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Post by duke on Aug 4, 2011 21:46:42 GMT 10
As a minor sport, Australian baseball has been crying out for mainstream media and website coverage for many years.
With the successes of our national teams, with the personal achievements of our young players overseas and now with a revamped national league, reporting and coverage have become an even more urgent priority.
Over the past two years, a number of individuals and organisations have sought to become engaged in baseball reporting, blogs and news services. With varying degrees of success. Some have fallen by the wayside, others are seasonal and others seem to believe the commentary is all about them.
Of the existing services, Australian Baseball Digest has developed an impressive presence on the web for its regular, concise and comprehensive reporting – especially on the progress of our young baseball professionals.
The site has rollicked along at a frenetic pace, seemingly being updated several times a day and drawing more and more people as Facebook “friends”.
“This is the greatest site, ever,” remarked one such “friend”, clearly in awe of the contribution made by ABD to the propagation of Australian baseball.
Anecdotally, the Digest editor has been reluctant to disclose his identity and he has chosen to remain anonymous despite requests from various individuals and organisations.
But why such an insistence on remaining anonymous and on refusing to accept public kudos for developing and maintaining the Australian Baseball Digest?
What does the editor have to hide? Why does he not “out” himself? Why does he not accept the plaudits and get on with his valuable work?
Simply, it seems, because he cannot.
Because of who he is.
While the person has not yet owned up, the serious mail is that Trevor Jarrett – someone known for all the wrong reasons - is the person behind Australian Baseball Digest.
Notwithstanding his former history, Jarrett seems to have made a successful foray back into Australian mainstream baseball should this assertion not be refuted. His "service" is universally appreciated and he appears to have been welcomed back with open arms into the bosom of the baseball community.
So much so that the associated Facebook pages – under the guise of Australian Baseball Digest – have attracted over 3500 “friends”.
Friends of all ages.
Ardent followers and clearly committed supporters of the Australian Baseball Digest.
While there may legally be nothing stopping Trevor Jarrett – or anyone else – from managing a website that reports on the progress of adult baseball players in their various competitions, the creation of an interactive Facebook page linked to that reporting is questionable, at best. And nefarious at worst.
It’s an unfortunate metaphor, but Australian baseball governing bodies again appear to have been caught “with their pants down” by a bloke who has consistently and for a long time abused his involvement in the sport to pursue his own warped agenda.
Surely this latest revelation will teach us something.
Privacy and personal freedom are values that we rightly hold dear. However, someone – at some point – has surely to accept institutional or personal responsibility for material and for services that are provided on the internet.
The greater good should always take precedence over the desire to remain anonymous.
The nature of the reporting service provided by Australian Baseball Digest is valuable and very useful in its own right. Perhaps we should be entrusting delivery of that service only to persons or organisations who have the best interests of baseball – and more particularly of our young sportspeople – at heart.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2011 22:52:03 GMT 10
Thanks Duke, well thought through and well written.
This stuff sickens me - but I remain curious and open as to what WE can do about all this, if Duke is off the mark then someone say so, but it seems he is not.
This whole Jarrett thing is too important to just ignore and hope someone (namely those who seemingly have trouble just administering the rudimentary aspect to baseball administration) will deal with.
So where does that leave this (and us) ?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2011 23:06:30 GMT 10
The assertions may have serious and far-ranging implications.
We have allowed the post to continue outside of the "rumour file" because of the credible supporting evidence that has been circulating in the baseball community of late.
Where does this leave us, authentic? Well, that will be largely up to individuals to decide. If the assertions cannot be rejected outright - and quickly - then I'd imagine that people would distance themselves pretty smartly from the Digest, and more especially from its Facebook pages.
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Post by larry42 on Aug 5, 2011 15:46:08 GMT 10
I've already done it and be friended on fb. Not going to take any chances...
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2011 16:49:07 GMT 10
Hey Larry42 is it at all possible to be a 'Friend' of this Facebook page and pose some interesting questions therein (taking care to speak truthfully and/or inquire with caution) on the Wall that others would presumble see and await answers to as well ?
Just wondering ?
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Post by oldracer on Aug 5, 2011 16:52:11 GMT 10
I've already done it and be friended on fb. Not going to take any chances... don't you mean DE friended Larry?
