Compensation for...?

Two words, Eddie: Speaking. Gigs.

"While the NCAA, its member conferences and schools, and its for-profit business partners reap millions of dollars from revenue streams ..., former student athletes whose likenesses are utilized to generate those profit centers receive no compensation whatsoever," the suit claims.

I'm not saying that NCAA athletes shouldn't be compensated, but I think that ship sailed on O'Bannon--ohhh--fourteen years ago.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and calls on the NCAA to pay the former athletes what it has allegedly made from the use of their images.

What you call damages, some call free publicity. The NCAA is still using your image to make you look like a hero a decade and a half after your playing career. CAPITALIZE.

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Self-incrimination?

Word choice is important:

Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson on Thursday defended the men's basketball program. "We wouldn't play anybody if we hadn't checked it out pretty thoroughly," Johnson told The Associated Press.

If you ask me, that could very easily be interpreted as, "There was, in fact, something worth checking out--which is to say that we knew something was up, and we checked it out. We kinda-sorta did some investigating, but only enough to help us sleep a little easier, not enough to actually turn up any hard evidence of misconduct that could have forced us to sit one of our players--especially not if it was Derrick Rose."

If the accusations were totally baseless, I would expect him to say something like, "We would never allow one of our athletes to play if we were aware of any misconduct or violations on the part of that player."

Ok, maybe I'm reading too much into this.

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Why Memphis needs to change conferences, in plain black and white (with a little red scribble)

Yowsah:

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I Hate Conference Tournaments, Part MMMMMMMMI

Reruns, reruns.

But this one takes the cake.

Of all the egregiously unnecessary, horribly terrible consequences of conference tournaments, I don't think anything has ever topped nor could top the travesty I'm watching right now, as UConn and Syracuse play a fifth overtime, with the winner facing the prospect of playing two more games in the next two days.

"Oh, the drama of March Madness!"

No. It's not like that. It's more like me sitting here fuming, cringing with every unnecessary stride strode by 60+ minute man Johnny Flynn as his team trudges on, the NCAA and the Big East Conference pulling them by the ear, nagging, "You must continue to play and try your hardest to win this meaningless exhibition a week in advance of the most important games of your life, even if it means strained joints and renal failure."

When will everyone start calling bullshit on this bullshit? I don't know who's all with me, but I, for one, refuse to stand for this ponzi scheme. Yet... it's midnight, and I'm still watching, which makes me the sucker, and that's my whole point.

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A word from Indiana head basketball coach Tom Crean

Hi there, Indiana basketball fans! Boy, it's really been an exciting few weeks for our program. There have been a lot of changes since last season, and we couldn't be more optimistic about the direction our program is headed in.

I've always said that Indiana has the best college basketball fans in the country, and I truly believe that we will reward you all with a great season and compete for the Big Ten title.

As many of you may have heard, we recently released a few members of the team from their scholarships for various reasons. Unfortunately, these young men weren't the right fit for what we're trying to build here. The great Indiana basketball tradition is something that's always been very special to me, and upholding that tradition is a responsibility I put above all else.

Fortunately, those vacancies have opened the door for some fresh, young talent, and we couldn't be more thrilled with our nine newcomers and two returning players that will don the crimson and cream come November. We also have two remaining scholarships on our roster that we have yet to fill, but I couldn't be more excited about some of the players who have expressed their interest in joining the Indiana basketball tradition.

The first is a young man named Tyler Mooney out of Muncie, Indiana. Tyler is a superb talent who was one of the most highly recruited players in the Muncie area when he played in the Indiana Juniors 13-and-under League as a 5'7" power forward. He has since grown to 5'9" and now plays guard, but he has retained those big-man instincts and low center of gravity. He's also a coach's son, having played for his father on the Ward 6 Mad Ballers in the Muncie Park District League back in 2000, so you know he has a high basketball IQ. Tyler would have been one of the top recruits in the country this year, but he flew under the recruiting radar after taking the last four years off to focus on his academics. We are very excited about Tyler's future with Indiana basketball.

