OUinFLA
12/6/2006, 08:56 PM
Holy Crap!
The team is going for an unprecidented third straight 5A championship, has a 44 game win streak going and up pops the "idiot" syndrome.
I'm too stupid for my clothes (http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2006/12/6/204804.html?title=Raining+on+his+parade?)
BAY NEWS 9
TAMPA, FLORIDA
RaRaining on his parade?
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 7:55
Rainey has made a verbal commitment to play at the University of Florida next year.The Lakeland High School football team will be going for its third straight state championship and sixth overall when it plays St. Thomas Aquinas in South Florida Friday night.
However, the Dreadnaughts could be without star running back Chris Rainey when they take the field. Rainey, who ran for 326 yards in last week's victory over Daytona Beach Mainland, told a Miami Herald reporter in a story published Tuesday that he he had accepted gifts, including clothes and money from fans.
''I didn't even count it,'' Rainey said in a taped interview regarding a wad of cash a woman gave him. "When I walk around, people are buying me food, giving me money. I'm like, 'Damn, I'm glad I'm Chris Rainey. It's real nice to be me.' ''
Rainey seemed to be completely unaware what he was saying could get him in trouble.
"My cousin came and like, "This man want to meet you. He wants you to sign this ball. And he'll give you free clothes,' " Rainey said on the tape. "And I was like, 'What?' So I signed a ball and he gave all kinds of free watches, necklace, shoes, clothes."
Rainey continued on to say it wasn't just Lakeland High merchandise he was given, but regular clothes.
Lakeland High Principal Mark Thomas and the Florida High School Athletic Association are both investigating whether Rainey did accept gifts. Bylaw 11.9.1 of the FHSAA rules handbook states students are not allowed to accept gifts or donation of an intrinsic value for participation in a sport, according to the Miami Herald.
If the investigations conclude he did, the team could be forced to forfeit all the games he played in this season. In a faxed statement on behalf of Rainey, attorney Robert Puterbaugh said Rainey was joking with the paper.
"Anyone listening to or reading his comments should be able to hear or see the hyperbole in those comments," said Puterbaugh. "Chris unequivocally denies having accepted any remuneration, gift or donation for participating in any sports activity."
Students are hoping the team's season isn't ruined and Rainey gets to play in the state championship game.
"We would love him to play," said student Carlos Monge. "He's a good guy and we all love him."
Dreadnaught fan Frances McCraine is also hoping for the best and hoping people won't be too harsh in their judgments if Rainey did violate rules.
"I know we think they are supposed to know better," said McCraine. "But they are just kids."
Thomas says he hasn't wrapped up his investigation yet and hasn't decided if Rainey will get to play in Friday's big game. The FHSAA is also continuing to investigate and says it won't finish until after the game, so it is ultimately up to the school whether Rainey plays.
The team is going for an unprecidented third straight 5A championship, has a 44 game win streak going and up pops the "idiot" syndrome.
I'm too stupid for my clothes (http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2006/12/6/204804.html?title=Raining+on+his+parade?)
BAY NEWS 9
TAMPA, FLORIDA
RaRaining on his parade?
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 7:55
Rainey has made a verbal commitment to play at the University of Florida next year.The Lakeland High School football team will be going for its third straight state championship and sixth overall when it plays St. Thomas Aquinas in South Florida Friday night.
However, the Dreadnaughts could be without star running back Chris Rainey when they take the field. Rainey, who ran for 326 yards in last week's victory over Daytona Beach Mainland, told a Miami Herald reporter in a story published Tuesday that he he had accepted gifts, including clothes and money from fans.
''I didn't even count it,'' Rainey said in a taped interview regarding a wad of cash a woman gave him. "When I walk around, people are buying me food, giving me money. I'm like, 'Damn, I'm glad I'm Chris Rainey. It's real nice to be me.' ''
Rainey seemed to be completely unaware what he was saying could get him in trouble.
"My cousin came and like, "This man want to meet you. He wants you to sign this ball. And he'll give you free clothes,' " Rainey said on the tape. "And I was like, 'What?' So I signed a ball and he gave all kinds of free watches, necklace, shoes, clothes."
Rainey continued on to say it wasn't just Lakeland High merchandise he was given, but regular clothes.
Lakeland High Principal Mark Thomas and the Florida High School Athletic Association are both investigating whether Rainey did accept gifts. Bylaw 11.9.1 of the FHSAA rules handbook states students are not allowed to accept gifts or donation of an intrinsic value for participation in a sport, according to the Miami Herald.
If the investigations conclude he did, the team could be forced to forfeit all the games he played in this season. In a faxed statement on behalf of Rainey, attorney Robert Puterbaugh said Rainey was joking with the paper.
"Anyone listening to or reading his comments should be able to hear or see the hyperbole in those comments," said Puterbaugh. "Chris unequivocally denies having accepted any remuneration, gift or donation for participating in any sports activity."
Students are hoping the team's season isn't ruined and Rainey gets to play in the state championship game.
"We would love him to play," said student Carlos Monge. "He's a good guy and we all love him."
Dreadnaught fan Frances McCraine is also hoping for the best and hoping people won't be too harsh in their judgments if Rainey did violate rules.
"I know we think they are supposed to know better," said McCraine. "But they are just kids."
Thomas says he hasn't wrapped up his investigation yet and hasn't decided if Rainey will get to play in Friday's big game. The FHSAA is also continuing to investigate and says it won't finish until after the game, so it is ultimately up to the school whether Rainey plays.