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 smooth 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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This story is different. Cocaine distribution? Pretty serious stuff...if he wanted to be funny, he could have said that they were hanging out with Dusty downtown beating people up when they walked out of bars, or stealing gas for their mopeds, they even could have fallen out of the back of their pickup while they were shooting pop bottle rockets at each other. They could have pulled hamstrings as they ran from the police carrying armloads full of coats with DeMarcus. Cocaine distribution??? The story made a major market and was reported as fact? That's a whole different level. Those stories would have been funny, looking back a few days later. Prosecute him.
It's amusing how many people who have done similar things or said similar things are all worked up over someone doing it about OU. I've seen the message boards. It's goes back and forth. There is so much between OU and Texas on the message boards every year that lawyers could stay busy year round prosecuting people. Not suprising that it was Texas stations that spread the story the fastest.
Yeah prosecute! Instead of letting it die and letting Sam and Landry get on with their lives let's bring more press and publicity to the story! That sounds like a good plan! Lets use a little logic here guys...
I hope they do prosecute. That could cause NCAA investigations and start a rumor mill when the NFL comes calling. THat kind of Rumor dropped Marino to the 27th pick in 1983. So to say it was just someone having fun is stupid, your responsible for your behavior and actions and do do something if you can't handle consequences. Go get me Kevin make him apologise on National TV and radio and admit that he's a stupid Texan and Nebraska fan.
Adam from Houston likes to make himself feel better about where he resides. Did you guys know he lives in Texas? Gosh all of us are "dumb okies". Did you know that someone in Texas made up a fake story about two OU football players and now may be in trouble with the law? Dumb texan.
my bad..I reread the story and saw that he wasn't a college kid..I assumed he was...regardless, he was an immature adult fan who took it to far...no one was hurt by that..
Come on...He is a college kid who was having fun. Honestly, no one got hurt because of this event. I love OU and bleed crimson, but for Kevin Jones to say he is going to prosecute to the fullest extent and he has deep pockets...what an idiot. That makes me not like Landry, because of the statement about deep pockets and his dad sounding like a self righteous jerk. It is one thing as a parent to be upset and talk about possible legal action, but to add to it, how deep your pockets are, is plain dumb! I personally don't care to ever watch Landry play now, because of his unforgiving, arrogant father.
Please over reacting quite a bit!!! It was a message board. Which is junk and full of rumors. A message board should not be sought for true facts. It is sad when media outlets are starting to use message boards as a resource to print or use on the 6 o'clock news. The blame should be placed on the TV station or radio station out of Houston who ran with this story...hook...line...and sinker. Don't blame James...he was just having some fun...that got carried away.
Mary, what did Jenni say about Bobby Reid that wasn't true? Where is he playing football today. Could it be your coach just got upset because someone saw it before he did? Why are you crying so while you complain about OU's fans doing the same thing?
John from Stigler: It won't be at all hard to nail this sob in court. Whether or not any criminal laws were violated, this is a clear case of libel, with obvious malicious intent. So a civil case of libe against this jerk is almost a no-brainer. Libel is usually hard to prove, since it is permissible to use hearsay evidence in defense of the libelous statements. It's okay, for instance, to say that "someone told me that their cousin heard from his best friend that so-and-so is a scumbag". All you have to do is prove that you HONESTLY thought the libelous statement was true, and you're off the hook! In this case, the guy even admits he made it up out of the whole cloth simply to hurt the players involved and their fans. He has no defense. And all you need in civil trial is a 9-3 jury, not unanimous. Looks like a slam dunk to me...the only question is how many years will this guy be working for the Jones family? He's toast unless Kevin Jones wants to cut him a HUGE break and not sue.
I will not fire back with name calling as it only makes you look worse in the current situation. To those who came here to cry .. go home ... its not worth your time.. just as it is not worth my time to sit here and fireback belittling names... all I can say is Karma is a son of a#@$%^ .. to each his own.
People do the strangest things. Why anyone would go to such great lengths is ridiculous. It doesnt matter if it is OU Qb's or local attorneys or Mike Gundy. It is slander & it is something that I would not want written about me on a message board or read aloud on radio stations. Jenni Carlsons article may have been ill timed & in poor taste, but it want that far off base, look around mary & see it for what it is, no one actually denied that was going on with Reid.
We'll kick both of their arses in football as we have lately and all will be done. I don't care what an idiot NU fan living in the stinkpot called Austin says.
Brian, Sunny Southern CA - Jul 10, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I find it amusing that Berry Tramel wants everyone off the message boards for irresponsible posts but when it comes to irresponsible journalism like Jenni Carlson's hack job of Bobby Reid it's editorial license! Hey when Berry and Jenni and the multitude of OU fans quit attacking OSU players, coaches and it's administration without merit I'll gladly get off! Until then, ride the Orange Power Wave you crybabies! I don't condone what this "Nebraska" fan did I just think it's hilarious how you OU Goons blow everything out of proportion. Had this been two OSU players this "Nebraska" fan slandered the Daily Oklahoman would have printed it as fact in their newspaper. If the Daily Oklahoman wants people off the message boards then "don't make it available"! Where does he got off telling people to stay off the message boards? Weasel!
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