NCAA enforcement proving again who you are "doesn't" matter

UK star recruit John Wall has been "cleared to play by the NCAA" after the discovery that his AAU coach was a licensed agent. In the NCAA laying down the law, Wall must sit out two games (which will occur at the beginning of the season against two schools no one has heard of).

Meanwhile, in a situation similar to our very own ND, a West Virgina freshman has been suspended for 20 games because he played for a Turkish team that had a professional player.

To recap, have one of your closest confidants be an agent = 2 game suspension. Play on a team with one professional player = 20 game suspension. Seems like an organization focused on an individual's amateur status should find the other way around. Of course, unlike Wall, no sponsors, tournaments, or the NCAA itself are making millions off of that WVU kid.

Pathetic.

19 days ago bruinponcho 6 comments 0 recs |

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Thankfully

The NCAA looks to be ready to approve legislation that would make it okay for players to play with professionals so long as the player was never paid. It’s ridiculous that a player be punished because of what other guys on the team were doing in a completely different culture than the one here. In Europe, that’s common and the only way to play quality basketball. Finally, the NCAA is doing the right thing, although the law of averages say that must get it right once in a while.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 1, 2009 11:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

AAU Teams, Coaches and Shoe Company Sponsors

are the core of the problems of compromised “amateur” status.

They are also the source of the money and players that feed the system.

Until they are controlled or rooted out, the NCAA’s “regulation” of college sports will remain a farce.

And, an unfair farce at that.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Nov 2, 2009 5:46 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I am generally against government intervention in anything

This is now seeming to be an exception. The ncaa either cannot or will not enforce its own rules when it would offend a big player like UK or just$c*. The ncaa’s definition of major action is to do something to San Antonio State for a volleyball violation. Congress has from time to time taken on major players. There was no more major players than Presidents Nixon and Clinton, and Congress took them on.

Clearly intercollegiate sports affect interstate commerce, so there is a basis for congressional action. Some congressperson of some school which has been hosed by the ncaa needs to step up. It could start with the shoe guys and the AAU teams as sjh suggests, but it could also start with a congressional death penalty to just$c*. (Hey, if I’m imagining scenarios, I can imagine whatever I want.)

by Fox 71 on Nov 2, 2009 6:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The most ridiculous rule

Bryant got suspended for lying to the NCAA. WTF? He actually hadn’t done anything wrong, but lying got him suspended? The double standard here is egregious. They don’t have subpoena power to interview shady people, but lying is treated as perjury, as if athletes are under oath. It’s infuriating, really. Granted, lying to the NCAA should be a punishable offense, but suspension for a whole season? What a bunch of pricks.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Nov 2, 2009 11:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

They aren't even consistent with the playing on a professional team penalty

Drago got just 10 games, while this guy got 20. Punishment inflation?

by jaffa on Nov 2, 2009 3:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Calculation is based on number of games played with pro

For this type of infraction, the length of the suspension is based on the number of games played with the professional player. Why the NCAA blindly follows a draconian calculation for this type of penalty that unfairly penalizes international players rather than having strict rules for other types of violations (such as, if you are recruited by Calipari, you should automatically be ineligible) is one of the great mysteries of the universe.

by bruinponcho on Nov 2, 2009 5:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs