Jackie Robinson West attorney says wait and see on lawsuit

An attorney representing the Jackie Robinson West Little League that was stripped of its national title promised the fight will continue, though he stopped short of saying a lawsuit was the beleaguered team’s next step.

“I have advised the team I am taking the position — and I think they should take the position — that they are still the champions unless and until we find out that there was fair process that was even-handed and applied to every other team that may find itself in the same situation,” attorney Victor Henderson said during a news conference Thursday.

Henderson says he is in the preliminary stages of his investigation into how Little League International stripped JRW of its title. Henderson stressed it was too early to file a lawsuit but never ruled out that possibility.

Henderson was the only person who took questions at a news conference held at his office. Among those in attendance were manager Darold Butler, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, JRW President Anne Haley and Bill Haley, who introduced himself as JRW’s director.

Asked whether JRW violated residency rules, Henderson sidestepped the question.

Henderson alleges that Little League had “new rule changes” that may have allowed players to be on the JRW team when they otherwise might not have been. He did acknowledge that JRW did undergo some boundary changes.

All of that will be part of his investigation, Henderson said.

“The league made some changes in terms of who was eligible to play and who was not eligible to play,” Henderson said. “Now again whether all of those ‘I’s’ were dotted and ‘T’s’ were crossed in terms of the rules, I’m still looking into that. It’s very early.”

Henderson said that he has not had any contact with District 4 Administrator Michael Kelley, who was removed from his position by Little League International after the governing organization alleged Wednesday that he submitted backdated boundary maps.

Asked if he would talk to Kelley, Henderson said he would “talk to everybody who was a player or was somebody significant who had information.”

Henderson also claimed that Jackie Robinson West was not notified by Little League International that it would be stripped of the title until after they had issued a press release Wednesday. He said Bill Haley received a “brief call” after the fact. Nothing has been sent by Little League International in writing, according to Henderson.

Asked for comment Thursday, Little League International responded via email from spokesmen Brian McClintock and Wayne Henninger:

“Little League International stands by the difficult decision that was announced on February 11. As Jackie Robinson West Little League has retained counsel, we will not be granting any additional media interviews or issuing additional public statements for the time being. Little League International will be working with its counsel to ensure Jackie Robinson West Little League officials and their attorney are fully educated regarding the factual basis of the decision.”

Henderson said he had not yet reached out to Little League.

“We’ve played hard to win a state championship, a Great Lakes Regional Championship and one national championship and clearly have more battles to face,” Haley said as he read from the prepared statement.

After JRW was stripped of its national title, Mountain Ridge Little League from Las Vegas was awarded the USA title.

There will be “reaffirmation of championship rally” at Rainbow PUSH at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

“These children are still the champions of the nation and we honor them at such,” Jackson said. “The lesson learned is that you don’t have to be guilty to be crucified.”

Email: sgruen@suntimes.comTwitter: @SethGruen