Update #1: Head Shavin' Hazin' Apparently More Than Hockey Tradition at University of Georgia; Article Claims Football Team Does It as Well! Plus: Former Jock Turned Lawyer Claims Head Shavin' Just Can't Be Hazing 'Cause It's Voluntary - We'll get to this legal genius in a minute, but first: Now we know why UGA was so reluctant to make a fuss about the alleged head shaving of some of its freshmen club hockey players. According to an article in OnlineAthens it is also a tradition with the school's highly ranked football team. (It also looks like they're forced eat some kind of fruit or vegetable without a knife and fork. Ewww!)  Well, if we had any doubts that this story would get buried or that the school's vaunted Office of Judicial Programs would call this anything more than "poor decision making" by the players, they are COMPLETELY gone now. At UGA, you don't mess with a Bulldog football tradition and if the school finds the icers guilty, they will have to look closely at the football team as well . . . and that will NEVER happen. Never, ever, ever. (Read about UGA's double standard when it comes to frats and hazing below.) As for our "legal eagle," OnlineAthens talked to local lawyer Kim Stephens, a former UGA offensive lineman, who claimed that the head shaving on the football team was a tradition that's voluntary and shouldn't be considered hazing adding, "You could either do it or not do it." Hold on a minute there Matlock. If that's your best courtroom argument against being convicted in this matter, I might want an attorney who went to another law school, say the U of Florida? A good lawyer would know to read the law first before he opens his yap (in this case, UGA's own policy on hazing) which clearly says "Hazing is defined as any intentional, negligent or reckless action, activity, or situation which causes another [person] pain, embarrassment, ridicule or harassment, regardless of the individual’s willingness to participate." Next Case: The People vs. The University of Georgia for claiming to have a strong anti-hazing policy and then folding like a cheap law chair on a trailer park porch. (AthensOnline)

Head Shavin' Hazin' Update #2: Does The University of Georgia Have a Double Standard When It Comes to Investigating Hazing Incidents? - In our many emails with UGA staff on Tuesday about the alleged incident involving the men's club hockey team (see earlier story below), we were assured that no determination of guilt or innocence--and therefore punishment--could be made until the investigation by the Office of Judicial Programs was completed . . . which could take weeks. Fair enough, but then why, in 2006, did Georgia IMMEDIATELY suspend the Chi Phi Fraternity when members reportedly flashed pictures of nude women to passersby at the Tate Plaza? (Please note: we are not condoning the actions of the Chi Phi, but are interested in UGA's procedures when it comes to disciplining students.) According to an article about the incident in OnlineAthens, "Rodney Bennett, UGA's vice president for student affairs (and coincidentally, the author of their anti-hazing pamphplet), on Friday suspended the fraternity from holding any meetings or social events until student affairs and judicial officers complete their investigation into the incident." So, the school punished the entire frat IMMEDIATELY for the actions of a couple of its members in what was called in some reports a "pledge prank" . . . or as others might call it, hazing the new guys. And, we are aware of no official statement or any press release on the subject being issued by the school, although the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine set its annual Open House for April 4. Yes, it does sound like UGA takes hazing very seriously. (At right is a file photo from a head shaving incident on another college club sports team. In this case, they did not stop at shaving the head, they also drew obscene images on the freshmen's head and fact and make them drink until the puked.)

BadJocks Bonus: Readers Take Us to Task for Head Shavin' Hazin' Story - Okay, we didn't get a flood of emails either for or against hazing, like we have in the past, but we did get one interesting message from Rick Dykstra who tries to compare it to pro sports team all shaving (or not shaving) at the same time:

NO, No, No

What is wrong with head-shaving, many people across the US shave their head. Is it hazing when the Boston Red Sox forego shaving their facial hair, or when the Mets decide to shave their heads. I don't think so, it is a bonding experience a form of solidarity. Cutting ones hair should not be considered a form of hazing. 

Rick DYkstra

Rick, Rick, Rick

Yes, we are well aware that shaved heads are common place these days. But this is not about the loss of hair, it's about power. Ever wonder what happens to an athlete who refuses to participate in a hazing ritual? Just as Akim Aliu, who refused to participate in a hazing drill when he was with the Windsor Spitfires in 2005. The response from older teammate Steve Downie was to blindsidedly cross check him in the face DURING PRACTICE knocking three teeth out. Aliu is so tough though, he didn't notice they were gone until after he pummeled Downie. (You can watch a video of it here.) So, forgive us if we don't see the connection with the Sox or the Mets.

