rockin500
04-07-2005, 10:50 AM
Former White Sox outfielder and NFL star Bo Jackson filed a defamation suit Wednesday in Cook County Circuit Court against a Southern California newspaper that published a story on its Internet site alleging steroid use led to Jackson's hip-replacement surgery.
Jackson said he saw the story, published March 24 in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, on the newspaper's Web site. He is suing for unspecified general and punitive damages. His lawyer, Dan Biederman, also said they want the newspaper to print a retraction.
The story was written off a forum in which teenagers were warned about the use and abuse of steroids. The reporter, sports writer Jim Mohr, quoted a dietary expert who raised the allegation against Jackson.
"Bo Jackson lost his hip because of anabolic abuse," Mohr quotes Ellen Coleman telling the audience.
Coleman denies making the statement and Biederman said Coleman signed an affidavit saying she never made the statement either in public or in private. Biederman also says he has a videotape of the conference in which Coleman never mentions Jackson.
With Jackson by his side at a news conference at U.S. Cellular Field before the Indians-White Sox game, Biederman said the former Pro Bowl running back and All-Star outfielder "never used steroids" and Mohr "will be held accountable."
"This lie cannot stand," Biederman said.
Jackson was one of the nation's best-known athletes during his two-sport pro career. As much as steroids have been in the news, an allegation against someone of Jackson's stature would be a huge story, especially for a small paper such as the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, with a daily circulation of about 65,000. The story, however, had gone relatively unnoticed until Wednesday's news conference.
Despite the explosiveness of the allegation, the quote appeared midway through the story. Jackson's athletic exploits are not detailed and the quote attributed to Coleman is the only time Jackson is mentioned in the story.
Attempts to reach Mohr were unsuccessful.
Steve Lambert, the editor of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and The Sun of San Bernardino, told The Associated Press it was too early for the newspaper to comment on the lawsuit.
Jackson said he never has met Mohr or Coleman and never was contacted about the validity of the statement.
"I have nothing to hide," Jackson said.
Jackson injured his hip in January 1991 while playing for the Los Angeles Raiders in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Before he was injured, he played baseball for the Kansas City Royals and football for the Raiders.
The injury, later described as vascular necrosis, forced Jackson to retire from football.
He returned to baseball with the Sox in 1991. He had an artificial hip implanted in 1992 and missed the entire season before returning in 1993 to hit 16 home runs, including the eventual game-winner in the division-clinching game against Seattle.
"I'm not going to sit here and say, `Maybe I did or maybe I didn't,'" Jackson said. "I didn't. Never did. Never had to do."
Jackson said he saw the story, published March 24 in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, on the newspaper's Web site. He is suing for unspecified general and punitive damages. His lawyer, Dan Biederman, also said they want the newspaper to print a retraction.
The story was written off a forum in which teenagers were warned about the use and abuse of steroids. The reporter, sports writer Jim Mohr, quoted a dietary expert who raised the allegation against Jackson.
"Bo Jackson lost his hip because of anabolic abuse," Mohr quotes Ellen Coleman telling the audience.
Coleman denies making the statement and Biederman said Coleman signed an affidavit saying she never made the statement either in public or in private. Biederman also says he has a videotape of the conference in which Coleman never mentions Jackson.
With Jackson by his side at a news conference at U.S. Cellular Field before the Indians-White Sox game, Biederman said the former Pro Bowl running back and All-Star outfielder "never used steroids" and Mohr "will be held accountable."
"This lie cannot stand," Biederman said.
Jackson was one of the nation's best-known athletes during his two-sport pro career. As much as steroids have been in the news, an allegation against someone of Jackson's stature would be a huge story, especially for a small paper such as the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, with a daily circulation of about 65,000. The story, however, had gone relatively unnoticed until Wednesday's news conference.
Despite the explosiveness of the allegation, the quote appeared midway through the story. Jackson's athletic exploits are not detailed and the quote attributed to Coleman is the only time Jackson is mentioned in the story.
Attempts to reach Mohr were unsuccessful.
Steve Lambert, the editor of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and The Sun of San Bernardino, told The Associated Press it was too early for the newspaper to comment on the lawsuit.
Jackson said he never has met Mohr or Coleman and never was contacted about the validity of the statement.
"I have nothing to hide," Jackson said.
Jackson injured his hip in January 1991 while playing for the Los Angeles Raiders in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Before he was injured, he played baseball for the Kansas City Royals and football for the Raiders.
The injury, later described as vascular necrosis, forced Jackson to retire from football.
He returned to baseball with the Sox in 1991. He had an artificial hip implanted in 1992 and missed the entire season before returning in 1993 to hit 16 home runs, including the eventual game-winner in the division-clinching game against Seattle.
"I'm not going to sit here and say, `Maybe I did or maybe I didn't,'" Jackson said. "I didn't. Never did. Never had to do."