I know it's basketball, not baseball, but still....
http://www.espn.com/mens-colle...ged-fraud-corruption
It's past time to clean up the fraud that is the NCAA.
Personally, my own belief is that colleges and universities need to get out of the intrinsically corrupting business of running de facto minor leagues for professional sports teams.
Bg time college athletics needs to go the way of the D3 model.... Period.
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SluggerDad posted:I know it's basketball, not baseball, but still....
http://www.espn.com/mens-colle...ged-fraud-corruption
It's past time to clean up the fraud that is the NCAA.
Personally, my own belief is that colleges and universities need to get out of the intrinsically corrupting business of running de facto minor leagues for professional sports teams.
Bg time college athletics needs to go the way of the D3 model.... Period.
Then you woke up and reality crept in. 
This has been going on for years. These guys just happened to get caught. There was a time what sneaker the kid was wearing was a tip to what colleges would be on his final list. Maybe it's still true.
Sonny Vaccaro, sneaker pimp ... https://www.nytimes.com/2016/0...kes-on-the-ncaa.html
ESPN 30/30: Sole Man ... http://www.espn.com/30for30/film?page=soleman
SluggerDad posted:I know it's basketball, not baseball, but still....
http://www.espn.com/mens-colle...ged-fraud-corruption
It's past time to clean up the fraud that is the NCAA.
Personally, my own belief is that colleges and universities need to get out of the intrinsically corrupting business of running de facto minor leagues for professional sports teams.
Bg time college athletics needs to go the way of the D3 model.... Period.
SD, big and very unfortunate news day for NCAA college athletics.
Looks like another one coming today:
https://www.bizjournals.com/lo...to-be-linked-to.html
Lately I've been saying this 10-15 times a week, when discussing various topics with friends and family:
Follow the money!
We all have various (and varying) ideas and ideals as to what college sports should be. Reality is that, especially with Football & Basketball, college sports generates billions of dollars (and that doesn't even take into account the betting action).
Whenever big money is involved, there will be corruption. It is human nature for corruption to be involved in a power structure. Should we turn a blind eye to it? No. However: eyes wide open!
Back in the day, schools simply bribed the players. Now the money all goes to the youth coaches. Just another way to cut the player out of the billions made each year, even on the illegal side.
Interesting story. 3and2 nailed it, follow the $$$$$. It is rampant in basketball and steering its way into baseball as well. Kids are being given gifts for participating in events like the All American Classic. Kumar Rocker posted a picture of what is probably a $300 glove from Perfect Game with explicit instruction on the hashtags to use in his social media feeds. That is how all of this starts...
The NCAA didn't even know about this investigation. Maybe we need to put the FBI in charge of the college sports. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The NCAA doesn't have any teeth, but the FBI does. They will get everyone to roll over on the schools and coaches. The players violated some financial aid rules if they didn't include the money they received on the FAFSA forms.
So if Louisville is caught up in this, will that finally warrant the "Death Penalty" for the basketball program?
I hope all of those athletes claimed the extra benefits on their taxes. The IRS will be next in line.
So all the crap adidas sends 2018 is illegal?
bacdorslider posted:So all the crap adidas sends 2018 is illegal?
This story was about bribes and ways to sway players to sign at programs.
Adidas very much wants to be the #1 apparel company for sports athletics.
However, as an amateur, he isn't allowed to accept gifts.
FriarFred posted:So if Louisville is caught up in this, will that finally warrant the "Death Penalty" for the basketball program?
The death penalty killed SMU football. I don't believe the college presidents would ever allow it to happen again. Football and basketball are bigger cash cows than ever before. I doubt you will ever see a bigger penalty than a two year post season ban and the loss of some scholarships.
RJM posted:FriarFred posted:So if Louisville is caught up in this, will that finally warrant the "Death Penalty" for the basketball program?
The death penalty killed SMU football. I don't believe the college presidents would ever allow it to happen again. Football and basketball are bigger cash cows than ever before. I doubt you will ever see a bigger penalty than a two year post season ban and the loss of some scholarships.
