When you look up Adam “Pacman” Jones name on the Internet, an array of articles disclosing Jones’ latest antics can be found in between the listings of his missing statistical information for last season.
According to an article “Jones gifted on field, troubled off it” by Greg Garber, senior sports writer posted on ESPN.com on March 9, 2007, in the 23 months following his selection to play for the Tennessee Titans, Jones was charged with assault, felony vandalism and felony obstruction. This was only at the beginning of his career.
Currently, Jones is under suspension from the National Football League for his actions off the field.
I think that a player on such a huge stage, the NFL, should not be reinstated after accumulating such a huge wrap sheet. It seems as though Jones doesn’t learn from his mistakes, and he keeps adding to them.
Rick Gosselin, writer, columnist and blogger on the NFL for the Dallas Morning News said Jones was told to stay out of trouble by the commissioner.
“Goodell suspended him, and he told Jones his actions embarrassed the league,” Gosselin said in an e-mail interview. “Goodell is sending a strong message to players throughout the league. If you mess up, it's going to cost you your paycheck. In Jones' case, it's a season of paychecks.”
Being at a professional level of sports requires skill and talent for the game, however, with the popularity of professional athletes, they have also have a requirement to conduct themselves in such a way as to not damage the reputation of their team or sport. Fans across the nation and children look up to these athletes and want to play like them and have their lives.
“These players are public figures paid by the entertainment dollar of the American public,” Gosselin said. “Their off-the-field responsibility is to stay out of trouble, just like politicians and entertainers. Be law-abiding citizens off the field. It's not too much to ask.”
How athletes are off the field affects their images and reputations just as much, if not more than how they carry themselves on the field.
“Image is everything,” Gosselin said. “That's the point Goodell was making when he suspended Jones.”
Jones may be headed to Dallas to play for the Cowboys if and when Roger Goodell reinstates his active status.
In his article “Goodell: Pacman still needs to accept responsibility,” Alex Marvez, senior NFL writer for foxsports.com said if Dallas does bring Jones over to their roster, it could not only blemish the Cowboys’ image, but is may send the message that “football skills outweigh bad character.”
The piece also discloses that there may be hope for Jones who may be getting his act together after a recent interview.
Before Jones plays for the NFL (if he does), I think he has a responsibility to clean up his image and really mean it. It would be one thing to start doing good deeds, but actually accepting the importance of them is another. It would be a huge gift and privilege if Goodell allows Jones to play for the NFL again. Giving money to charitable causes is one way, but it makes me wonder if Jones’ kind actions are truly because he cleaning up his act or if he is just doing it to be able to play in the NFL again. People can change, but only if they are willing. I wonder about Jones because of his extensive rap sheet. Will he learn from his past mistakes or will he fall back into a bad cycle when all of the fame of Dallas goes to his head? I am rooting for Jones because of his incredible talent on the football field, but I also hope that he doesn’t let his fans down. Professional athletes have a unique talent that many of us wish we had. They are able to play games that become a part of history and entertain fans across the nation and even the world. We are not asking for a perfect, wholesome image, but we need troubled athletes to clean up their acts not just for us, but for them. Without their playing ability, we miss out, and so does the game.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Betting on college sports
With March Madness in college basketball in full swing, brackets have been passed around offices and between friends and families, filled out and games have been closely watched. To many, this is all a part of the fun that comes along with this time of year. Betting on sports may seem like all fun and games, but it is illegal.
In “Betting threat,” posted on Yahoo! Sports, Josh Peter discusses a study, “Gambling With Their Lives: College students and Sports Gambling,” conducted by Tim Otteman.
According to the article, the study found that student gamblers and bookmakers received inside information from student-athletes or someone who was associated with the teams involved, student betting progressed from just filling out brackets to more serious betting with bookmakers and online wagering, students conducted their gambling on campus even using equipment belonging to the school and “sports gambling is a behavior easily hidden” which part of the reason is because it is socially accepted.
Betting on college sports is a bigger problem than people would think, Otteman said in an e-mail interview.
“$2 billion is legally bet in Nevada, the only state where sports betting is legal. The National Gambling Impact Study of 1999 estimated that $80-$380 billion is illegally wagered annually in the United States,” Otteman said.
Betting on collegiate sports does have some financial benefits, according to Peter.
Peter said in an e-mail interview betting helps, in a sense, by increasing TV ratings.
“And by positive, I refer to increased revenue produced by higher television ratings,” Peter said. “It's a big positive for those who benefit from the increased revenue, and those stakeholders include coaches, administrators and, indirectly, the players. The more money made, the better resources – private travel, tutors and training tables -- available to the athletes.”
On the other hand, there are some real reasons to opt out because of the strong negatives that come with the rush, social interaction and use of sports knowledge, Otteman said.
