Former Syracuse Coach Bernie Fine Will Sue ESPN For Defamation

Update: It's been noted that the motion was actually filed back in November 2012, so the question becomes, who wanted to put this out there today of all days?

Original: Giving tonight's game between the Syracuse Orange and Indiana Hoosiers one more talking point, news broke today that Bernie Fine, embattled former SU assistant, will sue ESPN for defamation over their reports that he sexually-molested two former ball boys.

Fine says he'll sue for defamation and seek undefined damages. He filed a "summons with notice" Nov. 15, 2012, in state Supreme Court in Onondaga County.

Fine has basically been in radio silence since the allegations broke in 2011. He was fired by Syracuse shortly-thereafter and moved to Florida. Of the four people to accuse Fine of molesting him, two later admitted to lying and the stories of the original two accusers are considered shaky at best. Fine was not charged following a federal investigation into the allegations.

His wife, Laurie Fine, had filed a separate defamation lawsuit against ESPN last year. One of her claims was dismissed but others remain in play.

ESPN released a statement that they stand by their reporting (even though Mark Schwarz was basically removed from reporting once it became clear he was emotionally compromised). This one's gonna get ugly.

Cue the crazy Zach Tomaselli letter to the media claiming himself the true victim in all of this in 3...2...1...