NCAA
As time goes by and more information comes out, or should we say more leaks of information that no one can verify comes out, I want someone from the mighty NCAA to answer me a small question that does not seem to be coming up in main stream media: Why do we know the schools involved and the players (more or less) but we have not one clue who the agents are? I keep seeing tweets go up and pictures come out about this, that and the other regarding the young men (and yes, they are still young men) involved in the story, but not one leaks/talks/informs us about who these adults (or should we say businesses or whatever name you like to call them). How is that possible? Why is it happening?
I mean, let’s take a step back here, isn’t the NCAA supposed to be protecting these student-athletes as well as punishing them? Where is the privacy here? The way this has been handled the judge and jury (in the court of opinion) have already made a heck of a case when it comes to the players, yet they are silent when it comes to people that are just as much part of this fiasco, the agents. Do the suits that make a very hefty living in Indianapolis want to resolve this problem instead of keep having to fix it when it happens? Then it’s pretty simple what needs to be done: the agents committing these sort of infractions (and the firms they work for or own) are no longer welcome on campuses or at NCAA events. No more going to games, no more going to the bowls, to the Final Fours, etc etc. Will this stop everyone from attempting to contact future stars? Probably not, but unless the NCAA does not take some measures what is happening of late will be a common accurance and not the exception to the rule. The punishment needs to be tough in order to stop people that play tough. A slap on the wrist to someone that is about to make 10% or more from someone else’s salary is not going to cut it!
To further help this never to happen again I have this solution: the NCAA develops a department that gives out small loans (you figure out how much) to players that have decided to go to the next level and are looking like someone who will get drafted in their respective sport. (Reason for the “small loans” is in case they do not make it at the next level they will not have huge amounts to pay back). Of course the loan would be at no interest. This way “big brother” knows, the schools know, the players have a chance to enjoy themselves without having to put a burden on anyone and most of all this non sense we are seeing would stop. Of course, for the players that do not go this route and went into having an agent loan/give them the money out the door they go, end of story, no appeal, no nothing. And I say this because if you give these young men options and they choose something else then they should be on their own. For those of you that do not think this is fair let me say this, no one that is not close to going pro is going to have agents coming after them. This is a solution to keep these sharks away, not to help everyone in college go to Spring Break (check out the videos on youtube most students get out there just fine on their own).
By the way, I am not sure if it still possible, or if the NCAA allows it, but I believe LeBron James’ mom got a loan from her bank his senior year based on what he was going to be making in the coming years. So all I am saying is let’s not get the banks doing this, let’s keep it “in house”.
I am not writing this post to justify that what these kids did was right, what I am not liking in this story is the fact that the agents seem to be more shielded than the players and that the NCAA is once again coming in with just nothing but here and now fixes instead of a long term solution. Both the NCAA and the Universities need to stop hiding behind their finger and think no one can see them. Lots of money is being made because of these players, I am not saying they need to be paid, but what I am saying is that building a system where they will not get into trouble because of people that have what they want, lots and lots of money.
Lastly, the NCAA needs to step forward and go after all these sources that people from the media have to get the information. Enough with the “anominity” and “people close to the story” bs. Have them tell you who they are or else they too will be banned from being able to go onto campuses or attending games. If the sources are inside of the program they need to be banned from the sport, end of story. Please show us for just once that you do care about the student-athletes and not just the amount of money that they can make for you. In the end I fear that all I have said will go on deaf ears, money has ruled sports for a long time, doubt it will change anytime soon, and that makes this old timer truly sad!