“The downside of betting on sports is similar to other forms of gambling - financial losses, neglecting work, school, friends and family, and involvement with other illegal activity due to debt. It is important to remember that gambling is an addictive behavior,” Otteman said.
The NCAA bylaw 10.3, which can be found online and in Peter’s posting, states “staff members of the athletics department of a member institution and student-athletes shall not knowingly: a. Provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition, b. Solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team, c. Accept a bet on any team representing the institution; or d. Participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics, through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling."
Betting may seem like an easy and fun way to spend and hopefully make money, but it offers plenty of threats to those who place the bet and the athletes that may become involved. There is no real difference between betting on collegiate and professional sports.
Peter said there is not necessarily a difference in betting on them, but there is a difference if athletes were to get involved.
“But I think college athletes are more susceptible to a game-fixing scheme or providing inside information for money because their scholarships include little outside of room and board. They're more likely to be looking for spending money, whereas professional athletes would be foolish to risk their enormous incomes by getting involved in similar schemes, and I suspect that few do,” Peter said.
The pools many participate in at home and work may even be the biggest threat, Otteman said.
“It is these type of activities that could start the slippery slope toward major problems with an addictive behavior. Because these activities are socially acceptable and can be participated in without a large amount of sports knowledge, the rush or excitement of the wager and the chance to win large amounts of money with a small bet may be the "nudge" to more involved sports gambling. They are also the activities that may be "modeled" by children and young adults,” Otteman said.
Before placing a bet, people should realize what the repercussions are. Some of these consequences are easily seen while others develop over time. Save your cash by not placing a bet, and spend it on a ticket to the game.
To view NCAA bylaw 10.3 follow this link: http://www.ncaa.org/library/membership/division_i_manual/2007-08/2007-08_d1_manual.pdf.
The link to Peter’s article is: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news?slug=jo-gambling031808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns.
Otteman’s study and Web site information can also be found at this link.
In “Betting threat,” posted on Yahoo! Sports, Josh Peter discusses a study, “Gambling With Their Lives: College students and Sports Gambling,” conducted by Tim Otteman.
According to the article, the study found that student gamblers and bookmakers received inside information from student-athletes or someone who was associated with the teams involved, student betting progressed from just filling out brackets to more serious betting with bookmakers and online wagering, students conducted their gambling on campus even using equipment belonging to the school and “sports gambling is a behavior easily hidden” which part of the reason is because it is socially accepted.
Betting on college sports is a bigger problem than people would think, Otteman said in an e-mail interview.
“$2 billion is legally bet in Nevada, the only state where sports betting is legal. The National Gambling Impact Study of 1999 estimated that $80-$380 billion is illegally wagered annually in the United States,” Otteman said.
Betting on collegiate sports does have some financial benefits, according to Peter.
Peter said in an e-mail interview betting helps, in a sense, by increasing TV ratings.
“And by positive, I refer to increased revenue produced by higher television ratings,” Peter said. “It's a big positive for those who benefit from the increased revenue, and those stakeholders include coaches, administrators and, indirectly, the players. The more money made, the better resources – private travel, tutors and training tables -- available to the athletes.”
On the other hand, there are some real reasons to opt out because of the strong negatives that come with the rush, social interaction and use of sports knowledge, Otteman said.
“The downside of betting on sports is similar to other forms of gambling - financial losses, neglecting work, school, friends and family, and involvement with other illegal activity due to debt. It is important to remember that gambling is an addictive behavior,” Otteman said.
The NCAA bylaw 10.3, which can be found online and in Peter’s posting, states “staff members of the athletics department of a member institution and student-athletes shall not knowingly: a. Provide information to individuals involved in organized gambling activities concerning intercollegiate athletics competition, b. Solicit a bet on any intercollegiate team, c. Accept a bet on any team representing the institution; or d. Participate in any gambling activity that involves intercollegiate athletics or professional athletics, through a bookmaker, a parlay card or any other method employed by organized gambling."
Betting may seem like an easy and fun way to spend and hopefully make money, but it offers plenty of threats to those who place the bet and the athletes that may become involved. There is no real difference between betting on collegiate and professional sports.
Peter said there is not necessarily a difference in betting on them, but there is a difference if athletes were to get involved.
“But I think college athletes are more susceptible to a game-fixing scheme or providing inside information for money because their scholarships include little outside of room and board. They're more likely to be looking for spending money, whereas professional athletes would be foolish to risk their enormous incomes by getting involved in similar schemes, and I suspect that few do,” Peter said.
The pools many participate in at home and work may even be the biggest threat, Otteman said.
