So what was Conradt thinking Wednesday when he lifted a template off The Oklahoman’s web site, newsok.com, wrote and pasted a bogus story about the Sooner pair’s arrest on cocaine distribution charges, then posted it on a message board?
The 36-year-old Conradt says he wasn’t thinking.
“I want to express my deepest apologies to the families,” Conradt said Wednesday night, after his story was reported as fact by at least two Texas radio stations. “That’s the thing I’m regretful about. I didn’t want to hurt anyone.”
An apology might not be enough to sooth this over.
“I’m going to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law,” said Kevin Jones, Landry’s father. “I’ve got deep enough pockets to do it.”
Oklahoman publisher David Thompson said, “When this was brought to our attention, we took immediate action. Through our technology and news teams, we tracked him down and told him to cease and desist. We take this very seriously and will consider legal action.”
OU associate athletic director Kenny Mossman said the hoax is just the latest in a disturbing trend.
“We feel it’s real unfortunate how many things have germinated from an anonymous starting point that are unfounded, untrue and, as this story proves, hurtful,” Mossman said.
“Coaches and players are berated, and nobody attaches a name to it. The Internet has enabled a lot of this kind of thing to happen, and it’s really disappointing.”
Conradt said he was on a Nebraska message board when some OU fans began writing smack.
“I just wanted to get ‘em all riled up, I guess,” Conradt said.
He googled Sooner sports and came across the newsok.com template and says he didn’t even realize it was The Oklahoman’s web site.
“It was a bad decision,” Conradt said. “When I got home, I got on my computer, one of the moderators on the Oklahoma site emailed me and said some Oklahoma people are upset about this. That’s when I took it down.”
Kevin Jones said he received a couple of frantic calls after the hoax spread across the Internet.
“I knew it was a prank thing right away,” Jones said. “Anybody that knows Sam or knows Landry knows the story wasn’t true to begin with. But when radio stations down in Houston and Austin report it, it’s very hurtful.
“Why would somebody be so malicious about it? Don’t know why someone would trample two kids like this. I was just dumbfounded. People need to learn from this.”
Kelly Dyer Fry, vice president of news and information for OPUBCO Communications Group, said users can determine if a story comes from the newsok.com server by the URL. If numbers precede “newsok.com,” the link originated elsewhere.
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Haters only hate when yer great!!!! A cornhusker livin' in Austin? Wow, sounds like a pretty bright guy!(sarcasm,sarcasm)
Mr. Conradt is not a Nebraska fan. He does not
represent Nebraska when he resorts to something
like that. I grew up and lived in NE for 25 years.
Oklahoma was my second favorite team when it wasn't
playing Nebraska. I hope he gets what he deserves.
EMBARASSING!!
The guy is very apologetic as soon as he figures out he's been traced and people know who he is. I wonder if he would have been so if he had remained anonymous. I would expect that his employer would at least give him a formal warning for bringing the University of Texas in a bad light. Certainly, there needs to be some kind of example of him made or otherwise this kind of behaviour will continue. I mean really 18 year old hackers are punished for their work - this guy is 36 and should know better. Doesn't say a lot for the UT IT department if this guy is in a management position if he thought he could do this without being traced.
Whether it was illegal or not it was very poor judgement, and as I see it he did intend to "intentionally inflict damage" to these young men stupid as it was and if you don't believe that then you may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer either. Too bad that people can do something dumb and get away with it, like I said before, if it was you or your family that was being defamed you might not think that it's just a hoax or a joke. Maybe you should just put yourself in the other person's shoes.
If I'm not totally mistaken, the first amendment allows people the freedom of speech and the press, and lible requires an attempt to intentionally inflict damage *and* the credibility to do so.
It was a hoax news story he posted on a web site. I fail to see how *he* did anything stupid. People photoshop pictures all the time, and this is no different.
Now, those two radio stations in Texas that broadcast the story, they did something stupid. If there's a lawsuit to be had, it'd be against them. Leave the guy alone, he didn't do anything illegal or wrong (regardless of what he says upon reflection and threats of lawsuits)...
I have completely lost all respect for Berry Tramel, claiming that if you’re on a message board you’re part of the problem. Nobody is falling for it Berry, you’re just bitter that people can now actually talk back and point out your flaws a tripe, it has nothing to do with the Nebraska hoax. You just want to set on your high horse and consider your opinion as gospel. Why don’t you just go tell your Mommy that people are being mean to you. Geeze what a crybaby!
