Normally, I don’t like to use my blog to repost something others have written. I like to use this forum to share with you my own original thoughts and opinions on news, stories, and issues relating to the sports world. I try to be unique and highlight stories and moments that may otherwise go unnoticed or are given little attention. But every now and then there will be a sports news story so big that you can’t help but not talk or in this case, blog about it. Even with those cases, I try my best to give an original opinion and take about what happened. And then there are the earth-shattering, bombing dropping sports stories that no matter what you write or how eloquently you try to express your original thought and or opinion, it will do the story no justice. We had a moment like that occur this week.
As you may have read, the University of Miami, known to us as "The U", is having their football and basketball programs investigated by NCAA for possible infractions involving players, coaches and staff members, past and present, from both programs. It was reported by Yahoo! Sports that a renegade Miami booster - who is now serving time in prison for his involvement in a multi-million dollar ponzi scheme - provided improper, illicit benefits to approximately 72 players, past and present, of the Miami football and basketball programs, spanning a period of 8 years. Benefits include: "straight cash homie" payments, free lodging, night and strip club tab pick-ups, free meals and alcohol, travel for family members, jewelry, an engagement ring, big screen TVs, usage of a yacht, bounties on opposing players, and my personal favorite, one abortion.
I'm going to make this quick so I can let you guys get to reading the article I provided below because Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports did an excellent, excellent job at detailing all of the alleged allegations and telling the story of Nevin Shapiro. It is a very well-written investigative report, which is why I am posting it. My thoughts are this; if even half of these allegations are found to be true, the NCAA has no choice but to give the University of Miami, in particular their football program since most of the allegations center around that program, the unheard of "death penalty." Not since SMU in the 1980's has a football program been handed down this type of punishment. Briefly, the "death penalty" is basically the NCAA shutting down a program and not allowing it to participate in games, recruiting, or basic operations for a period of time. In the case of SMU, they ban their football program for two years, and allowing their football players to transfer to other schools. By the time the school's program was eligible for reinstatement and the NCAA granted, their program was decimated. They fielded a team of walk-ons and only now, 20 some odd years later, is their football program becoming relevant again.
If the allegations in the Yahoo! Sports investigative report doesn't cause the NCAA to hand down their "death penalty," then what does a school have to do that will? There are some serious, serious allegations made in the report by Nevin Shapiro that if found to be true, simply vacating wins, going on probation, or losing scholarships will not cut it as a punishment. The University of Miami has had a history with players receiving illicit benefits from their boosters and the university continues to let it happen. The NCAA needs to come down hard on the university and needs to make an example out of them, especially in the wake of what happened at USC and Ohio State. USC and Ohio States' violations look like parking tickets compared to what the violations are being alleged at The U.
I don't blame the players necessarily for their participation in what is being alleged with The U. These players are coming from dire family situations and when you have a booster willing to throw gobs of money your way, how can they not accept it or par-take? You can argue that this, again, highlights a much bigger problem the NCAA has with players accepting illicit benefits and what the solution should be, i.e. paying players. And like the Ohio State situation, I hold the university and their compliance department accountable for this. They should have done a better job at policing their own and monitoring player and booster interactions. That is their job. And when they are made aware of allegation or potential violations, it is also their job to report it properly to the NCAA. But when you have millions upon millions of dollars flowing through the university and their doors, sometimes the dollar signs cloud their judgment. Just ask Jim Tressel about that.
It is unknown what the future has in store for The U's football program, but with USC's program already being handed their stiff penalty but managing to tread water, and with the NCAA yet to hand down their punishment to The Ohio State, which is expected to also be harsh, that makes three storied universities that could potentially have some lean years ahead of them. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
Enjoy the read!!!
Mr. Armchair Speaking
Renegade Miami football booster spells out illicit benefits to players - Investigations - Yahoo! Sports
http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news?slug=cr-renegade_miami_booster_details_illicit_benefits_081611
No comments:
Post a Comment