Copied below is an apology issued to Eric Akin in response to his email!
June 28, 2008
Dear Eric:
In my opinion I have always found you to be gracious - not a braggart - over your considerable accomplishments, both athletic and coaching.
As you will recall, my son(s) all attended clinics which you performed and my oldest son still possesses an autographed pair of your old Ascics.
I do have a criminal conviction in by background for a DUI conviction June 16,1998. My blood alcohol content at the time was .08, which is the presumptive level of guilt in the State of Kansas. Three of my four children were in the vehicle with me at the time, approximately 6:00 P.M. on a Friday evening and were traveling with me to meet their mother for dinner. I plead guilty to the DUI charge and three counts of child endangerment. I spent eight (8) days in the Butler County Jail for this violation. At one time the penalty was, and still may be, the harshest handed down for a first time DUI offender in Butler County. I will readily admit at my sentencing the judge would have gone much easier on me howerer I refused his offer to attend Alcohol Anonymous classes and advised Judge Jaworsky I had no intention of attending the classes with a bunch of whining, slobbering drunks like him. The Judge, a recovering alcoholic, did not appreciate the comments and lowered the boom with the sentencing. I have not had a beer, a glass of wine, or to my knowledge, any alcoholic beverage since the incident. The other issues which you raise are not related to me, however it is entirely possible they belong to my son, who is a Junior.
Should your source feel the need to post whatever criminal records s/he believes they have uncovered, please feel free to do so, as I have nothing to hide.
I highly recommend your source research birth dates which should clarify the matter. If you need my date of birth kindly advise.
As for the Luedke comment, kindly allow me to advise I was in attendance in Stillwater sitting in row two. I know exactly what I saw. I have never booed an athlete for their performance however I do remember actions which I believe to be unsportsmanlike, some of which may have been committed by my son(s), and in my competitive days, certainly by myself.
Please accept my sincere apology for ANY comments/actions which you, your wife, your children, or any of your supporters found offensive. I have always held you in high regard and my motive was not an attempt to disparage your considerable accomplishments or your good name.
Respectfully,
Richard D. Salyer
