NCAA: In Decline, On the Way Out?
The National Crooked Athletics Association may be on the way to reform or extinction as a result of two major news events of the past week.
First, the University of Michigan basketball scandal exploded onto the national scene with a series of shockwaves centering on illegal gambling, loans, bribes and payoffs to players on the Wolverines' fabled Fab Five Freshman squad of 1992. Seems that, among other things, Chris Webber received the astonishing sum of $280,000 in "loans" while he was in high school and college. This is the most serious in an alarmingly long and scary list of rules violations committed by the U-M hoops program in the 90's. Former Michigan Athletic Director Don Canham called that once-fabulous era "a disgrace."
The question now is how the NCAA will respond. It conducted its own weak-kneed investigation earlier and substantiated just three minor violations. Now it will re-examine the issue. But there can be little doubt of the veracity of the majority of the new, more serious charges. Webber has all but acknowledged them with a shrug and a "no big deal" attitude.
If the NCAA doesn't respond swifly and severely, its days as the governing body of college sports are -- and should be -- over. At a minimum, Michigan must take down the championship banners from the tainted years, repay all of the money the school made from tournament play in those years, and probably be fined as well. More importantly, the NCAA must -- unequivocally -- suspend the Michigan basketall program from post-season play for a minimum of five years.
I attended U-M in the early 1960's. I am not proud today.
The other news event: the formation of a new organization called the Collegiate Athletes Coalition. This group aims to get college athletes health coverage and better scholarships, among other things. Did you know, e.g., that if a player gets hurt while participating in "voluntary" workouts (which the coach emphasizes are crucial in making the squad), his medical costs aren't covered and he could lose his scholarship?
Weird, eh?
12:16:42 PM 
|