Bob Reno

Reader Sees Story in Local Paper About Head Shaving Incident Involving University of Georgia Club Hockey Team, Asks School "Uh, Excuse Me, But Doesn't That Violate Your Hazing Policy?" 
- We love our readers! One of them came across a story in a local paper that was supposed to be about Scott Friend, a freshman forward and rising star on the University of Georgia club hockey team. Friend (and possibly other freshmen) had their heads shaved as part of a team initiation, something the coach proudly called a "tradition in hockey" and a "rite of passage." (At right, a file photo from a head shaving initiation at another college.) According to Friend, "It's not hazing . . .  It's part of the team bonding," adding, "I'm looking forward to doing this to some (freshmen)." Does that sound familiar to anyone else? It prompted our reader to check the Bulldogs anti-hazing policy. UGA proudly published a pamphlet in the Fall of 2006 called "Hazing at the University of Georgia: What Is It , Why Is It Wrong, & Why Should You Care?" In it, it clearly states that:

Hazing is defined as any intentional, negligent or reckless action, activity, or situation which causes another [person] pain, embarrassment, ridicule or harassment, regardless of the individual’s willingness to participate. Hazing, in any form, is unacceptable and is against federal, state and local law as well as University policy.

Sounds like head shaving--whether Friend agreed to it or not--would be hazing to us . . . and to the experts we eventually contacted about the story. In the meantime, our reader contacted UGA about this apparent conflict with their written policy and received a pretty basic "we're passing this along to the proper authorities" type of response. So, we got involved and sent an email to the pamphlet's author, Dr. Rodney Bennett, Vice President for Student Affairs, to ask a simple question: does head shaving constituted hazing at the University of Georgia? Because in their pamphlet, pretty much everything else one human being could do to another is banned:  

• Forcing or requiring the drinking of alcohol or any other
substance
• Forcing or requiring the eating of food or anything an
individual refuses to eat
• Calisthenics (push-ups, sit-ups, jogging, run, etc.)
• “Treeings” (tying someone up and throwing food or other
substances on them)
• Paddle swats
• Line-ups (yelling at people in any formation or harassing them)
• Forcing or requiring the theft of any property
• Road trips (dropping someone off to find his own way back)
• Scavenger hunts
• Permitting fewer than six (6) continuous, uninterrupted hours of
sleep per night
• Conducting activities which do not allow adequate time for
study (not allowing to go to class, missing group projects, etc.)
• Nudity at any time
• Performing acts of personal servitude (driving to class, cleaning
their individual rooms, serving meals, picking up laundry,
washing cars, etc.)
• Forcing or requiring the violation of University, Federal, State
or local law.

The school refused to answer that question without reviewing the specifics of the case, but did indicate that since a complaint had been filed, the incident will go before their Judicial Programs office, which means it should be investigated. We also asked UGA if they could confirm that the hockey team--because it's only a club sport--went through the school's anti-hazing program and we received this response from Kim Ellis, Associate Dean of Students for Judicial Programs: "an organization's chief officers do go through a program and it must be completed before they are recognized as an organization. If an organization is registered, they have gone through the program." So, apparently somebody associated with the team went through the training, read that entire four page pamphlet and still decided that head shaving was a good idea. Now the real question is whether UGA will stand behind its tough new anti-hazing policy, or will it buckle to time-honored sports traditions and look the other way?  

Hockey Mom Pleads Not Guilty to Charges She Served Booze, Smoked Pot With Son's Teammates, Allegedly Had Sex With Two of Them - It's the scandal that's rocking upstate New York: Beth Modica, 44, pleaded not guilty this week to a staggering 35 charges, including those claiming  she had sexual intercourse or oral sex with two teenaged boys, served them alcohol and smoked marijuana with them at so-called "team parties" last summer. Despite a DA request to set the bail at $25,000, the judge upped it to $75K, prompting Modica's defense lawyer to say, "Your honor. The DA recommended bail at $25,000." To which Judge Catherine Bartlett responded, "I heard it. These are serious charges involving children in her community." Smack down! Apparently, Modica's lawyer, thinking because she was the wife of the local sheriff, asked that his client be released without bail. Not even close, pal! Among the charges are five felonies: one count of third-degree rape, which is statuatory rape; and four counts of third-degree criminal sexual act, involving accusations of oral sex, and 30 misdemeanor charges: four counts of third-degree sexual abuse and 26 counts of endangering the welfare of a child. (LoHud) Tyler, the reader who sent us this link, also asked, "How drunk would you have to be to hit that, even at 15?" No comment.

