Just two weeks ago, the Portland State men’s basketball team was gathering up their luggage and boarding a charter flight from Eppley Airfield Airport in Omaha, Neb., to go back to the Rose City.
Many of the Vikings used the flight as a time to reflect, reminiscing about their seemingly once-in-a-lifetime shot at playing in the NCAA Tournament.
At that point, the Vikings’ season was a compelling story of the underdog, unknown school making it to March Madness for the first time. It was a heartfelt tale filled with teamwork and perseverance. And, by all accounts, it was uplifting, inspiring and remarkable.
Then news broke Tuesday that junior point guard Jeremiah Dominguez and senior center Scott Morrison were being detained in a Mexican prison, accused of injuring a Michigan man in an altercation that left the 23-year-old with a shattered jaw.
Suddenly, the heartfelt tale of an inspiring squad of players became a foreign horror story. Dominguez’s and Morrison’s photos were plastered on the front covers of newspapers, video clips of the duo became commonplace on newscasts, and with harsh words, radio hosts shredded what little dignity the players still possessed.
In this wild twist of fate, these media darlings became media villains practically overnight.
Maybe Morrison really attacked Kyle Meagher, a student from Lansing Community College who was in Cabo San Lucas on an internship. Then again, maybe the 6-foot-11 center is innocent-like Dominguez, Morrison and friends who accompanied them to Mexico claim.
However, at this juncture, the specifics hardly matter. Yes, the truth matters, and in a country that always strives to ensure justice is served, the truth must be held above all else. But the damage has already been done: Everyone has seen the underdog story transform into one of blood and finger pointing, resulting in a couple of college basketball stars landing behind bars.
Sure, winning the Big Sky Tournament and a subsequent trip to the NCAA Tournament have been memorable experiences for all involved, giving Portlanders an opportunity to discover precisely what was brewing in the South Park Blocks.
But the question is, where will that story be placed in the memory banks of those around the city and the students of Portland State now? Will students rushing the court in celebration and the Vikings appearing on CBS in the NCAA Tournament prevail over the juicy story of a foreign bar fight that escalated beyond control?
The unfortunate and likely answer is, most will remember Mexico instead of Omaha. They will recall the horrid descriptions of Meagher’s condition long after Portland State’s brief foray onto the March Madness dance floor, whether or not Dominguez and Morrison actually committed the crime.
Is this fair? Probably not, especially for the rest of the team that accomplished so much. But, is it probable? Well, yes.
Dominguez and Morrison were released from the Mexican prison and have left Mexico, flying to California and British Columbia, respectively.
But whatever unfolded in Cabo San Lucas during spring break will stay put in the public consciousness for a good while, no matter what happens in the coming weeks.
Too bad an NCAA Tournament berth doesn’t have that kind of shelf life.