The NCAA held true to form.

No head coaches faced any federal charges. No head coaches have yet received substantial NCAA penalties. Miller and Wade only recently fired from their former schools. Plausible deniability ran rampant among the implicated schools. Among the named defendants include former NBA star Chuck Person, an assistant at Auburn, as well as assistants Lamont Evans of Oklahoma State, Emanuel “Book” Richardson of Arizona and Tony Bland of USC. Adidas executive Jim Gatto is also named, as well as agents and financial planners. Bland avoided jail time, the others – not so lucky.

Programs implicated in Adidas Scandal

Head Coach Asst Coach

Arizona–Sean Miller, fired 2021/ HC @ Xavier – Book Richardson–fired 2018, jail, SC-2022? now AAU NYC

Auburn–Bruce Pearl, 2 gm susp, still HC @ Auburn – Chuck Person–fired 2017, jail, 10 yr show cause.

Creighton–Greg McDermott, still HC @ Cr8n – Preston Murphy–resigned 2019, 2yr SC, lcl acad Omaha

Kansas-Bill Self, still HC (Lifetime) @ KU – Kurtis Townsend – nothing yet. SC-2022?

LSU-Will Wade, susp 6 gms 2019, fired 2022 – Bill Armstrong-fired 2022, SC-2022

Louisville-Rick Pitino, fired 2017/HC @ Iona – Kenny Johnson-fired 2017, SC-2022?

Miami, FL-Jim Larranega, still HC @Miami – unnamed asst coach.

NC State-Mark Gottfried, fired 2017/1yr SC HC @CSN – Orlando Early–Fired 2017, 6 yr show cause.

Okla State-Brad Underwood/Mike Boynton @OKST – Lamont Evans-fired 2017, 10 yr show cause

Southern Cal-Andy Enfield, still HC @USC – Tony Bland-fired 2017, 2 yrs probation, 3yr SC

TCU-Jaime Dixon, still HC @TCU – Corey Barker-fired 2017, 5 yr SC.

Alabama – No Charges (NC). Basketball DBO Kobie Baker resigns

Duke – NC

UNC – NC

So Carolina – NC (Lamont Evans)

others…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017%E2%80%9318_NCAA_Division_I_men’s_basketball_corruption_scandal

Assistant coaches—most often Black—take on the big risks in recruiting and pay the heavy prices when caught breaking rules. They also ‘check the box’ for the university’s diversity quota. In all likelihood these coaches will never work college basketball again. Sean Miller still refuses to talk with Richardson, after all these years.

Head coaches—most often white— insulate themselves enough to proclaim plausible deniability and salvage their careers. In all likelihood these coaches merely move on to the next high paying job.

The more significant penalties were assessed to two former NC State coaches, and the differences between their sanctions is stark. This falls in line with everything else that has transpired since the FBI started looking into the college basketball recruiting scandal. NC State HC Gottfried received a 1-year show cause penalty, while his assistant coach Early received a 6-year show cause penalty. 

Sean Miller, Bill Self, and Will Wade have yet to receive NCAA penalties, so too assistants Richardson, Townsend, Armstrong, and Kenny Johnson. Just another day on the plantation for head coaches, huh?

What a waste of taxpayer dollars. I’ll huff, n puff, n Blowwww your house down! Then nada, nope, nil… The FBI as the Big, Bad Wolf or the Wizard of Oz. Turned out to be Stay Puft, the marshmallow man.

Up Next:

Which so-called NIL “Booster Collectives” will get slammed for egregious pay-for-play practices? Just because a NIL state law may exist in 30 states, does not preclude either the state itself or the NCAA from prosecuting ‘collectives’ for ill-disguised pay-for-play schemes to athletes. Dressing up a goat in fine garments does not change the fact that it’s a goat.

Back in May, CBS’ Parrish and Norlander (Podcast) were giddy in their enthusiasm as to whether the NCAA would ‘dare’ go after Miami/Ruiz or other fatcat booster/NIL Collectives. The Miami incident points to indications that pay-for-play is alive and well in 2022. I dare say it is rampant across the US landscape as booster groups now think they have free rein and a free ride. Opendorse says that approximately 80% of NIL is concentrated in college football and women’s sports – I’d guess that’s where we’ll see most of the course corrections take place. It should be about time to reel ’em in a bit.

I dare say YES! It’s (a reckoning) coming. Grab some popcorn and your favorite beverage…stay tuned.

A New Day in Golf?

LIV Golf Series: A new day in golf? The low-key arrival of the LIV Golf Series has snuck up on us. Headed by CEO Greg Norman, LIV Golf debutes on June 9-11, 2022, at the Centurion Club, outside London, UK.

The announcement also stated that NBC Sports’ former voice of the Premier League, Arlo White, would be the play-by-play announcer, with Jerry Foltz and Dom Boulet joining in the booth. Su-Ann Heng, a former No. 1 in Singapore, will lead on-course commentating. Troy Mullins, “will serve as an on-course reporter and social influencer.”

LIV has also created a bit of excitement upon the reveal of its’ participants. Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Sergio Garcia are headlining the event.

In spite of this most of the attention and press has been negative. Many sources have taken the opportunity to rail against the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the backer of the LIV Golf Invitational Series and it’s parent company. There has also been blowback against LIV CEO Norman and the players participating.

This is the most legit challenge to the PGA Tour in years and the incumbent has manned the ramparts to repel the intruders. PGA member players are banned from participation, but several have opted to play anyway, due to the excellent prize monies and the new format involved. A few players have actually resigned their PGA Memberships and several high profile players are scheduled to participate.

Does the start of the LIV Golf campaign signal the beginning of a new era in golf history? It appears they have all the requisite pieces and backing to not only survive, but thrive against the PGA/Eurotour incumbents.

This ongoing development should be fun to watch as it unfolds.