Bernie Fine's Wife to File Libel Lawsuit Against ESPN

Wife of former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine says ESPN’s comments were malicious.

(Image source: Post-Standard )   BY MEGAN RICE ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS   It’s been six months since ESPN reported that assistant Syracuse basketball coach Bernie Fine had sexually abused two ball boys in the 1980's. Now, the coach’s wife Laurie Fine, has announced she’s filing a lawsuit against the network. She says ESPN’s reporting implied she knew about her husband’s alleged actions and might have been involved sexually with one of the ball boys.  Here’s CNY Central.   "I have never engaged in and condoned despicable conduct falsely reported by ESPN, Mark Schwarz and Arty Berko ... They have maliciously attacked me in order to attack my husband and to boost television ratings."    YNN says Fine is filing the suit because ESPN caused her irreversible damage.    "The Fines have suffered greatly, Laurie has lived in seclusion she says for the last 6 months and lost a significant amount of income because she can no longer engage in charity work in the community."   Fox Sports reports "Though the claims of molestation by Bobby Davis and his Stepbrother Mike Lang were deemed credible by a New York state attorney, Fine was not prosecuted due to the statute of limitations."   CNN has ESPN’s response to the lawsuit.   "The suit is without merit and we stand by our reporting.”   A blogger for Rant Sports says he doesn’t see this case ever going to court.   “I would be shocked if ESPN does not try to settle with Laurie Fine before they have to take this before a judge and jury.  The last thing they want is to get in a public war with the Fine family over this.  Either way, it is a very messy situation.”