FaithnHim, Crested Butte, (11/20/2009 9:52:36 PM)

Nice. Bet your parents are very proud of you.

all4her, (11/20/2009 10:41:28 PM)

"District Attorney Tim Harris said that in evaluating the case, he thinks there was a “major question” regarding whether the molestation charge could be proved in court beyond a reasonable doubt". DUH! Maybe he should have looked at this before he decided to trash this man's character. We knew this to be false from the get go! Tommy's only fault in this is that he is too trusting and that people sometimes can't take a person who says it like it is. He is no child molester and I am glad this is somewhat over for him. I say somewhat because the allegation will always be there and the false or incomplete reporting by the TV news stations and the first Tulsa World article tried him in the public eye before he had his day in court. I am glad to see though that the Tulsa World printed more of what the DA said and what Mr. Adams had to say. Those of us that have been behind Tommy are still behind Tommy!

Legendsfan, (11/20/2009 10:43:19 PM)

Tommy is a good man! We look forward to future practices and getting ready for 2010.

stringer, (11/20/2009 11:31:09 PM)

Are you people nuts? You intend to allow this guy to continue to coach your kids after he pleads guilty to a crime involving a teenage girl? When his playing around and talking dirty escalates to full blown rape on your daughter don't come cryin for justice. You can support him at your own risk but don't pput the rest of us in danger with your stupid blind loyalty.

all4her, (11/21/2009 12:01:02 AM)

Stringer, I will copy my comment from the other article, that I posted that applies to your comments as well.

Guess this "Verdict" is not sitting well with you. From your comments, you really would not have been satisfied with anything short of a "Life Sentence" for Tommy. Anyway, you really need to sit back on the sidelines where you really belong, because if you looked at what he really plead guilty to was "innapropriate language". What exactly constitutes a persons interpretation of innapropriate? I could say something to you and you might find it offensive, but others may not. In reality, "District Attorney Tim Harris said that in evaluating the case, he thinks there was a “major question” regarding whether the molestation charge could be proved in court beyond a reasonable doubt" and the judge that ruled on the "misdemeanor" "made no finding of guilt" on the misdemeanor count that was added Friday. Does that sound like a guilty man to you? If I were in his shoes, I would want this nightmare over... The sooner the better.

21 O.S. 22
Every person who willfully and wrongfully commits any act which grossly injures the person or property of another, or which grossly disturbs the public peace or health, or which openly outrages public decency, including but not limited to urination in a public place, and is injurious to public morals, although no punishment is expressly prescribed therefor by this code, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

So I guess that I should carefully pick my words from here on out. And the reverse may be true as well...

This is not about supporting someone that is a risk or stupid blind loyalty. This is about a man that has spent almost his entire life helping girls achieve their dreams, with never a complaint or concern lodged or "made up" until now. So my loyalty is not stupid or blind, but based on a long and successful history with girls softball.

mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/21/2009 3:53:56 AM)

The guy looks like a creep. We'll be swing more of him sometime soon.

mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/21/2009 3:56:48 AM)

Edit we'll be seeing more of him somete soon

Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (11/21/2009 8:54:00 AM)

mayor_maynot. One of those late night things,eh? (swing, somete).

billy8, Sand Springs (11/21/2009 10:18:27 AM)

A MISDEMEANOR CONVICTION, AND TWO YEARS PROBATION? I'M OUTRAGED!

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/21/2009 11:12:31 AM)

all4her, That would have been nice however when the information is presented to the DA and there appears to be sufficient evidence that a crime has been committed he must take it to the courts. I am just speculating but it sounds as if the girl upset with him regarding a entirely different subject, maybe it was because he tried to take her phone away from her when she should have been practicing or she didn't get to play the position she wanted or or maybe just didn't get to do whatever she wanted. In retalitation she came up with allegations.

Few Clothes, America (11/21/2009 1:17:46 PM)

"Don't gimme no line and keep your hands to yourself".

okie ridgerunner, Small Country Town State Line (11/21/2009 2:02:01 PM)

I bet the whole story is not known about this.

There is more than one side to every story.
There is his story and her story and then the true story.the true story could be a bad story for either one of them.

Legendsfan, (11/21/2009 2:48:36 PM)

There is not anything blind about this. Tommy has been coaching for way to long and IF he was a threat to the community we would have heard about it in the 27 years of his coaching. But no he has not single mark on his receord that would make anyone think he is a bad person.

All4 her says it like it is.

mayor_maynot, You are right.. you will be seeing more of Tommy because Tommy has helped many girls make their college dreams come true. He is here to stay and he will continue to coach do what he does best. He never has and never will touch a teenage girl. He tells you like it is and you might not like it, but you don't have to trash someone's life because you get your feelings hurt!

As for him looking like a creep, imagine if you were just ACCUSED of something that horrible what what you might look like. He was probably in shock when that picture was taken and he is FAR from a creep. He is a genuine guy and you can take what he tells you right to the bank. ALWAYS!

We are glad your back Tommy!!!!

Legendsfan, (11/21/2009 2:53:03 PM)

Oh and by the way both of my girls, teenager and younger will to go to Tommy and learn from him, look up to him, and respect him.

SKULL, (11/21/2009 4:06:20 PM)

That was only one of the "inappropriate" questions this dude asked a child.

stringer, (11/21/2009 5:14:42 PM)

If he was not guilty of anything.l..why did he plead out? If he is such a fine example of a coach and mentor...why not fight to the end? If the DA reviewed this and accepted his plea, he did something wrong and it looks like he knew it. Keep him away from the kids. If he is such a fine person, he will survive. If he is not the model all of ou think he is, we will see more of him on the same crime beat.

all4her, (11/21/2009 6:23:54 PM)

mayor_maynot
"looks like a creep"? Well, looks like you are lacking education in more ways than one. Mostly ignorance and the use of spell check.

