[Genuine Realist]

There were a few posts above that discussed the North Carolina scandal.


To me, the NCAA dithering reflected complete confusion as to what its actual mission is. It's death on someone giving a kid a free Coke, but can't get it together when it comes to cheating athletes out of the educational opportunity that is the whole point.

I am not defending the NCAA, but how did North Carolina cheat the athletes out of an educational opportunity? The athletes could have taken other classes. They could have even turned in North Carolina for giving credit for work not done. The athletes were part of the problem too. The NCAA didn't punish North Carolina because ostensibly these same academic improprieties were available to all students. That is a problem for the accreditation groups. Unfortunately, they too did nothing.

The athletes are kids. The North Carolina academics had a responsibility to them. 

Whether you think the athletes were victims or not, this is core cheating - and the NCAA could not cope with it. This to me is one of the effects of the skewed value system the amateurism rules have produced. Money, which conceptually doesn't matter, matters quite a bit. Academics, which should be central, don't matter at all.

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John Calipari on NIL guarantees. His attitude will surprise you.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildc...cUe7M2uPJc

This is what I mean by water seeking its level. As I mentioned in describing the BBN, come to Kentucky and play well, and the money will be there. Kentucky basketball won't come off second to anyone financially.

 But Cal wants nothing to do with guarantees or players that put money first. I think that will be a fairly typical coach's attitude.

[Genuine Realist]

There were a few posts above that discussed the North Carolina scandal.


To me, the NCAA dithering reflected complete confusion as to what its actual mission is. It's death on someone giving a kid a free Coke, but can't get it together when it comes to cheating athletes out of the educational opportunity that is the whole point.

I am not defending the NCAA, but how did North Carolina cheat the athletes out of an educational opportunity? The athletes could have taken other classes. They could have even turned in North Carolina for giving credit for work not done. The athletes were part of the problem too. The NCAA didn't punish North Carolina because ostensibly these same academic improprieties were available to all students. That is a problem for the accreditation groups. Unfortunately, they too did nothing.

The athletes are kids. The North Carolina academics had a responsibility to them. 

Whether you think the athletes were victims or not, this is core cheating - and the NCAA could not cope with it. This to me is one of the effects of the skewed value system the amateurism rules have produced. Money, which conceptually doesn't matter, matters quite a bit. Academics, which should be central, don't matter at all.

---

John Calipari on NIL guarantees. His attitude will surprise you.

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildc...cUe7M2uPJc

This is what I mean by water seeking its level. As I mentioned in describing the BBN, come to Kentucky and play well, and the money will be there. Kentucky basketball won't come off second to anyone financially.

 But Cal wants nothing to do with guarantees or players that put money first. I think that will be a fairly typical coach's attitude.