Greg McKee in happier times?
This blog is a multi-functional service. Yes of course we chronicle the daily disaster that is Syracuse University Athletics (although that's been better the last couple of seasons). But we also provide written record on the internet of the instances when fellow Big East athletes run afoul of the law. This is no more evident than with the University of Connecticut, who has a long history in both football and basketball of law breaking. Traditionally however it's been laptops, smoking marijuana, stealing a credit card, and the like. But this time we've reached a new low.
The Hartord Courant is reporting on Courant.com that redshirt freshman OT Greg McKee has been arrested for allegedly possessing 20 videos and 20 pictures of child pornography. He has been charged with importing child pornography, obscenity, and promoting a minor in an obscene performance. He was arrested today and arraigned in Rockville Superior Court where his bail was set at $75,000. Police received a tip that there was someone possessing the pornography, traced the internet, and received a search warrant for his apartment in Rosebrooks Hall on campus.
McKee was a redshirt and didn't play at all this season so this shouldn't affect the team in terms of players playing. But considering UConn is now the Big East's representative for the BCS and going to the Fiesta Bowl this timing couldn't have been worse except if it was the week of the game. And this may be the ugliest crime any athlete at Connecticut has been involved in. And honestly, save for actual pedophilia no crime has a bigger yuck factor than this. Of course he is innocent until proven guilty, but it seems the Connecticut State Police have the evidence. Again, this probably will not affect the Connecticut football team too much, but this is just another example of a player under the not so watchful eye of Randy Edsall breaking the law. This time in a pretty egregious manner. But I doubt that UConn will do anything to address that seeing as they are BCSing. McKee for the record has been indefinitely suspended from the football team. Good call.
This won't be the last we hear of the criminal issues at UConn. Hopefully from here on out they stick to petty theft and punching each other instead of this kind of criminal endeavors. At the very least you could possibly understand stealing something or punching a guy. But no one thinks this is cool or right or good. Kudos UConn. Another great pick.
Labels: Breaking The Law, Connvicts, Football, UConn
Let me start this out by saying that I have ZERO facts about this story and have absolutely no agenda for what I am about to say, except for the fact that I feel bad that we are labeling (the enemy) as someone who "Loves Kiddie Porn" with little to no detail about what actually occurred.
I'm willing to bet that there is some sensationalizing by the initial reports that make it seem as though he is involved in a kiddie porn ring.
If I am being overly optimistic - this is a young man, and these are serious allegations - I would say that it could be a case of his highschool girlfriend who is two years his junior (if he is 18, she is 16 and a minor) sent him some naughty photos or participated in some videographic tomfoolery. The relationship sours (she finds out he is knuckle deep in some basketball groupies) and exacts perfect revenge by alerting the police of media content of which he is on the owner.
If I am being overly pessimistic, he took a class trip to Cambodia where his love for the song Rock and Roll pt. 2 hooked him up with Gary Glitter and the Southeast Asian underground.
I realize that it is an unpopular position to even attempt to defend this kid, but I've read too many stories where peoples' lives are irreversibly affected before they are given a fair shot.
Now that I have done my research beyond the hot presses of Orange 44 I rescind my previous comments, it doesn't seem like my optimistic scenario is even remotely possible (and even then "promoting a minor in an obscene performance") can't be innocent no matter how you put it...
Unless its Shannon Elizabeth, then its just plain old cute and silly fun!
Sean,
Glad you read the Courant story. Now you know.
I am no better than a syracuse.com poster and feel ashamed.