Demand for Duke lacrosse gear soars

[theHandpuppet]

Does anyone else besides me find this disturbing? What a reflection this is on our society, I guess.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2413794
Demand for Duke lacrosse gear soars
By Darren Rovell
ESPN.com

In the wake of publicity generated by the sexual assault scandal surrounding the Duke men's lacrosse team, sales of merchandise bearing the "Duke lacrosse" name and logo have skyrocketed.

"Historically, lacrosse has been one of our three or four best-selling sports," said Tom Craig, general manager of retail stores at the Durham, N.C., school. "But over the last month, sales have increased to three or four times our normal rate."
Despite the cancellation of the team's season April 5 -- or perhaps because of it -- the campus stores have experienced a run on merchandise related to Duke lacrosse, and therefore have continued to carry it. Developments in the case include the Tuesday arrest of two of the players....

(snipping)

Janelle Smith of Coats, N.C., purchased a shirt on eBay on Monday night for $30 because she said she was sure that if she made the 65-mile trip to the Duke campus, everything would be sold out.
"My boyfriend will probably wear it at the gym," Smith said. "Not out anywhere, as to not cause too much controversy."

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[enid602]

1. Janelle from the article

I'd say that Janelle Smith will get what she pays for.

[DELUSIONAL]

2. Yes this is disturbing -- and reinforces

my thesis that women's worst enemies are other women.

[Mandate My Ass]

3. Yup

I don't resent sex workers, because I don't believe they cater to rapists or encourage a culture of violence. But that *ahem* young woman is taking money from her own pocket so her bf can celebrate and show solidarity with the males who allegedly dehumanized a fellow female. It's a good thing they found each other, I wouldn't wish either of them on a decent human being.

[DELUSIONAL]

10. S-Masochistic unions are the strongest coupling/bonding

[patdem]

4. Duke lacross gear...DNA to confuse..and Alibis for sale

I have not really followed up on this story..but seems to be the ONLY people talking to the press are the Defendents lawyers and they claim all sorts of things they must PROVE in court?

[Mandate My Ass]

5. No, they don't have to prove anything

The presumption of innocence is on the side of the defendants as it should be. I just wish the dialogue, here and elsewhere, wouldn't make their job of deflecting blame onto the victim so easy.

[patdem]

9. Technically, yes...but if the prosecution questions the alibi they would

have to PROVE where the suspect was at the time...that is what I was talking about..and the DNA is probably more inconclusive rather than proving ANYONE innocent. But there has not been a trial yet so I cannot really say. But I do watch Court TV alot..and inclusive is something the defense tries to use as proof of innocence..and I am not FOR proving someone who is innocent guilty..we have about 4 men here in VA who are TOTALLY INNOCENT of raping and killing a woman still in prison because they confessed. I DO NOT want innocent people to go to jail...

But I do not want rapists to go free cause the woman made her living entertaining young rich dudes! :grr:

[gollygee]

6. Sick

regardless of whether they're innocent, to turn them into celebrities for being accused of rape is awful.

And a woman is buying this stuff? Sick.

[Red_Viking]

7. Culture of hate

Considering the cultural toilet flush that's been going on for six years, this is not a surprise. It makes me sad, though, that people find it so easy to hate each other. Like, I hate those assholes that are buying up Duke gear just to show that they think it's impossible for rich, white boys to ever cross the line. Disclaimer: I'm not saying they're guilty; a jury will decide those boys' fates when the facts are presented. But wearing Duke lacrosse gear right now is like wearing a Viva Clarence Thomas tee shirt during the Anita Hill hearings. The message it sends is unmistakable, regardless of the guilt or innocence of anyone involved.

And the poster who said Janelle will get what she paid for is correct. She probably votes Republican, too. Hope she never messes up on her birth control.

Peace,

RV

[KamaAina]

8. How many people bought and wore O.J. #32 jerseys?

Well?

[rinsd]

11. I think it was more the "Free OJ" T-Shirts that were all the rage (nt)

[bloom]

12. Disturbing - yeah

An awful lot of people must be awfully sure of their team. Or in denial. Or something.