Wednesday (The Scandals) edition: Wha’ Happened?
Posted on May 14th, 2008 – 7:53 AMBy Michael Rand
You have to hand it to Roger Goodell. Whether or not you agree with the NFL’s ethical handling of Spygate, the ultimate judge of a league and its leadership is the ability to sweep giant messes away. The outcome of yesterday’s meeting with Matt Walsh was so predictable that it might as well not have happened. But Goodell and the NFL, doggedly determined to make this thing go away (and just imagine it from their perspective if they could not), appear to have done so. It was ridiculous at times (Hey! We destroyed the tapes!) but he was protecting the league’s interests at all costs. In today’s world, that’s the hallmark of leadership. Might not be right, but it’s true. David Stern has those same qualities to an even greater extent. Two of the greatest players under his watch, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, endured 1) a “mid-career retirement” that conspiracy theorists love to link to his gambling escapades and 2) a messy rape trial. They made it back from the brink while other lesser players were made the examples. Contrast that with how baseball has handled its steroids mess, or how the NHL plunged into a crushing lockout, and draw your own conclusions about relative leadership. In pro sports, it’s not how you handle prosperity; it’s how you navigate trouble. Goodell and Stern seem to be cut from the same crafty cloth.
Fasola-link! Desperate for a link, he turns to an old standby.
16 Responses to "Wednesday (The Scandals) edition: Wha’ Happened?"
The one scandal not mentioned that I can’t wait to see somehow swept under the rug is this whole USC fiasco. We all knew that OJ Mayo probably was getting paid while still in high school and it shouldn’t really suprise anyone that Reggie Bush was getting some under the table deal. I just hope that USC now gets the hammer dropped on it.
That way there is no good football in LA. (Might the Vikes take that spot, minus the good of course?)
OFF TOPIC: Chris Paul and David West. Jeebus.
/OFF TOPIC
I’d even give West a Sweet Baby Jeebus!
Bas-ket-ball?
Also, USC won’t suffer for this Mayo thing, because ESPN will bury the story, and that’s where the NCAA gets its news.
I think the Mayo thing is going to blow up. In the not to distant future I think the NCAA will seriously consider giving athletes a stipen (sp) so that they have a little extra change in their pocket.
I wonder why none of these schools that get completely screwed by players taking money don’t try to sue the player? I think that would make it less likely that players would take money. If they knew they could lose a lot they wouldn’t jeopordize it.
David West? What did a Twins “pitcher” circa 1989 do to warrant RandBall non-Stu-Huntdown mention?
Jama - How well do you think recruiting would go for a school that has a reputation for suing former players?
Tooncy
I agree about recruiting, but I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be getting players that are taking money under the table. They might struggle to get the elite of the elite but you could probably guarantee that you aren’t going to have any more problems with complying with NCAA rules.
Toonces51 - I think jama’s just hitting on the level of disgust that should be present when student athletes are blatantly breaking NCAA rules and hurting the team/school that they’re leaving.
What hurts more? Not being able to offer scholarships to potential recruits, due to Mayo (or anyone else’s) violations? Or having recruits believe that they might face legal consequences for the injury that will come to the school for their cheating?
I think the lack of scholarships will affect recruiting more than the specter of lawsuits for those who break the rules.
Then again, I suppose scholarships only matter to the players who actually want to go to school/get a degree…
Where’s Buzz to rip the Boston Herald for its mean spirited story without any credible sources?
Roughkat, he was too busy enjoying the feeling of the paper in his hands to actually read and criticize the content.
Toonces: I’ve done some preliminary scouting on the man, as it happens. Anyone with an ERA of infinity in the World Series deserves a look.
You know it’s a boring year for the NHL Playoffs when I’m looking forward to, and planning my viewing of, NBA conference semifinal games.
Jon, I have high hopes for a Wings/Pens cup series though…
I don’t think that it’ll hurt recruiting at all if Schools start sueing their former athletes. The lawsuit really wouldn’t be much compaired to NBA/NFL salaries. Students won’t stop going to USC/Duke/UNC/Michigan/Ohio State. They all want to be the big time player at the big time school. They get the TV coverage and the NBA/NFL scouts get to see those games more often. Now if it were say schools like Gonzaga/Winthrop/Davidson/Iowa State or any other small school doing it, then I can see how it would hurt their chances of recruiting these players.
