1. OJ Mayo - The story was broke by ESPN this past Sunday, and you can get a good recap of it here. A main topic on most talk shows this week, about half the people think OJ is at fault, while a surprisingly large % actually see him as a "victim" of the NCAA system that does not pay players, yet profits on them.
This story has sparked discussion about many topics, ranging from the NCAA / professional eligibility rules like the 1 year in college NBA rule, all the way to whether the NCAA should pay players. Since there are so many topics being discussed, here are my main points, packaged and easy to digest:
- OJ Mayo likely broke NCAA rules by accepting cash and gifts from an agent while in high school and college. He might not have known the rules perfectly, but ignorance is not an excuse. Nor is his age, income level, single parent upbringing, or likely "one and done" career. He must be the first person at fault for breaking rules. If we cannot agree that OJ has a large responsibility to follow basic rules of his school/employer/family/his country of residence/whatever, then stop reading and leave my blog now.
- Colleges do pay players - they get a $150,000 or more education for free. On top of just the education, many players get $100s of thousands of $$ spent on their teams travel, facilities, meals, etc. Players get unprecedented exposure while they are improving their game for the pros. Colleges offer these players a scholarship in return for their participation, and these players accept, signing a contract, or "letter of intent". The good players could go to Europe and play for a year before going to the NBA if they really wanted $$ and think the one year college rule is so unfair.
- College sports makes tons and tons of money - This is the biggest mirage in all of sports. A great article here in the Wall Street Journal discusses college sports budgets. (Interesting note from that article - only 19, yes 19, schools had athletic departments that made money in 2006). Football at major schools, as well as basketball, make plenty of money. Big money. The problem is that most schools have 20 or so other sports programs that lose money. Football and Basketball revenues fund the athletic department, which at most schools lose money. When people say that players should be paid because schools are using them to make $$, thats not a full picture of reality. The money made is for a not for profit organization that is trying to fund its athletic department. Its not going to a few wealthy individuals like business profits might.
- High school players turning Pro right out of high school is a tough call. As a fan, I want them to stay in or go to college. It helps both the NBA improve quality (no 18 year olds using gametime as development time), and the NCAA improve its star power. The NCAA tournament and the Final Four TV ratings were all better because players like Greg Oden, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, and others played for one year in college. But if I were a high school star, ready for the NBA paycheck, I can understand their dislike of the rule. Especially with Tennis, Golf, and Baseball stars all getting paid major $$ well before they are out of high school sometimes. This issue is a tough one by itself, but should not be used as an excuse as to why OJ Mayo took money early from agents.
None of these points above are excuses for OJ Mayo. He broke the rules. Arguing whether the rules are fair or not is another discussion. When will people let persons - not "the system" - take the blame for their own actions?
2. Arlen Spector - Just when it looks like the New England Patriot's "Spygate" scandal is all but finished, Arlen Spector decides to keep running his mouth. I have one question for the Senator from the Keystone state: "WHO CARES!!????" My second question would be "Why does the government need to delve into how the NFL runs things?". What's next, the government trying to regulate my fantasy football league? STAY AWAY.
Video taping other team's signs is wrong. 
The Patriots did it, were caught and punished, quite heavily I might add. But can this advantage be so great as to warrant all this time we spend talking about it? Would the Patriots have been an average team without these tapes? No way. Its as overrated as stealing signs in my 5th Graders Baseball games - you know whats coming, but still can't stop it. Arlen Spector looks like an older, not as cool version of James Caan. Go away please.
3. Lebron James's Mother - Are you kidding me?
I think I may have seen this once when I was 11, playing in some random game at Willow Road Community Center, likely involving a parent from the BBC (Bartlett-Bolton-Cordova, a triangle of prestige and strip malls). What Gloria James did was ridiculous, but not as funny as this dad:
il papa out
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