Here We Go Again - Coach Arrested

[jp99]

And?,,,,That's your opinion,,,,,and Thank God for us having the right to state it...

[softballmafia]

Wow,,you people are amazing,,,he was arrested and charged,,,nothing has been proven,he hasn't been convicted of any crime,,,and I find it disgusting that you're all (especially those who know him) are so quick to assume his guilt....What happened to innocent until proven guilty?? Does it not matter that his reputation will never be the same,,,that when he's aquitted,,he still will be looked upon with distaste and not be able to pass on his knowledge and skills anywhere because of this? Does it not matter that this same thing can happen to any man that deals with kid's? My niece got a full ride to a D1 school due to Mike and his hard work getting her recruited,,my daughter is going off to college this next year, pitching and it's due to Mike's dedication and expertise and endless support to these girls...Shame on you all for condemning him before he's even been given the chance to defend himself.....I sure hope you are never accused of anything and abandoned by the people in your community that you helped develop and nurture....Ya,,,come back and say it's blind loyalty,,,I'm naive,,,blah blah blah,,,,no,,I'm loyal to someone that has helped my daughter hundreds of others,,,,unless and until proven otherwise,,Mike Smith is still the best at what he does and at the very least deserves better than to be trashed by you on here.

I would wonder if you would still have that loyalty if you college daughter came back to you and told you she too was molested by him...............hummm

[balou]

I wonder what they were saying about Sandusky when it first came out. If you know anything about Police work you would know that this kind of arrest is taken very seriously. I seriously doubt that there is not a smoking gun here. JMO

[MTR]

The solution is pretty simple folks. STAY WITH YOUR KIDS!!!!! My wife or myself is at every practice, every lesson and every game!

Suggesting responsible parenting! Are you out of your mind?!?!

[NumeroUno]

Official Statement from Ed Halstead at EM Speed:

Michael A. Smith is not now and has never been employed by EM Speed and Power Training. Mr. Smith only had a license to use space at EM Speed and Power Training’s facility to conduct pitching instruction through his independent business, Mike Smith Softball Academy. As a licensee, Mr. Smith paid EM Speed and Power Training a fee to conduct his business at our facility and billed his customers directly for the services he provided. EM Speed and Power Training was not involved with the operation of Mr. Smith’s business. EM Speed and Power Training immediately revoked Mr. Smith’s license when it learned of the charges against him. We do not believe that any inappropriate conduct is alleged to have, or did, occur at EM Speed and Power Training’s facilities.

As is its practice, prior to granting Mr. Smith a license to use the facility, EM Speed and Power Training required that Mr. Smith provide certification of a criminal background check.

Thanks for your support!


Eddie

[jp99]

RE:Softballmafia...........My daughter is never alone with a coach,,,,,,and I would trust in the American Justice System,,,Innocent until Proven Guilty......Period.

[softballmafia]

RE:Softballmafia...........My daughter is never alone with a coach,,,,,,and I would trust in the American Justice System,,,Innocent until Proven Guilty......Period.

You did not answer my question....would you have loyalty if you found out your daughter got molested by him.....2 million dollar bail is very large for a alleged molestation.....didn't the guy in Florida only get a bail for $150,000.00 for a murder......Are you with your daughter every minute...coach could have contacted your daughter many ways other than at a practice,ect.

[Slammer500]

It's pretty hard to believe that this would be happening 2009-2011 when that was when Lori from the Dugout was having him investigated. He was aware of it and filed suit against her. They settled. It sounds like there are some real sour grapes about him. My daughter used to catch some of his lessons. We used to joke about the rumors that Lori started. I'm having a real hard time believing it....but just like Bubba from Upland, his reputation is now ruined although he's innocent till proven guilty. I've known several girls that've taken from him and love him. I just don't believe it.

[TravelSoftballDad]

Wow,,you people are amazing,,,he was arrested and charged,,,nothing has been proven,he hasn't been convicted of any crime,,,and I find it disgusting that you're all (especially those who know him) are so quick to assume his guilt....What happened to innocent until proven guilty?? Does it not matter that his reputation will never be the same,,,that when he's aquitted,,he still will be looked upon with distaste and not be able to pass on his knowledge and skills anywhere because of this? Does it not matter that this same thing can happen to any man that deals with kid's? My niece got a full ride to a D1 school due to Mike and his hard work getting her recruited,,my daughter is going off to college this next year, pitching and it's due to Mike's dedication and expertise and endless support to these girls...Shame on you all for condemning him before he's even been given the chance to defend himself.....I sure hope you are never accused of anything and abandoned by the people in your community that you helped develop and nurture....Ya,,,come back and say it's blind loyalty,,,I'm naive,,,blah blah blah,,,,no,,I'm loyal to someone that has helped my daughter hundreds of others,,,,unless and until proven otherwise,,Mike Smith is still the best at what he does and at the very least deserves better than to be trashed by you on here.

mmmmmmmkay...I'm wondering if maybe your niece and your daughter should be getting a lil' credit for getting to the next level? Just a tad? Or was it, as you say, all due to ol' Mike ??

If it was all Mike (not their hard work, dedication, and determination that got them to the collegiate level) then I understand why you would sink your heels in.

[thedugout]

Slammer500
This is Bobby Oaks from the dugout. I've been trying to stay out of all the comments but as far as for the sour grapes comment. Maybe you should get facts from more sources. Fact: Mike did conduct lessons at our facility he was an independent contractor and WE terminated his contract for having a sexual relationship with a student. Which I have proof of. She was over 18 at the time. Fact: we took the information to Ontario pd which started the investigation that has led to his arrest finally. Sometimes investigations take time. Fact: yes he tried to sue us. He dropped the lawsuit when he figured out how much we knew. So if he or someone told you we settled they're full of it. We had been asked by Ont PD to keep quiet while they investigated. Fact: when this first happened several training facilities including EM were called by us and told that mike was terminated from use of our facility for having a sexual relationship with a student.

I don't care what anyone says those are facts. Mikewas a man I respected but having the proof of his misconduct we kicked him out. Whether she was over 18 at the time didn't matter she had been a student since age 14 and we felt it needed to be handled by the police.

I'm sure people can agree it was unethical at a minimum for him to be sexually involved with a student. The justice system will now take its course.