SYRACUSE -- A surreal Sunday of breaking news turned into one the busiest days for sports talk radio in Syracuse in recent memory. SU associate Head Coach Bernie Fine was fired on Sunday night after ESPN released a recorded phone conversation between Bernie Fine's alleged molestation victim Bobby David and Fine's wife Laurie.
In a 47 minute conversation with a voice ESPN says they've confirmed as Laurie Fine's, she graphically admitted that she was aware that her husband has "issues."
Most of the callers to the "Bud & The Manchild Show" on the Score 1260 today seemed just as disturbed by the latest developments in this story as the hosts themselves.
"Sunday night for some reason I was affected to the point where I did not sleep," says Post-Standard columnist Bud Poliquin, "I've been in the business a long time, I've lived long enough to have a lot of weird experiences, and that's the first time I can remember saying I'm not sleeping tonight and it's because my head is spinning."
"The reason this is such a difficult item to talk about is just because of the child abuse facet," explains Jim Lerch, host of the Bud & The Manchild show, "when you have a sensitive issue like that, while you want to be talking about the basketball coaches, the people involved, and whatever cover-up could or could not be there, the fact of the matter, ultimately I think it's the victims that suffer here."
Many of the callers to the radio show wanted to debate whether or not Jim Boeheim should be disciplined. Boeheim called the alleged victim Davis a liar when the allegations re-surfaced over a week ago.
Boeheim followed up with this statement Monday night following Fine's firing: "The allegations that have come forth today are disturbing and deeply troubling. I am personally very shocked because I have never witnessed any of the activities that have been alleged. I believe the university took the appropriate step tonight. What is most important is that this matter be fully investigated and that anyone with information be supported to come forward so that the truth can be found. I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring or been insensitive to victims of abuse."
Many today aren't sure if that clears him of also having action taken against him in this circumstance.
"The thing that we know is that is that he spoke ill advisedly," added Poliquin, "and I don't think that's an offense (you could be fired over)."
