Bobby Dodd, AAU, and pedophilia

Robert W. "Bobby" Dodd is the latest sports figure exposed as an alleged pedophile.  Who is Bobby Dodd?  He is not the Bobby Dodd of Georgia Tech football fame.  If you know anything about basketball from the youth elite level, then you know Bobby Dodd.  Bobby Dodd was the driving force behind the Amateur Athletic Union aka AAU for the past couple of decades.  (The AAU itself is over 100 years old.)

AAU is the holy grail of youth basketball.  Playing on an AAU team is the ticket to college for many kids, if they play well.  AAU games are where the elite in youth basketball shine.  There are local, regional, and national AAU competitions for boys and girls.  

In November, a former youth player contacted the AAU leveling allegations that Dodd sexually assaulted him.  The allegations are beyond disturbing.  As he appeared on Outside the Lines this morning, the man became sick, vomiting telling his story. (I want to thank ESPN for the REAL journalism they have at that network.  It isn't just sports commentary.  If you have watched any of the ESPN films or OTL segments, you will know that they talk about things you will never see on other cable news stations.)

The gentleman on OTL was not alone. Another, who asked to be anonymous, appeared on OTL as well.  Bobby Dodd's story is beyond disturbing.  If all that is said is true, he is a prolific pedophile.  He had child pornography, pictures of young boys, and kept locks of their hair.  Sadistic to say the least!  

The AAU released Dodd as the president of the association and the interim president Louis Stout released a statement a portion of which is below:

“Recently, AAU has been made aware of serious allegations about our former president, Bobby Dodd, dating back more than 30 years.  Frankly, we are shocked and deeply concerned about these serious allegations and we have taken active, appropriate steps to address them, including these specific actions:

“AAU has contacted the Memphis Police Department.  We have provided them with the limited information we have up to this point.  And we have given them our sincere commitment to actively cooperate in every way — in any investigation law enforcement undertakes into these allegations.

“We have begun an independent internal investigation and review of our protocols, procedures and policies.  While we believe our network of programs has significant safeguards in place, we will never be complacent about doing all we can to protect the young people in our programs. This independent review will include outside expert assessments about the safeguards we have in place, and the screening and training we provide to staff and volunteers. 

“AAU has a proud and strong track record of providing safe and positive youth programs in communities throughout the country.

The complete statement can be read here: AAU Interim President statement

YOUTH SPORTS

People in youth sports have unlimited access to children.  Think about it.  When parents want their kids to be active, they put them in youth sports.  When parents want to keep their kids out of trouble, they put them in youth sports.  When you have parents who have talented kids who have great potential, they put them in youth sports. 

Sports are fantastic, and I think all children should play on some level.  It would cut down on a lot of the obesity running rampant, as well as a lot of crime.  Your grades have to be up, to continue to play sports.  You learn discipline through sports. 

I played basketball starting in elementary school.  My coach would pick me up for practice and drop me off at home sometimes, when I couldn't get a ride.  Thank God I had an upstanding coach.  He was great to me.  

Coach Swink treated me how adults standing in the gap should treat kids.  He was encouraging, protective and respectful.  My mama said she would pray hard each time I would leave for practice.  At the time she was unable to take me to practice herself, and my dad was away at work.  

I've had male and female coaches. Our focus was always on basketball.  Most I liked, a couple I didn't.  But hey, it was what it was. LOL.  

It breaks my heart into a thousand pieces to know that kids, who only wanted to play a sport, were taken advantage of by people, who should have had nothing but their best interest at heart.  Maybe you don't understand the relationship between a coach and player.  It is sometimes like having an adoptive parent or a really close aunt or uncle.  

You trust the coach.  You believe in the coach.  You are with them so much that they become intertwined in your life, depending on the depths of your activities.  Then to be violated by that person? My God! How sick are some people?!  To do that to a child is beyond evil, in my opinion.