“It is these type of activities that could start the slippery slope toward major problems with an addictive behavior. Because these activities are socially acceptable and can be participated in without a large amount of sports knowledge, the rush or excitement of the wager and the chance to win large amounts of money with a small bet may be the "nudge" to more involved sports gambling. They are also the activities that may be "modeled" by children and young adults,” Otteman said.
Before placing a bet, people should realize what the repercussions are. Some of these consequences are easily seen while others develop over time. Save your cash by not placing a bet, and spend it on a ticket to the game.
To view NCAA bylaw 10.3 follow this link: http://www.ncaa.org/library/membership/division_i_manual/2007-08/2007-08_d1_manual.pdf.
The link to Peter’s article is: http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news?slug=jo-gambling031808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns.
Otteman’s study and Web site information can also be found at this link.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Sid the Kid-The face of the NHL?
There have been mixed feelings about hockey, or so it seems, because it has not completely broken through in the United States as a dominant sport like football or baseball. It is safe to say, however, that hockey is catching on. One reason for this, I believe, is Sidney Crosby.
Crosby was drafted in the first round as the first overall pick in the National Hockey League’s draft in 2005 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, which started the spark of what was to come in his early career. With 120 points, in 79 games, at the young age of 19-years-old (and eight months to be exact), Crosby was recognized as the scoring champion and awarded the Art Ross Trophy. He became the only teenager and youngest to win this award, as well as being named the youngest scoring champion in all of professional sports. This is just some of the stats in biography (penguins.nhl.com). He is young, talented beyond his years and seemingly stays out of trouble, all traits that make him appealing to fans and easily marketable by the NHL.
Mike Chen, a blogger, who writes about the NHL and contributor to foxsports.com, the New York Times online and nhl.com, said Crosby had had an impact as the most marketable player to come to the league in a long time.
“Part of that is hype and the fact that Crosby actually lived up to it. Players like Vinnie Lecavalier and Jarome Iginla may rival Crosby in terms of talent at the peak of their careers but Crosby made an immediate impact, which is pretty special,” Chen said in an e-mail interview. “He's a good-looking kid with skills and competitiveness, and both Canada and America love that.”
Another Blogger Greg Ballentine, a fan of the game who has maintained a blog since the lockout in 2005 to talk and debate about hockey, said the NHL needed something after the lockout to boost the NHL, and Crosby was waiting in the wings.
“When the NHL came out of the lockout, they desperately needed somebody to market the game around. It had taken a huge blow from a year off. Sidney Crosby was a young star in the making. He was a good polite Canadian kid,” Balletine said in an e-mail interview from Germany. “The NHL put a lot of its marketing behind him (and Alexander Ovechkin - though Ovechkin being Russian made him the number two choice). They were fortunate that he turned out to be as good as advertised. Crosby is a face to put on the game. He has brought life back to Pittsburgh games (though if he didn't Evgeni Malkin would have).”
Both Chen and Balletine said Crosby’s young age, talent and looks help the marketing process.
“He's got the looks, he's got the skills, and he's got a competitive nature that we love to see in our pro athletes. He produces a lot of highlight reel plays and he thrives when he's in the spotlight (see: Winter Classic),” Chen said.
On the other hand, some think that Crosby is just another kid to hit the hockey rink and has little impact on the game.
“I don't think Sidney Crosby has had as much of an impact as the NHL would hope,” Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times sports columnist, who has covered the NHL for more than a decade and was awarded the Elmer Ferguson Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame for honoring journalism and hockey with her work, said in an e-mail interview.
Elliott said it hard for hockey players to reach the super stardom of other young athletes in different leagues. Also, the NHL doesn’t have a good deal to be on t.v. and is not on ESPN, and the league faces other challenges like geography and culture which prevents the building of new fan bases.
Looking at his career so far, it seems Crosby has already surpassed some of hockey’s great players, or is right behind them. According to the Penguins’ Web site, Crosby stands at second place in the title of youngest to win the Hart Trophy which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, which puts him right behind Wayne Gretzky who was five months younger than Crosby when awarded for the 1979-1980 season. However, in regards to the Lester B. Pearson Award, Crosby is the youngest to have received the achievement of “most outstanding player,” topping Gretzky who was 21 when he won this award. Crosby became the first teenager since Gretzky to be the league’s leader in scoring on Dec. 13. How does Crosby really compare or is there even a comparison to the Great One?
Elliott says not yet.
“It's waaaaay too early to compare Crosby with Gretzky,” Elliott said. “Gretzky won four titles. Crosby hasn't won any. Plus, the eras are different. For most of Gretzky's career, the NHL was a high-scoring league. Coaches found ways to break down defenses and goalies got better and scoring is way down from where it used to be.”
Ballentine says Gretzky will always be the best.
