Posted on 04/20/2006 10:34:03 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. -- They grew up in privileged surroundings in suburbs of New York City.
Collin Finnerty of Long Island and Reade Seligmann of New Jersey both come from a world of golf courses and multimillion-dollar homes and were educated at exclusive all-boys Catholic prep schools. Their paths merged after the high school lacrosse stars won admission to Duke University, and continued their athletic and academic careers.
On Tuesday, they stood as co-defendants, accused of raping a stripper at an off-campus party in Durham, N.C.
Defenders quickly came forward at both of their high schools. Finnerty, 19, was described as a good student and athlete who was never in any trouble, while 20-year-old Seligmann was remembered as a kid incapable of committing such a heinous act.
"Knowing Reade Seligmann as well as we do here at Delbarton, I believe him innocent of the charges," said the Rev. Luke L. Travers, headmaster at Seligmann's $22,500-a-year high school. "The hearts and prayers of our community go out to Reade and his family, the woman who made the accusations, the players on the Duke lacrosse team and all their families."
At Chaminade High School on Long Island, where Finnerty was among the 1,600 students, his former lacrosse coach said the young man "really was never in any trouble. Basically, more of a quiet kid."
Jack Moran, the Chaminade lacrosse coach for 28 years, recalled Finnerty as an A student and a good teammate.
"Collin obviously was a very good player," Moran said before practice Tuesday. "He was good enough to play at Duke. He was a good student. ... Obviously, a good enough student to qualify academically for Duke."
An education at Chaminade cost $6,670 a year in regular tuition, while students in the elite collegiate program paid more than $23,000 annually.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"Whatever happened to being innocent until proven guilty?"
The "holier-that-thous" could care less about that. They sinned so whatever happens to them, they deserve it.
Yes, the Finnerty family is quite well off. I was objecting to the characterization based on the Garden City - Chaminade connection.
As far as what drunken young men, regardless of wealth, are capable of, one never knows.
That said. I think the accusations are false in this case.
Assuming that both are provably not involved makes me conclude that she used some unknown method to pick her suspects. I believe that the chance that she would randomly pick the two with the most money is 46*45/2 or just a little more than a thousand to one. A lucky "guess" indeed.
Most guys who can afford a stripper have more money than the stripper. Hence, scream rape and sue.
My brother attended St. Mary's in Manhassett, we did not come from money either. Maybe my parents are just holding out until we're mature enough to handle it.
There are too many holes in this story. Plus why is the lawyers of the Duke players so aggressive unless this case is a slam-dunk!
I grew up in Port Washington. My brother is NYPD, he has toddlers but I know he will be sending them to catholic school. I believe that both of those boys are wealthy and yes they do live in beautiful homes, God forbid you'd want to try to give your family a comfortable. A million dollar home on Long Island is a 300,000 home in just about any other place in the country.
I meant to say a comfortable life.
Ain't that the truth.
By the way, depending on how the media wished to portray me, my home could either be described as:
1) A modest home in a working-class neighborhood
or
2) A home located on Long Island's toney north shore on a street that features a number of multi-million-dollar homes.
It's incredibly easy to slant a story.
"What kind of sick freak would use their talents to make thmeselves wealthy and provide for their children??"
Yeah really! I've known some kids of rich parents, that worked after school and were taught the work ethnic. Leftist news media has been calling these boys, Privileged. Why not just call them rich kids! If their parents want to pay for their education and give them money, it should be their privilege and constitution right to do so, dadgumit!! Whew!!
"Duke Lacrosse has become this year's Natalee Holloway story. It's overkill when FNC devotes about half of its 9 PM to 11 PM time slot on this when an update could be provided in three minutes. There are so many more pressing stories that need to be covered."
The dumb demo DA played the race baiting card and caused a legal media political circus; presumption of guilt. Then the idiot, President Brodhead, cancelled the season with zero evidence of a crime!! Duke really needs to move the school somewhere else, but that would take too much money!!!
"Ok, I'll say it. I don't think she's telling the truth and it wouldn't be a stretch that she looked at their daddy's money. First, there was no DNA match and then at least one of the guys she ID'ed has what seems to be an air tight alibi.
My brother goes to Duke. Anyway, this is one of the sickest things I've ever seen. The media is out to "lynch" the lacrosse team before all the facts are out for everyone to see.
What a crying shame."
Exactly!!
"Whatever happened to being innocent until proven guilty?
Well, that's the crux of the matter here.
The media is not only proceeding on the assumption that they are guilty - which they did not do with Zacarias Moussaoui even after he openly admitted to investigators that he was a proud member of al-Qaeda - but they are tarnishing the reputation of the whole team, thewhole school, the coach, and the parents and family of the accused.
This is exactly the kind of behavior that they ascribe to Joe McCarthy, but unlike Joe McCarthy they are actually engaging in it, full-on.
"
EXACTLY!!
"I manage to be able to occupy my time enjoyably without cavorting with prostitutes.
That is because you are older (I assume?) and wiser. They are young men who made youthful mistakes. Hell, President Bush got a DWI in 1976.
It does not justify the media treatment of the Duke players.
Whatever happened to being innocent until proven guilty?"
EXACTLY!!
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