Here's a guy everyone can root for

[Professor Chaos]

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7986979/redemption-brian-banks

Brian Banks, a blue chip college football prospect at the time, was convicted of rape 10 years ago. Today he is a free man after the conviction was recently overturned when his accuser recanted and several NFL teams have expressed interest in signing him.

Read the article. The guy's outlook on life, considering he wrongfully had 10 years in the prime of his athletic career taken away from him, is incredibly refreshing. Reilly's take that this story will make you "want to puch someone and hug someone at the same time" is spot on when you contrast the idiocy of his accuser versus the class he's shown in dealing with his misfortunes.

In this day and age I bet most of us would be looking for retribution after being exonerated but this guy is focused on taking advantage of a new beginning for himself rather than demanding satisfaction for the wrongs done to him. Good luck Brian Banks, I'll be rooting for you wherever you land.

[darell1976]

A judge in Long Beach, Calif., threw out his kidnapping and rape conviction last week after looking at a videotape of his accuser admitting she lied. After 10 years, he was suddenly a free and innocent man.

I wish him luck if he makes it to the NFL...as for this woman they should give her 10 years or more for lying.

[eiu1999]

I hope the school sues to get their $750K back from the woman.

[MorgantonAPPAlum]

And why would Gibson meet with Banks in the first place? Was it a trap? Was it guilt? No. Banks thinks Gibson -- are you ready for this? -- was hoping to get back together.

"You read the texts and that's the only conclusion you come to," says a source who worked on the case. "She seems absolutely clue-free about what she did to him."

Just wow!

One of the ESPN "30 for 30" documentaries was on Marcus Dupree and how he was able to come back and play in the NFL in his late 20s, so it is possible. Best of luck to this kid as he tries to get his life back together.

[alvinkayak6]

he should still sue. the idea that retribution is immoral is

you can't just go around accusing people of ***** -- i mean seriously.... are you really trying to say "oh it's just 10 years of someone's life and their reputation. let bygones be bygones."

Try this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ0ew_ZpQTc

[Professor Chaos]

he should still sue. the idea that retribution is immoral is

you can't just go around accusing people of ***** -- i mean seriously.... are you really trying to say "oh it's just 10 years of someone's life and their reputation. let bygones be bygones."
I'm not saying it would be immoral for him to take legal action and I'd certainly understand it if he did but I just think it's refreshing to see someone take the high road in this day and age where it's all about kicking and screaming in a court of law if you don't get things your way in life.

The school was duped out of $750K but this guy was likely duped out of a lot more than that considering the cash he likely would've made as a NFL'er up to this point. And that's not even counting the money he would've made playing for Carroll at USC. :D

Not saying that his lawyer was wrong but it's just as sickening that they guy was forced to plea bargain just because his skin color, age, and size made it impossible for him to get justice. I applaud the fact that he still has such a positive outlook based on the situation he was in. Makes you wonder how many more people have been asked to "just cop a plea" based solely on circumstance and not facts.

[MorgantonAPPAlum]

He did sue the state for $100 a day for the time he was incarcerated, which is less than he deserves, but it is something. It's a good thing he was already on parole when this happened, because it made it a lot simpler for him to seek redress. The "West Memphis 3" were released earlier this year after spending over a decade in jail on a ludicrous murder charge, but they had a difficult choice; either accept a plea-and walk, or try for a new trial (which means a risk that the conviction might be upheld, sending at least one of them back to death row). They took the plea, but that meant that they waved the right to sue the state for keeping them locked up for so long. Sometimes the government plays hardball, especially when there is a potential payout.

As to suing his accuser, I'll bet that money is long gone. No sense going to the legal expense of trying to get blood from a stone.

[alvinkayak6]

I'm not saying it would be immoral for him to take legal action and I'd certainly understand it if he did but I just think it's refreshing to see someone take the high road in this day and age where it's all about kicking and screaming in a court of law if you don't get things your way in life.

The school was duped out of $750K but this guy was likely duped out of a lot more than that considering the cash he likely would've made as a NFL'er up to this point. And that's not even counting the money he would've made playing for Carroll at USC. :D

Not saying that his lawyer was wrong but it's just as sickening that they guy was forced to plea bargain just because his skin color, age, and size made it impossible for him to get justice. I applaud the fact that he still has such a positive outlook based on the situation he was in. Makes you wonder how many more people have been asked to "just cop a plea" based solely on circumstance and not facts.

Taking the high road? How about bringing people to justice to show others that we take bad stuff seriously. The problem isn't suing others ........ it's about how casual we are about not holding people accountable. Politicians can say whatever they want and take money from whomever they want. Our elected officials are compromised.

[Professor Chaos]

Taking the high road? How about bringing people to justice to show others that we take bad stuff seriously. The problem isn't suing others ........ it's about how casual we are about not holding people accountable. Politicians can say whatever they want and take money from whomever they want. Our elected officials are compromised.
There's plenty of justice being brought to people and accountability being held in civil court these days. It wouldn't surprise me to see some lawyer see the dollar signs out there and get in this guy's ear. The problem is it won't be the accuser who will be held accountable because she doesn't have the assets worth going after, it'll be whoever they can grind an axe against that has money. That's why I'm glad he's not chasing the dollars in this matter. If the state wants to go after this woman on an obstruction of justice charge or something of that nature go for it. I'd like to see a lesson be taught in this situation and for her to server some penance for her irresponsible actions. But if you're Brian Banks, you've got nothing to gain from pursuing that and he's got better things to occupy his time with right now.

[Grizalltheway]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8021984/brian-banks-offered-minicamp-spot-tryout-seattle-seahawks

xthumbsupx