“Wayne Gretzky was the best player in hockey,” Balletine said. “At this point, it looks unlikely that Crosby can match what Gretzky did in his career. In Gretzky's third NHL season, he scored a then record 212 points and won the MVP for the third year in a row. Gretzky scored 92 goals that season alone, which is likely greater than Crosby's point total in this season (his third). For full disclosure, Gretzky was about 7 months older than Crosby in his 3rd season and scoring was higher in Gretzky's time, but it doesn't close the gap.”
Balletine said Crosby will possibly be one of the best players in the league’s history, but only if he continues to grow and mature in the game; however, he doubts Crosby will be recognized like Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Gordy Howe and Mario Lemieux. Chen agreed.
“I'd say he comes close to Gretzky's passing vision, he's a better skater, and a more physical player. If we had a time machine, I'd love to stick Crosby on a line with Jari Kurri circa the mid 80's just to see what happens,” Chen said. “It's impossible to compare the two though, simply because of the eras they played in. While Crosby certainly has the tools to be a Top 5 All-Time player, he doesn't seem to quite match the ridiculous combination of talent and ingenuity that Gretzky had. I don't know if anyone ever will.
Time will tell for Crosby and his career. As an avid hockey fan, seeing young, players break through like Crosby is exciting for me. Maybe it is because I am young too, but I think it makes the game accessible and it is easy to root for someone like Crosby. He still has his whole career ahead of him, and it will be exciting to see what he does with it.
Crosby was drafted in the first round as the first overall pick in the National Hockey League’s draft in 2005 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, which started the spark of what was to come in his early career. With 120 points, in 79 games, at the young age of 19-years-old (and eight months to be exact), Crosby was recognized as the scoring champion and awarded the Art Ross Trophy. He became the only teenager and youngest to win this award, as well as being named the youngest scoring champion in all of professional sports. This is just some of the stats in biography (penguins.nhl.com). He is young, talented beyond his years and seemingly stays out of trouble, all traits that make him appealing to fans and easily marketable by the NHL.
Mike Chen, a blogger, who writes about the NHL and contributor to foxsports.com, the New York Times online and nhl.com, said Crosby had had an impact as the most marketable player to come to the league in a long time.
“Part of that is hype and the fact that Crosby actually lived up to it. Players like Vinnie Lecavalier and Jarome Iginla may rival Crosby in terms of talent at the peak of their careers but Crosby made an immediate impact, which is pretty special,” Chen said in an e-mail interview. “He's a good-looking kid with skills and competitiveness, and both Canada and America love that.”
Another Blogger Greg Ballentine, a fan of the game who has maintained a blog since the lockout in 2005 to talk and debate about hockey, said the NHL needed something after the lockout to boost the NHL, and Crosby was waiting in the wings.
“When the NHL came out of the lockout, they desperately needed somebody to market the game around. It had taken a huge blow from a year off. Sidney Crosby was a young star in the making. He was a good polite Canadian kid,” Balletine said in an e-mail interview from Germany. “The NHL put a lot of its marketing behind him (and Alexander Ovechkin - though Ovechkin being Russian made him the number two choice). They were fortunate that he turned out to be as good as advertised. Crosby is a face to put on the game. He has brought life back to Pittsburgh games (though if he didn't Evgeni Malkin would have).”
Both Chen and Balletine said Crosby’s young age, talent and looks help the marketing process.
“He's got the looks, he's got the skills, and he's got a competitive nature that we love to see in our pro athletes. He produces a lot of highlight reel plays and he thrives when he's in the spotlight (see: Winter Classic),” Chen said.
On the other hand, some think that Crosby is just another kid to hit the hockey rink and has little impact on the game.
“I don't think Sidney Crosby has had as much of an impact as the NHL would hope,” Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times sports columnist, who has covered the NHL for more than a decade and was awarded the Elmer Ferguson Award by the Hockey Hall of Fame for honoring journalism and hockey with her work, said in an e-mail interview.
Elliott said it hard for hockey players to reach the super stardom of other young athletes in different leagues. Also, the NHL doesn’t have a good deal to be on t.v. and is not on ESPN, and the league faces other challenges like geography and culture which prevents the building of new fan bases.
Looking at his career so far, it seems Crosby has already surpassed some of hockey’s great players, or is right behind them. According to the Penguins’ Web site, Crosby stands at second place in the title of youngest to win the Hart Trophy which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, which puts him right behind Wayne Gretzky who was five months younger than Crosby when awarded for the 1979-1980 season. However, in regards to the Lester B. Pearson Award, Crosby is the youngest to have received the achievement of “most outstanding player,” topping Gretzky who was 21 when he won this award. Crosby became the first teenager since Gretzky to be the league’s leader in scoring on Dec. 13. How does Crosby really compare or is there even a comparison to the Great One?