I'd argue that SMU football is about where it should be and always would have been if they didn't cheat. The cheating was the only reason they were good. They have no football history outside of their era of paying players.
Nationally so far at least this is flying very much under the radar. Americans are increasingly distracted. I don't know if there'll be much moral outrage about this in the media. I think a lot of people (myself included) expect this to just be swept under the rug.
The only way this ends up getting any attention is if one of the players happened to kneel during the national anthem.
Rob T posted:The only way this ends up getting any attention is if one of the players happened to kneel during the national anthem.
Bravo!!!
d-mac posted:The NCAA didn't even know about this investigation. Maybe we need to put the FBI in charge of the college sports. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The NCAA doesn't have any teeth, but the FBI does. They will get everyone to roll over on the schools and coaches. The players violated some financial aid rules if they didn't include the money they received on the FAFSA forms.
the NCAA has plenty of teeth...it is just a corrupt chicken shit organization run by thieves who are as bad as the people they allegedly are protecting kids from....but they do have teeth if they care to use them.
It's the top 4 stories on the ESPN.com site and it's been going on all day on ESPN News...not sure how it's under the radar. I think people know Adidas is corrupt...they've been at this for years with Sonny Vaccaro....I'm surprised it took so long. Not surprised about Auburn and USC being involved....but Okie State and Arizona are a little tougher to see....but it looks so far like it's individual coaches, not the entire program, but you gotta assume there may be more to come....both with teams and additional individuals.
Kind of taking over Wade going to Cleveland.
But wait, Wade wanted to go back to his hometown just like King James.
The whole sports world and players have become a joke!!!
d-mac posted:RJM posted:FriarFred posted:So if Louisville is caught up in this, will that finally warrant the "Death Penalty" for the basketball program?
The death penalty killed SMU football. I don't believe the college presidents would ever allow it to happen again. Football and basketball are bigger cash cows than ever before. I doubt you will ever see a bigger penalty than a two year post season ban and the loss of some scholarships.
I'd argue that SMU football is about where it should be and always would have been if they didn't cheat. The cheating was the only reason they were good. They have no football history outside of their era of paying players.
60% were on scholarship and the other 40% were on salary!
LOL
I'm not surprised this happened, but I am surprised it was across several schools (and maybe more?). Sounds like there may be more shoes to drop.
d-mac posted:RJM posted:FriarFred posted:So if Louisville is caught up in this, will that finally warrant the "Death Penalty" for the basketball program?
The death penalty killed SMU football. I don't believe the college presidents would ever allow it to happen again. Football and basketball are bigger cash cows than ever before. I doubt you will ever see a bigger penalty than a two year post season ban and the loss of some scholarships.
I'd argue that SMU football is about where it should be and always would have been if they didn't cheat. The cheating was the only reason they were good. They have no football history outside of their era of paying players.
Dickerson's Gold Trans "A&M"... A&MU made the down payment, but SMU made the monthly payments!
Midwest Mom posted:I'm not surprised this happened, but I am surprised it was across several schools (and maybe more?). Sounds like there may be more shoes to drop.
Yes, but what brand of shoes? 
2019Dad posted:Midwest Mom posted:I'm not surprised this happened, but I am surprised it was across several schools (and maybe more?). Sounds like there may be more shoes to drop.
Yes, but what brand of shoes?
Adidas?
I think this is just getting started. None of the assistant coaches that were arrested were from Adidas schools (2 Nike and 2 Under Armor). Not really sure what that means, but I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Despite the headlines, I have yet to see details so I'm going to wait on this. I'm not surprised by the headlines (or to see Rick Pitinos name) but I really want to know what they are being charged with and if the FBI evidence is going to stick. Thankfully the FBI is running this investigation and not that dumb, deaf and blind NCAA oranization.
When an entire athletic program soars so fast beyond any reasonable expectation (e.g. UL) in a relatively short period, look behind the curtain.
Pitino's comments are unfathomable to me, just like (different issues) Roy Williams. Our sons' coaches knew everything.
