Wow! This one included back door payments of $100 k or more to the athlete’s family…
Tag Archives: NCAA
No Longer Sky Blue – NCAA Rips North Carolina
The NCAA just lowered the hammer on the Reprobates in the Carolina legislature and Governor seats. Schools in the state, have won more than few NCAA Tournaments, and the Atlantic Coast Conference, made up primarily of North Carolina Schools has been one of the top leagues in NCAA Basketball for decades. Folks in that state are about as serious about their basketball as folks in Texas and Alabama are about football.
This isn’t just a financial hit, costing Charlotte which annually hosts some portion of the tournament tens of millions…Its a stake right though the heart.
All because of a bunch of back woods sanctimonious inbred Republican liars.
NCAA moves ‘March Madness’ basketball finals out of North Carolina over anti-trans law
The governing board overseeing U.S. college athletics said on Monday it will move seven championship sporting events out of North Carolina to protest state laws deemed discriminatory to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals.
The decision by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to relocate the events, including the first two rounds of the “March Madness” men’s basketball playoffs, comes two months after the NBA announced the removal of its 2017 pro All-Star Game from North Carolina for the same reasons.
The National Basketball Association said in August that the All-Star game would be played in New Orleans instead.
The NCAA governing board in its statement cited a North Carolina law that makes it illegal for anyone to use a public restroom that does not match the gender they were assigned at birth.
The board also pointed to North Carolina statutes that it said override local laws designed to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or provide legal protections for government officials who refuse services to the LGBT community.
The North Carolina bathroom statute has sparked boycotts by a number of corporations and entertainers, as access to public restrooms, locker rooms and changing areas has become a flashpoint in the battle over transgender rights in the United States.
In addition to basketball playoff competition that had been slated to be played in Greensboro next March, the NCAA said it was also stripping North Carolina of 2016-17 season championships for Division I women’s soccer; Division II men’s and women’s soccer; Division I regional women’s golf; Division II men’s and women’s tennis; Division I women’s lacrosse and Division II baseball.
The NCAA said it would determine new locations for those competitions in the near future.
The governing board said its decision was in line with current NCAA policy that already bans championships in states that display the Confederate battle flag of the U.S. Civil War or authorize sports wagering and at schools that use “hostile or abusive” Native American imagery.
Hitting the NC Bigots Where it Hurts, NCAA May Pull Basketball Tournament
Non conversation about College Basketball is complete without the mention of two of the sports powerhouses, University of North Carolina, and Duke University. One of the reasons I am an ACC Fan, besides being an Alumni of a ACC School, is their go anywhere, beat you like a dime store guitar attitude, risking early season losses by playing against schools from the other majors like the Big East and the Big Ten – and one or more teams making the trek to Rupp Arena to take on SEC Powerhouse Kentucky. Something perennial sports writer favorites in the Big 12, and some pother leagues don’t do, usually resulting in being overrated and an early exit at the season ending tournament.
Tobacco Row is about Basketball. And, in recognition of the huge fan interest in North Carolina, the NCAA regularly schedules one of their regional competitions there, garnering several hundred million dollars for businesses in the State.
The effect of the NCAA effectively pulling their tournament out of the state could, in conjunction with private corporations pulling out operations, or events in the state, push the damages done to the state economy by the sanctimonious NC Republican bigot brigade over $1 billion and counting…This is hurting the state, which has a thriving high tech industry based around the Universities, as well as having become a major banking and insurance company haven – and those companies ability to attract highly qualified LGBT or straight people, who don’t want to live and work in a right wing theocracy where bigotry is legalized.
Did an article earlier abut the CBC. Why exactly aren’t they proposing a bill to cut off federal funding in states which pass this type of laws?
NCAA Joins The Fight Against North Carolina’s ‘Bathroom Law’
Now, we can only hope that “lawmakers are listening.”
Citing the need to maintain a “safe, healthy” atmosphere for both the players and the public, the NCAA doubled down on its anti-discrimination stance on Wednesday, approving a new decree mandating that all sites that hope to host NCAA events “demonstrate how they will provide an environment … free of discrimination.”