What the guy did was wrong and he will get punished in some ways, but really, its just trash talk taken too far. These guy's reputations were hurt for about 5 minutes. Hardly huge damages. It will be much like when tabloids get sued for slander, except I doubt this guy has the kind of money they have. In the end, its not really a big deal all around. We Sooner fans could stand to lighten up a little. Non-fans should consider the shortcomings of fans and players at their own schools before throwing stones.
If someone falsely accused my son of distributing cocaine, had it printed up, and it was reported on in a major media market as being factual, I would do everything within my power to nail the sob that did id. And that is assuming my son was just a normal college kid. We talk about holding college athletes to a higher standard all of the time, yet why should they be held to a lower standare here? Sue his ass...that's all that can be done.
The OSU, Nebraska, and Texas fans that think this is funny, or no problem-no one wasf hurt need to first think about how they would feel if it was one of their teams players whose reputation was (stupidly or not) attacked. It wasn't funny, it wasn't cute and it only reflects how small these other teams fans are...I believe that there should be some consequences, people need to know that they canNOT discredit someones reputation and get on with their lives and no problem. I know that Coach Stoops is a disciplinarian and these things are life changing, ugly, mean actions.
First off, there will be no jail time. Only the district attornies and such can prosecute, not fathers. Also, Bradford's family, as far as I know, has not said they will sue. I admit that Jones' dad came off sounding silly with his "deep pockets" statement, but if it was my son I would definitely make this guy face the music, even if it was just community service. All in all, I think all teams have classy fans and then they have the ones that discredit them, like toby and others. Nebraska has some of the best, but this proves that even they have some that don't represent the university very well.
Jail? No. Damages? Yes. Though it will be hard to prove they amount to very much until Bradford drops to the second round. Bradford, Landry, and OU would be best served by letting this drift away and not prolonging it in court trying to get some ridiculous sum out of a guy that clearly is not very wealthy.
Thankfully this story was quickly handled before it got too bad.It shouldn't matter if you are husker fan or ou hater, this guy did several wrongs and should be punished accordingly.Thank you
Ok, I can see the copyright issues there, but is it necessary to send the guy to jail? How many message boards to you go to where some teams overzealous fans are saying that "all your guys are on steroids" or "your nothing but a bunch of thugged out girlfriend beaters". So I ask you, what's the difference? Maybe you should take Callahan to court for calling you all "f'n hillbillies".
So now I guess we are all under oath when we post on a message board. The only "FRAUD" that happened was that he was posing as an intelligent husker fan.
How Jordan? A fabricated story was on the internet for a few hours and then it was publicly announced that it was a fabrication. I don't think the NFL is going to look back two years from now and think, "you know maybe this guy really is a hard core drug dealer. Not signing him!" That is such BS!
Never be a sooner- This kind of defamation isnt just a joke. NFL teams take this stuff seriously before drafting a player. This would be a major red flag if they are lucky enough to be drafted. Teams might think "where there is smoke there is fire." Potentially it could hurt their draft stock and cost them millions of dollars.
ken, this person is not being threatened with jailtime. slander and libel are torts, which means they are handled in civil suits. and for the record, he has opened himself up to potentially severe liability. and this is not as simple as a joke. this is FRAUD, as well as a copyright violation for stealing the newsok.com web template. this is not something that the players, the school, or the paper should just "let go." the internet is great, but it's important that people aren't allowed to flout the law just because something was posted on the internet rather than published in a more traditional manner. what mr. conradt did violated the rights of a lot of people, and such unlawful conduct must be treated seriously.
woman in okc, Oklahoma City - Jul 10, 2008 3:19 PM
I'm a lifelong Nebraska Fan and have always considered OU the seconds best program in the Big 12, definetly the best in the Big12 South. I am ashamed that a Nebraska fan would do something like this. I hope he gets prosecuted. What happenned to one of the greatest rivalries in college football? I've met so many OU fans who would never disrespect Nebraska and I know most Nebraska fans would never disrespect OU. Unfortunately, their are idiots everywhere out there. Maybe this guy has been in Texas too long and forgot how he was raised?
Oh, gimme a break. Sure, it's slander (or is it libel?). Is there anyone out there, seriously, who would want to go to jail for being stupid? Just like Oklahoma - where everyone who makes the smallest mistake goes to jail. Let it go.
