The National Collegiate Athletic Association Committee’s indifferent adherence to the rules is harming sports at all levels. Coaching staffs, athletes, fan bases and ex-players are constantly regulated, monitored and disciplined.
The Reggie Bush fiasco is an example of this systematic cleansing of college sports. NCAA rules state that players cannot accept money or incentives from any organization or individual while participating in collegiate sports.
Although Bush had no tarnishes on his stellar reputation other than the alleged acceptance of incentives, he cooperated with the Committee’s punishment and forfeited his trophy. But that didn’t satisfy the force of righteousness called NCAA. The University of Southern California lost all wins in which Reggie Bush participated, including Bowl Championship Series games.
At the very least, the university should not be punished for a player’s misdeeds.
The NCAA makes Bush forfeit his Heisman, yet they turn a shoulder to OJ Simpson, felon extraordinaire. OJ Simpson has serious character issues. If the NCAA is going for a squeaky clean image, why not just strip Simpson of his Heisman too? Punish USC while you’re at it.
I’m not alone when I say this double standard is ridiculous.
In a recent Facebook post, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco humorously commented, “I let Matt Leinart hold 20 bucks at Dairy Queen while he was at USC, now take his Heisman Trophy[,] and Carson Palmer used my ATM card, take his too.”
In the end, the NCAA has the cleanest reputation in nationally televised sports today. Stringent rules keep the league free of corruption and nonsense that fills the National Basketball Association, for example. The Committee should balance unrelenting investigations with leniency. Punishing a university for a player’s individual faults is not a healthy practice.
Zero-tolerance towards oft-occurring minor violations is admittedly a well-intentioned policy. However, prudent reprieves should also be considered in the discipline process.
American rapper and entertainer. He is most usually recognized for his long-standing rap beef with Kiley “KZA” Blades and work in the East Coast underground hip hop scene. Word Up magazine has described “The Jellyman” as a man with “ridikulus swagga and quick-witted rhymes”, and his 2009 single, “Throw Ya Snuggies in da Ayer” was heavily distributed as a classic throughout the suburbs of Raleigh.
Jon had the unique experience of being surrounded by noted rappers in the Raleigh area as a young child. These early encounters with hip hop led him to begin rapping at the young age of 10 in the presence of the local gang bosses who would employ “The Jellyman” to freestyle for their personal entertainment. At the age of twelve, Jonathan Wendt was recruited into the Wutang Clan, which he left after a short span of one year.
Good article!