“The higher education community is a diverse mix of people from different racial, ethnic, religious and sexual orientation backgrounds,” chair of the NCAA Board of Governors Kirk Schulz stated. “So it is important that we assure that community— including our student-athletes and fans — will always enjoy the experience of competing and watching at NCAA championships without concerns of discrimination.”
The decision comes in the aftermath of the highly controversial Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act (HB2), which, among other discriminatory measures, forces transgender people to use the bathroom that accords with the “biological sex” on their birth certificate, not the restroom that matches the gender with which they identify.
The law directly affects public schools, thus ensnarling the NCAA in the debate.
Home to two perennial hoops powerhouses, the state of North Carolina is a common host for the annual men’s NCAA tournament. And while Greensboro was slated to hold opening round games next year, the site will now have to indicate how exactly its arena plans to “protect[] against discrimination” and ensure that all present will be “treated with fairness and respect” before the NCAA sets up shop come March 2017.
“The NCAA has sent a very clear message that unfair and unjust discrimination against LGBT people will not be tolerated by the association, and we hope lawmakers are listening,” Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin stated Thursday in response to the association’s decision. “We commend the NCAA Board of Governors for taking this critically important stand in favor of fairness and equality.”
This latest mandate falls in line with other, similar anti-discrimination postures the NCAA has taken in the past. For example, schools cannot host championship events if their “nicknames use Native American imagery that is considered abusive and offensive,” while predetermined neutral sites cannot host championship eventsif their respective state governments “display the Confederate battle flag.”
North Carolina prides itself on its long legacy of dominance on the hardwood. Let’s hope that the Association’s stand helps the state and its elected officials realize the importance of reversing HB2.
And Obama’s Bracket Choice Sucks as Well
Besides a poor pick for the SCOTUS opening…I have problems with the Prez’s NCAA Men’s March Madness picks!
No way Kansas makes it as far as the Final Four. Maryland has the front line to stop Kansas cold, and in the unlikely event Kansas makes it past that point, Nova’s 3 point deadeyes will put them to rest! Nova for the South Final Four.
The weakest bracket is the West. Sans an upset by Texas, it should be A&M vs Oklahoma. A&M in a walk. If Oklahoma beats A&M…They are in the Final Four, as the teams in the top half of their bracket are he weakest in the tournament.
In the Midwest there are two very strong 5 & 6 teams, Purdue, and Seton Hall. If Mich State survives Seton Hall, they will face another bruiser with either Va or Purdue.
The East is the toughest – there are 4 teams with the ability to reach the Final Four. I am guessing Indiana or Xavier. Indiana can bang the boards with UNC, Xavier is just quicker in almost every position.
My “4” picks…’Nova, A&M, Purdue and Indiana.
You can beat me up next week if I am totally wrong and Kansas wins the tournament.
Upset minded teams – Iona, UNC Wilmington, Cincinnati, Pitt, Baylor, and VCU…and don’t underplay Miami.
Obama NCAA Tournament Bracket 2016: POTUS Unveils March Madness Predictions
Ahead of the 2016 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the Kansas Jayhawks earned Wednesday the endorsement of the country’s No. 1 fan. President Barack Obama picked the top-seeded squad to win March Madness in his bracket, which has become an annual tradition for the basketball-loving commander-in-chief.
Obama joined ESPN to make his picks as president for the eighth and final time. The Jayhawks might not celebrate the president’s pick, however, since Obama has chosen the correct winner just once while in office, which happened when he selected North Carolina in his first year.
Obama’s Final Four selections in 2016 were Kansas, North Carolina, Texas A&M and Michigan State. He chose Kansas over North Carolina in the final, and also had the University of Virginia, West Virginia, Duke and Villanova in his Elite Eight. This is Obama’s third time picking Kansas to win while in office, and he joked that the team’s coach Bill Self needed to pull out a victory for him ahead of the president leaving office in January 2017.
“Bill Self owes me,” Obama said jokingly while filling out his bracket with ESPN. “I’m putting Kansas in here. Coach, I’m just teasing. I’m not putting pressure on you. But I think the Jayhawks in a squeaker get past UNC.”
Race and College Sports
The last major bastion of slavery in America – college sports. College Football and College Basketball are major revenue drivers for the schools. Being part of a major conference, even for a school at the bottom of the standings still means $8-10 million revenue in TV Rights and ticket sales. The big money from football has caused major realignments of traditional leagues – resulting in major realignments of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the Big East as schools have fled to the big(ger) money conferences.
