Another candidate for idiot of the year

[Gerk]

PITTSBURGH -- A T-ball coach accused of offering an 8-year-old boy $25 to bean a disabled teammate is unlikely to receive a fair trial because of intense media coverage, the man's lawyer said.
Mark R. Downs Jr., 29, of Dunbar, was scheduled to go on trial Tuesday in Fayette County on a string of charges, including solicitation, corruption of minors and reckless endangerment. He refused a plea agreement in December.
The charges against Downs drew the attention of media outlets around the world. Many columnists expressed disgust at what they considered adult corruption of a child's sport.
"We feel he's been persecuted by the media," defense attorney Thomas Shaffer said. "[The case] was on from the nightly news in Japan to every syndicated network broadcast across the country."
Prosecutors have argued that Downs did not want Harry Bowers Jr., then 9, to play in a June 2005 T-ball playoff game because the boy wasn't as good as his teammates. Bowers has autism and mild mental retardation.
Keith Reese, 8 at the time, testified at a preliminary hearing that he hit Bowers with baseballs first in the groin and later in the ear. Reese said he did it because Downs offered him $25 to make sure Bowers wouldn't be able to play.
League rules require each player to play at least three innings.
Prosecutors did not return several phone calls from The Associated Press seeking comment on the start of the trial.
Shaffer said Downs had joked at another game about paying players to hit an umpire with a ball. His words were later taken out of context and used against him by Reese, Shaffer said.
Bowers was hit because he misplayed balls while warming up with Reese, Shaffer said.
"[Bowers] was terrible. ... It's not like he got blinded-sided," Shaffer said. "He put his glove up, he missed it and it went off his glove and hit him."
The Falcons, the team Downs coached, are part of the R.W. Clark Youth Baseball League. Bowers was hurt before a game in North Union Township, about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
League officials have said they investigated the matter and could not confirm whether Downs had done anything wrong. But they said he wouldn't be allowed to coach again if he were convicted of criminal charges.
"He didn't ask to return, which was a good thing," said Eric Forsythe, president of the league. "I'm just curious to see what comes out in trial."

[JeromeFromSoutheast]

was pretty certain this thread was going to be about Big Pimpin

[jonnyblaze]

lol^^

[Pudge]

All I can say is what a TOOL! What has this world come too... Beaning a kid in T-ball? Because he was "bad" who was "good" in t-ball other than Jaypasco...?

[alby]

I grew up in Dunbar. didn't know this guy though

[iggs111]

Id like to run into this scumbag.

[jaypasco]

Originally Posted by Pudge

All I can say is what a TOOL! What has this world come too... Beaning a kid in T-ball? Because he was "bad" who was "good" in t-ball other than Jaypasco...?

tball is when i started switch hitting. was diffinatly advanced for age

[ZIGGYSTARDUST]

Originally Posted by alby

I grew up in Dunbar. didn't know this guy though

Now I understand Alby... To many ten cent burgers down at Pechins for you...Messed you up... Dunbar... Strange place indeed... Think Deliverance and Bert Reynolds for all that have not had the pleasure of visting Dunbar.. It all makes sense now Alby..

[alby]

Originally Posted by ZIGGYSTARDUST

To many ten cent burgers down at Pechins for you...Messed you up... Dunbar... Strange place indeed...

lmao.. I used to work at the pizza shop there in highschool. Your description is deadnuts ZIGGYSTARDUST.

[ZIGGYSTARDUST]

Where else could you go in the 1980's and the grocery store still had DIRT FLOORS... Dude made a killing out of that store... You could eat in the cafeteria for a dollar a day in the 80's.. Growing up you must have met some colorful people... Worked in Dunbar for 3 years for my dads company.. Strip mining.. er... strip raping in those years.. Good price on work shoes...

[robertg]

Originally Posted by jaypasco

tball is when i started switch hitting. was diffinatly advanced for age

Jay
"not that there's anything wrong with that," but I'd prefer a "don't ask, don't
tell" approach.

[alby]

Originally Posted by ZIGGYSTARDUST

Where else could you go in the 1980's and the grocery store still had DIRT FLOORS... Dude made a killing out of that store... You could eat in the cafeteria for a dollar a day in the 80's.. Growing up you must have met some colorful people... Worked in Dunbar for 3 years for my dads company.. Strip mining.. er... strip raping in those years.. Good price on work shoes...

The old man died last year, and the boy moved the place to where the old Montgomerey Wards was on 119, shortly after the move the old place burned to the ground, Insurance job most people suspect.

anyways pretty much 2 types of people in that town A) Alcoholic welfare trash or B) Heroin addicted welfare trash.

lived there my whole childhood except for 91-93 I lived in Monroeville, which was nice cause I was fortunate enough to attend approx 50 plus games of the greatest proffesional sports team to ever exist during my time there, plus the only competitive pirate teams during my life time. good times.

[Seanie Mac]

guy in p[hilly just killed his baby daughter because she messed his video game. ill try find a link. how sad is that folks.

[JeromeFromSoutheast]

Originally Posted by robertg

Jay
"not that there's anything wrong with that," but I'd prefer a "don't ask, don't
tell" approach.

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO