Read on Twitter
I interviewed this player in late July for The Pipeline Show, mentioning it on Twitter. A NHL scout contacted me and asked me how the interview went and how the player handled questions on this topic. To my embarrassment, I had no idea this had happened and so it never came... https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1320766133658673163
...up in the interview. I was bothered for a few reasons. The story itself is very disturbing plus, I have a kid with physical/mental challenges so it felt personal. I struggled with what to do with the interview - air it or not. I slept on it. I spoke with my family about it.
I went back and forth. "But he was 14 at the time, perhaps he's evolved from then and isn't that kid anymore. UND and USA Hockey have interest in him, surely they've done their homework so maybe I should cut him some slack."
Then I re-read the statements from the victim's mom.
Then I re-read the statements from the victim's mom.
She wasn't forgiving and even worse than that, in the original reporting from @toledonews, mom stressed that this wasn't a one off incident but said that her son had been a target of the player for years. That is damning.
At sentencing, Magistrate William Hutcheson said "I’m not sure you still get it"
"If this is what you do in school, I wonder what you do outside of school."
"I don’t have a sense of real remorse. But I do feel that you feel sorry for yourself.” - ( @toledonews Apr 25/16)
"If this is what you do in school, I wonder what you do outside of school."
"I don’t have a sense of real remorse. But I do feel that you feel sorry for yourself.” - ( @toledonews Apr 25/16)
I felt awful, guilty and even angry at myself.
My wife asked me if I would have interviewed the player had I known beforehand. I said "Of course not". But then I debated if THAT was fair. I certainly wouldn't want to be judged based on my worst day, I'm sure none of us would.
My wife asked me if I would have interviewed the player had I known beforehand. I said "Of course not". But then I debated if THAT was fair. I certainly wouldn't want to be judged based on my worst day, I'm sure none of us would.
In the end I decided the fair thing would be to invite the player back on to address the topic, and then include that portion with the original interview.
I texted him as I had previously, however, this time I did not get a response from the player. I tried his agent, nothing.
I texted him as I had previously, however, this time I did not get a response from the player. I tried his agent, nothing.
As such, I explained at the end of the week's episode (July 26th) why I decided to cut the interview.
I do not regret my choice, especially after reading @charrisazrep's story. I feel for Isaiah and his parents who have to relive all of this again.
I do not regret my choice, especially after reading @charrisazrep's story. I feel for Isaiah and his parents who have to relive all of this again.
"He never runs away from it. He owns it." his last coach is quoted at the end of the article.
To this day, more than 3 months later, I have not heard back from the player nor his agent. Sounds like I'm not the only one. (see @JDylanBurke's timeline today)
/end
To this day, more than 3 months later, I have not heard back from the player nor his agent. Sounds like I'm not the only one. (see @JDylanBurke's timeline today)
/end
I just realized looking back at this thread that I never even mentioned the player's name. It was Mitchell Miller. Here is the end of that week's episode when I spoke about it. https://soundcloud.com/pipeline-show/final-segment-july26