We also have a verbal commitment from a 7-footer out of the Republic of Congo named Jacques Massamba-Mvouba whom we are very excited about. Jacques is a very gifted athlete with limitless potential who is just beginning to learn the game. When we first met Jacques sixteen days ago and rolled out a basketball for him, he sliced it in half with a machete and threw it in a boiling pot. He's really come a long way since then, and once we break him of a few bad habits--like kicking the ball and heading the ball--we think he will be an excellent player on the collegiate level and maybe beyond.

Also in the mix is Walt Stump, a 6'3" forward from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Walt was the star of the 1980 Eau Claire Prep team that went to the Wisconsin state quarterfinals. At the time, Walt was being recruited heavily by several programs, including University of Wisconsin Steven's Point, St. Cloud State, and Benedictine University, but he opted for military service instead. He has maintained his collegiate eligibility and stayed in such great basketball shape since then that you would never even guess he's 47 years old. Walt comes from a great family background--both of his parents are heavily involved in their church and also their retirement community--and we would be very proud to have Walt become a part of this program.

Finally, we are looking closely at a transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College named Chris Lee, a 6'1" guard who originally hails from Modesto, California. Lee has had some trouble with the law in the past, but he has really righted the ship in the last year, having passed nearly all of his classes and avoiding arrest for over five months now. He has also blossomed into a excellent basketball player, averaging 9.3 points per game for Santa Rosa last season. I've always been a big believer in second chances, and I really believe Chris would be an incredible addition to our program.

I couldn't be happier with the future of the Indiana basketball program, and I truly believe 2008-2009 will be fantastic year for Hoosier basketball. I can't wait to see all of you coming out to support us in Assembly Hall later this year. The Indiana Hoosier basketball fans are the absolute best in the country, and I know you will see some wonderful things on the court this season. I can't wait!

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373 degrees Kelvin (Sampson)

(Holy shit, my titles are awesome. I'm so fucking clever. But you probably don't even get that. Go to a blog where people are as dumb as you, e.g. Busted Coverage, ok?)

Evidently, there's a good chance that Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson will be canned tomorrow afternoon. Come Tuesday, he'll likely be homeless. By Thursday, dead.

And for what? Lust. Lust for the services of 17 year-olds. If you're Matt, you can sympathize. For the rest of us, we can at least empathize. His only sin was wanting too much. Or in the words of Hannibal Lecter, "He covets. That is his nature. And how do we begin to covet, Clarice?" Young Jodie Foster in a southern accent: "We see a high school junior with a mad handle and a sweet J, and we want him so bad that we call him each night before we can fall asleep."

So here's my question: What's so wrong with a little talent lust? Do we really need the NCAA to police coaches who can't help themselves? Coaches who woo and woo until they can woo no more? Why not let the recruits police the coaches? Why not let the recruits police the coaches the way your high school squeeze policed you? "Matt, I get that you want me. But you're coming off way too desperate. You have to stop calling me or my parents'll get pissed. I'm going now, ok? Bye. ...No, I won't be around later, ok? Bye... For real. Bye!"

Instead, Kelvin Sampson has been disgraced, and may soon be jobless, for what I see as a victimless crime (ok, maybe one victim named Bruce Weber). Ask Eric Gordon if he cares how many phone calls he got while he fields his next call from a future agent promising more money than Geraldo has earned in his lifetime.

No one paid anyone. No one beat up anyone. No one bought anyone dinner to make the death of a young man's father sting a touch less. No one killed anyone. And most importantly, no one bought anyone dinner. Why is this such a big deal? Sure, it's a little sleazy, but recruiting is a sleazy business. And guess what--your favorite team's coach is a sleazebag too. And I guarantee whatever that coach--let's call him Tomrick PaCreano--does to land stud recruits is no more wholesome than what Sampson has done.

And no, Matt, I still won't go out with you.

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