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Hate Mail from Readers Regarding
Segment on ESPN, Sunday, August 26 About College Athletes and Facebook/MySpace
On Sunday August 26, BadJocks publisher
Bob Reno appeared on a segment during ESPN's SportsCenter regarding the
trouble today's college athletes are getting into as a result of them
posting pictures of themselves (and occasionally teammates) in
sometimes, uh, "compromising positions." The point of this
segment was to try to help educate athletes and universities of this
growing problem and hopefully combat any unwanted negative behavior. In case you missed
it, you
can watch clip of it online here.
Several readers think we're putting
athletes in a bad light and, occasionally using vulgarities, suggest
that I should get a life and/or die in a fire. (Once and a while there
are things about mom or my parentage in general, but I'm not likely to
print those.)
Here is a sampling of the best--or
worst--of the hate mail that has come in so far. If you'd like to join
the discussion, drop us an email at BadJocks@Yahoo.com.
*We'd love to answer all of your messages personally, but we really
don't have the time and--based on the demonstrated writing ability and
grasp of the English language so far--many of you are unlikely to be
able to actually understand our response.
READ EMAILS AFTER THIS WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS
EDITOR'S NOTE: None of these messages have been
altered or edited, other than to bleep out any curse words.
From: Tom Bruton aka steelhitman
Subject: your website
no offense, but i think that this website you have going is completely
uncalled for. in some ways, it completely unconstitutional. you search
the internet looking specifically for people misbehaving just to cause trouble for them. and its not like a lot of the stuff is really bad,
cause what the hell is so wrong for athletes to hold up large stacks of
cash. is it suddenly a crime to have several thousand dollars in cash.
i have a few grand, you might as well report me to my school. and in a way, you running this website makes things worse for the athletes that
you turn in, because you put their pictures on your website, so thats just another place people can view them. they will still be on your
website for the world to look at even if the people are forced to take
them off their facebook or myspace or where ever. also, it is really apparent on how negative your website really is from the beginning
because of that stupid little scoreboard you have going that is visible right after the page loads. its like come on, does it really matter
how many people you've caused to be tasered, how many naughty cheerleaders
you've caused to get in trouble, how many drunken outbursts you've reported, and how many naked people you've turned in.
i saw you talking on ESPN on 8-27-2007 and saw you comment about the people at the
south of the border party dressed as
"prostitutes". just to tell you, they werent dressed like prostitutes, they were just just dressing for the
occasion. all they were doing was going along with the theme of the party.
(Editor's Note: The theme of the party appeared to be reinforcing
Mexican-American stereotypes.) in short, what you do has no significant point and there is
nothing positive about it. all you do is try to find the worst in people to make a name for yourself. i believe in not screwing around
in things you shouldn't screw around in, and currently you screw around in
just about everybody's business except your own. hopefully some day you'll realize how ridiculous and jerkish what you do really is, and
stop, so if the athletes you get in trouble are actually bad people, they will get in trouble for actual crimes, like possession of drugs or
DUI, not having a good time at a party and drinking a liquid you cant even see in an opaque plastic cup that could be filled with anything.
p.s.
i think that its a terrible idea for you to get a tv show.
From: Rob at Microsoft
Subject: loser
loser
From: JJ
Subject: ESPN get a life
Hey, I saw the piece about you on Sportscenter, great work! Maybe you can start a branch of your site where you can contract lawyers to chase ambulances. This website for you may Very well be a stepping stone for your career which(and lets cross our fingers) may lead to you someday snapping pictures of Brittney Spears and Lindsay Lohan's snatches as they tipisily exit their vehicles after a night of partying. Or maybe video taping Andy Dick as he leaves a club hopped up on blow. Hey good luck on following your dreams!
These are college kids, let them do what they do. I'm sure you did some experimenting in college, otherwise you wouldn't enjoy anal raping college kids so much, see, look what its done for you.
Go to Hell, get a real job, and quit exploiting others mistakes.
F you
JJ
From: Daniel Ushler from Saint Vincent College in
Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
Subject: NONE
I saw the piece on ESPN about you reporting "Bad Jocks" and i am
wondering if your sole purpose in live is to pick on kids in college having fun. Were you picked on by some who played a aport when you
were younger? Did you marry a rich women because how else could you have all this time to look over the internet on facebook and myspace
for bad jocks. We are all people and people want to have fun and enjoy life and not every ones views are the same. Yes we all know
drinking and underage drinking goes on at colleges and 30 years it would not be considered underage drinking and as a society if we
treated alcohol and drinking as less of a taboo we would not nearly have as many "bad jocks".
