime on a private boat.

It's a public accomodation. You think they wouldn't prosecute someone for exposing themselves in a privately owned restaurant?

 

[hellzbellz]

does this hurt our chances at all of winning sunday??? i mean moes out dauntes out and smoots been out last few weeks,but mckinnies been playin good this year. ill be pissed if we lose from the emotion of the situation

 

[Christo]

Very dissapointing if true.  I hope they prosecute Al and Alma's Charter Boats just as much as they are also equal (if not more so) in the blame here.

How so?

The allegations stem from the employees of the boats and an infraction against their right to a certain level of acceptable working conditions. This responsibility squarely falls on the boat owners first (and consequently the captains). But as the story originally broke the Captains did nothing to protect their employees, from what I recall. They never asked those on the boat to cease and desist any activity and afterwards cleaned the boats and disposed of the evidence.

That's civil, not criminal.

 

[chedha]

If you were to go partying downtown after work on Friday night and got caught pissing against a wall whle drunk and were charged with indecent exposure AND prosecuted and you now have to pay a 50 dollar fine and do 20 hours of community service, should you LOSE YOUR JOB???????

Just b/c it is connected with some sex scandal, who gives a rat's A.

But don't football players have certain stipulations in their contracts regarding conducting themselves in a certain way off the field? Those who have regular 9 to 5 jobs don't, but athletes are expected to conduct themselves in a way that will not cast a negative light on the league/team.

 

[BlueOnion]

Interesting that after the investigation Stephen Doyle (Hennepin County Sheriff) decided to send the case to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and not to the Hennepin County Courts.

Stephen Doyle is the attorney representing Al and Almas boat charter company.

Yeah, I screwed that up. But since it was on page 1 I didn't go back a search for the mistake.

 

[Christo]

Interesting that after the investigation Stephen Doyle (Hennepin County Sheriff) decided to send the case to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and not to the Hennepin County Courts.

He did it because the charge is a misdemeanor and the conservation district has jurisdiction over misdemeanors committed on the lake.

 

[Christo]

Interesting that after the investigation Stephen Doyle (Hennepin County Sheriff) decided to send the case to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and not to the Hennepin County Courts.

not really - if a crime occurred, it occurred on the water, not on land, so it is outside the county's jurisdiciton.

Only misdemeanors. Felonies would be prosecuted by the county.

 

[Christo]

Civilly, maybe something depending on prior notice, but nothing criminally.

Thanks Marc. It would appear to me these employees would have a stronger case against the boat owners (and captains) if they really felt they were wronged some how. The only reason I can see them going after the Viking players is because of their celebrity status and money.

Who do you think has more money? The boat owners or the players?

 

[Christo]

Interesting that after the investigation Stephen Doyle (Hennepin County Sheriff) decided to send the case to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and not to the Hennepin County Courts.

not really - if a crime occurred, it occurred on the water, not on land, so it is outside the county's jurisdiciton.

Actually the articles says because the case is being transferred to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District it is not possible for any criminal allegations.

It's wrong then.

 

[Christo]

Interesting that after the investigation Stephen Doyle (Hennepin County Sheriff) decided to send the case to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and not to the Hennepin County Courts.

not really - if a crime occurred, it occurred on the water, not on land, so it is outside the county's jurisdiciton.

Actually the articles says because the case is being transferred to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District it is not possible for any criminal allegations.

because it occurred on the water, not within any "county's" jurisdiction.

But I don't think the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District can prosecute criminal cases.

It can prosecute misdemeanors.

 

[BlueOnion]

Christo -Welcome.

 

[Screwball]

2nd part sound like a reporter who found the crimes in the municipal code and found the penalty, but doesn't know it can't be prosecuted..

The first part of what you found sounds like it is more acurate an dcomes from a person familiar with the law.

So what do you think is going on here? Personally, I think the four Vikings are guilty of something and should be released from the team. But legally, what could they be guilty of? It really sounds like the prosecution might be trying to extort the certain celebrities.

I think you are WAY overreactingNothing should be done criminally, civilly, by the team, or by the league.

They are football players who were partying - big f-in deal.

Exactly. Too much ignorant hype generated around this story. Who cares.

 

[BlueOnion]

Exactly. Too much ignorant hype generated around this story. Who cares.

Although this may be true, it still has an impact on local ticket sales, viewership and stadium approval issues.

