Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1655228

I had not heard about this.


Wednesday, November 5, 2003
Archie: Defamation lawsuit should be dismissed

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Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former NFL quarterback Archie Manning believes son Peyton has been punished enough for a mistake he made seven years ago and that a defamation lawsuit should have been dismissed.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the elder Manning said his son regrets dropping his pants in front of a University of Tennessee trainer and tried to apologize to her.

"He felt it was his mistake, he tried to apologize and he was remorseful," Archie Manning said Tuesday night. "He got punished and he took his punishment."

The 1996 encounter between the trainer and the Indianapolis Colts quarterback is mentioned in a book the Mannings wrote, "Manning: A Father, His Sons and a Football Legacy."

In the book, Peyton Manning says he pulled down his pants and conceded that his behavior was "inappropriate."

"Crude, maybe, but harmless," he wrote.

He also wrote that the trainer had a "vulgar mouth," which she claimed defamed her and cost her a subsequent job.

Earlier this week, a judge ruled there was enough evidence for the trainer's lawsuit against the Mannings to proceed, and a trial was set for March. Though she's not named in the book, Jamie Ann Naughright says the passages disparaged her.

Archie Manning said he was dismayed that the "feel-good" book is now the subject of legal action.

"Obviously, my wife and I and our family hurt for Peyton at a time like this," he said. "We're sad for him, especially since an incident from seven years ago seems to have gotten so twisted."

Naughright filed the lawsuit in Polk County, Fla., in 2002, two years after the book was published. In the lawsuit, she accuses Manning of placing his "naked butt" on her face while in the Volunteers' locker room. She is seeking damages of at least $15,000.

In 1997, she agreed to a $300,000 settlement with the university over 33 alleged instances of sexual harassment surrounding her job in the athletic department, and her complaint included the encounter with Manning. Manning was not personally accused of sexual harassment, and a university investigation characterized it as "horseplay."

Manning's attorney, Slade Metcalf, argued in court papers that the lawsuit should be thrown out because the passages in the book are "substantially" true. He also contends the settlement released the university, its employees and students, including Manning, from additional damages.

"That's what we feel, that's what I feel, that's the way Peyton feels," Archie Manning told the AP.

Peyton Manning declined to comment.

Naughright's attorney, Robert Puterbaugh, also wouldn't comment.

Judge Harvey Kornstein ruled Monday that there was enough evidence to suggest the Mannings, the writer and the publisher knew the passages were false and acted in reckless disregard for the truth.

The lawsuit also names writer John Underwood and publisher HarperCollins Inc.

"Peyton knows people have a right to say what they want about him," Archie Manning said. "He said what happened seven years ago and it's still true."

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

Yes this was sort of big but yet funny news when it happened. She is just trying to cash in on an incedent. This suit she may only get 6, 000 after lawer fees. A drop in the bucket for Manning but a jury will have to decide... I think the jury if they have any sense will give her a one dollar and laugh at her. Come on it happened in a locker room and have a sense of humor already.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

And the question remains...should women be allowed in an \"all male\" locker room? I just can\'t see anything positive out of her being there in the first place. I\'d say I doubt there are male trainers in \"all female\" locker rooms, and for good reason. Some things just make sense, and some things just don\'t. Furthermore, I\'d say 300 thousand is more than enough (and likely way too much) and this heffer should close her trap and go spend her money somewhere....but then I could be wrong. ;)

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

Don’t know why I’m responding to this, I guess I’m just feeling like a Devil’s Advocate today. Should women be allowed in an all male locker room? Well it depends on who the woman is, and what is their purpose. If they are a reporter or non-team member, NO! Stay the hell out. But I also feel that way about males entering the locker room. The locker room is sacred ground for the team. There should be no one else in there. But in this case it was a female that was part of the team. Should she be allowed in? That’s where it gets tricky. I wouldn’t want her in there (unless she looked like Elle McPherson), but I also don’t agree with giving sexual preference in hiring. Is she able to make the same amount of money being the trainer for the female soccer team (or whatever the biggest female sport is)? I doubt that she would be able to. So in that case, she should have equal rights as anyone else that would take that job regardless of sex. Until we get over the inequalities in hiring, we will always have this problem.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

$300,000 for a moon shot from Manning and a few of the boys that\'s absurd I\'m with Saintfan on this one.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

Don\'t get me wrong. I think it is aburd as well. However I was responding to the question of whether women should be allowed in the locker room. Maybe if women are allowed in an all male locker room they should be given danger pay. That would put a stop to all future lawsuits.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

i dont agree with allowing women into an all male locker room... not being sexist or anything but allowing that to happen... they are going to see things that they dont really want to see... and since they do allow it... then their should be some kind of protection clause for the players and the college and/or professional team... that would cut down on these lawsuits..., seriously... do u think that if a male was allowed into an all female locker room... would he sue b/c he was mooned by one of the players, hell no... he would prolly enjoy it and ask for a date or something...LOL