Schools winning the Championship series can garner over $50 million in revenue counting TV Rights, Ticket sales, and the ale of licensed material. This is BIG Business…
Racial prejudice is driving opposition to paying college athletes. Here’s the evidence.
With the money made from college sports increasing every year, the way colleges treat their athletes has become controversial.
That’s because college sports is a tremendously lucrative business for everyone but the athletes. The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) will receive $7.3 billion from ESPN for the right to broadcast the seven games of the College Football Playoffs (CFP) between 2014 and 2026, and $11 billionfrom CBS and Turner Sports to broadcast “March Madness” over the next 14 years.
Individual colleges also make out well: The University of Kentucky’s men’s basketball team’s trip to the Final Four this year, for example, brought more than $8 million in revenue to the universities of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Each of the “Big 5” conferences will make an estimated $50 millionfrom the college football playoffs this year.
And none of this counts the money made from concessions, merchandise and licensing fees.
Meanwhile, most college athletes are “paid” with scholarships that cover only tuition, room, board, books and fees — although in 2015, the NCAA allowed Division I universities the option of increasing this to pay the full cost of attendance. After adding up the time spent on practice, training and games, college athletes often “work” the equivalent of full-time hours for the universities they play for…
Most blacks want college athletes to be paid. Most whites don’t
There’s evidence that he’s right. In survey after survey, strong national majorities oppose paying college athletes. In March 2015, for example, anHBO Real Sports/Marist Poll found that 65 percent of Americans do not think college athletes in top men’s football and basketball programs should be paid.
But these attitudes vary significantly by race. In every survey to date, blacks are far more likely to support paying college athletes when compared to whites. For instance, in the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study(CCES), 53 percent of African Americans backed paying college athletes–more than doubling the support expressed by whites (22 percent).
Racial divisions on controversial issues, of course, are not new. Even on ostensibly race-neutral policies like welfare, health care, and law enforcement, strong differences in opinion exist between blacks and whites. Decades of research have found (here, here and here) that some of those gaps in opinion come from racial prejudice against blacks. When whites believe that a policy mainly helps blacks, their opinions on that policy are inevitably colored by their feelings towards blacks as a group.
Could some of that gap grow from racism?
Could racial prejudice also affect attitudes toward paying college athletes? There are good reasons to believe that it could.
According to NCAA data from 2014, blacks constitute the majority of players in college football and basketball, the two sports that most people think of when they think of college athletics. Given this reality, it would be strange if questions about paying college athletes did not conjure up images of young black men in the minds of survey respondents.
To find out whether racial prejudice influences white opinion on paying college athletes, we conducted a survey of opinions on “pay for play” policies using the 2014 CCES.
In a statistical analysis that controlled for a host of other influences, we found this: Negative racial views about blacks were the single most important predictor of white opposition to paying college athletes.
The more negatively a white respondent felt about blacks, the more they opposed paying college athletes.
To check our findings’ validity, we also conducted an experiment. Before we asked white respondents whether college athletes should be paid, we showed one group pictures of young black men with stereotypical African American first and last names. We showed another group no pictures at all.
As you can see in the figure below, whites who were primed by seeing pictures of young black men were significantly more likely to say they opposed paying college athletes. Support dropped most dramatically among whites who expressed the most resent towards blacks as a group.
When we talk about paying college athletes, we’re talking about race
In other words, the discussion about paying college athletes is implicitly a discussion about race. As the representative of nearly 1,200 schools, conferences and affiliate organizations, the NCAA should consider how much it wants to base its policies on public opinion that may be tainted by racial prejudice.
Kevin Wallsten is an associate professor in the department of political science at California State University atLong Beach. Tatishe M. Nteta is an associate professor in the department of political science at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Lauren A. McCarthy is an assistant professor in the political science department at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Condo Rice – You Thought Dealing With Al Qaeda was Tough?
Wait until you get between the SEC and Big 10 Fans!
This one seems to be headed into cluster-doodle world. And it’s already started…
ESPN’s David Pollack: Women don’t belong on playoff selection committee
To say this one will be challenging, is an understatement.