 

[warrior69]

Now C-Pep is officially eligable to play for the RAIDERS.

 

[Raider Nation]

im sorry 4 members, bryant mckinnie

Indeed!

 

[Screwball]

Exactly. Too much ignorant hype generated around this story. Who cares.

Although this may be true, it still has an impact on local ticket sales, viewership and stadium approval issues.

Does it? I doubt it. As with anything there will be a few radicals making noise about it, but for the most part its just bs.The ONLY the reason this is a story is because people just eat up any juicy story such as this. Sex scandals sell papers. But when it comes down to it, no one gives a damn.

 

[BlueOnion]

Does it? I doubt it. As with anything there will be a few radicals making noise about it, but for the most part its just bs.

You don't live in Minnesota do you? I am not inferring that Minnesota has a lot of radicals, just that the few they have all work for the major media outlets in the State.

 

[Screwball]

Does it? I doubt it. As with anything there will be a few radicals making noise about it, but for the most part its just bs.

You don't live in Minnesota do you? I am not inferring that Minnesota has a lot of radicals, just that the few they have all work for the major media outlets in the State.

Lived here all my life. And this story gets publicity because of the sex appeal. The media outlets know it, and will ride it until people decide they dont really give a rats ####.There will be a few nutbags that will protest a stadium effort or boycott the team publicly because of this but for the most part, it will not affect ticket sales, viewership, and stadium efforts as you mentioned. Those same people will always find something to protest.

If the stadium bill fails it wont be because of this, it'll be for the same reasons it has failed every other time. People are over-taxed.

 

[BlueOnion]

Lived here all my life. And this story gets publicity because of the sex appeal. The media outlets know it, and will ride it until people decide they dont really give a rats ####.

There will be a few nutbags that will protest a stadium effort or boycott the team publicly because of this but for the most part, it will not affect ticket sales, viewership, and stadium efforts as you mentioned. Those same people will always find something to protest.

If the stadium bill fails it wont be because of this, it'll be for the same reasons it has failed every other time. People are over-taxed.

I apologize for challenging you, you obviously know what is going on.

 

[Gr00vus]

2nd part sound like a reporter who found the crimes in the municipal code and found the penalty, but doesn't know it can't be prosecuted..

The first part of what you found sounds like it is more acurate an dcomes from a person familiar with the law.

So what do you think is going on here? Personally, I think the four Vikings are guilty of something and should be released from the team. But legally, what could they be guilty of? It really sounds like the prosecution might be trying to extort the certain celebrities.

I think you are WAY overreactingNothing should be done criminally, civilly, by the team, or by the league.

They are football players who were partying - big f-in deal (as long as everything was consentual).

Fixed.

is there ever CONSENSUAL indecent exposure? No. Just because I swing my thing while I am at a sex party on a boat with my fellow employees doesn't mean I should lose my job.

Obviously if someone is accusing them of indecent exposure then it wasn't consentual.As far as losing your job as a result, it depends on your job doesn't it? If part of your job requirement is playing nice in public, then I could see how losing said job would be a fitting result. Sorry.

 

[Marc Levin]

The phrase "all that for nothing?" comes to mind.

Wow, indecent exposure. Anyway, good luck in court trying to find them guilty of that crime on a private boat.

It's a public accomodation. You think they wouldn't prosecute someone for exposing themselves in a privately owned restaurant?

That's usually a different crime - exposing yourself in a private place not viewable by the public is ofetn not the same as indecent exposure (depending on how the muncipal code is written, of course).

 

[Marc Levin]

Interesting that after the investigation Stephen Doyle (Hennepin County Sheriff) decided to send the case to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and not to the Hennepin County Courts.

not really - if a crime occurred, it occurred on the water, not on land, so it is outside the county's jurisdiciton.

Only misdemeanors. Felonies would be prosecuted by the county.

or the State - you sure it'd be the county and not the State?

 

[Da Guru]

First Culpepper give a crippled kid his necklace and pulls a Indian giver stunt and wants it back. Now he is up on indecent exposure counts? Not good..