Elliott says not yet.
“It's waaaaay too early to compare Crosby with Gretzky,” Elliott said. “Gretzky won four titles. Crosby hasn't won any. Plus, the eras are different. For most of Gretzky's career, the NHL was a high-scoring league. Coaches found ways to break down defenses and goalies got better and scoring is way down from where it used to be.”
Ballentine says Gretzky will always be the best.
“Wayne Gretzky was the best player in hockey,” Balletine said. “At this point, it looks unlikely that Crosby can match what Gretzky did in his career. In Gretzky's third NHL season, he scored a then record 212 points and won the MVP for the third year in a row. Gretzky scored 92 goals that season alone, which is likely greater than Crosby's point total in this season (his third). For full disclosure, Gretzky was about 7 months older than Crosby in his 3rd season and scoring was higher in Gretzky's time, but it doesn't close the gap.”
Balletine said Crosby will possibly be one of the best players in the league’s history, but only if he continues to grow and mature in the game; however, he doubts Crosby will be recognized like Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Gordy Howe and Mario Lemieux. Chen agreed.
“I'd say he comes close to Gretzky's passing vision, he's a better skater, and a more physical player. If we had a time machine, I'd love to stick Crosby on a line with Jari Kurri circa the mid 80's just to see what happens,” Chen said. “It's impossible to compare the two though, simply because of the eras they played in. While Crosby certainly has the tools to be a Top 5 All-Time player, he doesn't seem to quite match the ridiculous combination of talent and ingenuity that Gretzky had. I don't know if anyone ever will.
Time will tell for Crosby and his career. As an avid hockey fan, seeing young, players break through like Crosby is exciting for me. Maybe it is because I am young too, but I think it makes the game accessible and it is easy to root for someone like Crosby. He still has his whole career ahead of him, and it will be exciting to see what he does with it.
Friday, March 7, 2008
What's next for Reggie Bush?
Reggie Bush is a widely recognized name around Southern California, especially at the University of Southern California, his alma mater. Bush’s talents on the football field were recognized when he was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 2005. While at USC he also led his team to a National Championship and helped keep attention on the USC football program. This successful college football career led him to his current gig with the National Football League, where he was drafted as the second pick in the first round to the New Orleans Saints.
However Bush is now facing allegations that, if true, show a far less admirable side to the college football star. In January, “Tarnished Heisman,” a book written by Don Yaeger and Jim Henry, exposes allegations that Bush promised to be a client of Lloyd Lake and Michael Michaels’ newly forming marketing agency. Additionally Bush owed New Era Sports & Entertainment around $300,000, according to “Bush hit with book,” an article written by Jason Cole and Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports in December 2007.
I conducted an e-mail interview with David Wharton, a sports writer for the Los Angeles Times, and he said Bush is currently facing civil charges of fraud that Lake has brought against him, and Lake is asking for $3.2 million.
In this case, even though his alleged actions did not directly affect the games played, but if these allegations are proven true, he has seriously breeched ethical conduct codes. The question of punishment comes to mind with this case. Should he be punished now especially since he is already in the NFL? Should the school be punished? Most importantly, what can the National Collegiate Athletic Association do?
Article 16 of the NCAA Constitution, which is available online, clearly states and defines what athletes cannot receive or do while competing in a collegiate sport.
“A student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit,” (16.01.1-Elegibility Effect of Violation).
When it comes to being awarded after winning conference and National Championships, Bylaw 16.1.4.2 says that awards may be given each year, but there is a limit of $415 for a National Championship and $325 for a conference win.
Wharton said NCAA officials are trying to prevent athletes from receiving benefits like cash and other gifts.
“The rules that Bush is alleged to have broken get right to the heart of what the NCAA sees as amateur status,” Wharton said in an e-mail interview.
“You can make the argument that, without such rules, kids would be put up to the highest bidder, college sports would be dominated by the wealthiest schools and, in the process, attract a lot of unseemly characters.”
“Some people believe that young athletes - given the millions in revenues they generate for their schools - should be allowed to cash in on their talents. Others would like to keep college sports as close to amateur as possible,” Wharton said.
It has been said that Bush could lose his Heiman, and USC could lose the National titles he contributed to, which brings up a question of fairness. Should Bush lose his Heisman, is the book true; is it tainted? Should USC face any consequences considering the argument that they didn’t know what Bush had his hand in?
“The fairness issue is a tough one. Given that the allegations against Bush also involved his parents and often took place more than 100 miles from campus, should USC be held accountable?” Wharton said. “The NCAA demands that schools exercise "institutional control" which means that, to some degree, they are responsible for watching over their athletes. But how far does that responsibility extend? There's no set answer. It's something the NCAA will have to decide as the case progresses.”
