Spring Break
The Virtual Support Team
By: Rob Copeland
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Features
Last update: 3/17/07 at 2:20 AM EST
Last update: 3/17/07 at 2:20 AM EST
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By day, Mike McCusker is just another suit in midtown Manhattan, a civil lawyer working for a large, faceless firm.
At night, though, he steps into his metaphorical telephone booth and emerges as NDLax84, proprietor of the aptly named "Crystal Mess" blog, which has offered commentary on the Duke lacrosse case since last June.
Posts range from the serious to the sophomoric. One day it's an analysis of Steve Monks' decision to run against Lewis Cheek. Another day it's a heavily edited image of South Park's Eric Cartman in a Duke Lacrosse jersey, screaming "Mike Nifong Sucks Ass!" Or a picture of a clown spinning a top to demonstrate McCusker's opinion of the mainstream media's impartiality.
As national attention to the scandal wanes and The Drudge Report returns to covering Britney's latest stint in rehab, blogs are some of the only places still providing regular commentary on the case. Their writers have become the mini-celebrities of the whole episode, and now they're reaping the benefits, with thousands of daily readers boosting their profiles and a book deal in the works for one prominent commentator.
"I think in the end it's all good for democracy, for a nation that touts itself as a government of the people, by the people and for the people," says McCusker, a Notre Dame alum with a Blue Devil wife. "The rise of the Net-and the blogosphere in general-has so clearly demonstrated how a concerned citizenry intent on ascertaining the truth is ultimately a much more powerful force than the mainstream media."
As a lawyer, McCusker was motivated by the "egregious" conduct of Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong, adding that the indicted players deserve compensation from the city.
"As they press the flesh with people they are coming to meet for the first time, they will always be remembered as the kids who supposedly raped that poor black girl in Durham," he says. "Each and every one of those kids should own 1/3 of Durham County."
At night, though, he steps into his metaphorical telephone booth and emerges as NDLax84, proprietor of the aptly named "Crystal Mess" blog, which has offered commentary on the Duke lacrosse case since last June.
Posts range from the serious to the sophomoric. One day it's an analysis of Steve Monks' decision to run against Lewis Cheek. Another day it's a heavily edited image of South Park's Eric Cartman in a Duke Lacrosse jersey, screaming "Mike Nifong Sucks Ass!" Or a picture of a clown spinning a top to demonstrate McCusker's opinion of the mainstream media's impartiality.
As national attention to the scandal wanes and The Drudge Report returns to covering Britney's latest stint in rehab, blogs are some of the only places still providing regular commentary on the case. Their writers have become the mini-celebrities of the whole episode, and now they're reaping the benefits, with thousands of daily readers boosting their profiles and a book deal in the works for one prominent commentator.
"I think in the end it's all good for democracy, for a nation that touts itself as a government of the people, by the people and for the people," says McCusker, a Notre Dame alum with a Blue Devil wife. "The rise of the Net-and the blogosphere in general-has so clearly demonstrated how a concerned citizenry intent on ascertaining the truth is ultimately a much more powerful force than the mainstream media."
As a lawyer, McCusker was motivated by the "egregious" conduct of Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong, adding that the indicted players deserve compensation from the city.
"As they press the flesh with people they are coming to meet for the first time, they will always be remembered as the kids who supposedly raped that poor black girl in Durham," he says. "Each and every one of those kids should own 1/3 of Durham County."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
SeaDragon
posted 3/10/07 @ 8:03 PM EST
Bloggers are right behind Guttenberg and moveable type as reasons tyrants have to fear.
Scams, cover-ups, and lies are now going to be just that much harder to get away with. (Continued…)
William L. Anderson
posted 3/11/07 @ 1:36 PM EST
Rob Copeland has done a good job in his story. However, there was a small mistake in what he wrote about me. I told him that I did NOT seek personal confrontations with Duke faculty members. (Continued…)
QuadDog
posted 3/13/07 @ 3:50 PM EST
Joshua,
You are equating defunding with death threats? How intellectual. Maybe the rhetoric from the left died down because they know they are wrong. (Continued…)
NDLax84
Mike McCusker
posted 3/16/07 @ 11:54 PM EST
I think Rob misconstrued my post of "a clown spinning a top" as representing my "opinion of the mainstream media's impartiality."
You decide:
http://crystalmess. (Continued…)
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