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Post by oldracer on Aug 5, 2011 19:25:31 GMT 10
Hey Larry42 is it at all possible to be a 'Friend' of this Facebook page and pose some interesting questions therein (taking care to speak truthfully and/or inquire with caution) on the Wall that others would presumble see and await answers to as well ? Just wondering ? you will possibly find that if there is a response it will be non commital
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Post by texasleaguer on Aug 5, 2011 19:48:52 GMT 10
Perhaps Fielders Choice would know the brains behind ABD.
"About Editor We are fanatical baseball fans who have a long history of involvement in Australian baseball in various ways - player, coach, umpire, administrator. We want to share our love of the game. "
Fielders Choice are listed as a current partner on the ABF website and sole Sponsor on the ABD website.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2011 20:20:50 GMT 10
Not necessarily, Tex.
Fielders Choice in the last two days replaced Gary White's Diamond One as the sole sponsor of the ABD website. The Diamond One logo and link disappeared overnight on Wednesday, we are informed. Fielders Choice immediately filled the void.
Maybe this was a timely - and somehow coincidental - business development.
Both Fielders Choice and Diamond One are reputable and long-standing supporters of Australian baseball. Neither business would knowingly align itself with anything dodgy. Anything that might create "guilt by association".
It is possible that the Fielders Choice and Diamond One logos and links have been used simply to give the ABD website the appearance of credibility and support by reputable business organisations.
I don't know if that is the case. But someone visiting these pages will surely be able to tell us.
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Post by texasleaguer on Aug 5, 2011 20:48:36 GMT 10
Not necessarily, Tex. Fielders Choice in the last two days replaced Gary White's Diamond One as the sole sponsor of the ABD website. The Diamond One logo and link disappeared overnight on Wednesday, we are informed. Fielders Choice immediately filled the void. Maybe this was a timely - and somehow coincidental - business development. Both Fielders Choice and Diamond One are reputable and long-standing supporters of Australian baseball. Neither business would knowingly align itself with anything dodgy. Anything that might create "guilt by association". It is possible that the Fielders Choice and Diamond One logos and links have been used simply to give the ABD website the appearance of credibility and support by reputable business organisations. I don't know if that is the case. But someone visiting these pages will surely be able to tell us. ..the plot thickens KC.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2011 20:58:40 GMT 10
Well, I don't know about plots, Tex......least since my old parents passed away. I'm just a simple man, one of the shmucks who took on the thankless moderation role with our humble Forum. Plenty of smarter people around than me, that's for sure. So if anyone "in the know" can cast more light on this issue, please let us know - either by posting directly to these pages or by personal message should you prefer to remain anonymous. Perhaps "Steve" from ABD might like to provide some input in view of his proactive online connection with baseball people.
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Post by theslammer on Aug 6, 2011 12:04:00 GMT 10
Not necessarily, Tex. Fielders Choice in the last two days replaced Gary White's Diamond One as the sole sponsor of the ABD website. The Diamond One logo and link disappeared overnight on Wednesday, we are informed. Fielders Choice immediately filled the void. Maybe this was a timely - and somehow coincidental - business development. I think it should also be noted that the Baseball America and MLB logos are on there as well.. I am a friend of that facebook page and communicated to him to let this person know of what is happening on the west coast..also had spoken to a 'sub-editor" as well - who at the time was dealing with news about the college kids. I will wait and see what happens Both Fielders Choice and Diamond One are reputable and long-standing supporters of Australian baseball. Neither business would knowingly align itself with anything dodgy. Anything that might create "guilt by association". It is possible that the Fielders Choice and Diamond One logos and links have been used simply to give the ABD website the appearance of credibility and support by reputable business organisations. I don't know if that is the case. But someone visiting these pages will surely be able to tell us. ..the plot thickens KC.
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Post by theslammer on Aug 6, 2011 12:09:15 GMT 10
Hope I done it right this time..
It should also be noted that the Baseball America and MLB logos are on there as well
I am also a friend on this facebook page..and I have also "spoken" to ABD through facebook chat and the "sub-editor" as well..and have provided him with info about the west aussies who are in the states.
If I recall ..i did ask "him?" who he was and "he" said you know me..but definitely not a west aussie
So we will adopt a wait and see approach
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Post by oldracer on Aug 6, 2011 13:40:33 GMT 10
Perhaps Fielders Choice would know the brains behind ABD. "About Editor We are fanatical baseball fans who have a long history of involvement in Australian baseball in various ways - player, coach, umpire, administrator. We want to share our love of the game. "Fielders Choice are listed as a current partner on the ABF website and sole Sponsor on the ABD website. just forgot one other area of participation in our great game, that of owner...possibly would have really narrowed it down even further if that had of been mentioned
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2011 18:27:25 GMT 10
My guess is that anyone motivated enough can get to the bottom of this pretty quickly with a few calls to the right people !