Wharton also alluded to Oklahoma who also had recognized players in their program receive gifts, in which they had to forfeit their victories of a season, but later, the NCAA gave the victories back after an appeal.
Chris Dufresne, national football columnist for the Los Angeles Times said in an e-mail interview that a provision of being in contention for the Heisman, is being an eligible athlete. If it is found that Bush was ineligible, the Downtown Athletic Club could take that award away and possibly give it to the runner up, former Texas star, Vince Young.
“It is possible the DAC could strip Bush of his Heisman, but that's not to say it will. No one really knows for sure what would happen,” Dufresne said. “You have to remember that many Heisman winners with sordid backgrounds have been able to keep their Heisman trophies, most notably USC tailback O.J. Simpson, who stood trial for murder and though he was acquitted, he was found liable for the deaths of two people in a civil judgment.”
Dufresne also alluded to Billy Cannon, the Heisman winner of 1959 from Louisiana who also spent time in jail. He said if Bush is stripped, the DAC would also have to give an explanation regarding cases like Cannon and Simpson.
In regards to the effect on the NFL and USC, Dufresne said he thinks the NFL does not have too much interest because the allegations fall under NCAA jurisdiction. As for USC, Dufresne said the school has distanced itself from Bush somewhat.
“He is certainly not as welcome on campus as he might have been had these allegations not arisen. He was even denied a sideline pass for last year's Rose Bowl game against Michigan,” Dufresne said.
I looked into this, as Dufresne suggested, and in an article by Wharton and Gary Klein, “No sideline pass upsets Bush,” posted on Jan. 1, 2007, the article confirms this as it says that Bush reportedly said himself that the school was distancing itself from him as a result of the allegations.
The Bush case has yet to play out. He has been recognized for his talents and what he has brought to college football and now the NFL as a competitive athlete. We will have to see what unfolds when he is able to share his side of the story.
However Bush is now facing allegations that, if true, show a far less admirable side to the college football star. In January, “Tarnished Heisman,” a book written by Don Yaeger and Jim Henry, exposes allegations that Bush promised to be a client of Lloyd Lake and Michael Michaels’ newly forming marketing agency. Additionally Bush owed New Era Sports & Entertainment around $300,000, according to “Bush hit with book,” an article written by Jason Cole and Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports in December 2007.
I conducted an e-mail interview with David Wharton, a sports writer for the Los Angeles Times, and he said Bush is currently facing civil charges of fraud that Lake has brought against him, and Lake is asking for $3.2 million.
In this case, even though his alleged actions did not directly affect the games played, but if these allegations are proven true, he has seriously breeched ethical conduct codes. The question of punishment comes to mind with this case. Should he be punished now especially since he is already in the NFL? Should the school be punished? Most importantly, what can the National Collegiate Athletic Association do?
Article 16 of the NCAA Constitution, which is available online, clearly states and defines what athletes cannot receive or do while competing in a collegiate sport.
“A student-athlete shall not receive any extra benefit,” (16.01.1-Elegibility Effect of Violation).
When it comes to being awarded after winning conference and National Championships, Bylaw 16.1.4.2 says that awards may be given each year, but there is a limit of $415 for a National Championship and $325 for a conference win.
Wharton said NCAA officials are trying to prevent athletes from receiving benefits like cash and other gifts.
“The rules that Bush is alleged to have broken get right to the heart of what the NCAA sees as amateur status,” Wharton said in an e-mail interview.
“You can make the argument that, without such rules, kids would be put up to the highest bidder, college sports would be dominated by the wealthiest schools and, in the process, attract a lot of unseemly characters.”
“Some people believe that young athletes - given the millions in revenues they generate for their schools - should be allowed to cash in on their talents. Others would like to keep college sports as close to amateur as possible,” Wharton said.
It has been said that Bush could lose his Heiman, and USC could lose the National titles he contributed to, which brings up a question of fairness. Should Bush lose his Heisman, is the book true; is it tainted? Should USC face any consequences considering the argument that they didn’t know what Bush had his hand in?
“The fairness issue is a tough one. Given that the allegations against Bush also involved his parents and often took place more than 100 miles from campus, should USC be held accountable?” Wharton said. “The NCAA demands that schools exercise "institutional control" which means that, to some degree, they are responsible for watching over their athletes. But how far does that responsibility extend? There's no set answer. It's something the NCAA will have to decide as the case progresses.”
Wharton also alluded to Oklahoma who also had recognized players in their program receive gifts, in which they had to forfeit their victories of a season, but later, the NCAA gave the victories back after an appeal.
