Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
One of the more bizarre sports stories of the past decade had to be Marvin Harrison. Or, more specifically, when Marvin Harrison was accused of shooting someone in broad daylight in North Philadelphia. Even now, it makes no sense.
For an athlete of a different profile, maybe. But Marvin Harrison was the deferential, dignified veteran. He was the standup guy that kneejerk sports columnists would point at when lashing out at stars like Chad Johnson. Hey idiot, why can’t you be more like Marvin Harrison?
And then he shot someone? Yes, that Marvin Harrison allegedly shot multiple people. And then… the story just died. Everyone stopped talking in North Philly, the prosecutors decided against pursuing such a high profile, risky case, and… we pretty much forgot about it.
Until now, when GQ’s Jason Fagone unveils an in-depth investigation into the crime. It’s a perfect marriage of exhaustive reporting and great writing, and really, if you read one thing today, this should be it.
It’s a story with many layers--complexity that begins with Harrison himself, and ends with an investigation muddled by state politics and street politics in equal measure. Check it out.
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Anyone else think this guys story is a tad bias?
So much for objective reporting, this guy jumps to every conclusion that is within a leap. I thought the most ridiculous part of the article was when Fagone listed all the criminal records of Harrison’s family. He uses half brothers and cousins to advertently suggest that Harrison is a criminal because his family is a criminal. Not only are their genetics not that strongly correlated, but because a family member is a criminal does not mean you are. Are all of Charles Manson’s relatives nut-jobs who staged murders? No. So, is Marvin Harrison going to murder someone because his half brothers did? No, and to suggest so is a stretch.
Don’t get me wrong, the article was unique and shed light on a situation that no one has heard much about. However, Fagone seemed so willing to arrest, pass judgment, and put Harrison in the electric chair himself that it ruined any credibility behind his story. At least, it did for me.
Optimism. Positivity. Win.
by John Stephens on Jan 14, 2010 1:57 PM EST reply actions
The early favorite for most ignorant sentence of the year is...
“The prosecutors decided against pursuing such a high profile, risky case.” Are you shitting me? Prosecutors make their careers on “high profile, risky” cases. If there was even a shred of evidence to prosecute Harrison, an ambition Philly prosecutor would have jumped all over it.
The whole notion of celebrities getting special treatment is complete BS. As someone who has worked in a prosecutor’s office, I can assure you that the presence of a celebrity defendant only adds to the appeal from the standpoint of authorities. I’ll refer you to Mayor Bloomberg’s interference with the Plaxico Burress case.
by indianalawyer on Jan 14, 2010 2:19 PM EST reply actions
Read The Article
If you’d actually taken 10 minutes to read the article, you’d find that because it was risky and very public, the Philly DA’s office was reluctant to and risk embarassment.
Or you could just not read the story and pretend there was no evidence of a crime by Marvin Harrison, because…….GO COLTS!
by Andrew Sharp on Jan 14, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
The only evidence of any crime
Is that Harrison lied to police about the location of that gun during the shooting Nixon, a criminal mind you, witnessed, nothing more. There is no evidence that Harrison even shot a gun, except for one, not very credible, witness. The DA didn’t have any evidence to go through with the case and Fagone embellishes this by suggesting they were worried about embarrassment.
Optimism. Positivity. Win.
by John Stephens on Jan 14, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions
I did read the article...
just calling BS on that sentiment..
by indianalawyer on Jan 14, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
See
youre just assuming that since he’s a colts fan, he is totally bias and no one can believe anything colts fans say. Though even more, youre assuming that the article is totally correct and Marvin Harrison shold be thrown under the bus. Indianalawyer, as someone who’s worked in a prosecuters office, is just saying they like taking on high “profile, risky” cases. And are you sure youre not a tad biased after all the anti-colts articles? I dont hear you saying Roethlisberger raped anyone. How about you get over yourself Andrew.
by Dawg013 on Jan 14, 2010 4:41 PM EST up reply actions
Because Ben didn't rape anyone
Just sayin’. Granted, I don’t think Harrison shot anyone either.
Optimism. Positivity. Win.
by John Stephens on Jan 14, 2010 4:57 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly
by Dawg013 on Jan 14, 2010 8:54 PM EST up reply actions
I Haven't Written One Anti-Colts Article
There were two articles about Chris Johnson that were blown waaaaay out of proportion. And indianalawyer said I’d written the “most ignorant sentence of all time,” when in fact it was something corroborated by the journalist, relatives of the victims, and various police officers. I don’t give a shit about the colts
by Andrew Sharp on Jan 14, 2010 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
YES YOU HAVE
Everything that you write that ISN’T about the greatness of Peyton Manning and the Colts is, by default, an anti-Colts article. We have no time for dissenting opinions! Only ones agree with ours are worthy!
by Chris Mottram on Jan 14, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
That would be a hyperbole
I dont think he meant it was literally the most ignorant sentence of the year, just stating his point. And its probably the fact that you assume all colts fans hate anyone who dont worship peyton manning (which is a stereotype) that makes you seem anti-colts. Im not gonna get in a big argument about what is bias and unbiased opinion though, so no point in arguing over that
by Dawg013 on Jan 14, 2010 9:06 PM EST up reply actions
what are his sources
for the inner workings of the DA’s office? It sounds like he’s taken the wild speculations of career criminals about The Man’s motivations and presenting them as if he has the assistant DA on deep background. Which maybe he does, given the nature of the term. All I’m taking issue with is your characterization of Fagone’s speculative, poorly sourced story as hard hitting, unimpeachable journalism.
by indianalawyer on Jan 14, 2010 3:40 PM EST reply actions
READ THIS: Andrew Sharp, Childish Writer
duh I’m gonna go link some other douches story to piss off colts fans
FUCKIN A GO COLTS
by Colts Cultist on Jan 14, 2010 9:59 PM EST reply actions
Why can't anyone spell bias(ed)?
Alabama 37 Texas 21
by Peter Bean on Jan 15, 2010 9:33 AM EST reply actions
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