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Post by texasleaguer on Aug 6, 2011 23:26:42 GMT 10
My guess is that anyone motivated enough can get to the bottom of this pretty quickly with a few calls to the right people ! The owner of any URL or Domain name can be easily found. However ABD is sub Domain of wordpress.com. , not so easy if they do not wish to be known. With a small amount of investigation The Owner of Wordpress.com in San Francisco can be ID, but they do not have to share the ID of the many 1,000s of Bloggers who use their site. Cleverly hidden unless the Editor of ABD wishes to come forward.
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Post by parentofone on Aug 7, 2011 8:04:10 GMT 10
My guess is that anyone motivated enough can get to the bottom of this pretty quickly with a few calls to the right people ! The owner of any URL or Domain name can be easily found. However ABD is sub Domain of wordpress.com. , not so easy if they do not wish to be known. With a small amount of investigation The Owner of Wordpress.com in San Francisco can be ID, but they do not have to share the ID of the many 1,000s of Bloggers who use their site. Cleverly hidden unless the Editor of ABD wishes to come forward. As a parent who has had dealings with Jarrett in the past I know that the phone number that WAS listed on the ABD facebook page was Jarrett's old phone number. That number is no longer displayed but it would be a HUGE coincidence for the new editor of this website and facebook page to have the same number as Jarrett. Jarrett is listed on the Child Sex Offenders register. That in itself is repulsive enough, but to then have the gall to set up a facebook page with thousands of "friends" many young boys and girls. For those of you who don't know he was expelled as a life member of the ABF and warned off any involvement with any members of the ABF, young or old, yet he has found another loophole to attempt to infiltrate the lives of those he has been found guilty of exploiting in the past. I feel physically sick sitting here writing this remembering the touchy, feely creep that squirmed his way into many families confidences. don't allow it to happen again. My first call Monday morning will be to Gary White's Diamond One to ask if he knows who he is supporting. I suggest anyone else with an interest in this issue do the same.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2011 9:41:12 GMT 10
Good leads and ideas TL and Po1, your link via the phone number Po1 is disturbing and has me wondering how this can be address in terms of the Child Sex Offenders Register, I mean has he breached a law here and is it then a police matter (again) ?
No doubt those that have been linked to the page would surely want to take steps to be removed from any association or to shut the page down in some way.
Has the ABF done anything ? - I hope/assume that they see themselves as caretakers of the game here in Australia and surely this would have to be Agenda item #1 I would have thought, if only to get some of our confidence back as to how they are looking after our game (and our kids) over here.
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Post by perfeckt on Aug 7, 2011 10:56:58 GMT 10
At the risk of playing devils advocate, I'd advise anyone concerned and with any information to contact Victorian Police immediately. This thread is starting to take on a feeling of a lynch mob. I have enjoyed digesting news supplied by the website in question and it seems to me that its integrity is being severely compromised by this thread. Don't get me wrong...if the suspicions laid out on this prove to be correct then by all means shut down the website in question but if anyone has any information or suspicions regarding this then report it to the relevant authorities. It is your responsibility and by relevant I don't mean ABF. If, just if these suspicions are just that then a great disservice is being carried out. Knowledge and action will solve this pronto. Mob mentallity and outrage alone will not.
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Post by parentofone on Aug 7, 2011 11:38:36 GMT 10
At the risk of playing devils advocate, I'd advise anyone concerned and with any information to contact Victorian Police immediately. This thread is starting to take on a feeling of a lynch mob. I have enjoyed digesting news supplied by the website in question and it seems to me that its integrity is being severely compromised by this thread. Don't get me wrong...if the suspicions laid out on this prove to be correct then by all means shut down the website in question but if anyone has any information or suspicions regarding this then report it to the relevant authorities. It is your responsibility and by relevant I don't mean ABF. If, just if these suspicions are just that then a great disservice is being carried out. Knowledge and action will solve this pronto. Mob mentallity and outrage alone will not. Thanks for those wise words perfeckt. Make no mistake, this is no lynch mob. I'm just a concerned parent who has had to deal with Jarrett in the past. And he is involved with Australian Baseball Digest and it's associated facebook page. I'll take your advice on board. All things considered he may not be breaking any laws? Is this a violation of his release conditions? Who knows? I'm just a confused parent. Who has decided to get off their backside and do something.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2011 12:16:08 GMT 10
I hardly think a few people raising questions and pondering options herein based on information presented thus far is disconcerning and akin to a 'lynch mob' Perfeckt.
