As a sports ethics keynote speaker and consultant on sports ethics, as well as a sports ethics book author, I have learned and taught that the truth cannot be outsmarted in the long-run. From an ethical point of view, though someone might try to evade the reality of things, it catches up with worse consequences.
False evidence?
We are in an era where even the most inconsequential of stories can get elevated to national attention. In a recent article by Brad Petrishen that appeared in the Worcester (MA) Telegram & Gazette, we have the details of the sad case of Holy Cross women’s basketball head coach William P. Gibbons. I say “sad” for he was relieved of his duties after a distinguished career. However, doubly-sad, for he committed fraud.
The recent defamation trial goes back to March, 2023 and the adjudication of Gibbons’ suspension in January, 2019. At the heart of the matter at that time was that Gibbons, a head basketball coach for 34-years was terminated under the suggested cloud of sexual misconduct.
At that time:
“[The suspension] follow[ed] an internal investigation into what the school labeled a personnel matter. Months later the school announced he would not return as the coach.
Gibbons argued that Holy Cross had defamed him by not specifying in a Jan. 31, 2019, news release that his suspension was unrelated to a violation of the sexual misconduct policy or because of a student issue.”
Allegedly, there were other issues of sexual misconduct on campus at the time involving a professor in a completely different area of the school. Gibbons was allegedly and inadvertently caught up in the net. It was Gibbons’ contention regarding the suspension that when the school initially sent out the press release on the so-called “personnel issue,” it did not clarify that there were no sexual allegations.
While Gibbons allegedly conceded the school eventually did add a line to the press release saying the suspension did “not pertain to any sexual allegation,” the school did not “resend the release to media outlets or do enough to dispel rumors he said had percolated online.”
Got it, coach. Someone could have done better. However…
Rumor mills
Rumor mills are hard to fight. Whether in a sports program, an association or in business, rumors are tough to overcome as they too are inherently unethical. Can the rumor mill be overcome? Yes! But with solid truth, absolute consistency and good ethical behavior. Nothing beats the truth and conviction of mind is a strong weapon.
But…rumors cannot be fought with rumors.
As a sports ethics keynote speaker and consultant on sports ethics, as well as a sports ethics book author, the way in which Gibbons fought this was plain wrong. While his hurt at being accused of sexual misconduct is understandable, it is unethical and foolhardy to fabricate, “emails from prospective employers to further his cause and to write a sympathetic letter under a fake name” to the newspaper to make his case. Indeed, he doctored emails by adding extra sentences to favor his position. These were unwise choices.
It is alleged that he never divulged to his lawyers that the emails and letter to the editor were fakes. It paints him as unethical.
“’For the rule of law to prevail in society, this type of fraud cannot be tolerated,’ Worcester Superior Court Judge Valerie A. Yarashus wrote in a six-page decision in which she ticked off multiple fabrications of evidence to which Gibbons ultimately admitted.”
The judge was absolutely and ethically correct. Ultimately, Gibbons had no choice but to admit that he altered emails and letters. He claimed desperation.
“I acted irrationally and cannot justify what I did,” he wrote, adding, “When I realized what I had done was wrong I panicked and lied in my deposition about it. Again, I take responsibility for this.”
OK, if you are taking responsibility, stop prolonging the process. For it does former Coach Gibbons no good to keep the legal wheels going so that somehow the school welcomes him back with open arms.
He lost the opportunity years ago.
The actions of Holy Cross in not clarifying were, perhaps, dumb oversights undoubtedly created by an inexperienced staff however, to fire back with fake documents and to obfuscate the fakery from the legal team were intentional acts. Good ethics demand good decisions. Own up to it; own up to all of it; go on with your truth and life and hope for a second chance.
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