You need to get a life and let these kids live theirs before we all go out and get a job. That is all we are
trying to do. So i am sorry if you were picked on or are just a petty little man that you have to try and ruin all these peoples
lives because you report stories from second hand accounts from newspapers and other news sites where they will
sometimes change there story when more evidence comes up. Jesus did say "Let the
person with out sin cast the first stone." So please if you have no sin then you must be the second coming of Jesus and let the whole
world know.
Grow Up and get a real job that helps our economy.
From: Nick Mehas
Subject: ESPN Story
So I just viewed the ESPN story and I feel that your company has no right to post anything about athletes in college. I am a third year engineering student in California. You yourself probably partied in college. Everybody in college parties just because they are athletes does not make it wrong. Basically your company sucks
Nick
From: ANDREW HARRIS
Subject: f*ck'n *****
go f*ck yourself..... your destroying student-athlets
DREW Ｆ. ＢªЬý™
From: Rodney " hotrodsbarbeque" Howard
Subject: Man, you really are pathetic
So I left your site open on my browser so that I could come back later and look over more stupidity on your website. You claim to have posted "the rest" of the e-mails that you received in response to your 15 minutes of fame on ESPN. You didn't post "the rest" of the e-mails because I'm sure that you received alot more then you anyone could possibly imagine. I didn't see mine in there either.
I was particularly perplexed by your response to the kid from Princeton. Why would you sign your e-mail, "Yale, class of '58?" Was this your ridiculous attempt at humor Bob? You're not any smarter then the kid that you tried to dominate. In fact you made yourself look more like an idiot with your ridiculous response. Do you enjoy picking on young people Bob? So you think that you're something extraordinary because you have your own website Bob? It's ok to get in a "pissing" contest with a website owner, especially when that website owner has shown himself to be a candidate in this country for most likely needing to get a life.
Just because you have your own website lends no more credibility to your content. I've seen websites teenagers have put together that would make yours look like a small town circular.
ESPN loses more and more credibility as time goes along. Having a clown like you on their programming schedule does not help their cause. No wonder why Dan Patrick has jumped ship.
Why don't you try picking on someone that might be able to stick up for themself Bob?
Are you not aware that online gambling is illegal in the US Bob? Maybe you should be exposed on national tv for supporting this kind of activity on "your website." How would you feel about that you hypocritical jerk?
Picks on young people. Has a website dedicated to catching young people doing things that young people do. I see a pattern here Bob, and it's very scary. I think that I'm going to put together another one of these here websites, so that I can expose you for the fraud that you are.
Rodney
Atlanta, GA
Hey Hot Rod:
I don't have time to post emails from every loser
who writes me, so yours will have to represent all of them.
Finally! Something you're good at!
Bob
From: Mr.Dema Iyals
Subject: VERY URGENT PLEASE
VERY CONFIDENTIAL
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All that is required from you now is for you to provide me with your Full Names and Address so that i can fix in your name as the NEXT OF KIN and send you an application letter which you will fill in and forward to the bank for the claim. There are no risks involved in the matter, in as much as you follow up my instructions and directives as an insider, we will achieve our aim.
Once the fund have been transferred to your nominated bank account we shall share in the ratio of 60% for me, 30% for you and 10% for any expenses incurred during the course of this operation.If you are interested, please send me your private phone and fax numbers for easy communication,and i will provide you with more details of this transaction.
PLEASE RESPOND TO ME IMMEDIATELY.
From; Ali Saad
Subject: get a life
Bad Jocks
You where picked last on sports so you have nothing better to do then to try and sour everyones youth. Get a life Jerk.
From: caleb
Subject: your coverage
dear bad jocks,
before you embaras these young people remember that they are young and still learning. now as for the coaches that act dumb you can do whatever you want to them.
From: Ryan Serena
Subject: NONE
Get a F*ckin life!
From: Walter Kummerfeld
Subject: what a bunch of ludacris!!
To the Creator/s of the horrible website,
Think about it if all you have to do during the day is go around and look at facebook and all these other sites for kids during crazy stuff get a life. I'm sure you never went to college did you? You have never done anything stupid have you? Kids do dumb things, I'm not denying that, but they learn from them! There is no reason to hunt for all the pictures and bull shit that you do. Maybe you should go back to the 80s and 90s and look at all the bad stuff that went on then and compare it. You need to think about it let the kids live the way of life they want and stay the fuck out of it!! Get a life or maybe a new job to keep you occupied!!
Editor's Note: The Princeton Pinhead Returns! Read
his first message below, my response and then his follow-up email. Ivy
League standards must have fallen off considerably the past few years. -
Bob Reno
From: Aaron N Prince aka The Princeton
Pinhead
Subject: You piece of sh*t
Mr. Reno,
First of all, I have to say that you are the biggest loser I've ever seen in the history of my life. I'm watching Sports Center and I now understand why you started badjocks.com...You are a sicko who loves surfing the internet looking for young people in precarious poses and getting into troulbe. I've got some advice for you...FIND A REAL JOB!!! What is your motive? You are getting good kids in trouble for things that have been happening for years with very very few incidents. It's the jerks like you who ruin fun for everyone because you think you are somehow "making a difference" by bringing these events to light. In actuality, you resemble a pervert from "To Catch a Predator." You're a worthless piece of
sh*t.
Rot in hell,
Aaron Prince
Aaron:
You go to Princeton and I'M the
biggest loser you've ever seen in the history of your life? I highly
doubt that. Just look around you today in class. That is, if you're
sober enough to go.
Cheers!
Bob Reno
Yale, Class of '58
From: Aaron N Prince aka The Princeton Pinhead
Subject: Re: You piece of sh*t
Bob,
1. I don't drink
2. I was captain of the baseball team.
3. We crushed Yale everytime we played them.
4. I don't spend my life destroying others.
5. I'm not a senile old man.
Should I keep going?
No one uses cheers anymore to sign emails,
Aaron
Aaron:
1. Drunk, stoned, huffing paint . . .who cares?
2. Well, that explains a lot. Take many pitches to the head?
3. And, of course, winning on the playing field proves your argument .
. . how? BTW genius: I didn't graduate Yale, and certainly not in 1958
you moron.
4. Yes, but I'm sure with a Princeton education you can learn how if
you really set your mind (and daddy's money) to it.
5. So you chose instead a young fool. Good choice!
And no, you shouldn't keep going. (Counting to
five was probably exhausting enough.)
But in the process of writing me back, you fell victim to one of the
three classic blunders! The most famous is never get involved in a
land war in Asia, and only slightly less well-known "never go in
against a Sicilian when death is on the line!" And the third?
Don't get into an email pissing match with a guy who owns his own
website.
Fool.
Bob
From: Jack Tompkins
Subject: lol
your website makes me laugh. If this kind of
technology was available in the 60's, 70's, 80's, and
90',s how many students would have been suspended?
think about it, how many of these students made 1
mistake and they got caught? Know one will ever know
So again, I laugh at your website. College students
make mistakes, if we didnt make a mistake at some
point in our YOUNG lives you wouldnt have a job. Your
friend. JT
From: Chris Manini
Subject: only an opinion
I totally agree, students especially athlete's and
people looking to succeed to obtain high ranking
positions need to watch what they post online but I
feel what your doing is besides creepy, is a way just
to make a buck. I mean you cant agrue with the fact
that your site is loaded with shameless plugs. I dont
think there is a moment where you look at the screen
and dont see a link to betting, buying sporting
tickets or do you need a lawyer. "Doc's Sports
Service" Odd's Board.com (hmmm someone say mike vick
or Tim Donaghy') WHERE'S THE VIAGRA PLUGS??? or is
that coming next week. I mean yea i agree with your
point but your also promoting gambling, so what the
hell is the point of your site? Don't drink and make
an ass out of yourself, but lets put 2 dimes on the
Spurs awesome, maybe you should think before you
post....
From: John Murray aka "Frank Drebin"
(Editor's Note: That's how his return email address reads folks.)
Subject: really coward
really - you're email address is a yahoo POP3 email
address. You're on SportsCenter and you're email is
on YAHOO???? Wow. So - basically you're a nobody!
You're a poor, angry little man - who seems to think
that you're holy in some rediculous manner. Do me a
favor - write me back and show me you actually have a
brain. Write me back or call me and show that you
actually can back up your rediculous position.
You're no better than Paparazzi - you're not a
journalist - your just an invasive jerk. These are
atheletes trying to be people and enjoy some of their
perks. They are not Michael Vick - they are not even
Barry Bonds - - they're kids, playing their sport, and
enjoying college.
