Bernie Fine Fired: Jim Boeheim Hits All the Right Notes in Statement

Sunday has turned out to be a very interesting day in regards to the Bernie Fine sex abuse scandal that has enveloped Syracuse University.

Early on Sunday, ESPN revealed a taped conversation between Bobby Davis, one of Fine's accusers, and Fine's wife, Laurie. In the conversation, which was taped in 2002, Laurie Fine admitted that she had concerns about her husband and that she was aware that something was going on.

Sunday evening, Syracuse announced that it had terminated Fine, effective immediately.

And now we have a statement from Syracuse head basketball coach Jim Boeheim. As it appears on the Syracuse Orange's Facebook page, here is Boeheim's statement:

"

The allegations that have come forth today are disturbing and deeply troubling. I am personally very shocked because I have never witnessed any of the activities that have been alleged. I believe the university took the appropriate step tonight. What is most important is that this matter be fully investigated and that anyone with information be supported to come forward so that the truth can be found. I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring or been insensitive to victims of abuse.

"

If you recall Boeheim's previous statements regarding his longtime assistant, you'll realize that he is changing his tune in a drastic way.

When the news of the allegations against Fine first broke last week, Boeheim accused Davis and a second accuser, Mike Lang, of making it all up.

"I know this kid, but I never saw him in any rooms or anything," Boeheim told ESPN. "It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told. You don't think it is a little funny that his cousin (relative) is coming forward?"

Since Boeheim made this statement, there have been several key developments in the Fine case. Authorities conducted a search of Fine's home on Friday, and the U.S. Secret Service has also gotten involved.

In addition, a third accuser has come forward claiming that he was also sexually abused by Fine as a child. Zach Tomaselli, a resident of Maine, told police he was abused by Fine when he was 13 years old.

"I didn't think that it was anything not normal at the time," Tomaselli told NEWS CENTER. "I thought that this was something a normal adult would do with a child...."

Given all that has transpired, it suffices to say that Boeheim can no longer be so certain that Fine is innocent in this case, hence the reason he made it clear that he regrets some of the things he said in the past.

It can certainly be argued that Boeheim should have never opened his mouth in the first place. He was clearly speaking out of anger, and his comments were a blatant attempt to discredit Fine's accusers. 

In retrospect, his angry comments towards Davis and Lang look foolish.

All of this being said, you do have to give credit for Boeheim for accepting the reality of the situation at this point in time. The accusations against Fine appear considerably more legitimate now than they did when they first came to light, when they were flimsy.

Make no mistake, the Fine case still has a long way to go, and there will be many more statements from Boeheim along the way. For the time being, he and the university are saying and doing all the right things, and that's a good thing.

If nothing else, we know that Boeheim and Syracuse have no interest in protecting Fine.