SCANDALS

Syracuse Coach Sued for Defamation

By alleged victims of his longtime assistant.

Former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine may be protected against sexual-abuse charges, since the statute of limitations has expired. His alleged protectors, however, may still be held accountable. Two of Fine’s alleged victims have filed a defamation lawsuit against Syracuse University and Jim Boeheim, its head basketball coach. Boeheim originally stood by Fine, saying the accusations were “patently false in every respect,” before he later said, “I misspoke very badly.” The men, Bobby Davis and his stepbrother Mike Lang, announced their intentions to sue Tuesday at a press conference with their lawyer, Gloria Allred (of course). The lawsuit alleges that Boeheim once saw Davis lying on a bed in Fine’s hotel room.