YOU - are a sorry little man. I'm going to guess you
are:
UNDER 5' 10" tall
MAKE - less than $50,000 per year
ARE - SINGLE
get laid - less than 12 times per year
You know who I am? I'm nobody. I'm a guy, who enjoys
his humble life, appreciates all people, loves his
family, contributes to his community in a positive way
and projects possitivity wherever I go.
I would never write - except - people like you are
polluting the world. I dislike you and you're kind.
The world needs love - not you. You THINK you're in a
position to judge. Actually - you're the devil in
sheeps clothing. Your website instills hate.
Yet - You won't write back - because like I said -
you're a c-o-w-a-r-d.
I see that you published your "hatemail" on your site
- wooopidee doo! Four messages? YOU do not have a
backbone - you do NOT have a soul.
Let me show you the kind of man I am. I dont' hide
behind anonymous email.
My name is John Murray
I live in *****, MN
my email is as it was sent
my phone is 612-***-****
If you want to discuss why you feel it necessary to
harass these atheletes, give me a call. YOU WON'T.
YOU KNOW WHY - read the subject of this email. You're
a COWARD!
To: John Murray aka Frank Drebin
"Frank Drebin?" That's the
best Yahoo email handle you could come up with John?
I think the loser doth protest too much.
Bob Reno
From: j w
Subject: Publisher Bob
I have no hate for you fudgepackers. Homos are people too.
OK Bob?
Just one issue. Do you realize you came across the most hypocritical P.C. weenie ever?
The funniest thing is that your not even running for public office! (Not yet that is, huh Bob?)
You came across as a shut in queer who would be appalled by any form of freedom.
You was aghast at initiation ceremonies so tame and L-A-M-E.
I am certain not only have you never attended college, but that you never even viewed a movie about college life.
I bet your husband is tired playing "suffocate the hampster in the colon" game with you.
Take your phony self to Blockbusters and rent "Animal House"
Quit harrassing kids and invading their personal spa you stalker
From: Eddie Munoz
Subject: Your a sad little man
I just heard about this website on Sportcenter and I have to say, your site makes me sick! Its too bad that today's college athletes cannot enjoy their college experience, because of people like you. Initiations have ALWAYS been a part of the athletic community. Why would you feel the need to police these poor kids? Were you picked last for the softball team in 5th grade PE? Did you get cut from your high school team, your college team? It really is sad. I hope that your actions do not deter any student athletes from doing what they do. Your actions will not prevent anything from happening. All your doing is making it so that the pictures will not be posted. Your actions amount to childhood tattling. Your a sad little man, and I truly believe the world would be much better if you found a better way to occupy your free time.
PS
Get a real job, and stop being a pervert going through the websites of young athletes with perfect bodies!
From: Daniel Watson
Subject: Journalists suck....
i am an ex college all american in soccer (division 1). i will not disclose my name because people like you only aim to humiliate...find a real
f*cking job loser. i degreed in english, almost journalism, but i wanted to educate myself with natural learning and not take my knowledge from heresay...like you have. anyway, let me get to my point. here goes:
PEOPLE have interests and desires...mostly in the uchartered territories of humankind. unfortunatley, because atheletes are "moviestars" they are subjected to these types of environments. I know because i was there...what did you do...sit around in your underwear and play with yourself...it would not suprise me. anyway, getting off the obvious path, i would like to lend a reaching (supporting) hand to those atheletes who you have exposed. I watched your excerpt on Sportscenter tonight and i wanted to vomit. You have taken the lives of normal, innocent and regular "human" beings and exposed them to the national light of "castaways." How dare you. Only searching for a story.
F*ck journalists like yourself - who only report what is interesting rather than what they believe in.
What these kids are doing is what any fraternity, sorority, or any other college membership (club) is doing. I used to
f*ck a girl that was in a business fraternity (sorority) and she was crazier than other sorority girl that i was ever with. Does that make the business fraternity (sorority) any less socially acceptable.
you f*cking bastard. report this to sportscenter now. i dare you. and see what kind of outcries you hear from the rest of the population. I bet you didnt get laid until you were in college.
Unkown
(Editor's Note: Despite the fact that Daniel Watson's name is clearly in
the return email address, he apparently thought by not signing his name I
wouldn't know who it was from. Genius, real genius.)
From: Brendan Kraft in the Army
Bob Reno,
F*ck you. Your site is absolutely ridiculous and you are ruining the concept of having fun for everyone. If you're a mormon or something get fucked, I hope your site fails horribly.
