Money has always been the raison d'etre of the NCAA. Do you disagree? But, since, the NCAA is supposedly run by colleges could one not argue that money is the raison d'etre of many American colleges? By money I mean the salaries the 'leaders' of these organizations take home. A few years ago Suffolk University was in the news when it was revealed that its president was being paid almost $3,000,000 a year. Have you heard of Suffolk? Somehow the president of this little-known university made more than the president of any of the Ivy schools.
But, let's stick with the sports aspect for awhile. Basketball is really big in my new home state of Connecticut. Both the men's and women's teams of UConn have done very well over the past few years. But should this mean that the men's basketball coach is the highest paid state employee; his salary of $2,300,000 is many times that of the governor.
However, not only does the coach do well financially, he gets to elect when to serve whatever punishments the NCAA may give him for violating NCAA rules re recruiting players. Recently the NCAA ruled that he was suspended for three games. Well, the team was involved in March Madness so the coach will serve his suspension next season.
Contrast this with the suspension of a player, Perry Jones of Baylor. He had to serve his suspension immediately. And what was he guilty of? His mother borrowed rent money from Jones' AAU coach. She paid it back quickly. Yet obtaining the rent money violated the rules. Jones had to be punished.
But the NCAA rules don't seem very firm. The Auburn quarterback was not suspended although his father tried to auction him off to the highest bidder.
Strange.
But, let's stick with the sports aspect for awhile. Basketball is really big in my new home state of Connecticut. Both the men's and women's teams of UConn have done very well over the past few years. But should this mean that the men's basketball coach is the highest paid state employee; his salary of $2,300,000 is many times that of the governor.
However, not only does the coach do well financially, he gets to elect when to serve whatever punishments the NCAA may give him for violating NCAA rules re recruiting players. Recently the NCAA ruled that he was suspended for three games. Well, the team was involved in March Madness so the coach will serve his suspension next season.
Contrast this with the suspension of a player, Perry Jones of Baylor. He had to serve his suspension immediately. And what was he guilty of? His mother borrowed rent money from Jones' AAU coach. She paid it back quickly. Yet obtaining the rent money violated the rules. Jones had to be punished.
But the NCAA rules don't seem very firm. The Auburn quarterback was not suspended although his father tried to auction him off to the highest bidder.
Strange.
1 comment:
I know very little about basketball (where I come from its called 'netball' and is only played by girls), but this seems to be more about money and influence, than sport. Where does a college get $2,300,000 to pay a sports coach? Does it come out of the exorbitant fees parents pay for their kids to attend these establishments? I fear, if I live to be ninety, I'll never understand the American way of things.
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