Who’s Kidding Whom Here? The NCAA Kisses Ass Just Like a Politician Loves Kissing Babies It Makes ‘em Look Good !

Who’s Kidding Whom Here? The NCAA Kisses Ass Just Like a Politician Loves Kissing Babies It Makes ‘em Look Good !

It never ceases to amaze me concerning the naiveté` shown by the NCAA ! They’ve taken four years to investigate shenanigans going on at USC __ (University of Southern California ) and are now prepared to make their findings public. In doing so we’re about to see whether or not the infractions committee of the NCAA has teeth to their body or are in fact just a bunch of chumps to begin with ! My money is on the latter ! The body tends to pick the battles that they believe that they can win rather than doing what’s best for collegiate athletics and go after those miscreants who cheat in order to get ahead. Rather than punishing with impunity , more often than not they’d rather give a university a mere slap on the wrist or a tap on the backside telling them not to do it again and then send them on their merry way .

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Now the fatted calf that is theUSC Trojans has landed on their plate and they’ve scurried to show that they’ve carried out an investigation that that they would no doubt like to suggest has been above reproach and one that has clear transparency. In what damn universe has that ever happened as it concerns the NCAA ? They have their favorites amongst the schools and the programs. And when it’s something akin to the Trojans’ football and basketball program we’re talking amongst the elite . Well in the case of the football program we are , Trojans’ basketball ranks up there somewhere alongside their women’s softball program. Have they actually done anything in the PAC-10 as of late in men’s basketball ?

Courtesy Associated Press & Yahoo Sports

USC hit hard by NCAA sanctions

By Greg Beacham AP Sports Writer

Los Angeles (AP)—The NCAA leveled Southern California with stinging penalties Thursday, issuing a two-year bowl ban and declaring Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush ineligible dating back to the Trojans’ 2004 national championship.

Citing USC for a lack of institutional control in its long-awaited report, the NCAA also put the entire athletic program on four years’ probation, took away a total of 30 football scholarships over three years and vacated every victory in which Bush participated in from December 2004 through the 2005 season.

USC beat Oklahoma in the BCS title game on Jan. 4, 2005, and won 12 games during Bush’s Heisman-winning 2005 season, which ended with a loss to Texas in the 2006 BCS title game.

The four-year investigation revealed numerous improper benefits involving former men’s basketball player O.J. Mayo and Bush.

The NCAA found that Bush, identified as a “former football student-athlete,” was ineligible beginning at least by December 2004, a ruling that could open discussion on the revocation of the New Orleans Saints star’s Heisman. Members of the Heisman Trust have said they might review Bush’s award if he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA.

“I have a great love for the University of Southern California and I very much regret the turn that this matter has taken, not only for USC, but for the fans and players,” Bush said in a statement, according to an ESPN report.

“I am disappointed by (Thursday’s) decision and disagree with the NCAA’s findings. If the University decides to appeal, I will continue to cooperate with the NCAA and USC, as I did during the investigation. In the meantime, I will continue to focus on making a positive impact for the University and for the community where I live.”

USC plans to appeal some of the penalties it believes are excessive.

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Click on link to read Greg Beacham’s article in its entirety .