Isn't this the same type of thing tabloid magazines do to celebrities on a daily basis? Should we sue them for every story they make up?? Sam and Landry have chosen to be in the national spot light by playing football for a nationally known team they should know they may have to deal with ridiculous,crap like this. Every research paper I ever did in college my professors always stressed that the majority of information on the internet is not from a reputable source. So how did what this GUY post so tramatically affect the two quarter backs?? For what a half of a day maybe people that didn't know them thought they might be drug dealers??? Who cares?? Now that it has come out as a hoax more people are going to read about the whole ordeal and know that they are both upstanding young men. Then if they take the high road and do nothing they look like the classier bigger people. So actually they come out better than when no one knew anything about them. Plus if Kevin Jones sues this GUY what is he going to get from him, most likely nothing! Just a lot of wasted time, money, and maybe grief for Landry by people ragging him about his daddy having to fight for him.
Damn! Well basically back in 2005 this same was featured in an article that says: "Full of loud opinions, low-brow squabbling, comedians, constant rumors and occasional breaking information, message boards have become a phenomenon too consequential to ignore.
Though often viewed with disdain by coaches and players, the boards have made anonymous reporters out of the likes of doctors and gas attendants.
Unfortunately, some spread false information about a player or coach just to make noise. But sometimes, as a coach named Mike Price can tell you, somebody named EagleKlaw can start your demise." Seriously, same guy in the article.
First off, I am a Husker fan
Second, this is totally a classless act by someone who sits behind his computer screen and slanders others in the worst ways - slap him hard boys
Third, read this - it drips of irony - yes this is the same man. Thought I'd share whats been going around our message boards: http://journalstar.com/articles/2005/01/09/huskerextra/doc41e0c7aa80e47840334632.txt
KID??? the idiot was 36 y.o. whether your an ou fan or not these guys are 21 and 19. to me these ARE kids. how can you justify this type of slander to a persons reputation. this dumb*** should be prosecuted to the fullest extent and i hope he gets his a** sued off. this is not a football issue it's a personal responsiblity issue.
I am not saying what this kid did was right by any means but really a lawsuit?? I don't see how it really hurt anyone. Sam, Landry, and their families have to know they play D 1 football at a school that is a national contender most years so people are going to talk about them. Like Kevin Jones said people that know these boys know they would never do something like this and thats all that really has to matter to them. It's sad that Conradt has nothing better to do than to make up lies about two good kids but that's life. Why waste time and money and drag this stupid prank out all its going to do is extend Conradt's 15 min of fame. If everyone involved drops it now Sam and Landry come off looking like the bigger people.
Maybe the husker fan recently got his 1989 sports illustrated in the mail and mistakenly thought it was sam bradford and not charles thompson. He forgot to read the date or the name. It happens.
Really got to hand it to the media. They would only report bad things. Because we all know bad things make money. The two QB's? They should be more upset than anyone. Afterall, it was about them. Let the court in Austin deal with this moron. I'm sure things will be fine in a few days. Go SOONERS!!! Go away OBAMA.
Lighten up? It's just slander, it's not really a big deal. Let's just do away with the laws. People that want others to lighten up over this are idiots.
Toby must be used to having his teams butt kicked by Ou.
First, Conradt shouldn't have made the comment in the first place. He's in very hot water for making the comment look like part of the Newspaper's web site. The Oklahoman has every right to protect against this type of theft and I feel they need to go after this guy for using their template.
Second, Can't the sports fans all get along? Isn't OU and NU in the same conference? Don't both schools benefit when other teams in the conference have a good season? Fans of both schools should be ashamed of this kind of mean behavior.
Remember to be nice on this message board too...other wise some "sue-happy" guy is going after you next. :-)
You know as a father I'm afraid I would have reacted the same as Jones did. Now after having time to think about it I would hope I would cool off and do the right thing. What ever that is. As a son I would be proud to defend the statement made by a father that shows he is proud of me.
Shep, You asked what should be done about Jesse Jacksons comment....give him a knife and let him do it. This NU idiot needs to be hung for slandering 2 young men like that. That went far beyond anything that resembles a joke and he should be made to suffer the consequences for his actions
I heard this report in Houston by Matt Jackson on Sprots Radio 610. He stated he received the information from the Newsok website. He was obviously fooled. I am an OSU alum and fan, but I had very serious doubts about the story when it was first reported because of what I have read and know about about Bradford. He in my mind is a model athletic. I can see Condrat trying to get even with OU posters who can be ugly themselves, but he took this way too far.
