The sleaziest coach in a sleazy game

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

That is exactly my point. The NCAA has actually declared Calipari was not involved and was not under investigation. They didn't say or even suggest that he probably was involved but they couldn't prove it.

I'm sure you realize that NCAA couldn't possibly suggest any involvement without being able to prove it, at the risk of a rather large libel or slander judgment. So this fact doesn't count for much.

As you might know, big-time college athletes are heavily managed and supervised by their athletic departments, 24/7, in and out of season. They're too valuable to be left to their own devices. Many schools have special "academic" programs for the athletes so that they don't have to be troubled about going to actual classes with other students. The staff know exactly what's going on, often in pornographic detail.

Calipari might have achieved plausible deniability, but if he didn't actually know what his players were doing he could have found out with a phone call. And, as head coach, he's responsible (ethically if not under NCAA regs) for his team and the behavior of his team's "boosters." Plenty of head coaches manage to keep the "boosters" at bay -- why not Calipari, at multiple programs? Coincidence?

You're determined to extend the benefit of the doubt, Camron, and I admire your charity in doing so. And perhaps you'll think me as cynical as you seem to consider JR. But I know from personal experience the corrupting effects of money from big-time college athletics. The dollar amounts are just so staggeringly vast that it's easy to see how people grab it.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I'm sure you realize that NCAA couldn't possibly suggest any involvement without being able to prove it, at the risk of a rather large libel or slander judgment.

As you might know, big-time college athletes are heavily managed and supervised by their athletic departments, 24/7, in and out of season. They're too valuable to be left to their own devices. Many schools have special "academic" programs for the athletes so that they don't have to be troubled about going to actual classes with other students. The staff know exactly what's going on, often in pornographic detail.

Calipari might have achieved plausible deniability, but if he didn't actually know what his players were doing he could have found out with a phone call. And, as head coach, he's responsible (ethically if not under NCAA regs) for his team and the behavior of his team's "boosters." Plenty of head coaches manage to keep the "boosters" at bay -- why not Calipari, at multiple programs? Coincidence?

Well thought out analysis imo. The people in Memphis seem to agree also. They have the same opinion of Calipari that I have...and we're hardly alone.

Geoff Calkins: University of Memphis' appeal of NCAA sanctions was doomed from start The Commercial Appeal