Condoleezza Rice, Archie Manning on playoff committee
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and football Hall of Famer Archie Manning are two of nine people expected to be part of the selection committee for the College Football Playoff that begins in 2014, a person familiar with the decision told USA TODAY Sports.
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the committee has not been announced, also confirmed the following members: Wisconsin athletics director Barry Alvarez, USC athletics director Pat Haden, Arkansas athletics director Jeff Long, West Virginia athletics director Oliver Luck and Clemson athletics director Dan Radakovich in addition to Rice, former Ole Miss and NFL quarterback Manning, former NCAA Executive Vice President Tom Jernstedt and former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese as at-large selections.
The person said there will only be one sitting athletics director from each of the five power conferences, so those places are set.
“It’s an all-star cast,” the person said.
A second person familiar with the makeup of the committee who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it has not been announced said the committee also will include Lt. Col. Michael Gould, former Superintendent of the Air Force Academy and a former player for the school.
The first person said Rice’s diverse background made her appealing.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., Rice holds degrees from the University of Denver and Notre Dame, and is a professor of political science at Stanford. She served as National Security Advisor from 2001-05 and Secretary of State from 2005-09. She also was Stanford’s Provost from 1993-99. She has been on faculty at Stanford since 1981.
The makeup of the 12- to 18-person College Football Playoff selection committee is expected to be set by the end of this season, and possibly by the next meeting of its managing directors in November in Washington, D.C. Potential committee members have been asked to keep their involvement confidential until the announcement is made, but College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock and Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said the names wouldn’t be a surprise to many.
“You’ll know almost all of them,” Hancock said recently.
Although Hancock and several commissioners have taken to referring to the selection committee as “the most prestigious committee in sports,” its business – and its members – will also be the subject of intense scrutiny.
“If they’re gonna be scrutinized the way they’re gonna be scrutinized, we’ve got to be ultimately careful and do every bit of due diligence,” Delany said recently. “You can expect that media – new media, old media – when someone says, ‘Oh, that guy voted that way for that reason,’ they’re gonna be under a fine-tooth comb. We’ve got to make sure, for everybody’s sake, that we’ve done everything we need to do to understand that.”
Still Smarting After All These Years… Michigan Fab 5 vs Duke
Duke University is one of the top Academic Schools in the country.
They also have an awesome Men’s NCAA Basketball program.
Doesn’t men I root for Duke when any of my “home” teams play them. Fat chance! Go Terrapins! Go Hoyas!
Nor can you begrudge their success …
Or can you?
Jalen Rose, formerly of Michigan apparently is still smarting from getting Whupped by Duke in ’92 (by 40 points), and then Whupped by the OTHER top tier team in the ACC – North Carolina in ’93.
I also don’t recall any Duke Players from their actions getting their school suspended, and an entire season’s victories overturned.
The Fab 5 were great players… Unfortunately they weren’t, and by Rose’s comments – great people.
Jalen Rose On Duke: “They Only Recruit Black Uncle Toms”
Michigan — In the new ESPN 30 for 30 on Michigan’s Fab 5 premiering this Sunday, former Wolverine and current ESPN analyst Jalen Rose professed his hate for Duke. Rose even took a shot at the Black players they recruited.
“For me, Duke was personal. I hated Duke. And I hated everything I felt Duke stood for. Schools like Duke didn’t recruit players like me. I felt like they only recruited black players that were Uncle Toms.”
Rose later clarified his comments, while still sticking by his stance.
NCAA Basketball Player Cut From Team For Premarital Sex…
This isn’t the NBA… It’s not even the “usual” in terms of NCAA bad behavior.
Brigham Young University has cut their starting Center, on their #3 ranked team…
For admitting to having sex with his girlfriend.
Now, I understand the Honor Code, and a desire to instill morals and fortitude in young folks but…
Wasn’t Brigham Young the guy who brought America polygamy?
NCAA Star Bounced for Having Sex
Dropping from a 1 or 2 Seed to a 7 or 8 In the Big Dance...
Provo • BYU center Brandon Davies was suspended from the Cougars’ nationally ranked team for the remainder of the season because he violated the school’s honor code provision that prohibits premarital sex, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.
