It goes on a lot in big cities too.
"I also wouldn't want to be the out-of-town black guy on trial for raping the daughter of a small conservative town. That trial should have been moved far away from that town. I grew up in a small midwestern town... And there is a VERY strong tradition of supporting your own first, last and always. There is also a LOT of racism in small midwestern towns."
The Black community has a long history of covering for their own as well. It doesn't matter if they're guilty, they're a brutha or sista. Fight the power!
As for who's telling the truth in that case, I don't know, nor could I really care. Sports "stars" don't really amount to much with me.