Ok, so Lochte is an even bigger idiot than I thought he was! Still seems like this has been escalated far beyond what it should have been!
I think it’s interesting that nothing came out until Lochte’s mother mentioned the story to a reporter. That was the first time the story hit the media and when the USOC questioned the athletes after the mother’s story broke, they denied it had happened.
I just find it strange that none of the four said anything about being robbed at gunpoint after it happened or when they were first questioned by the USOC.
From what I’ve read, Lochte’s very much a “mama’s boy” and it wouldn’t surprise me if he told his mom a story about why all his money was gone, not expecting for it to go viral. Then the pressure was on the swimmers to get their stories straight and I’m guessing their stories did not match up with what the Brazilian authorities observed on camera (NBC did a piece this morning on how almost every street corner has video survellience).
The truth will come out and I truly hope it’s some version close to what the athletes told.
[QUOTE=Mardi;8803900]
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html[/QUOTE]
This version would actually account for both sides of the story, if true – gun was pulled by security guard and money was demanded, but swimmers were drunk idiots and damaged the bathroom, so not really an armed robbery in the way they described. Here in the US, a security guard pulling a gun and demanding money might actually be robbery but in Brazil, who knows!
I totally believed the story. It’s a very common way for people to get robbed (at gunpoint in a taxi). When I was in Costa Rica, it was almost a right of passage to be held up at gunpoint. “It’s not if, but when” mentality.
But some of this story is not adding up. Cell phones are one of the easiest things to flip and I’m surprised that was left behind. The timeline also doesn’t make sense.
Honestly, I’m not going to speculate either way. I’ll say their story is believable, but suspicious. From what I’ve heard about Lockte, if he’s lying, he won’t be able to keep his story straight, so we will likely find out soon enough.
I certainly do not blame Brazil for detaining them for questioning. Right now Brazil is damned if they do, damned if they don’t. If they ignored it, that looks poorly on them, and now everyone is pissed that they are heavily investigating it! Terrifying for the swimmers, I’m sure, but the discrepancies are significant and worth looking into.
I just hope everyone gets home safe.
Ugh…on both sides. Ugly Americans and Brazilian security goon. Both countries should agree to pretend this never happened. Just embarrassing all around.
Edited to add: watch the video from the gas station.
Brazil has had a real problem with street crime for a long time. That’s fact. IOC knew that when Brazil was chosen. They specifically stated they would work with Brazil to ensure the safety of athletes. That’s the background.
I just watched the video and at 2 p.m. the Brazilians are holding a press conference. The matter is now a Big Deal.
Why would the swimmers lie? Maybe because they were really drunk and did something really stupid to try and divert attention from something else they did while drunk that was really stupid? Anyone who’s ever been a drunk, young male or associated with drunk, young males will have no trouble with this explanation. 
It’s a crime in the U.S. to make a false police report. In this instance it looks like they didn’t actually make a report, at least not initially. I’ve never been drunk enough, even as a young male, to “blow off” somebody pointing a gun at me. If I thought corrupt officers were involved I might not go to the local police but I damn sure would notify my own people what happened.
Remember the story of the Tar Baby? It’s illustrative of what happens when a Big Story gets told and then repeated and then blown out of proportion and then it embarrasses Important Interests. I doubt the “I was really drunk” defense is going to work very well, here.
G.
I would love to see the video of the police interrogation as well as the gas station one - I’m sure they were asked one question before folding on Lochte like a cheap suit, especially since he had managed to get out of the country.
I was trying to be measured in my first response concerning this “kid” of 32, but he has always been a knucklehead, and still is.
Version I heard, and I’ll admit it comes from sports radio, is wildly drunk swimmers kick in a bathroom door at a gas station because they can’t or won’t bother to make the key work, may or may not have peed on some merchandise, and then made the owner whole with their cash.
After that, why bother to make up a story? Case closed. Was it Mother Lochte’s money? Or someone else’s, cause why have to explain how the spent their own money?
As someone who in my younger days has seen friends hauled off to jail in Mexico for nothing more than the police wanting whatever was in their pockets as a “fine”, these guys were lucky the owner let them go on their way.
And then doubling down with Matt Lauer, saying they didn’t appear upset on the tape re-entering the Village because they were “in a state of shock, never having had a gun pulled on them before.” And still haven’t.