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

How old is this woman? She\'s been around a locker room before, she must have, I really don\'t think you go straight from school to a Pro locker room. This woman KNEW she was going to see men\'s butts before this happened. Hell, it\'s a locker room for Christ\'s sake. Isn\'t a locker room by definition, a place where people go to change cloths?So if people are changing colths, isn\'t there a better than average chance you\'re going to see somebody\'s butt? This is crazy. I have nothing against women in a men\'s locker room, but they know what can happen.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

I like the protection clause. That\'s why I suggested Danger Pay. However if a women isn\'t allowed into the locker room, then that puts a cap on what they can earn compaired to a male counterpart. Since generally male dominated sports pay their staff better than the staff at female dominated sports. As for the protection clause, equally you have to think of the females point of view. She is working with profesionals, who should act in a proper way. She should not have to be subject to these shananagans. How was Peyton diciplined for this act when he did it?

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

In this particular case she was not in the locker room with professional players. She was in the locker room with a bunch of college kids that play football. She had a prank played on her. Big deal. I think she will live.

As far as women being allowed in the locker room -- I see no reason why women should be allowed in there. It\'s a MALE locker room, where MALES get undressed. Women have the right to earn a living the same as men, but certain things have to be off limits to men and women.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

So things should be equal but not equal? If the roles were reversed we would be up in arms about it. Think about it, you can be a trainer on the guys football team for $40 000 or on the female soccer team for $60 000. But because you can\'t go into the locker room, do you think they will hire you or someone who can go in the locker room and perform their job? Male or female deserve equal access to the players in order for things to be equal.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

Ultimately, I\'m not against women who WANT to go into a locker room being allowed to do so, but ya better damn well get your feelings off your sleeve before you walk through that door...period. If you enter a strip club ya just might see a nekkid lady...know what I mean?

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

Too true

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

There\'s a reason there are signs on the doors of public restrooms. They say either \"MEN\" or \"WOMEN.\" Do you want women going in the MEN\'s room? Forget money. It would be uncomfortable wouldn\'t it? I see no difference with women going into a MEN\'s locker room. It\'s just uncomfortable for all involved. If you really want to get down to it -- If you had a teenage girl playing high school ball -- would you want a male coach in her locker room while she is getting undressed?

[Edited on 6/11/2003 by ThePosterFormerlyKnownAs-]

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

I\'ve always thought the answer to this is simple. NO ONE gets interviews in a locker room...period...male and female reporters get equal access after the game OUTSIDE the locker room. If you\'re a lady and you\'re in the sports medicine profession and your job requires you to enter the locker room then fine, but if some guy drops his pants and says, \"hey lady, look at this\", being offended isn\'t an option, and neither is a lawsuit. Sexual harassment is a whole other thing, and I realize that WHERE to draw that line is the problem, but I also believe that if people weren\'t so damned interested in being \"politically correct\" most of this stuff would just go away...as it should. If you\'re not brave enough to take a little prodding (no pun intended) then you have no business in that profession or subjecting yourself to such. Amen...pass the whiskey.

:P

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

I just started thinkng about it...how much could I get for all the locker room humor I had to sit through as a player? Who\'s with me? I\'m going to start a class action lawsuit for all the guys who were so emotionally damaged by seeing 300lb. lineman in the buff! Why should women get all the money? Let\'s not stop there, let\'s sue for the playground bullies picking on us as kids in elementary school, that had to do some damage and while were at it why doesn\'t Peyton counter-sue for the emotinal wreck he has become at the word of this woman? Let\'s see, 33 counts of sexual harrassement, puullleeeaaaase! Sounds like a person with an ax to grind, I would hate to be her husband. He must be one emotional wreck himself...of course $300,000 would help calm the spirit don\'t you think?

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

Ok, I agree with the point that NO reporters should be allowed in the locker room. Period! However this lady deserved to be in the locker room as a medical professional. Should she expect to come to work every day and get treated like this because she is a woman? Nope. I have a female physician, does she look at my private parts. Sure she does. Do I make lewd gestures to her while she is doing it? Nope, but if I did, would I expect to get a reprimand (fine/sued/ect). I would think so.
Billy’s argument about male and female washrooms is not valid, as we are not talking washrooms. I wouldn’t want a male or female in the washroom with me just watching what I was doing. We are talking about a woman who has a right to be at her job and should expect to be treated respectfully. I personally find the whole lawsuit ridiculous, and I would like to say to people like her “find a sense of humor�. But the fact remains that Peyton acted improperly. Do you think that his head coach would accept losing face in front of the rest of the team? I don’t, and I don’t think that any staff member should.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

OH CANADA! You\'d expect 300 THOUSAND dollars cause somebody showed you their booty? Male or Female that\'s insane! You know what they say about not being able to take the heat right? Damn canadians...

