Nov 4, 2005 11:11 am US/Central
Vikings V.P.: Sex Party Claims 'Not Adding Up'
by Esme Murphy
(WCCO)
This story contains graphic language and subject matter some may find offensive.For the first time, Minnesota Vikings management is going on the record regarding allegations of X-rated behavior by team members.
Vikings management said "sex cruise" accusations against Vikings players are nowhere near as bad as have been reported.
The team's vice president of public relations, Lester Bagley, also said the team is ready to punish any bad behavior, but the investigation has turned up very little evidence so far.
Attorney Stephen Doyle alleged members of the Minnesota Vikings took two Al and Alma's charter cruises out onto Lake Minnetonka on Oct. 6 for a party and engaged in lewd behavior.
Doyle, who is representing Al and Alma's, said last month witnesses gave graphic accounts of sex acts purported to have taken place during the party, including "masturbation, oral sex, woman on man, woman on woman."
The Minnesota Vikings dispute those claims, and Bagley believes Doyle has his own agenda.
"The entire case is this lawyer, and his version of events is not adding up," Bagley said.
"Members of the entourage that were on both boats took enormously detailed photographs of a variety of sexual acts," Doyle said last month.
Bagley said as far as the Vikings know, the investigation has turned up "no physical evidence and no photos" of Vikings engaged in sexual activities.
Doyle said Thursday he didn't know if police had been able to find photos. He agreed there may be no physical evidence because the Al and Alma's crew cleaned up the boat and threw everything from the party in the garbage.
"Now with hindsight and some yardstick, we say 'Well couldn't they have behaved differently and couldn't they have kept stuff?'" Doyle said. "Well, sure, but that wasn't the normal situation. That wasn't what was occurring. It was a long and very difficult day for them and night for them. They cleaned the boat and went home to try to get some sleep."
Doyle said despite the delay, the crew was traumatized.
"The fact that eight different people identify fairly outrageous behavior is not insignificant," Doyle said.
The Vikings stressed the boat crew never called 911 that night, as was reported. Police weren't contacted until several days later.
Bagley believes the infamous cruise may end up much like a recent case at Bobby and Steve's Auto World in Minneapolis.
Bryant McKinnie and Marcus A. Johnson were arrested on Sept. 26 and charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing the legal process.
However, home video showed the two Vikings cooperating with police. The charges were dropped.
Bagley says in the sex cruise story, there's been "a rush to judgment" and players' reputations are "unfairly damaged."
At least two of the Vikings players have hired attorneys because they said their reputations have been damaged and they are considering lawsuits.
However, McKinnie said he is not fazed by the allegations.
"I'm more determined to go out there and play harder," McKinnie said. "(I will) just use this as motivation."
Vikings players who were involved in the cruise could still be punished by the team. The organization will make that call when the investigation is over, possibly in the next two weeks.
Hennepin County Sheriff Patrick D. McGowan said only when the investigation is completed will others be able to decide who is telling the truth and who is exaggerating.
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