Shame on Conradt! I have been trying to teach the students at the journalism school where I work that you have to be honest and have integrity when writing a story. I realize this wasn't actually done at the paper, but doesn't really matter - it was meant to be taken as such by him. If I had the opportunity, I would love for him to have to come to my school and explain the actions he took, then explain the consequences he has to face. Condrat has done more damage than just to Sam Bedford and Larry Jones, he has given young people the idea that they can say or do anything they want without ever thinking about how it will dramatically affect other people's lives.
If anyone wants to see posts from other "OU haters" from Nebraska, just google the words: alkohusker or HuskerTimOmaha and obviously DarthHusker, who I guess by now we know that Conradt is?
Typical of many Nebraska fans--they are a shameful lot since Osbourne left. Their true colors have emerged. Is this Condradt the infamous "Alkohusker" or "HuskerTimOmaha" from the rivals boards? Either way, it's pathetic that a grown man like that would do something like this. There are several infamous "OU haters" from the NU ranks on the internet.
If there aren't consequences to something like this, it will just be repeated over and over by rival fans. I would cut him some slack for having to endure the Bill Callahan era but one of these guys has to be made an example so others will think twice about duplicating it to a player at another school.
It looks like the point is being missed here. It's bad enough what Mr. Conradt did, but the bigger problem is that at least two Texas radio stations ran with the unverified story. Identify those stations! Mr. Conradt shouldn't be the only one fading the heat over this silliness.
One thing we learned is that Kevin Jones has deep enough pockets to sue this guy. Can you imagine how much grief Landry Jones will get about his dad's deep pockets? Kevin Jones is a bigger idiot than the guy that posted the bogus article.
The guys deserves some consequences- take away his Hurbie Husker bobblehead. What! People misrepresent on the internet. He did cross the line, but please don't make it a federal case. It's a geek on a keyboard whoose parents are away. Sure Sam laughed it off. Just hope the Oklahoman and my 2 cents don't go all righteous and get embarrassing.
I'm voting for Obama.
Its a shame everybody thinks they need to sue somebody when all this guy was trying to do was get back at some obnoxious OU fans on the NU message board. He got riled up on a message board and tried to make up a big joke. He definitely made a mistake and sounds very apologetic. We should all give the guy a break.
Scott- This goes deeper than the content of the article. It's a copyright issue. I'm sure NewsOK isn't talking about prosecuting this guy because of what he wrote about Bradford and Landry. They're talking about prosecuting him because their web site content and design are copyrighted, and this guy stole that. What he did is against the law. For the record, if this were an actual news story and their were rumors out there that Bradford and Landry were actually drug dealers, the Oklahoman could report that as news just as they reported the rumors surrounding Bobby Reid. I'm not defending what Carlson said, but the Oklahoman had every right to run the story and then defend the free speech issue afterwards.
Hey Glenda... Its not so simple a just being a joke. A crime was committed here. Lest not overlook that. Filing false reports about a kidnapping or something like that might just be a joke but its a serious joke. If this guy walks then stuff like this will be daily thing and then where are we? Yes Obama stinks.
Im an OSU fan and I admire Sam Bradford. What is sad is how media outlets jump to report things they hear or read on internet message boards. Yet when things are proven to be false they rarely even print a retraction.
I also find it quite comical that the Oklahoman says they take this "We take this very seriously and will consider legal action.” Funny how when Jenny Carlson writes a story about Bobby Reid based on "If you believe the rumors and the rumblings" (her own words) that they call that journalism and circle the wagons to protect their own.
Wonder how much cash those Texas radio stations will have to cough up to settle this. Talk about "reckless disregard for the truth". Bet some radio guys will be out looking for a job soon.
The man said he was sorry and apologized for doing it. It was just a joke and no one really got hurt out of the deal. Come on does DADDY Jones doesn't have to come in and act like a fool either does he. Use your money wisely instead of trying to be something your not. If you have that much money to throw away on something as foolish as this then give that money to some homeless people or even help out the abused children in Oklahoma. IT was a joke that got out of hand and the man took it off when he found out everyone was getting upset over it. And I wouldn't vote for Obama either.
Haha, just making a point about being responsible with what they say. I thought it was kinda funny for Jackson to get caught saying that kind of thing. Especially since he's a "Man of the cloth". I'm not voting for Obama either, if it matters.