Interesting comments from sports radio: How awful to perhaps endanger the other athletes by claiming there were taxi drivers ou there posing as police? (although I’m sure it could happen in Brazil, perhaps Lochte googled it.)
And last but not least, because it is sports radio: Lochte’s new reality series, “Lochted up Abroad.”
Classic case of the cover-up being worse than the underlying issue.
These men could have apologized and had US officials deal with the damages on their behalf. Instead, they lie and create an international incident that brings shame on US athletes. I am not an Important Interest but I am embarrassed as a American about their behavior. I suspect they all still think this is rather funny.
Foolish boys. I have 3 grown sons who have had their wild moments, so I am not unaware of how things can go pear-shaped in a heartbeat, but really…
Did no-one tell them that they are supposed to hold themselves to a higher standard when representing their country? Entitled youth strikes again.
Possible Spoiler Alert
So that’s why Lochte came back to the village with his credentials and phone but no money. I guess you can’t tell your mom you broke down a rest room door and then paid for it in cash. Can’t have that on your credit card record.
I guess they figured they’d be arrested if they just pulled a Rolling Stones and peed on the forecourt.
This is why you should always go before you get in the car. Which is what his mom probably told him when he was four.
As for whoever criticized Michael Phelps for leaving early, maybe he did not want to be connected to this in any way, even by association with his teammates. He just got off probation a couple of months ago. I for one am glad he’s safe back home!
I feel this could all be solved if someone would just punch lochte in the face every day for the rest of his life.
You sound like my dad. “Someone needs to knock some sense into that guy.” 
Wow. The privileged athletes figured everyone would believe the bogus story because everyone knows -Blah blah blah- rio. AND yes many believed them. Glad they have been outed for their lies. HOPe there are some consequences as there would be in the USA if they pulled something like this.
IMO, it doesn’t matter if it is true or not. They should not have forced the athletes to get off the plane and take their passports. It is just known that during the Olympic Games, athletes get some leeway on the laws of the country they are in. It was expected that every gay athlete that went to Sochi wasn’t going to be persecuted. It is expected in rio that the athletes be treated truly as guests. The eyes of the world are on them, and this looks BAD. Instead of promoting rio as a great tourist destination, a place you can go to let loose, this promotes Rio as a terrifying place where you may be held against your will over a petty crime. That is not the image they were after when they decided to host the games! On top of this, because they are high profile people being held, if they are held much longer Brazil will be forcing the hand of the US government to do something.
Just overall, stupid stupid stupid. That’s all i can say. It was in Rios best interest to have just ignored it, even if they provided false testimony. Now they have terrible PR on their hands.
Athletes have a code of behaviour - these guys appear to have failed big time.
Athletes are advised not to arrive after dark at the airport in some countries because the shuttle buses or taxis can get hijacked.
Same as when hiring a local guide to show tourists the sights - often they are a set-up for being robbed.
I heard some guy today - was it the coach maybe- saying- oh the boys were having a bit of fun give them a break.
THese BOYs treated the host country like sh&t and should be called out for it.
and yes if they lied to the authorites- nothing wrong with pulling them off the the plane to answer to it.
:eek:
quite right. you would expect the same if the situation were reversed and brazilian athletes lied to US authorities.
Right or is it somehow different :no:
[QUOTE=StormyDay;8804549]
IMO, it doesn’t matter if it is true or not. They should not have forced the athletes to get off the plane and take their passports. It is just known that during the Olympic Games, athletes get some leeway on the laws of the country they are in. It was expected that every gay athlete that went to Sochi wasn’t going to be persecuted. It is expected in rio that the athletes be treated truly as guests. The eyes of the world are on them, and this looks BAD. Instead of promoting rio as a great tourist destination, a place you can go to let loose, this promotes Rio as a terrifying place where you may be held against your will over a petty crime. That is not the image they were after when they decided to host the games! On top of this, because they are high profile people being held, if they are held much longer Brazil will be forcing the hand of the US government to do something.
Just overall, stupid stupid stupid. That’s all i can say. It was in Rios best interest to have just ignored it, even if they provided false testimony. Now they have terrible PR on their hands.[/QUOTE]
Is this satire? ??
