On my morning news sweep I read not one but two stories on espn.com which to me epitomize the hypocrisy of American football. Maybe commercialism would be a better word. In either case, it reeks.
The first is the NCAA denying favoritism to Auburn or Ohio State in recent rulings. Here is the backdrop. In Auburn's case, there have been widespread allegations that star quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and/or his family asked for $180,000 when he was transferring schools. That was Mississippi State, not Auburn, but a cloud hangs over the entire situation. Anyone with the brains God gave a bullfrog has to strongly suspect he didn't come to Auburn for nothing after turning down 180K elsewhere. Auburn will be playing for the national championship and the NCAA has been doing its best to sweep the whole thing under the carpet at least until after the game, ratings, and money. We want to let the process play out, innocent until proven guilty, yada yada yada. On to Ohio State. Five players, including
their star QB, Terrelle Pryor, were caught selling memorabilia in direct violation of NCAA rules. The penalty is they have all been suspended for five games -- at the start of next season. Which is when Ohio State will be slaughtering the usual early season doormats and well after the big money Sugar Bowl next week.
So here is the current story --
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5966515My favorite quote from the article:
Before the NCAA handed down its penalties, Ohio State officials informed Sugar Bowl organizers that the school was lobbying for the players to be eligible for the Jan. 4 game.
Sugar Bowl executive director Paul Hoolahan told The Columbus Dispatch that he encouraged Ohio State officials to push for the players to be allowed to play against Arkansas.
"I made the point that anything that could be done to preserve the integrity of this year's game, we would greatly appreciate it," Hoolahan was quoted was saying in Wednesday's editions of the newspaper. "That appeal did not fall on deaf ears, and I'm extremely excited about it, that the Buckeyes are coming in at full strength and with no dilution."Integrity of the game? Did he really say that?
Story #2 is about an old favorite of mine, Brett Favre. (Not being sarcastic -- he has been my favorite football player for a long time). If you were napping, he was accused of inappropriate sexual advances to at least one female New York Jets employee during his season with the Jets two years ago. I predicted here several weeks ago that the NFL would punt a ruling until after the season. They averted that by a matter of days, although not really. The Vikings, his current team, are out of contention and Favre will not play in the finale this weekend due to his most recent concussion. Despite his history of retiring and unretiring, this is widely believed to finally be it. So his career and the Vikings' dismal season are in the books. The story --
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5965863$50K? To you or me $50K would be a huge hit. To Brett Favre it's like tossing a few coins into a fountain. It's a slap on the wrist. Not even that. They may as well have sent Rex Ryan by to give him a foot massage.
The truly hypocritical part is the fine is for not cooperating with the investigation. No finding of guilt. He just wouldn't help us. Next!
Is there any possible reason for future players caught in similar shenanigans to do anything but stonewall? Lawyer up, deny everything, possibly intimidate or pay off witnesses. (Did you catch this part? -- "The league said its investigation dragged out because of difficulties in setting up interviews with 'certain key individuals'.") Stonewalling pays, at least when dealing with the NFL or the NCAA when money is on the table. Don't get in the way of that money train or you might get thirded. Truth and justice are for wimps.