LOL

:P

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

hahahaha.
just to clear things up here\'s how I started this thread So now things are back in context, yea I think it is ridiculous. But I also think that someone suing McDonalds over spilling hot coffee on their lap is pretty ridiculous as well.
I was just arguing for the point that women should be given equal rights in the locker room as males. I\'m not on her side. But I do wonder what would happen if he had done that to one of the male staff or one of the coaches.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

Women can come on in if they like, but it\'s VERY likely that they\'ll see some things or experience some things in there that they might not otherwise experience. If you can\'t run with the big dogs, stay your azz on the porch. To sue over it is petty and in my opinion a waste of judicial resources. They oughta throw her butt in jail for filing the lawsuit, and they should toss her lawyer in there with her....and their cell mate should be a big Grady Jackson like fella with questionable morals.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

Then Grady could show her his azz...

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

The only reason I pointed this out was because I feel there are some places that should be off limits to both men and women. Regardless of the fact that it might deprive them of certain jobs. But, for the record, I don\'t care whether they go in the locker room or not. Whatever floats their boat.................. :o

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

That would definitely be cruel and unusual punishment,didn\'t the supreme court outlaw that?
http://bucnup.com/phpBB2/images/smiles/bootyshake.gif

[Edited on 11/6/2003 by saint5221]

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

TWO POINTS

1... she was team staff. She was in the locker room after practice. She would usually help tape players ect. She by today standards had rights to be there and was allowed in there

2... I am a journalist and male, we are not allowed in professional womens basket ball locker rooms, nor womens soccer locker rooms.

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

1. Congradulations on being a Journalist

2. She\'s OBVIOUSLY in the wrong profession

[Edited on 7/11/2003 by saintfan]

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

I realize that she did have a right to be in the locker room. But the question was, should this continue? As for you being a jounalist and not being allowed into profesional womens locker rooms; are women journalists allowed in? If they are and you are not, then why not challenge that rulling? You have the precident based on male sports. But I guess my question would be is why do you want to go into the locker room in the first place. Is there somethings that you need to ask someone when they are in the shower, that cannot wait until they are dressed and out of the locker room? I just have an issue with any non-team/staff member in anyone\'s locker room. (which obviously is not the case in the lawsuit)

Archie Manning defends son over lawsuit
 

While not directly relevant to the women in the locker room slant this thread has taken I saw this in Pro Football weekly. It echos most everyones feelings reguardless of which side of the women in or out of the locker room they find themselves on. Maybe some women should be allowed in, but definitely not this one.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW...koff110703.htm

how about the news that Peyton Manning is being sued for defamation by former University of Tennessee assistant athletic trainer Jamie Ann Naughright, who claims that Manning defamed her in the book he wrote with his father, Archie, in 2000, “Manning: A Father, His Sons and a Football Legacy.� In the book, Manning mentions an incident in which Peyton basically mooned Naughright in 1996 and says that the incident was “inappropriate.� Peyton also said that Naughright had a “vulgar mouth,� and she claims that it later cost her some job opportunities.

Oh, did I mention she’s also suing Peyton for $15,000 in damages on accusations that he placed his, and this really is a quote, “naked butt� on her face during the 1996 incident in the Volunteers’ locker room.

The defamation thing seems pretty ridiculous to me because she isn’t actually mentioned by name in the book, but the extra $15K lawsuit is what really got my attention. Shouldn’t the statute of limitations on complaining about being mooned top out at about 45 minutes? And what kind of moon job causes $15,000 worth of damages?

Mind you, this is the same Jamie Ann Naughright that agreed to a $300,000 settlement with the university in 1997 over 33 accusations of sexual harassment stemming from her time in the Volunteers’ locker room. Hey, if she was harassed, then she was entitled to pursue the matter in 1997. But in my world, you simply can’t go after someone seven years later over some stupid college prank.

Why did I even bring this up? First off, it never ceases to amaze me just how litigious a society we have become. Second, it just kills me how stupid the entire case is. Do you figure Naughright’s friends all rolled their eyes when she said she had decided to sue Manning for his indiscretion during the early part of Bill Clinton’s second term? It’s just amazing what people will do to try to get some money out of famous people.


[Edited on 11/7/2003 by saint5221]