I agree that care needs to be taken in terms of what is said about whom. And in terms actions that could or should be taken regarding all this it does need to be thought through BUT too often too many DO too little that allows the action of the few to affect majority (in one form or another) !
Someone has to look out for the kids, Id have thought at very least in this instance it would be the ABF - if they fail us then what should WE do do you think ?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2011 12:51:10 GMT 10
perfeckt, in principle you are right. If these “suspicions” cannot be substantiated then a disservice will have been done to the editor of a website that has been providing information and updates for the baseball community.
But there are other principles in play, here. One of those is the principle of disclosure that applies to those engaging with young sportspeople online or anywhere else.
I believe that police may already been contacted. I hope so. Like you, I would urge anyone who does have specific relevant knowledge to contact Crime Stoppers or their local police station.
As someone mentioned earlier, whoever is involved with Australian Baseball Digest may be engaged in a lawful activity. One that has been diligently providing news updates on the progress of our professionals and our emerging players.
However, there is understandable and increasing unease about what is going on here. To my limited knowledge there is a series of questions that remains unanswered.
Why has the Digest gone to such pains to remain anonymous? Unease has been expressed over the site’s authorship for some time now, yet the editor steadfastly refuses to reveal who he is, even to young players with whom he has made contact seeking personal information. If someone emailed you asking for personal details - purportedly to be included in a story - wouldn’t you want to know with whom you were dealing? Would you settle for a (probably fictitious) christian name representing an impersonal website?
What of these Facebook pages? Something like 3500 “friends”, many of them students and young people? What is that all about? Who initiated these “friendships” with kids, and why? As a part-time reporter on Australian baseball, I occasionally have young people wanting to create a friendship link with me through Facebook, presumably because of my role. If I don’t know the young person, his/her family or coach, I am reluctant to create that link. I’m not going to take the risk of being misconstrued and having suspicions raised over my motives.
Wouldn’t you think that the ABD Editor, with the breadth of roles and experience in baseball that he claims, would feel similar reluctance to have a large number of juvenile Facebook “friends”? Kids who he clearly does NOT know personally. Wouldn’t you think a responsible adult person would see the implicit danger in this, especially in terms of how it might be construed when he refuses to identify himself to anyone?
He (or they) surely cannot be that naïve.
What of the disappearing telephone number? I am assured that it is beyond doubt that Jarrett’s old mobile number appeared on the ABD Facebook site until a few days ago. It disappeared sometime shortly after this thread was created. Could it be coincidence that Jarrett’s old number was reissued to a baseball person managing an ABD website that has such similarities (in style and intent) to the former BJS Management site?
And coincidence that the number disappeared shortly after this thread started?
What of this shuffling of logos on the ABD website? Diamond One is there one day, not the next. Fielders Choice is up for a day or two, then replaced by Diamond One? What is that all about? It may turn out to be totally innocent, but it serves to further muddy these already murky waters.
The Australian baseball community is still reeling from the effects of Jarrett’s previous crimes. He is the elephant in the room when it comes to the protection of young people in our sport. His previous conduct was for a long time undetected and, worse still, was ignored by some of those in authority even after they were alerted.
This must never happen again.
Whatever the outcome of these circumstances might be, the ABF and the state associations can perhaps take a lesson. If individuals or groups wish to set up stand-alone baseball websites to provide news and information, maybe they need to have some form of accreditation and Working with Children clearance where there is the prospect of their making contact with young people.
At the very least, the identity of editors and website managers should be registered - by some legal authority - to avoid future controversy and/or potential criminality.
Sorry for the length of this comment, but the issues are far too important to be glossed over or ignored as they might have been in the past.
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Post by perfeckt on Aug 7, 2011 13:15:35 GMT 10
I truly do understand your concern Po1 and authentic. I guess I'm trying to say, don't wait for the ABF, Facebook or others to take direct action. I'm certainly no legal expert but I'd say that if it is Jarret then he would certainly be in violation of parole conditions and some conditions set out by ANCOR (Australian National Child Offender Register). Whether that be because of the status of editor on an online information site I don't know but under age "friends" on facebook would most certainly be of interest to ANCOR and a parole board. All state police departments have units specifically designed to target online predators of all kinds. So once again, contact police and/or ANCOR. The ABF have their responsibilities and they will have to answer for any inaction or tardiness to the relevant authorities should anything untoward arise. www.crimtrac.gov.au/.../AustralianNationalChildOffenderRegisterANCOR.htmlemail crimtrac@crimtrac.gov.au ph: 02 6268-7000 fax:02 6268-7999 GPO Box 1573 Canberra City ACT 2601.
