Wow this story just his the net, I can't believe it but it claims that Manti Te'o girlfriend dying of Lukemia was a hoax. She never existed. I don't know what to say, when you read the article it seems exhaustively researched and all. But I can't for the life of me figure out why Manti would invent an imaginary girlfriend who he kills off the same week as his grandma with Leukemia. What would be his motivation, what would be the end game. Not to mention his parents and family would have to be in on the deal along with Roby Toma who grew up with him and went to school with him and played at ND with him. He was already a legitimate All American at LB, and he was already going to be drafted most likely in the 1st round. He would have been a 1st rounder if he had come out last year. At the time his grandmother and girlfriend passed away (allegedly) he was not even a blip on the Heisman radar so it's not like he could have forseen how the season would playout and figure dead grandma ...nah not quite enough, need to kill off the imaginary girlfriend..that's the ticket. If it's all true, then god have mercy on him he will pay a terrible price for this. Manti Te'o Hoax
I just read the article before coming here. Unbelievable if true and like Terry said Teo could pay a big price.
Swarbrick to meet with the media tonight. I can't imagine anything other than Manti Te'o being discussed.
This story has more detail and a statement from Manti: http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-fo...-teo-dead-girlfriend-hoax-notre-dame-deadspin
2013 has not started out as a good year for Irish fans. Given the nature of this story, I suspect further facts will come out soon that will either show that Mantai is a socially awkward young man who was duped by a psychopathic friend (and his assistants) or participated in a scheme with his friend to create a fictional story about a dying girlfriend to enhance Te'o's marketability or as a sick prank upon the public and press. The reason why this might be a sick prank/inside joke type of stunt is Te'o twitter reply to the supposed sister of the GF who jumped on Twitter after the GF's alleged death, with Mantai describing the relative as the "realist person I know". That account was operated by the same friend who posted as the dying GF. But, as of now, the whole story is just too bizarre and depressing to try and analyze logically. The Te'o story and, in particular, his triumphs while facing horrible adversity seemed to be one of the few uplifting events this year in college football.
I would say the odds are pretty strong that Teo is complicit in this as is his father. Numerous and glowing accounts of a person who did not exist. But why?
Swarbrick just finished his news conference. He was squarely in Manti's corner. ND hired independent investigators with expertise in online hoaxes, etc. Transcript will be up in an hour or so. After watching Jack's press conference I have renewed faith that Manti was truly duped and had no part doing anything for his on personal gain. Very sad story, he said that Manti was the perfect mark for this kind of thing. Cruel Hoax, nothing criminal at this point. I'll post the link to the transcript once it's up.
Two Questions, Terry. Why would you not have accepted at face value his statement that he was duped? Why would you think that he would do something like this for personal gain?
Sid if you read that article by Eric Hansen in the Oct 12 SBT, and you see quotes by Manti of how he met her and other quotes...it gives you pause as to what is going on and why would Manti say things like that if he never met her.
Teo and his father give accounts in detail over three years of a girl who never existed. Nothing going on here.
manti <t>Wow, I really don't know what to think about the whole story. I want to give Teo the benefit of the doubt but man....this is a crazy story. I mean if he is lying and made this up...why????? what reason would he have??? If he is telling the truth then how could he be so naive ???? How does anybody in his position just one day decide to start perpetrating this hoax? Beats the hell out of me!<br/> <br/> Bizarre, simply bizarre.</t>
The interview in which manti tells how they met, in person, and her trips to hawaii while he was at home should give you more than pause. How could it have been an online prank when they were seeing each other in person?
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It's not over for Manti it's really just starting. Manti is going to have address things like his statements certainly imply a personal face to face relationship. He will have to face the press himself and answer questions about previous statements.
http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2013/01/16/lennay-kekua-manti-teos-fake-dead-girlfriend-was-real-says-arizona-cardinals-fullback-reagan-mauia-who-claims-to-have-met-her/
I saw that article Bob, I think there is no doubt there was a woman that he talked to on the phone, he has teammates who confirm this and say they talked to her. So maybe it was this girl, but the whole auto accident was a con and obviously the dying part was a con as well. To what end I have no idea, but still a con. BTW my brother in Austin says local Sports talk radio jocks are claiming this whole internet girlfriend deal is a cover for Te'o being gay.
TOK, But given that Tuiasosopo introduced this woman to this guy pre Mantai, what I am wondering is whether Tuiasosopo tired to run some sort of scam on this guy prior to Te'o.