Were they harmed? Hell yes they were! Barry in "Ft. Collins" you are in idiot! I guarantee you if it were your son you wouldn't "leave it alone". You are just like the guy in Austin....a coward hiding behind a keyboard. Now go get your mommy to make you some meatloaf.
I don't think they should sue him. It's just the same kind of out-of-control mud flinging that many folks do here on these comment blogs. In real life you can say something sarcastically, like, so and so are a bunch of drug dealers..and not mean it. Why not on the net? Just a Huskers fan doing his dirtiest.
Hey Barry... Sounds like you might also be an idiot. Comparing Larry Flynt and porn to football players being accused of selling drugs? What if they were talking about your mother?
Were the QB kids harmed? No. Leave it alone. This is no different than Larry Flynt stating Jerry Falwell had sex with his mother. Protected speech that is unfounded without a victim. SCOTUS ruled Flynt innocent. But this will end up being settled out of court with "I have deep pockets" daddy bullying six figures out of the guy. Sheebus, with everything to worry about, why bother with this nonsense. The guy is an idiot and now more people know, and believe, he is an idiot than ever knew about or believed these two kids were dealers.
I think he needs to be abandon from all Big 12 teams.
He knew that was hurtful and would cause a disturbence and hurt the football boys and team. He was trying to get his 15 minutes of fame and didn't care whom he hurt. I do hope they sue him and he should be punshied for telling such a lie.
A strong tree limb, a well oiled rope, and a chair for Mr. Conradt to stand on....oh, that was a joke also....apparently the OKC gonad grabber got the wrong victim....this dolt deserves something more than rebuke.
Don in Topeka......."let's not over-react" ??? This knucklehead posted a bogus story on the internet stating two OU quarterbacks, Bradford and Jones, have been arrested on cocaine distribution charges....and you say not to over-react? Well, I for one hope they "over-react" his rear end right into the court room and see what a liability lawsuit does for him. When people make big time mistakes, they get to pay big time penalties. In this case, "I'm sorry" just doesn't cut it.
Exactly Don, it was a joke, let it go. Do not embarass yourself by talking about how deep your pockets are, you just look stupid. The only who would win is the lawyers and you just bring more attention to a non event.
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represent Nebraska when he resorts to something
like that. I grew up and lived in NE for 25 years.
Oklahoma was my second favorite team when it wasn't
playing Nebraska. I hope he gets what he deserves.
EMBARASSING!!
It was a hoax news story he posted on a web site. I fail to see how *he* did anything stupid. People photoshop pictures all the time, and this is no different.
Now, those two radio stations in Texas that broadcast the story, they did something stupid. If there's a lawsuit to be had, it'd be against them. Leave the guy alone, he didn't do anything illegal or wrong (regardless of what he says upon reflection and threats of lawsuits)...
So now I guess we are all under oath when we post on a message board. The only "FRAUD" that happened was that he was posing as an intelligent husker fan.
Though often viewed with disdain by coaches and players, the boards have made anonymous reporters out of the likes of doctors and gas attendants.
Unfortunately, some spread false information about a player or coach just to make noise. But sometimes, as a coach named Mike Price can tell you, somebody named EagleKlaw can start your demise." Seriously, same guy in the article.
Second, this is totally a classless act by someone who sits behind his computer screen and slanders others in the worst ways - slap him hard boys
Third, read this - it drips of irony - yes this is the same man. Thought I'd share whats been going around our message boards: http://journalstar.com/articles/2005/01/09/huskerextra/doc41e0c7aa80e47840334632.txt
Toby must be used to having his teams butt kicked by Ou.
Second, Can't the sports fans all get along? Isn't OU and NU in the same conference? Don't both schools benefit when other teams in the conference have a good season? Fans of both schools should be ashamed of this kind of mean behavior.
Remember to be nice on this message board too...other wise some "sue-happy" guy is going after you next. :-)
I'm voting for Obama.
I also find it quite comical that the Oklahoman says they take this "We take this very seriously and will consider legal action.” Funny how when Jenny Carlson writes a story about Bobby Reid based on "If you believe the rumors and the rumblings" (her own words) that they call that journalism and circle the wagons to protect their own.
He knew that was hurtful and would cause a disturbence and hurt the football boys and team. He was trying to get his 15 minutes of fame and didn't care whom he hurt. I do hope they sue him and he should be punshied for telling such a lie.