Thursday, August 18, 2011

Boosters Pansies

That is what I think about all them folks who cover college sports. Whenever there is a scandal involving illegal payments between athletes, coaches or administrators by boosters, the media always blames the players, coaches, or administrators. Never the boosters even if he is a convicted felon. Why? Because they pay the bills to ESPN guys like Mark May even if he doesn't want to admit or Mike Golic. I'm so tired them talking about morality about student-athlete conduct and death penalty on the program. But no death penalty on the boosters. Man, oh, man.

What is about these boosters that they get a free pass? I heard the same thing on the show First Take by Jemele Hill and Michael Smith. Some may side with the athletes or coaches but they all agree on the boosters. Sam Gilbert. The man was involved with drugs before his death and yet, he was more powerful than John Wooden. I hope we hear more about Mr. Gilbert now that the Wizard of Westwood has passed on. UCLA players, Larry Farmer, "I have seen him move mountains" and Lucious Allen said "Coach Wooden as long as we were between the lines. Outside the court — Sam Gilbert" (LA Times, Jun. 8, 2010 by Chris Dufresne).


These dudes strong and tough as they are nothing but jock pansies to boosters whether they are for them or against them. For instance, Wooden by all accounts knew about Mr. Gilbert but was intimidated by his presence and business. He looked the other way concerning cash, cars, women, clothing, and housing. Likewise, Sam negotiated contracts for top UCLA players when they got to the pros for only a dollar. He was involved as a contractor who did things on the "side." Kentucky basketball did the same thing. Players, coaches, and administrators got punished but never the boosters. Now for football, Notre Dame. No good unless they cheat.  This is where former ND alum, Mike Golic, annoys the crap out of me.
 
Dude, okay, you didn't cheat and athletes shouldn't cheat. You paid the price and you did it fair and square.  Athletes don't deserve to be paid because they are students. But why do you look away when boosters give money? How come they don't get to be punished? Why do you hold them to a higher standard then a priest? Likewise, you always talk like a hidden, but bitter sexual abuse victim when you put down these athletes who take the money. "Well, circumstances have happened to me (what?) where I could have given up but I still played clean and you should too because you didn't go through what I went through. So, I'm more holier than you" attitude. Fine, but be honest about. Mark May, you played for Jackie Sherrill, enough said.
 
My biggest wrath is definitely the writers concerning boosters. This goes back to the 30's. Many of the writers are and were friends of these boosters some of them with shady connections with the Mafia, Ku Klux Klan and other "devil's advocate" groups.  Yet, they go on blaming the shiftless athletes who don't know nothing. Maybe, you got a concerned reporter who will blame the university or the coaches, get his Pulitzer's, and his payday. But the news dies down but the scandal continues because they always "thanks" the boosters of getting them there.
 
In short, college sports hypocrisy at its finest with these media folks.