Queen Prawn Posted April 6, 2005 Share Posted April 6, 2005 I didn't see this here or the sports bar - merge/delete away if it is Bo Jackson Files Defamation Lawsuit Bo Jackson Files Defamation Lawsuit Newspaper's Source Denies Saying Jackson Used Steroids POSTED: 4:21 pm CDT April 6, 2005 UPDATED: 4:50 pm CDT April 6, 2005 CHICAGO -- Bo Jackson filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against a California newspaper that quoted a dietary expert who said the former two-sport star used steroids. The lawsuit was filed in Cook County against the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, MediaNews Group Inc., MediaNews Group Interactive, Inc., sports editor Jim Mohr and three other employees of the newspaper. "I've got nothing to hide," Jackson said at a news conference before the White Sox's game against the Cleveland Indians. "If anyone wants to check into my medical past, go get blood tests, go check up on those blood tests and see if there was any anabolic steroids in it. You're more than welcome." Jackson is suing for unspecified general and punitive damages. His lawyer, Dan Biederman, also said they want the newspaper to print a retraction. Steve Lambert, the editor of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and The Sun of San Bernardino, said it was too early for the newspaper to comment on the lawsuit. "We're still investigating the situation," he said. In a story published March 24 under Mohr's byline, dietary expert Ellen Coleman was quoted as saying she knew personally that "Bo Jackson lost his hip because of anabolic abuse." Jackson, the only player to be named to the NFL's Pro Bowl and appear in baseball's All-Star game, injured his hip playing for the Oakland Raiders in 1991 in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He did play baseball that season for the Chicago White Sox and had a hip replacement the next year. He returned to baseball in 1993, playing for the California Angels, and retired in 1994. He won the Heisman Trophy as a running back for Auburn in 1985. Jackson said he found the story from the newspaper online, and at least one person called him about it. Biederman said he then contacted Coleman, who denied making any statements about Jackson. She provided the lawyer with a videotape of her speech at a Riverside, Calif., sports forum to back up her claim. "At no time during my speech or while speaking individually to Jim Mohr did I use or mention the name Bo Jackson," Coleman said in a signed affidavit. Jackson, now a businessman who lives in suburban Chicago, talks to children about health and nutrition issues. He denied ever using or even seeing steroids in any form. "I'm not going to sit here and say, 'Maybe I did or maybe I didn't,"' Jackson said. "I didn't. Never did. Never had to do." Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitetrain8601 Posted April 6, 2005 Share Posted April 6, 2005 Hell Yeah!!! They don't know Bo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 Good for Bo, I hope that his lawsuit wins (assuming he is telling the truth.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 The newspaper in question has retracted the quotes and apologized to Bo. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2033967 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JUGGERNAUT Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 Nice ending. Especially when the dietary expert made that unambiguous statement. Hawk was right to interview him that day. It also serves as a reminder to all of us not to believe 100% everything we read. They misquoted the expert but if Bo doesn't call it out we'd have never know that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxfest Posted April 11, 2005 Share Posted April 11, 2005 Bo knows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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