Here is the letter I just wrote to Ackerman, Jackson, and Cahill. I am shocked at how much this story and following cover-up bother me on a level beyond a sports fan. There is something completely indecent about what they are doing. Maybe it is Trump, but I have absolutely had enough of being lied to and people in power telling me 2 + 2 = 5.
The statement you released today has me angry, saddened and confused. You have accepted lying and covering up. This statement seems to have been written by people who want to make a problem go away and not people who want to find the truth. I am shocked at how much this bothers me, but it really feels like a personal slight to be so blatantly lied to.
First, to accept Micheal Stephens reasoning here is what had to have happened, and please if I am wrong tell me. As soon as LJ Figueroa tapped the inbound pass Stephens knew the ball and Figueroa were still in bounds AND the clock was not moving (within about half a second). Except the clock was moving and Stephens was in error. Mr. Cahill in your career as a ref have you ever seen a ref blow a play dead for a clock not moving that actually was moving within .4 seconds? In your years of playing and watching basketball have you Mrs. Ackerman, or Mr. Jackson seen that? Michael Stephens is doubling down on his story that in a potentially season-changing play he knew St John's had deflected the pass, he knew Figueroa was still in bounds, he knew St. John's had a chance to steal the ball, but because he thought a clock that actually was moving was not moving after .4 seconds he decided the play absolutely needed to be blown dead and the play started over. Seriously? That's what we are going with? Please tell me I am wrong and I am missing something. Please tell me your story is better than this. Again if my 7 year old did this I would first tell him not to lie, and second I would tell him if you do lie try to lie better.
It is a deeply hurtful feeling to be lied to. It makes you think nothing matters and that people in power can maintain power by bending reality to their will. It sucks when the President does it and it sucks when the Big East does it. I think you are all probably decent people and I think a lot of this obvious lie of a statement comes from you being put in a terrible position. I assume you have personal relationships with Michael Stephens and don't want to make him look bad. I think on some level you have decided to protect him and his reputation instead of telling the truth. I think in some ways that is noble but ultimately misguided. If Michael Stephens is telling you he blew the whistle because he thought the clock didn't start he should be fired not for missing a call, but for lying. If the other refs backed up his lie they should also be fired. If Michael Stephens or the other refs have received punishment for their obvious lies the Big East should say so and why. If you don't believe their story tell us. If Michael Stephens had just admitted he messed up and thought Figueroa stepped out SJU fans would have gone nuts. It would have really sucked. But in that case you would have had every right to say, "Michael is a great ref. We all make mistakes and I am thrilled he will be a Big East ref for as long as possible." Except he lied and doubled down. To take his side is to abet his obvious misdeed and show that you think perpetuating a lie is more important than finding the truth.
The truth should always win out. Please reconsider the statement you just put out. It is never too late to tell the truth.