SKULL
Get a brain to fill yours in. What kind of person puts a thing like that on a website where kids are reading this? Sounds to me like you are either one of the party's involved with an most definately an axe to grind because you didn't get what you wanted or like the above poster you are ignorant too.

Stringer
There were alot of factors involved with the final outcome. I agree. If it were me I'd say take me to court, give me my innocent verdict and then the DA, the family and TPS would pay every last dime and then some back to me. But the main difference here, is neither one of us are in his shoes right now. I know his heart and I have a sense of what he was thinking. The only ones that know his heart are the ones who have been around him all these years. In my case it has been almost 8. My family and I have spent countless hours with this man. What you see is what you get. Again, he said something that she thought inappropriate, doesn't make it so. Some of the things I have read in these comments as well as on the previous thread I feel are inappropriate doesn't mean I am willing to destroy a person because just as DBJohn draws in their comment, hurt feelings because a "child" didn't get what she wanted doesn't make it her right to do just that.

Few Clothes
That's exactly what he did. No line and no touching.

Whocanutrust?, (11/21/2009 7:48:01 PM)

Stringer "If he was not guilty of anything.l..why did he plead out? If he is such a fine example of a coach and mentor...why not fight to the end"

In dealing w/in the criminal justice system, that is not always the best advice to give to a defendant,especially in OKLAHOMA. How many innocent people are serving time not only in Oklahoma but in other states b/c of the same thought pattern you are displaying? I hope this is a wake up for all individuals dealing with children.

Legendsfan, (11/21/2009 8:22:03 PM)

Think about it people...if he were guilty (which he is obviously NOT) of the charges that this girl brought forward on him, then WHY would her parents let him take such a less significant plea? If my daughter came to me and I truly believed that this happened then I would make the man's life a living hell!!! I would never let him settle. I would have pushed for jail time because that is my daughter and no man will treat her that way without paying dearly. So with that being said, they must have wanted to be done with it because they know the allegations were NOT true!!

SKULL, (11/21/2009 9:11:50 PM)

All for her,my point exactly!!! Inappropriate for a post and most definitely should not be asked of a child. If your offended, be glad it wasn't your child that was spoken to that way.

cherry74129, Tulsa (11/21/2009 10:34:32 PM)

Sounds to me like this spoiled little girl didn't like sitting the bench, so she made up a story to get back at the coach. I know alot of kids that attend this school and not any one of them have said anything negative about Mr. Rogers.

snowwhite04, (11/21/2009 11:00:47 PM)

I love how you people take up for the man and have no sympathy for the girl, usually when a child is hurt is by someone they know. You defend this man because he a coach, Were you there, do you know he's innocent? Maybe there are others but they are afraid to come forward.

Ron Ballew, Lawton (11/22/2009 1:00:44 AM)

Touching someone on the butt is not "fondling." Sports players, including coaches, are always touching each other on the butt.

Talking is not a crime, and neither is touching a sports player on the butt. If it was, you would have to arrest every member of every football team.

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/22/2009 2:45:45 AM)

snowwhite04, There is always 2 sides to the story. Is it possible that the little girl is a hateful, vindictive, spoiled little brat that didn't get her way?

all4her, (11/22/2009 2:50:00 PM)

SKULL
Here you are saying he said something specific and then you post that specific statement out in public for many children to see. So by your actions of "restating" what he supposedly said (keep in mind not proven) and by your own opinion that Tommy is guilty of what he was originally charged proves you are no better than what your opinion of him is. You actually proved my point. My child has been around Tommy more times than I can count and never has she, I or anyone for the past 30+ years have heard anything like that come out of his mouth but she finds, as do I, it very typical that someone like you would choose to put it out on a public website. Meaning someone who does not know this man. My previous statement stands. Ignorance.

snowwhite04
The sad part about this is is that I do feel sympathy for this young girl as do other's. Sympathy for the fact that she is need of attention. Positive attention of which she seems to be crying out for. I've done some very interesting reading lately. Her family life and the character that her parents have displayed within the court system within the last 10 years is very troubling. Not to mention the people they keep including in her life. Public documents show that this young lady has had a not so good role model(s) to look up to. That is very troubling. VERY! This young lady is in need of help but she won't find it at home and she won't find it in accusing someone of something they didn't do.

I cherish my daughters. I have sacrificed things in my life (with great joy, I might add) to make sure they know that they are cherished, adored, protected, provided for both monetarily and emotionally and that they are provided with every opportunity to acheive their dreams. You can't do this if the home in which they live in is in chaos of one or more of the parents choosing. We as parents make decisions every day that affect our family in some way. Choosing to be around a certain way of life that is obviously distructive can and does hurt our children. How we as adults live is our choice. Children do not have that luxury.

We are not "choosing to defend this man because he is a coach". We are choosing to defend this man because we first came to him as a coach but he later became our friend! His character should not be in question here. There are 2 sides to every story as stated above by DBJohn. The sad thing here is is that only one sides character has come into play here when the other "adults" in this story's character has not even been mentioned. To me, that is a tragedy and this young lady in the end is also a victim but not at the hands of Tommy, at the hands of those that are supposed to protect her and by the local media and government system.

I have said my peace as this could go on and on. Nothing those of us who do support our friend Tommy, could ever say from here on out would change the minds of those who 1: do not know him and are sitting in judgement of him 2: those who may know him and do not like him and 3: those that just want their 15 minutes of fame. This whole situation is very, very sad.