 

[RandyDB]

Photocopies of the complaints are viewable at The Smoking Gun

 

[hellzbellz]

Culpepper got a lap dance from a naked woman in one boat's bar area, and put his hands on her buttocks. McKinnie placed a woman on a bar in the lounge area and performed oral sex; later, he and three other unidentified men received oral sex from four women while sitting in deck chairs.Smoot used a sex toy on two women on the floor in the lounge area, and Williams got a lap dance from a topless dancer and placed his hands on her breasts.

not even that bad..lol

 

[radballs.]

2nd part sound like a reporter who found the crimes in the municipal code and found the penalty, but doesn't know it can't be prosecuted..

The first part of what you found sounds like it is more acurate an dcomes from a person familiar with the law.

So what do you think is going on here? Personally, I think the four Vikings are guilty of something and should be released from the team. But legally, what could they be guilty of? It really sounds like the prosecution might be trying to extort the certain celebrities.

I think you are WAY overreactingNothing should be done criminally, civilly, by the team, or by the league.

They are football players who were partying - big f-in deal.

Damn, someone finally said it.

 

[BlueOnion]

Photocopies of the complaints are viewable at The Smoking Gun

Boy, I think Culpepper and Williams will get released from their 3 counts and I think Smoot and McKinnie might be guilty of of 1 account each, the Indecent Conduct - Open or Gross Lewdness play toy and oral sex respectively. However, these acts being performed on a private boat within a closed facility, even these counts may not stick.It really seems like a exploitation job here, but regardless I still think the 4 players should be released.

 

[hellzbellz]

Boy, I think Culpepper and Williams will get released from their 3 counts and I think Smoot and McKinnie might be guilty of of 1 account each, the Indecent Conduct - Open or Gross Lewdness play toy and oral sex respectively. However, these acts being performed on a private boat within a closed facility, even these counts may not stick.It really seems like a exploitation job here, but regardless I still think the 4 players should be released.

I agree, this kind of stuff happens almost every week in the nfl or in sports in general, its just a matter of getting caught...this should come to no surprise to anyone

 

[Maelstrom]

Photocopies of the complaints are viewable at The Smoking Gun

Boy, I think Culpepper and Williams will get released from their 3 counts and I think Smoot and McKinnie might be guilty of of 1 account each, the Indecent Conduct - Open or Gross Lewdness play toy and oral sex respectively. However, these acts being performed on a private boat within a closed facility, even these counts may not stick.It really seems like a exploitation job here, but regardless I still think the 4 players should be released.

You're overreacting, IMO - nobody will be (or should be) released. I could see a suspension (up to 4 games) if any of them are found guilty (which isn't necessarily a given, right now they are just charged) but that is the max I can see happening here. The incident will blow over and just be the butt of jokes and such on ESPN whenever they cover the Vikings for a while.

Added: I agree with your assessment of the probable outcome, BTW.

 

[BlueOnion]

Boy, I think Culpepper and Williams will get released from their 3 counts and I think Smoot and McKinnie might be guilty of of 1 account each, the Indecent Conduct - Open or Gross Lewdness play toy and oral sex respectively. However, these acts being performed on a private boat within a closed facility, even these counts may not stick.

It really seems like a exploitation job here, but regardless I still think the 4 players should be released.

I agree, this kind of stuff happens almost every week in the nfl or in sports in general, its just a matter of getting caught...this should come to no surprise to anyone

In my opinion it was really no big deal and unfortunate that they got caught. However, they got caught and it made it's way into the media maintrain. The local media made a big deal out of it. Whether the media was leading on the public or the public was leading the media really doesn't matter at this point; it is a lot of bad PR (justified or not) and the organization should make amends.

 

[BlueOnion]

You're overreacting, IMO -

Most likely. But I would like to think the Vikings have a zero tolerance policy on things like this.

 

[BigJim®]

You're overreacting, IMO -

Most likely. But I would like to think the Vikings have a zero tolerance policy on things like this.

I don't get you. Never have. One of your personalities argues until you are blue in the face that Al and Almas are responsible for everything and another personality argues that people don't deserve livelihoods for being horny in no way related to their jobs. You should try taking a middleground approach occasionally.HTH

 

[Preacher 1]

Boy, I think Culpepper and Williams will get released from their 3 counts and I think Smoot and McKinnie might be guilty of of 1 account each, the Indecent Conduct - Open or Gross Lewdness play toy and oral sex respectively. However, these acts being performed on a private boat within a closed facility, even these counts may not stick.

It really seems like a exploitation job here, but regardless I still think the 4 players should be released.