Chris Dufresne, national football columnist for the Los Angeles Times said in an e-mail interview that a provision of being in contention for the Heisman, is being an eligible athlete. If it is found that Bush was ineligible, the Downtown Athletic Club could take that award away and possibly give it to the runner up, former Texas star, Vince Young.
“It is possible the DAC could strip Bush of his Heisman, but that's not to say it will. No one really knows for sure what would happen,” Dufresne said. “You have to remember that many Heisman winners with sordid backgrounds have been able to keep their Heisman trophies, most notably USC tailback O.J. Simpson, who stood trial for murder and though he was acquitted, he was found liable for the deaths of two people in a civil judgment.”
Dufresne also alluded to Billy Cannon, the Heisman winner of 1959 from Louisiana who also spent time in jail. He said if Bush is stripped, the DAC would also have to give an explanation regarding cases like Cannon and Simpson.
In regards to the effect on the NFL and USC, Dufresne said he thinks the NFL does not have too much interest because the allegations fall under NCAA jurisdiction. As for USC, Dufresne said the school has distanced itself from Bush somewhat.
“He is certainly not as welcome on campus as he might have been had these allegations not arisen. He was even denied a sideline pass for last year's Rose Bowl game against Michigan,” Dufresne said.
I looked into this, as Dufresne suggested, and in an article by Wharton and Gary Klein, “No sideline pass upsets Bush,” posted on Jan. 1, 2007, the article confirms this as it says that Bush reportedly said himself that the school was distancing itself from him as a result of the allegations.
The Bush case has yet to play out. He has been recognized for his talents and what he has brought to college football and now the NFL as a competitive athlete. We will have to see what unfolds when he is able to share his side of the story.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Fans have a true passion for the game
On Aug. 7, 2007, Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s record with 756 home runs. Many fans reserved judgment as to what they thought about the new home run king because at the same time he was going for the record, Bonds was also fighting to clear his name.
On Dec. 13, 2007, former United States Senator George Mitchell released his investigative report on performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball.
Fast forward to February 2008, when Roger Clemens faced a judge after being named in the Mitchell report after allegations that his former trainer, Brian McNamee, injected human growth hormone into him.
With the 2008 season around the corner, the question as to whether these same fans, who have dedicated themselves to the support of Major League Baseball, its teams and players, have been affected by the recent steroid scandal will be soon answered,
But what about the future of baseball?
Last season, the Bonds scandal caught fire with the homerun record by the former San Francisco Giant.
Next it was the Mitchell Report that left the public curious as to what former Senator Mitchell dug up. More recently the appearance of Clemens in court has also struck up a debate on if he did take human growth hormone or not.
“The record is not tainted,” Bonds said. “It’s not tainted at all. At all. Period. You guys (in the media) can say whatever you want.” (Quoted from the Washington Post’s article “Bonds Sets Baseball’s Home Run Record,” written by David Sheinin and posted online on Aug. 8, 2007).
With the utterance of Bonds’ name, the topic of steroids always comes up. However, there was a lot of hype with this record chase. I will admit that when Bonds and the Giants rolled through Los Angeles, I made it to at least one of the Dodger/Giants games hoping to see history made, which makes me believe that even though fans may not have liked the idea of someone accused of using performance enhancing drugs, every seat was filled and they will be in the upcoming season.
“His record is regarded skeptically, if not with outright scorn, by fans. Helene Elliott, a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times said in an email interview this week. “I think there are many fans who hate the cheaters. But I also think many fans are growing tired of stories about human growth hormone and Congressional investigations and simply want to go back to reading about baseball.”
Former Senator Mitchell released his 409-page “Independent Investigation.” In his report, Mitchell said he requested, received and reviewed more than 20,000 electronic documents from the computer systems of the Commissioner’s Office and various MLB clubs, as well as more than 115, 000 documents from the Commissioner’s Office and teams. He went on to say that 700 witnesses from the United States, Dominican Republic and Canada were interviewed, of these, more than 550 are currently affiliated with the MLB, and 16 people from the Commissioner’s Office were interviewed. This report releases names, recollects events of the use of performance enhancing drugs and also provides copies of payments and package labels.
“The Mitchell Report accomplished very little good,” said Ken Rosenthal, senior baseball writer for FOXsports.com.
Rosenthal said that there could potentially be some positive outcome from the report, if the suggestions in the report are implemented.
It seems as though the Mitchell Report seemed to only stir up the offices of the Commissioner and the front offices of Major League teams. I feel that former Senator Mitchell just told us what we already were thinking.
And what about good old Roger Clemens? My colleague Galo Pesantes believes that Clemens is completely guilty and is a liar. It also seems like everyone else is ratting him out, and he just won’t ‘fess up to it. But what will be the effects on fans and the upcoming season as a result of Clemens, Bonds and Pettitte in court and being splashed across newspapers and news broadcasts as liars and drug users? I honestly think that it affects them more than it affects the fans. They are the ones having their names in the mud, and they are the ones who are losing their shot at baseball glory. The game will go on without them.
