Jameis Winston Investigation
If the TMZ story wasn't frustrating already, I usually do my Key Games and Picks on Thursdays.... I'll get to those later, but now I am going to attempt to shine some light on this situation that so many people have already tagged Winston as guilty. I have been researching this story since it broke yesterday..... And guess what? The case (that was closed in February) was re-opened..... ready for it? It was re-opened last Friday morning, less than 24-hours after Oregon lost and FSU had a clear path to the BCS Title game..... And Winston became a serious Heisman frontrunner.
If that FACT alone wasn't enough to get you to question this story, then you really are ready to tag a 19 year-old kid as guilty for something that we have no proof that he did or didn't do. Okay, so the timing is the first 'strange' clue in this case. It took 11 months for this story to break. The University was aware of this situation back before spring practice began. If there was any question of Winston being guilty then, you would think that somebody else would have been getting the reps with the first team offense, right? This story STINKS of an attempt to smear a kid and a program. I encourage all fans to read the whole story. Don't sit back and judge this kid based off a story on TMZ.
More facts that you will see out there, and maybe have heard a little on ESPN, Winston has not been questioned by Police, and the suspect description says the perpetrator is between 5'9 and 5'11..... Seriously, Winston is 6'4. Some might say that's not too far off.... Really?!?! Come on.... I know 5'9 to 5'11 is pretty close BUT 6'4? You don't confuse somebody being 5'9 to 5'11 with somebody who is 6'4.... It just doesn't happen. This may seem like splitting hairs..... Oh and speaking of splitting hairs..... Some reports have even included a more in depth description of the suspect they are looking for, and it includes the phrase 'straight haired'.... Sorry Winston didn't and doesn't have straight hair (while at Florida State).
Now let me clarify where I stand on this. If he is guilty of a crime, then yes, he needs to be charged and prosecuted. Until then, I reserve judgment and I look at this situation for what it appears to be at this point. Simply, an investigation that hasn't proved that Winston is guilty of anything. In fact, I go back to my first complaint about this situation..... Why is it surfacing now? Why does this come out when Winston and Florida State are at their highest point of the season. If a crime was committed 11 months ago and the investigation then closed in February, why are we hearing about it now? Where was the story back when this happened initially? If Winston was a suspect back then, why didn't we see anything during spring camp about this story?
You don't have to be a Florida State fan to look at the facts we have at this point and think "this story just doesn't fit". So before we all want to tag this kid as guilty, wait until he is charged and convicted of something. Innocent until proven guilty is the way it works.
Nobody around Winston or Florida State seems to think Winston will be charged with anything. He is still getting reps with the first team offense. If there was any worry, wouldn't somebody else be getting the reps? My concern, ultimately, is that if Winston isn't charged with anything, he is still going to go through so much criticism. What if he didn't do anything wrong? What then? Should the people who helped get this story out there be held accountable for smearing a kid's name and character? If nothing comes of this investigation, there won't be an apology from anyone for destroying a reputation..... And that is why the media is so screwed up. If the media had to stand by what they were reporting, then we might not have some many stories that have no weight to them surfacing. Our media is so quick to throw somebody under the bus, why can't we as a society be just as quick to throw the media under the bus when a story is shot down? If we don't hold the media accountable for what they report, then we can expect to see more stories like this. Winston might be guilty..... He might be innocent. But until he is proven guilty, I support Winston.
Check back later for my Key Games and Picks.
Mr. Zimmer is spot on with this. None of it adds up and the timing is fishy. If FSU allows him to play on Saturday then that shows they feel as though they have nothing to fear here.
ReplyDeleteSomeone is behind this. Why would TMZ be the first to break the story? It is gossip journalism... I will tell you why TMZ. Because a jealous fan, be it Florida, Ohio State, or Bama ran to a publication which they knew would run the story and pay them. Why is nobody looking into that? How did TMZ get this story?