The Truth About Raiders Coach Tom Cable and ESPN

I had to address this issue.  I thought about saying nothing, because it is a complicated issue, one in which many people have their interests at stake, and so I wonder if I can truly do anything about it, or whether change is even possible.

First off, I'm a fan of the Oakland Raiders.

Recently, head coach Tom Cable of the NFL team, the Oakland Raiders, was accused of assault by Randy Hanson.  The Napa County DA in California declined to prosecute.

Since then, ESPN has reported accusations of abuse by Cable against a former girlfriend and his ex-wife.  I do believe that ESPN has made a calculated effort to target the Raiders organization with malicious gossip.

This is a very conflicting issue though, because on one hand, abuse is a serious issue and people generally don't make such claims unless they believe those claims.

You might know from my concerns about my previous employer that I believe I was targeted after I reported sexual assault by an assistant.  I believe I have taken a fall because of my willingness to take the initiative on the issue, because I feared the possibilities of saying nothing.  Thus, I don't take these accusations lightly.

Nevertheless, when the mainstream media element is involved with incendiary accusations, I do believe that it is reasonable to question the intentions of the accusers and thoroughly examine the facts.  Otherwise, the media would become nothing more than a bully pull-pit for unscrupulous people to take advantage of.  Some writers, like Gregg Doyel of Sportsline.com, has said that he and others in the media like to be used.  There is however, a line that must be drawn.

In one abstract example to accentuate this point, if you have ever listened to the radio show Loveline, there are people who call in and convincingly make incendiary claims that the hosts usually catch as false (eventually).  It is part of the idea, "Trust but verify," when incendiary claims are made.  If a person claims to have AIDS—initially you should take their word, but examine the facts.

In the three accusations against Cable, police or the DA investigated and declined to pursue the issue, for a lack of evidence.  Some in the media have even suggested either corruption or intimidation as why.  Thus, those people have shown that it is their agenda for people to believe that Cable is a serial abuser.

Moreover, it seems strange that if these claims of abuse by Cable were substantial that Al Davis and Amy Trask of the Raiders would have heard about it, and would have considered it. 

Trask is the first and only woman to be hired as CEO of an NFL team, thus, the accusations against Cable insinuate that the first and currently only female CEO of an NFL team would knowingly hire a serial abuser.  I think that Trask of all people would know whether Cable fits the bill of an abusive man, or if he's just being used as a scape-goat.

I do believe that if Trask had known or believed these accusations against Cable that the Raiders would not have hired Cable as coach.

Unfortunately, when a person is accused of something that involves gray area—that accusation can lead to other accusations, because that person is seen as lacking credibility, even if the person was not legally at fault for the original accusation.

Meaning that—a person gets accused once of something, because they made a mistake.  The law says that person is not at criminal fault.  Yet, it creates false perceptions, which lead to more accusations.  The more accusations, the more likely people become to think there's something to it.

Cable had a lapse in judgment 20 years ago with his then wife.  Police investigated, and declined to prosecute.  Yet, because Cable made that mistake, and has stated that he has been remorseful ever since, people now assume that he fits the profile of a serial abuser, simply because two others made claims to the media that Cable had attacked them.  In the case of Hanson, Hanson went to Yahoo Sports before he reported his claim to authorities, while police believed that the ex-girlfriend was stalking Cable.

Thus, the beliefs about Cable would imply that no person can change or learn.  I say that, because the direct facts don't support the claims made by Hanson and the former girlfriend, Marie Lutz.

In other abstract examples to accentuate my point:
Former NFL star Pacman Jones was once convicted for his role in a barfight during college.  Jones had a reputation of being a troubled loudmouth with substance problems.

Thus, the serial accusations against Pacman of unruly behavior in nightclubs, led the media and many fans to believe it and run with it.

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