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The always amazing Ken Gordon has just released his latest article on the Tyler Moeller incident.
According to several witnesses, it’s a very basic story. Apparently, Ralph Gray Decker was drinking “to a greater extent” than Moeller or his family, and he began to have a conversation with Moeller’s sister Ashley. Tyler Moeller then began to talk to Decker, which one Florida resident claimed didn’t appear to be at all confrontational.
Then Decker hit Moeller.
That’s it.
There’s no Ohio State-Florida connection to it, the Moeller family claims they were being discreet in a bar that proclaims “If you’re not a Gator, you’re Gator Bait”. No witnesses claim the Moeller’s were doing anything football or Ohio State-related.
But Decker’s primary defense is that Moeller told him he played football for Ohio State, but he claimed he was a different player, and when his story didn’t check out, he hit Moeller “in self-defense”.
Oh, and also that he was scared because Moeller “is a big guy”. Sorry, I’m not buying it. Moeller is 6-0, 210 pounds. Decker claims he’s 6-0, 185 pounds. But this picture, in which Decker is the guy on the right, is NOT a man who is only 185 pounds. He’s at least the same size as Moeller.
So let’s look at the basic facts;
Moeller threw no punches. Even if he was a belligerent asshole (which he clearly wasn’t), there is no defense for sucker-punching a guy.
Decker, who was drinking heavily and has a criminal background, threw the only punch in the bar that night.
And now, Decker’s main whine is that he had to hit Moeller to defend himself, and he’s getting death threats from Ohio State fans.
I’m sorry, but it doesn’t add up. You know it, I know it, and the prosecutor knows it. The only ones who will defend Decker now are mind-numb freaks in the South and one Penn State loser.
This guy is going away for a while.
Good. May his cellmate be Maurice Clarett.
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Update by MaliBuckeye:
The “other side” of the story, from the St. Petersburg Times. FWIW
August 20th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Buckeye Fans
First let me say I hope and pray Tyler Moeller completely recovers from his injuries and is able to continue his football career at Ohio State University.
Next let me state as a lifelong Florida Gator fan I know of nobody on any of the Gator sites I frequent (including my own) who supports/condones/sympathizes with Ralph Gray Decker. On the other hand all the threads I have read on the incident are solidly behind Tyler Moeller and wish him well.
It is pretty obvious Decker sucker punched Moeller and I don’t care what size Decker might be (though he looks bigger than 185lbs ) if a grown man gets that first punch and it’s a complete surprise the chances are pretty good it will cause serious harm. Decker is a punk and I am sure the authorities will look at this incident, Decker’s past and the horrific possibilities of what could have happened and they will charge Decker with felony assault and the good people of Pinellas County will send this punk to jail. Then he can learn what scared is all about.
We Gator fans can joke about football and OSU versus UF but in the end we all know that a young man’s life is much more important than a game. This Gator fan also has a younger brother who called me from Texas asking me what the Hell happened since this incident did occur in a “Gator” establishment. He’s been a Buckeye fan for 40 years or about the same time I have been a Gator fan.
On the football field if you are not a Gator indeed you are Gator Bait. Off the field we are all people who should know right from wrong. Decker was wrong. Hopefully he will pay. In the meantime don’t lump all of us in with this guy and I’ll do the same with all OSU fans and Maurice Clarett. ; )
Beat Michigan.
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August 21st, 2009 at 12:21 am
Thanks, Bill- I know a ton of classy Gator fans, and realize that you can’t paint everyone with the same brush. Thanks for your support of our student athletes.
If only we could get Tebow to lay hands on Tyler, I think he’d be immediately healed, don’t you?
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November 15th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
If you not a Buckeye you are freakin nuts…..makes about as much sense as the stupid Gator rant….I live here and see the 250 lb women and laugh…crackers !
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June 19th, 2010 at 12:32 am
LOL at MaliBuckeye, very funny but you may actually have been right.
As far as this party boy Ralph Gray Decker, he seemed like an arrogant little prick from his picture. If this was a sucker-punch, hopefully he has re-thought his actions. Id don’t think he’s that big, the lady with the purse’ arms aren’t far behind his.
I’m 6’1 350 pounds. If I was in jail and found out he wasn’t remorseful, He’d be in a full mount and getting some unexpected facial re-construction. Go Bucks!
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