I have no respect for the NCAA. They could careless about doing the "right" thing for student athletes. They care about the money these sports bring into the system and the system they will protect regardless of how wrong it is. The players are freaking pawns. Used by this corrupt system for their own gain. Coaches can walk out on players. Coaches can violate rules and move on to a bigger better opportunity. Players are then sacrificed for the better of the system they will protect at all cost. The NCAA is about protecting itself. If you think they are there for the young student athletes best interest well I don't know what to say about that.
Pitino and the Louisville AD both fired.
Poor guy. Only $37M left in his contract.
I think it is more common than what we envision. Many probably do it to varying degrees. Just a matter who is dumb enough to get caught. As someone previously mentioned, it goes far below college sports, much younger.
Trust In Him posted:I think it is more common than what we envision. Many probably do it to varying degrees. Just a matter who is dumb enough to get caught. As someone previously mentioned, it goes far below college sports, much younger.
An interesting read is We Own This Game: The Adult World Of Youth Football.
"Although its participants are still in grade school, Pop Warner football is serious business in Miami, where local teams routinely advance to the national championships. Games draw thousands of fans; recruiters vie for nascent talent; drug dealers and rap stars bankroll teams; and the stakes are so high that games sometimes end in gunshots. In Miami's poorest neighborhood, troubled parents dream of NFL stardom for children who long only for a week in Disney World at the Pop Warner Super Bowl. "
MidAtlanticDad posted:Pitino and the Louisville AD both fired.
Not fired, unpaid leave. It could lead to firing. He would be on safer ground if it were paid leave. I believe he will be fired unless Louisville lacks integrity. Pitino has brought UL too much negative publicity in the past few years. He's always found "not guilty." By why is he often in the news for negative events? Not guilty doesn't mean innocent. It means not in legal trouble.
Reporting indicates the FBI "flipped" a person based on his own SEC criminal issues. I would tend to expect they have wiretaps and plenty of similar type communications on UofL, and the assistants charged, possibly Miami, (and maybe more to be charged.)
We will be hearing far more about Marty Blazer, I would expect. I would also expect many more college coaches, AD's and Presidents to be issuing press releases expressing their "shock" at learning of these issues. Like justbb, at least for me and from the baseball side, the "shock" seems to ring a tad bit hollow.
Viewed over the longer term, I wonder if the evolution of these matters, the criminal aspects, and the $$$ will eventually lead the NCAA to paying the athletes. I also wonder how many Universities are going to be facing very large legal bills for the defense of the University employees and coaches who might be charged?
"Who is Marty Blazer?
In U.S. Department of Justice documents obtained by ESPN, Louis Martin "Marty" Blazer III is the witness who cooperated with the FBI in its investigation of the coaches and other defendants.
Blazer, a former Pittsburgh financial adviser who was accused of swindling $2.35 million from five clients by the Securities and Exchange Commission and founded Blazer Capital Management, was accused of investing money into movies and entertainment ventures without his clients' knowledge between 2010 and 2012. As part of his plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office, Blazer agreed to plead guilty to securities fraud, aggravated identity theft, false statements and documents, and two counts of wire fraud, according to the Sept. 19 cooperation agreement."
One of the best film scenes ever, even without the current parallel.
Coach_May posted:I have no respect for the NCAA. They could careless about doing the "right" thing for student athletes. They care about the money these sports bring into the system and the system they will protect regardless of how wrong it is. The players are freaking pawns. Used by this corrupt system for their own gain. Coaches can walk out on players. Coaches can violate rules and move on to a bigger better opportunity. Players are then sacrificed for the better of the system they will protect at all cost. The NCAA is about protecting itself. If you think they are there for the young student athletes best interest well I don't know what to say about that.
Very systematic explanation !
Pray that the student athlete does not have a career ending injury while playing. NCAA will cover zero medical expenses after leaving school. Remember, student first - athlete secondary.
Funny how a few friends and I were discussing the $$$$ in college sports just last night.
Fed Likely To Apply Pressure On Big Name Coaches
http://bronxvoicesports.blogsp...pressure-on-big.html
The may be the huge bust the NCAA would never allow to happen. The FBI has subpoena power. Liars can go to prison.