Latest Cheerleader Scandal: Athletic Director Fires Coach for "Lack of Leadership" Turns Around and Hires Own Daughter to Replace Her - Things are getting testy in Byfield, MA, after a new HS cheerleading coach was hired. Normally, that wouldn't make news here at BadJocks, but in this case the new coach is the daughter of the AD at Triton High, David Dempsey, who also fired the old coach who had been with the school five years. The reason for her dismissal? Was she drunk, verbally abusive or having an affair with the entire football team? No, Kristen Almquist claims Dempsey told her that her "leadership qualities had been called into question" by at least one parent. Of course, now some parents are complaining about the hiring of  Erin Dempsey and accusations of nepotism and conflict of interest have lead to them filing a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission. (Newburyport News)

#27! Wisconsin Social Studies Teacher/Girls Softball Coach Arrested as Part of Internet Sex Sting Investigation - This guy used his web cam to show off the family jewels to someone he thought was a 15-year-old girl. Nope! Fat, old male cop watching on the other end in Louisiana. 

#26! Gym Teacher/Varsity Basketball Coach Accused Inappropriate Physical Contact With 15-Year-Old Female Student

#25! Social Studies Teacher/Wrestling Coach, 39, Arrested After Allegations of Sexual Misconduct With Female Student

Gym Teacher Arrested for Urinating in Street, Public Nudity and Public Intoxication After Run in With Cops: Did We Mention It Was a FEMALE Gym Teacher? - This story initially caught our eye because one teacher was arrested for drunk driving after wrecking her car, fleeing the scene, and then returning later. But then we read about the passenger in the car, Anita Miller, physical education teacher at North Clay Middle School in Brazil, Indiana. She was sitting in a friend's car while the driver, Melinda Ellis was being arrested for drunk driving, and a deputy told her not to exit the vehicle. According to the cops, Miller disobeyed that order and, well, we'll let the local sheriff (who probably had trouble keeping a straight face) tell the rest of the story: "She told the deputy she had to urinate. She began to urinate right in the middle of the roadway." To make things worse, during the booking process Miller became rowdy, shouting profanities at deputies. Classic! (Indy Channel)

Need a Drunk Driving Lawyer . . . or Know Someone Who Does?  - Find a qualified attorney in all 50 states and most major cities here.

Real Jocks of Genius: Georgia Football Player Arrested for Underage Possession of Alcohol After Trying to Hail Cab That Turned Out to Be Police Car - Imaging being a cop in Athens, Georgia driving down the street late one night and nearly running over a rather large young may who appears to be waving his arms frantically to get your attention. What did Fred Munzenmaier, a fullback for the Bulldogs? A ride, of course. He thought the police car was a taxi! Munzenmaier, a sophomore, was arrested by Athens-Clarke County police for underage possession or consumption of alcohol and pedestrian walking on the road and has already been suspended for the first game of NEXT season. (SI)

High School Public Address System Horror: "We Have an Announcement: Everyone on the Wrestling Team Has Genital Herpes . . . Oh Wait, Never Mind" - So, you're a teen-aged wrestler at Gustine High School in Merced, CA and you and a few buddies notice you have an unusual rash. You go to the local clinic and they tell it could be either herpes gladiatorum or staphylococcus aureus -- a common type of staph infection. So, you do the right thing and tell the school administrators. But before the diagnosis of your ailment can be confirmed, they allegedly make an announcement over the school's intercom system--for everyone to hear--that members of the wrestling team had herpes and that, according to one boy, "It said to look yourself over for rashes, wash yourself down. If you do see a rash, go see a doctor." Of course, the rash turned out NOT to be herpes, but not before the members of the team became laughing stocks of the school. Oh yeah, parents are upset and we wouldn't be surprised if there's legal action soon. (Merced Sun Star)

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O.J. Simpson "Doubles Down" in Vegas: Angry Judge Orders Increase in Bail, Potential for PMITA Prison - Former NFL star OJ Simpson does not have a fan in Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass. Glass doubled the Juice's bail after an apparently blatant violation of the terms of his bond by contacting one of his co-defendants by asking his bail bondsman to pass a message along to one of them. According to court officials, Simpson left a profanity-laced telephone message with his bail bondsman back in November to pass along to former pal Clarence "C.J." Stewart. Said Judge Glass, "I don't know Mr. Simpson what the heck you were thinking—or maybe that's the problem—you weren't," and said the actions showed "arrogance or ignorance or both." (Mercury News) Watch a video of her tirade here.

Brady Broken? Video Seems to Show New England QB Wearing a Cast on His Right Foot and--Heaven Forbid!--Limping as He Delivers Flowers to Girlfriend - Bookies all over the world will be looking at this video to decide if there really is something wrong with the right foot of Patriots signal caller Tom Brady. TMZ.com caught Brady as he approached Gisele's doorway in NYC earlier Monday. Who's the Patriots back up quarterback again? Do they even have one?