[QUOTE=StormyDay;8804549]
IMO, it doesn’t matter if it is true or not. They should not have forced the athletes to get off the plane and take their passports. It is just known that during the Olympic Games, athletes get some leeway on the laws of the country they are in. It was expected that every gay athlete that went to Sochi wasn’t going to be persecuted. It is expected in rio that the athletes be treated truly as guests. The eyes of the world are on them, and this looks BAD. Instead of promoting rio as a great tourist destination, a place you can go to let loose, this promotes Rio as a terrifying place where you may be held against your will over a petty crime. That is not the image they were after when they decided to host the games! On top of this, because they are high profile people being held, if they are held much longer Brazil will be forcing the hand of the US government to do something.
Just overall, stupid stupid stupid. That’s all i can say. It was in Rios best interest to have just ignored it, even if they provided false testimony. Now they have terrible PR on their hands.[/QUOTE]
At least in TN making a false statement to the police is a Class D felony. If it’s similar in Brazil then, yes, these bozos should have been pulled off and their passports held until the investigation was complete. And if the evidence shows that Lochte (sp) made false statements then Brazil should request his extradition.
When you visit a foreign land you are legally obligated to follow their laws. If you have moral or ethical problems with that then don’t visit. Young, drunk males don’t always make wise decisions. That does not excuse them from following local laws.
In truth, the locals don’t usually want to saddled with our problems so “arrangements” can often be made. When the damages are paid for and fines and costs paid the host will just expel the youngster(s).
Sweeping this kind of conduct “under the rug” because it “looks bad” just guarantees it will continue into the future.
G.
[QUOTE=StormyDay;8804549]
IMO, it doesn’t matter if it is true or not. They should not have forced the athletes to get off the plane and take their passports. It is just known that during the Olympic Games, athletes get some leeway on the laws of the country they are in. It was expected that every gay athlete that went to Sochi wasn’t going to be persecuted. It is expected in rio that the athletes be treated truly as guests. The eyes of the world are on them, and this looks BAD. Instead of promoting rio as a great tourist destination, a place you can go to let loose, this promotes Rio as a terrifying place where you may be held against your will over a petty crime. That is not the image they were after when they decided to host the games! On top of this, because they are high profile people being held, if they are held much longer Brazil will be forcing the hand of the US government to do something.
Just overall, stupid stupid stupid. That’s all i can say. It was in Rios best interest to have just ignored it, even if they provided false testimony. Now they have terrible PR on their hands.[/QUOTE]
Exhibit A - why many people outside the USA think we are jerks.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;8804620]
At least in TN making a false statement to the police is a Class D felony. If it’s similar in Brazil then, yes, these bozos should have been pulled off and their passports held until the investigation was complete. And if the evidence shows that Lochte (sp) made false statements then Brazil should request his extradition.
When you visit a foreign land you are legally obligated to follow their laws. If you have moral or ethical problems with that then don’t visit. Young, drunk males don’t always make wise decisions. That does not excuse them from following local laws.
In truth, the locals don’t usually want to saddled with our problems so “arrangements” can often be made. When the damages are paid for and fines and costs paid the host will just expel the youngster(s).
Sweeping this kind of conduct “under the rug” because it “looks bad” just guarantees it will continue into the future.
G.[/QUOTE]
1-I have no doubt that Lochte et al felt they had been “robbed” by uniformed men pointing guns at them.
2-I also have no doubt that he and his teammate are being indicted for “lying to the police” because of who they are and not because they’ve lied to the police. Is this really where Brazil spends its limited resources? No wonder crime is rampant.
3-Where I do judge Lochte is for putting his teammates at risk by 1-telling his mother, 2-giving an interview, 3-continuing to maintain that they were telling the truth from the safety of the US while 2 or 3 of his teammates are in very real danger of being imprisoned in a third world country with an extremely corrupt and dangerous judicial/prison system looking to make an example of them.
Unless his teammates were already on an airplane back to the US when he doubled down this afternoon and insisted that they were robbed, that’s just incredibly selfish. When dealing with incredibly corrupt police forces, you do what you have to do to keep yourself safe, even if it means admitting something you didn’t do. It’s one thing to refuse to play along when you are safe at home but his teammates/friends are still in real danger. What a jerk.