Brendan Kraft
Dr. Olabisi Oloye
18 cowrie house
Marina - Lagos
Nigeria.
Email: bisioloye@telkom.net
Hello,
I am Dr. Olabisi Oloye, a member of the "Contracts
Awards Commitee" in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum
and Natural resources. Though constrained by inadequate
information about you/company, I am establishing this
contact with you based on the urgency and board's need
for an individual/company who is willing to assist us with
a solution to a money transfer and crude oil business, so
please treat this proposal with absolute trust and
confididentiality.
We have in control a total amount of $27.3m for immediate
transfer to you. This amount represents the balance of the
total contract value executed on behalf of the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which we the officials
over-invoiced deliberately to pursue and shore up our
political aspiration. However the actual sum of the contract
has been paid to the contracted company who executed the
projects. (Editor's Note: Oops! Sorry about that folks! Got so much hate
mail this morning that I was a bit blinded and started posting this Nigerian
email scam by mistake. Unless, of course, this guy is for real and he really
does have $27.3 million waiting for me. Gotta go!)
From: Norma Andrisek
Subject: your a liar
Your website is clearly a publisity stunt. There really is not anything wrong with what these athletes are doing. They are in college, and if you say you never did any of the things they are doing you are a liar. To publish this site is repulsive, and rediculous. I hope you recieved the attentition you were starving for on
espn.
From: Juan F
Subject: NONE
f*ck you get a life
From: stk26824 at Stockton University
Subject: haaaaaaa
do you have nothing more stimulating in your pathetic life than to catch
kids having fun and living a normal college life? do you enjoy going to sleep BY YOURSELF at night alongside your lotion and tissues, knowing
that you've wasted countless hours searching for "faults" of others?
these arent faults, this is the way WE LIVE and are able to enjoy ourselves and have fun. Who are you to judge our level of
responsibility? if dressing up in a tootoo and running down the street singing is fun for us then let us do it. FIND A NEW JOB bc you're
probably going to hell.
From: Tim Lyons
Subject: your opinion doesn't matter!
The Athletes in these pictures are being victimized by the internet because of you. There pictures are in private community's that can be seen by other students. Who are you to take their personal life and throw it on your own web site with a caption. Who are you to write your opinion next to a picture that you have no idea about. A pictures worth a thousand words not just the ones that your sick mind comes up with. People are innocent until proven guilty so what justifys your incredibly inappropriate web site.
From: Chris James
Subject: Get A Life
I can't believe you would actually take the time to peruse through people's
myspace/facebook accounts looking for suspect pictures. That is one of the lamest things I have ever seen. Who gives you the right, Almighty One, to interfere and judge other's lives. Why pick on only athletes? I do not condone underage drinking or racial loaded material, but if the athletes are of drinking age then why can't they have got out and get drunk without worrying that some a-hole is looking on their myspace pages for some "juicy" photos. When I was a student-athlete the whole student-athlete population had a higher GPA than all of the student body combined. That means we were taking care of business off the field, so why can't we also have fun in our spare time. I think the non athletes probably doing much worse things than the student-athlete population. Do you think that just athletes partake in these activities, you are sadly mistaken my friend. This is not a pressing social issue, you should put your efforts into something that actually matters. You have too much time on your hands, GET A LIFE!!!
From: CJ
Subject: NONE
You guys were the kids at home on a weekend night in
college weren't ya? It amazes me how much time and
effort people will put into bringing others down in
the prime of their lives. You must be proud.
From: John Peterson
Subject: Too Bad
People have to triumph in other peoples mistakes - I’m sure you’ve never made one! – Get a Life!
This website is an embarrassment to the 5th amendment.
From: pj kubik
Subject: espn
I watched Outside the Lines on ESPN this morning and it had mentioned your website. What do you get at finding pictures of college athletes having a good time? Its not fair for you to spend all your time looking at myspace pages and facebook pages just to get your jolly's. You potentially ruined careers of athletes like the Iowa football players you exploited last week. Obviously you never went to college or if you did you wasted your time doing nothing with yourself. Get a life and stop surfing the web for your next story.
From: Mathew D. Finkelson-Reece at Rutgers
Subject: NONE:
your a f*cking crumb get a life and a real job rather than exploit young minors and adults who are doing something with their life
From: Joshua W. Cohen at Dartmouth College
Subject: NONE
Bob Reno,
Although, technically, you have every right to do what you're
doing.... I just hope you enjoy destroying the lives of young athletes.
Thanks
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