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Post by perfeckt on Aug 7, 2011 13:23:23 GMT 10
Absolutely no need to apologies for the length of your commentary kc.
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Post by Spice on Aug 8, 2011 13:00:10 GMT 10
Has anyone thought for a minute that maybe, just maybe, the person running the sites doesn't want to be identified because they are just happy with the way the site is now. Perhaps they don't want every Joe Blow contacting them with information and making suggestions on what to put up. They may be happy gathering information from the RSS feeds they currently have, sifting through the crap and posting links to the important and/or interesting stuff. It's entirely possible that the person behind this all is one of us. Perhas somebody that has commented on this forum today. Perhaps somebody you saw at a baseball game over the weekend. Some people just like their privacy. Don't take this as me sticking up for former Inmate Jarrett. I just feel that everybody has jumped to conclusions here and assumed the worst when infact all they may be doing is ruining the honest hard work of somebody we all know.
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Post by perfeckt on Aug 8, 2011 13:53:02 GMT 10
Spice, that is one of the reasons for my "devils advocate" post.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2011 14:25:36 GMT 10
Spice, I’m sure that plenty of people do not want to think the worst (just as they didn’t want to think the worst prior to Jarrett’s most recent convictions).
Until recently, people were prepared to accept ABD’s insistence on anonymity. However, now that a litany of worrying information has emerged, the situation has changed.
Plenty of people choose to remain unidentified on this Forum. Others don’t. That is each individual’s call. We respect that, and we are obliged to not disclose any member’s identity or contact details without their express permission.
So here is an idea. If the Editor of Australian Baseball Digest was to contact Forum Moderators and establish clearly and unambiguously that Trevor Jarrett is not involved and has not been involved in ABD and its disturbing Facebook pages, then we would of course treat any such contact in a confidential manner.
If we were satisfied with the answers to the many questions raised here, then we would be in a position where we could reassure Forum members and potentially end the whole discussion.
Until that time, the questions and the suspicions will remain out there, unsavoury as the implications might be.
The most important consideration in this whole saga – in fact the only important consideration – is the safety and protection of our young people. If the editor of ABD and ABD Facebook is innocent of any wrongdoing or ulterior motive – as you insist he might be – then he would surely share our concern and would be prepared to come forward with unambiguous evidence of that innocence, especially in the knowledge that we would be able to protect his anonymity in that event.
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Post by trober on Aug 8, 2011 15:24:41 GMT 10
Firstly let me say that people like jarrett are the lowest of the low. I just wanted to say something about the call that the ABF should step in. How? They don't sanction the site and while I have no legal expertise whatsoever I doubt there's anything anyone can do about the website. The Facebook account maybe, but the website?
The only body who can do anything here are possibly the police IF it is jarrett that's running the Facebook page and only if it breaches orders he is subject to. People who a friends of the Facebook page can also unfriend the page.
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Post by parentofone on Aug 8, 2011 15:42:33 GMT 10
Has anyone thought for a minute that maybe, just maybe, the person running the sites doesn't want to be identified because they are just happy with the way the site is now. Perhaps they don't want every Joe Blow contacting them with information and making suggestions on what to put up. They may be happy gathering information from the RSS feeds they currently have, sifting through the crap and posting links to the important and/or interesting stuff. It's entirely possible that the person behind this all is one of us. Perhas somebody that has commented on this forum today. Perhaps somebody you saw at a baseball game over the weekend. Some people just like their privacy. Don't take this as me sticking up for former Inmate Jarrett. I just feel that everybody has jumped to conclusions here and assumed the worst when infact all they may be doing is ruining the honest hard work of somebody we all know. Spice.....please take note of this.....Jarrett's mobile phone number was displayed on the facebook page.
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Post by gj on Aug 8, 2011 15:54:51 GMT 10
The person running the site may well want to stay anonymous for a number of reasons, but with all this publicity, they surely would have at least denied that Trevor Jarrett was not involved by now if he was not. As KC & PO1 well point out, that phone number is d**ning evidence and until some solid evidence to the contrary is produced I am assuming that Jarrett is running that site and will warn everyone to stay clear.
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