The parents of two Ohio State football players disputed a Sports Illustrated article that indicated their involvement in exchanging their memorabilia for tattoos.
Jason Klein said that he is going to pursue legal action against Sports Illustrated, the Newark Advocate reported.
"I've raised my son right," Klein, told the newspaper. "My son has no tattoos. He does not have any drug problems. I have every bit of his memorabilia that he's ever got from Ohio State."
Klein's son, Storm, is a junior at Ohio State and was mentioned in the article.
"My son gives out his signature free to 200 people after every game," he said. "Every time we're around anybody who asks for a signature, he's more than happy to give it out free. Quite frankly, I don't know if it's worth anything; he's not a starter."
John Simon, the father of the Ohio State defensive end with the same name, told the Columbus Dispatch that he was angry about his son being mentioned in the same Sports Illustrated article.
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"It's just more or less disbelief on how something like that can come out, how a reputable publication can write something like that without any proof at all," the elder Simon told the newspaper. "He was never there, never even close to the place. He didn't get his tattoos from there; he got them from a place here in his hometown (Youngstown)."
The article was published Monday night, hours after Ohio State coach Jim Tressel resigned.
Simon, Klein and seven other current players were interviewed this week by Ohio State athletics officials and NCAA investigators. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Daniel "Boom" Herron, receiver DeVier Posey, left tackle Mike Adams and defensive end Solomon Thomas are suspended for the Buckeyes' first five games of the 2011 season.
Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for continuing coverage.
More Information:
- Newark Advocate: Storm Klein's Father Denies SI Story
- Columbus Dispatch: Father Disputes Simon's Inclusion In SI Article
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