Davies, a sophomore from Provo High School, acknowledged his transgression to BYU officials on Monday, according to multiple sources.
After BYU’s stunning 82-64 loss to New Mexico on Wednesday night, Cougars coach Dave Rose addressed Davies’ dismissal for the first time, saying, “I think it was a surprise to everyone.”
Asked whether he believes Davies will play basketball for BYU again, Rose said, “yeah, I do.”
On Tuesday, the school owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Davies had been dismissed from the team but was being allowed to remain in school while his situation was under review by the Honor Code Office.
BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said Davies’ suspension from the team was for the remainder of the season and that his future at the school has yet to be determined.
Two of Davies’ teammates, Jimmer Fredette and Charles Abouo, said Wednesday night after the loss that they stand behind their former teammate and have no resentment toward him, saying they consider him a brother.
“Everyone makes mistakes in their life,” Abouo said. “We are reaching out and trying to help him get through this.”
Basketball Jones… Who’s Number 1?
Was going to write this earlier today, but got tied up in something else. Kansas State beat me to my point tonight in taking Kansas to the cleaners.
Think Kansas is a good team… But not Top 10.
Why? Look at their schedule. They only play 1 Team the whole year in the Top 10.
Calling Kansas #1, or Texas for that matter which lost to both Big East Teams it played seems a bit of a travesty, when you consider many of the other teams – Duke, anyone from the Big East., take on all comers…
Kansas – The only team Kansas has played theoretically in the Top 10 is Texas. They lost.
Texas got beat by both Big East Teams they played, Pitt (5), and UConn(8).
Ohio State got beat by the only Top 10 They faced, a streaking hot Wisconsin Team now ranked at #10.
Meanwhile Pitt has faced 6 Teams ranked in the Top 10 – just as most everyone else in the Big East has…
Ergo the rankings this year suck. Good thing they base selections on RPI for the “Big Dance”.
1st Official BTx3 Ranking?
1. Pittsburgh
2. San Diego State
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgetown
6. Duke
7. Wisconsin
8. Purdue
9. BYU
10. Texas
11. UConn
12. Louisville
13. North Carolina
14. Florida
15. Kansas
16. Villanova
17. Vanderbilt
18. St. Mary’s
19. George Mason
20. West Virginia
21. Xavier
22. Colorado State
23. Temple
24. Syracuse
25. Arizona
And no, I don’t watch NBA.
Let the Madness Begin!
OK – I admit it… I’ve a “Basketball Jones” for NCAA Hoops.
You couldn’t get me to an NBA game with a free skybox and a limo – but the College kids…
My favorite Sports Extravaganza.
With that – BTx3’s predictions!
First of the #1 Seeds out?
Kansas. There are 3-4 teams in their bracket as good or better than Kansas despite their (unearned in my opinion because they didn’t play many teams in the top 10) vaulted rating. The Midwest bracket is a beast, with Ohio State, Georgetown, Tennessee, and Michigan State all being contenders for the Final 4. I like Georgetown-Michigan State as the Elite 8 matchup, the winner dependent on which Georgetown team shows up. I know a lot of folks think Michigan State is weak this year, but somehow – year after year – they find a way to get it in gear come tournament time. While Georgetown has had some ugly losses – they also beat 3 of 4 of the #1 seeds this year.
Kentucky – If West Virginia or New Mexico make it through, they(Kentucky) get their first real test in the elite 8. West Virginia has a strong inside game, and guards who can shut down Kentucky’s. I think next year Kentucky is the odds-on favorite to win it all – but inexperience could be their downfall this year.
Final 4 Picks?
Georgetown, Syracuse, West Virginia, Duke
1st Round upsets?
I think – Look for ODU to take it to Notre Dame. Washington over Marquette, St Mary’s over Richmond, Sienna over Perdue, and (gasp!) just possibly — UTEP to give Butler all they can handle, and ditto with San Diego State and the Vols.
Best outside bets in my view?
ODU, St Mary’s, San Diego State.
Now – on with the woofing!
President Obama at Georgetown/Duke Basketball Game
President Obama and VP Joe Biden attended the Georgetown-Duke basketball game today in DC (Georgetown won).The Prez makes a pretty good commentator!
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