http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/owner_of_t-town_menswear_decli.htmlOwner of T-Town Menswear declines comment regarding Alabama ties
Published: Monday, July 25, 2011, 9:01 PM
Izzy Gould | Tuscaloosa Bureau
TUSCALOOSA -- The owner of T-Town Menswear was asked Monday to comment on a cease-and-desist letter sent to his store Dec. 22 by the University of Alabama, as concerns continued regarding his relationship with the Crimson Tide football program.
"I can't talk to you," Tom Albetar told two reporters with al.com newspapers.
Asked again if he wanted to answer questions, Albetar politely said, "No comment," then walked away.
Albetar's clothing store, which sells business attire -- everything from suits to fedoras -- is under fire for photographs circulating on the Internet of current and former Alabama players signing autographs on merchandise inside the store often posing for pictures with Albetar.
More photos have surfaced showing Albetar on the sidelines and in the press box of Bryant-Denny Stadium posing with a who's who of Alabama icons.
Little had changed since news broke Friday that Alabama had sent the cease-and-desist letter last year asking the business to discontinue its use of players in advertisements, and to specifically stop selling autographed merchandise.
A white sticker placed on a glass window as customers enter the store states these three lines stacked on top of the other: "Bama Memorabilia; DISPLAY ONLY; NOT FOR SALE."
None of the memorabilia on display looking out onto the mall floor was of any current Crimson Tide players. Inside, there was a Trent Richardson jersey and a long line of photographs with Alabama players circling the interior above countless suits awaiting purchase.
An Alabama source confirmed last week the university compliance department conducted an internal review to identify any potential NCAA violations, but determined no wrongdoing.
According to the source, the school did not file a report with the SEC or the NCAA and maintained its position Monday.
The Never To Yield Foundation pointed out what Bama fans have been telling us "at this time" means, but I've got another one.
Haven't we heard a million times from Jay Barker, etc. "If he didn't do anything wrong, why isn't he shouting from the mountaintops that he's not guilty? Why aren't we hearing his side of the story?"
Well, the shoe's on the other foot.
Why won't Tom Al-Betar talk?
There's an actual answer in the Cam situation. The NCAA has rules against talking about their investigations in public.
Is Alabama investigating Tom Al-Betar?
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