The NCAA Scandal
What is happening with College Basketball? What is going on with with the NCAA? Whats up with these coaches? Let me start off by saying people should not be shocked by the allegations that have been exposed by the recent Yahoo report. Cheating and scandals have been apart of college sports since the beginning of time (research the City College point shaving scandal in the 50’s). It’s now at the point where its a multi-billion dollar business with these enormous television contracts that the NCAA signed (first in 2010 where they signed a 14 year $10.8 billion dollar deal and then in 2016 they signed an 8 year extension on the original deal for 8 years and 8.8 billion), oh and lets not forget that they operate as a 501c3 non profit organization which is head scratching to me. The whole aura surrounding the game seems to be fraudulent and everyone seems to turn a blind eye to it or act “shocked” whenever they start to see these reports surface about coaches, agents or players and money exchanging hands.
From left, Tony Bland, Emanuel Richardson, Lamont Evans and Chuck Person. All were caught during an FBI investigation a few months ago. Photo Getty Images
Cheating and collage sports go hand in hand, if you ask me, its all about how sneaky you are and how well you can cover up your tracks. I can go back and bring up wealthy Los Angeles Businessman Sam Gilbert who was a “Friend” of the program at UCLA. He started hanging around in like 1966 which is at the height of their dynasty. He was loved by all of the players and was affectionately called “Papa Sam” by the players. It was reported that he was known to have purchased clothes, cars amongst other things. This man was around when John Wooden was running the program. Anyone who knows about coach Wooden, they know he played no games and ran a tight ship, but even he had to face reality and realized that he would not have control over his players seeing and speaking with Gilbert. This happened in the sixties and it is still going on today, have you ever sat back and wondered why certain players attend certain schools? I mean since when did McDonalds All Americans decide to attend SMU or even Western Kentucky? I mean this is not a shot at those institutions but anyone with common sense knows why a decision like that was made and I refuse to play dumb.
Legendary coach Rick Pitino was forced to step down as head of of Louisville amid the bribery and corruption scandal. Photo nytimes.com
The recent scandal involving ASM (Andy Miller’s Agency) runner Christian Dawkins and Arizona head coach Sean Miller is probably one of the many reasons why you should just pay these kids. These agents aren’t going anywhere and despite this recent finding by the FBI they will find another way to make this happen. The scandal that I am referring to involves Miller being heard on a wire tap discussing a $100,000 payment to ensure that star forward Deandre Ayton signed with the school (he obviously signed with Arizona and has starred for them all season and is currently slated to go in the top 3 of the NBA draft) and of course if you’re a head coach this kind of behavior is a No-No. Sean Miller is probably going to be done and won’t be coaching at a High Level again. Andy Miller had his license revoked back in December so he can no longer represent players anymore and Deandre Ayton is going to declare for the NBA draft in a little more than a month so he will never be harmed by whatever ruling the NCAA decides to make against Arizona. If you find a way to compensate these kids then we will not need the FBI to get involved in any of this nonsense (yes I said nonsense because the FBI has bigger problems to deal with instead of worrying about what kids family is getting paid) you have to take care of the people that generate the revenue and we all know its the players and not the coaches.
Arizona Head Coach Sean Miller is in hot water when recordings surfaced that allegedly had him discussing a payment to Ayton if he signed with his team. Photo theringer.com
This NCAA corruption isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I understand that it’s crazy right now but there will be others that will find a way to make things happen and get money to these kids. I am definitely all for these players getting paid, and I could not imagine busting my behind for two hours a day in practice, having to attend class, study for a test and all these other obligations that I have and not get paid a dime. I am fine with all this money these kids are taking and I wish they would have received more because these schools got over with some of these fees that I saw. These guys deserve alot more. I believe college football is worse, especially because these guys have to be in school for three years, so you have to walk a fine line a lot longer than a kid that is going to be enrolled in school for eight months. There is only one way to fix this and that is to pay these guys. Yes we know they get a great education for free but its a slap in the face when you do all the work, while your coach gets millions and all you’re told is “Great Job”. I hate to sound greedy but I would make sure my family took whatever they could get and I would make sure we got a chance to benefit from this arrangement just as much as the university does.