I have chosen to spend the majority of my blogging nitpicking about what is wrong with sports today. Well let me be the first to admit that we as fans (and maybe the bash-bloggers' too) need to share in the responsibility. After all, if a home run is hit in the woods, (or maybe more accurately Tropicana Field) does it make a noise? My answer to this rhetorical question is maybe. So let us erase this current notion of athletic immorality and venture back to yester year and examine some hot button issues from that perspective.
In today's headlines, littered amongst praise for all things Verlandian, is a snip it of the woe that is The Ohio State University. For those of you who may not be aware, after decades of domination in the Big Ten, OSU took one (or six by my count) nasty blow to the face. In a 'scandal' that cost them their starting quarterback, running back and head coach among others, they fell from top of the heap to bottom of the barrel overnight. Now, after AD Gene Smith has placed blame squarely of Jimmy Tressels' shoulders and shipped him to the Colts (tough break by the way) we find out MORE suspensions and fine are coming. This time it wasn't free tattoos, it was being paid to work, while not actually working. Something that this humble writer/waiter is guilty of at this very moment. OK Neil, reel it in now. The point of this article is not to bash OSU of the head, even though its as natural for me as a duck in water.
The NCAA is very strict on student athletes not taking money for playing at a particular university. That means NO monetary compensation whatsoever, regardless that a high caliber recruit can bring in literally millions in revenue each year. The rule is extremely out of date and overly encompassing, to the point that in some cases players can't even keep jerseys they wore while playing. Regardless of how ignorantly structured to rule is, every team from USC to Backwoods U has to follow the same rule, thus making it appear fair. OSU has been in the wrong more times this year than most other universities have in the last decade, or so it would appear. This rule is made for little schools to hang around the neck of the proverbial Goliath they cannot compete with. I have never defended the scarlet and silver in my life and I don't like the rumbling in my gut right now, so let me cut to the chase so I can go vomit and light some incense the altar of Hoke. Teams have been doing this since the beginning of time. All that has changed is the media coverage incurred by rule breakers. Its not going to stop anyone by catching them with their pants down....repeatedly in OSU's case. The culture that has been created will not revert itself back to Dudley Doorite status anytime soon. I understand that the integrity of the game rests on the student athletes remaining amateurs, but when most every major university is guilty of violations in one context or another, shouldn't the rules be reexamined? Either return to the 'everyone look away' era, or come up with some actual penalties that will make teams fear the repercussions. The media is going to blast teams they deem are guilty, and now a days it only takes one anonymous tweet. Don't threaten the 'death sentence' and give then 3 years probation. In this instance we should take a page from the Texas State Legislature, maybe. I know the execs of the NCAA won't like the idea of getting a little blood on your hands but it may save the face you so much adore. Plus, nothing sends a message like a little hard time, just ask Roger Clemons.
No comments:
Post a Comment