I agree, this kind of stuff happens almost every week in the nfl or in sports in general, its just a matter of getting caught...this should come to no surprise to anyone

In my opinion it was really no big deal and unfortunate that they got caught. However, they got caught and it made it's way into the media maintrain. The local media made a big deal out of it. Whether the media was leading on the public or the public was leading the media really doesn't matter at this point; it is a lot of bad PR (justified or not) and the organization should make amends.

You are an absolute fount of mis-information...from getting the Sherrif's name wrong (Pat McGowan) to being unable to differentiate between civil and criminal charges (these are criminal), to not knowing that Lake Minnetonka water conservation district was formed because there are many communities that surround the lake, so no one community has juristriction, the district has juristriction over the lake. And the Hennipen county sherrifs department is the enforcing agency.Please just quit specualting until you actually KNOW something...you dog the media for doing exactly the same thing that you've been doing all along.

Here's the info in a nutshell...

> 30 Viking players were identified as being on the 2 charter boats.

> 4 were charged with criminal counts...each man was charged with one count of Lewd and Lacivious behavior, one count of Indecent Conduct, and one count of Disorderly Conduct.

> Culpepper was charged with recieving a lap dance and placing his hands on the woman's buttocks.

> Williams as also charged with recieving a lap dance and putting his hands on the womans breasts.

> Smoot was charged with using a sexual toy on two women in the presense of others.

> McKinnie was charged with giving and recieving oral sex in the presense of others, along with 3 other unidentified men. Obviously the other men weren't charged because they couldn't be ID'd.

That's it for the charges...other could have been charged but they couldn't be positivily identified by the cruise ship employees. In fact there is no physical evidence of any kind...no pictures, no DNA, nothing. Just eyewitness acounts of what happened, and a good attourney will tell you that eyewitnesses are very unreliable.

The maximum penalty on each charges is 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine. Court appearances were set for the players on Jan. 5.

The bottom line is that it's likely that these players were identified because they were high profile players known by the public...

 

[Bojang0301]

On the other hand, here's a letter to today's Minneapolis Star Tribune:

My 12-year-old son and I came to Minneapolis last weekend for a basketball tournament. We decided to stay and go to the Vikings game against the St. Louis Rams. We discovered, to our delight, that our hotel was the one where the Vikings stayed the night before the game.

On Saturday night, Koren Robinson and Michael Bennett both stood in the lobby and signed autographs for anyone who wanted one. Everyone on the team got their picture taken with the players. They were both extremely cordial and talked to each kid.

On Sunday, we got to the game early and took our seats low in one of the Metrodome's end zones. Robinson, stretching out before the game, looked up in the stands and -- perhaps recognizing my son from the night before -- picked up the football he had and threw it to my son. Needless to say, my son was in heaven.

With all the negative publicity that seems to cover the airwaves and print, we should remember that there are some truly wonderful sports personalities. And two of them happen to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

I wonder if KRob has been humbled and is starting to make the turn?

 

[Woz]

Interesting that after the investigation Stephen Doyle (Hennepin County Sheriff) decided to send the case to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District and not to the Hennepin County Courts.

not really - if a crime occurred, it occurred on the water, not on land, so it is outside the county's jurisdiciton.

I applying for a job with these guys tomorrow. Needless to say if Iget it I'm setting the Vieks free!!!Yeah Im tanked right now.

 

[Yah_Shoor_Yoobetchya]

whats dauntes wife gonna think.

I'm sure she already thought whatever she thought 2 months ago when she knew her hubbie was on a sex boat.

Can anyone be sure that C-Pep's wife was NOT on the boat?Or even a willing participant?

 

[BlueOnion]

You're overreacting, IMO -

Most likely. But I would like to think the Vikings have a zero tolerance policy on things like this.

I don't get you. Never have. One of your personalities argues until you are blue in the face that Al and Almas are responsible for everything and another personality argues that people don't deserve livelihoods for being horny in no way related to their jobs. You should try taking a middleground approach occasionally.HTH

Middleground? :yuck:My argument was never that Al and Almas is completely responsible, only that if employees are questioning the integrity of their work environment Al and Alma's should share in the blame.

My other argument is although I don't think the Viking players did anything wrong as civilians in the State of Minnesota, they are subject to public perception which can implicitly indict the Vikings.