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Now it’d be remiss to suggest that the Trojans’ athletic program isn’t the only collegiate program out there has its own shortcomings. But in reality this program and in particular its football program has been amongst the most successful over the past decade. And given the fact that Pete Carroll has been at the helm of the program during that time. One has to wonder what went on under his tenure and who was kept in the loop concerning many of the most egregious actions that took place. Most definitely none of this could have gone on without Athletics Director Mike Garrett having a role to play. And if anything he may well have been one of the main culprits organizing what one can only consider to be a malevolent abuse of power and none compliance with the university’s own rules and regulations. Never mind what is actually prohibited by the NCAA to begin with. With both Carroll and former basketball coach Tim Floyd having departed. The onus will be upon the university to accept whatever punishment is meted out without having making a response or choosing to fight the findings or the actions sought. Self imposed sanctions as proposed by Garrett was a joke to begin with and about as willing an admission of guilt as one could have deemed imaginable. Only a bunch of idiots could think that such a stance would be enough to show an apparent act of contrition and remorse. Never mind that no one within the university’s faculty or Athletics Department has chosen to make a formal statement much less apologize for their actions. No one absolutely no one wants to be held accountable for their actions. Certainly not Pete Carroll, nor Floyd or Garrett or for that matter Reggie Bush or O. J. Mayo . And we’re to believe that collegiate athletics is above reproach ? When amateur athletics or should one say collegiate athletics becomes a multi billion dollar business then expect anything and everything imaginable to happen. There is no longer any sense of pride , virtue or honesty in collegiate athletics. Those days are long gone! And it probably pains someone of the stature of the late John Wooden to have witnessed how far collegiate athletics has fallen.

Now with the alumni and booster of the Trojans on hand, awaiting the findings. It’s going to be very hard to see how anyone can look at this program from now on and not question if they’re prepared to change their ways. Better yet will Mike Garrett now step down and the university hire someone with integrity to lead the school in entering a new chapter. Carroll and Floyd may well have left for their own selfless reasons but everyone with an ounce of common sense knew the real reason why they both left. Carroll’s successor Lane Kiffin is now left to try and persuade recruits to the program that it is in their best interest to remain with the school. There’s every reason to believe that they may well lose quite possibly one or two recruits. But it may well be that a number of those who signed to play football will remain whatever the outcome. The school’s reputation has been more than tarnished as it has been dragged through the mud. That being said there’s every reason to believe that they can recover from this should they move ultimately in the right direction. Much of this will come down to the leadership shown by university President Steven B. Sample and an Athletics Director , whomever that might be.

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Pete Carroll and his Heisman Trophy winning running back Reggie Bush (5) seen here during a collegiate game. There were many rumours surrounding the player and his family concerning a residence they resided while Bush attended school. The player has since settled with a former associate who was a plaintiff in a civil suit filed against Bush concerning none payment fees and monies owed concerning the residence where his family resided. courtesy of espn.go.com / Rick Nash ….

Former USC coach Tim Floyd and ex-Trojan O.J. Mayo are at the center of a recruiting scandal. Southern California coach Tim Floyd, second from left, is escorted off the court by forward O. J. Mayo (32) and John David Wicker, left, Washington State University associate athletic director, after being ejected, during an NCAA college basketball game against Washington Stat in Pullman, Wash. A former associate of Mayo, who is now in the NBA, has told Yahoo! Sports that Floyd paid a man who helped get Mayo to play for the Trojans. Associated Press / Dean Hare ……..

Director Steven Spielberg, USC SCA dean Elizabeth Daly, USC president Dr. Steven Sample and director George Lucas attend the unveiling of the new USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) Complex on March 29, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images / Alberto E Rodriguez ………….

USC Athletics Director Mike Garrett. The former Heisman Trophy winner is also an alumni of the school his alma mater. courtesy of Getty Images / Meghann Wolffe ………….

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As to the actions of the NCAA and their continued posturing. There comes a time when even that has to stop and they have to be seen to be going about their business in the appropriate manner. Rather than continually sitting back and watching many of the schools and their programs become nothing more than a larcenous enterprise . But then again while this is all going on aren’t the NCAA profiting from this all ? This is all very much akin as to how politicians conduct their own business. Kissing babies and creating an image that is above reproach. Let me ask you this when was the last time you heard or saw an honest politician within your midst ? Truth be known once they’re within their hallowed chamber at work , they become corrupted by the smell of money and the zest for power. The NCAA and for that matter collegiate athletics are no different !. Let’s get one thing straight USC won’t the last or only college athletics program to run amok. So don’t feel aggrieved if they carry on, business as usual, it’s just the way that things are done !

Alan Parkins aka tophatal ………………………………….

Swizz Beatz …………”Money In The Bank”