Story was inaccurate about Jell-O wrestling event at Milan bar
As the owner of Dino’s Dugout Sports Bar & Grille, I feel compelled to comment about inaccuracies and omissions in the AnnArbor.com article regarding our Super Bowl 2010 event. There were no quotes from me in that article, as I made a conscious decision to decline comment to the reporter due to the negative light in which my business was portrayed in previous articles.
Let me first say that we believe in our staff and feel that they always do a great job, including on the night of the Super Bowl event. They are all T.I.P.S. certified, perform their duties well, and we are proud of them.
To set the record straight, we never advertised, nor held, a Jell-O wrestling “tournament” or “competition”. We simply hosted a “Super Bowl party” and asked some volunteers to wrestle to raise funds for a Milan community event.
Our wrestlers were all required to wear some form of shorts, T-shirt, or tank top when wrestling as we are not a strip club. Alcoholic beverages were also not given away for free as was previously alleged. Any drinks that the wrestlers received were purchased. In planning for the event, a shuttle service was arranged, as well as accommodations at the Milan Sleep Inn, so that none of the participants would have to worry about a ride home. All wrestlers were informed of these arrangements when they signed up to participate.
Unfortunately, one of the wrestlers misled us, saying she was going to “grab a change of clothes from her car,” then disappeared. It was later discovered that she had been picked up by the Milan Police. She did not appear to be intoxicated to us. She was not stumbling, slurring her speech, nor were her eyes bloodshot. She claimed to have had asthma and was seen using an inhaler multiple times. From the time she left the bar until the time she was pulled over, we do not know what took place.
Subsequently, a total six allegations were made against us, of which we were cited for just three. Two of the citations were simply clerical errors on our part and have since been corrected. The third citation was “sale to an intoxicated person”. This has been the toughest one to accept since we felt we had a strong case against it. Due to lack of funding for defense costs however, we chose to not challenge this allegation in court. It made more sense financially to simply pay the fine.
Just a side note, there has been only one other liquor license violation in our long history, a returned check over six years ago that was immediately rectified. This whole situation has been personally upsetting to me because in 33 years of business my family has hosted and/or sponsored many organizations here in Milan. We have always endeavored to be a positive force within the community and feel that we were unfairly judged before all the facts were in.
I would like to finish by saying that there are people that thrive on other people’s misfortune and like to point their finger and talk down about them, especially when presented with an unbalanced or uninformed point of view. We all need to keep in mind that unfortunate things happen to everyone and it is up to us as individuals to be objective and think about what it would be like if the shoe was on the other foot.
Dino Koukoumtzis Milan
Comments
ladydi
Wed, Jun 30, 2010 : 11:30 a.m.
To Dr. Dre, She attempted to retrieve the bounced paycheck money on several occasions and Dino either avoided her or asked her if he could write her another check. She's not lying, because I was there on a couple of occasions while she discussed it with him. She is not the first person that had a paycheck bounce from him. They shut it down because of poor money management. I'm not a disgruntled customer, quite the contrary. I've been there a few times and always had a good time.
Dr.Dre
Tue, Jun 29, 2010 : 2:20 p.m.
If I were Dino, I would consider a libel case against AnnArbor.com
Dr.Dre
Tue, Jun 29, 2010 : 2:17 p.m.
To ladydi, if your friend had a payroll check "bounce", why didnt she go back and see dino about it...i think you are probably a disgruntled customer who is trying to smear him or your friend is lying to you. regardless, that has nothing to do with this issue...i cannot believe someone would let their paycheck bounce and not take care of it!
Peaches
Mon, Jun 28, 2010 : 9:31 a.m.
Thanks for telling your side of the story, Dean. I love coming to Dino's and have for many, many years -each time I am in Milan. Good luck and keep up the good work!
Mumbambu, Esq.
Mon, Jun 28, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.
Macabre, you are dead on! "To set the record straight, we never advertised, nor held, a Jell-O wrestling tournament or competition. We simply hosted a Super Bowl party and asked some volunteers to wrestle to raise funds for a Milan community event." Oh, ok- gotcha! This quote is hilarious even down to the quotes within it! That being said, it seems that the restaraunt and Dino have been given a raw deal by the PO-lice.
ladydi
Mon, Jun 28, 2010 : 7:35 a.m.
"A returned check over six years ago was immediately rectified". Really, Dino? My friend worked there and you bounced her last paycheck and have yet to rectify the situation and that's been well over one year ago.
Macabre Sunset
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 8:07 p.m.
I certainly appreciate Dino's desire to clear his name - I have no doubt he takes the allegations seriously. However, if he wants us to take him seriously, he needs to drop the allegation that he was misrepresented as hosting the Jello-wrestling extravaganza. Asking volunteers to wrestle in scanty clothing is no different from holding an official tournament. Except maybe the women involved would have been paid for their entertainment contribution. In fact, maybe it's worse, as the logical follow-up to Dino's correction is to contact the women and ask if they felt coerced into participating.
Cash
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 4:50 p.m.
Dino, Thank you for telling us what happened. I know sometimes it is hard to know whether to dredge it up again or let it pass. But at least now many of us understand. Hang in there!!!
cheef
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 12:54 p.m.
Perhaps the initial news reports would have been more accurate if the bar owner had actually talked with the reporter when he was contacted instead of refusing comment. It was clear an article was going to be written, so why not ensure its accuracy, or at least dispute any inaccurate info the reporter had, from the beginning?
Bill Wilson
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 12:52 p.m.
Dino, I think that Tony Dearing is working diligently at improving the vetting process at AnnArbor.com, and hopefully things will improve with this news agency. I think that I'll strike back for you by frequenting your business whenever possible, and hopefully the other readers will, as well.
CensorshipPlusNewsEqualsZero
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 12:13 p.m.
Good for you for coming forward to state your case and inform the public on your side. Too often in too many people's minds, being accused means being guilty. The legal system is skewed and takes it's toll not only financially, but emotionally. Congratulations on being brave enough to face your allegations in some form, even if you couldn't clear your name in court. I for one, will be going out of my way to visit your establishment in the future.
SMAIVE
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 11:35 a.m.
True, a reader might have a different perspective with additional info, but whenever alcohol is involved, an individual's common sense, commitments and good judgment go out the door too. Considering the circumstances, nature of the business, public opinion and how the "system" works, a fine seems appropriate. Let's all be really be thankful for the article not written, an obit.
seldon
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 11:30 a.m.
@scooter dog: A lot of people who have never been in that situation think like you do. However, when it actually happens, realities like "can I actually afford to bankrupt my business in order to fight off a minor charge" and "you know, the state has billions of dollars and I don't" tend to come into play. Yes, you might indeed be willing to destroy yourself, shut down your business, and put your employees out of work in order to keep fighting for your "good name." Personally, I think Dino made the right call: cut your losses and move on, keeping your workers employed. Most of us know that people occasionally plead guilty to things they didn't do because they just don't have the resources to fight it, and the deck is stacked against them.
stunhsif
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.
Dino, I live in York Township and have frequented your restaraunt for the past 30 years. I wish you the best and agree with everything you said.
scooter dog
Sun, Jun 27, 2010 : 9:43 a.m.
Well,,, If I was given a citation for something I did not do I don't care how much it costs to fight it,I would pay to clear my good name. Admitting your guilty when your not is not the way to go and it will come back to bite you in the long run.