“I do not have concrete evidence, but I suspect that Roger Clemens is lying when he says he did not use performance-enhancing drugs. I suspect he will try to say what Marion Jones did: she said she thought she was getting injections of vitamin B-12,” Elliott said.
As for the fans perspective, Elliott said that Clemens will lose his reputation.
“There will be a backlash against him and scorn for him. His past achievements will be viewed suspiciously,” Elliott said.
As for the business baseball, Rosenthal said that baseball is doing well.
In “MLB’s Advanced Media Arm Pulls in Profits,” written by Jorge L. Ortiz for USA Today online, Major League Baseball brought in $6 million in annual revenues including $380 million in online revenues.
Rosenthal said baseball will move to a better place, but as for completely cleaning the game up; it may not happen, and if it does, it will come after a long period of time.
“I don’t think its ever going to happen. Cheaters will always be ahead of the drug testers,” Rosenthal said.
As for fan attendance, the experts I talked to agreed that the game and the passion that fans have for is strong enough to look past the scandal, but when it comes to players, opinions will be questionable. On the other hand, Elliott also said the scandal will probably not affect attendance in the upcoming season because of the uniqueness of the sport, affordability and the sentimental value it has on families.
“I think fans will be more skeptical than ever when they see a player have an especially good season or see an athlete break a record of some sort. I've covered a lot of track and field, and whenever an athlete reaches a personal best, the normal reaction now is to wonder whether he or she is clean. It's sad to think that way, but that's reality,” Elliott said.
“I don’t think fans are bothered enough to stay away from the ballparks,” Rosenthal said.
As an avid fan of baseball, I know that even though all of these events have potentially put the MLB in a negative light with some, I will continue to go to games this season. In fact, I cannot wait to go to my first game. However, I would be lying if I said that the Mitchell Report and seeing these Major Leaguers in court has not affected me. It made me think that a game that was, in a sense, pure, and full of rich history could not be tainted. I never thought a game that is so simple in the joy it brings to people could be so complicated. Along those lines, it made me think of all of my peers who have looked up to these players as role models in the game of baseball and aspired to play like them. Most of the players named in the Mitchell Report are these role models of my generation. With that said, though, I think that fans will also continue to support their teams and the game of baseball because what it comes down to is a true love of the game.
On Dec. 13, 2007, former United States Senator George Mitchell released his investigative report on performance enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball.
Fast forward to February 2008, when Roger Clemens faced a judge after being named in the Mitchell report after allegations that his former trainer, Brian McNamee, injected human growth hormone into him.
With the 2008 season around the corner, the question as to whether these same fans, who have dedicated themselves to the support of Major League Baseball, its teams and players, have been affected by the recent steroid scandal will be soon answered,
But what about the future of baseball?
Last season, the Bonds scandal caught fire with the homerun record by the former San Francisco Giant.
Next it was the Mitchell Report that left the public curious as to what former Senator Mitchell dug up. More recently the appearance of Clemens in court has also struck up a debate on if he did take human growth hormone or not.
“The record is not tainted,” Bonds said. “It’s not tainted at all. At all. Period. You guys (in the media) can say whatever you want.” (Quoted from the Washington Post’s article “Bonds Sets Baseball’s Home Run Record,” written by David Sheinin and posted online on Aug. 8, 2007).
With the utterance of Bonds’ name, the topic of steroids always comes up. However, there was a lot of hype with this record chase. I will admit that when Bonds and the Giants rolled through Los Angeles, I made it to at least one of the Dodger/Giants games hoping to see history made, which makes me believe that even though fans may not have liked the idea of someone accused of using performance enhancing drugs, every seat was filled and they will be in the upcoming season.
“His record is regarded skeptically, if not with outright scorn, by fans. Helene Elliott, a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times said in an email interview this week. “I think there are many fans who hate the cheaters. But I also think many fans are growing tired of stories about human growth hormone and Congressional investigations and simply want to go back to reading about baseball.”
Former Senator Mitchell released his 409-page “Independent Investigation.” In his report, Mitchell said he requested, received and reviewed more than 20,000 electronic documents from the computer systems of the Commissioner’s Office and various MLB clubs, as well as more than 115, 000 documents from the Commissioner’s Office and teams. He went on to say that 700 witnesses from the United States, Dominican Republic and Canada were interviewed, of these, more than 550 are currently affiliated with the MLB, and 16 people from the Commissioner’s Office were interviewed. This report releases names, recollects events of the use of performance enhancing drugs and also provides copies of payments and package labels.
“The Mitchell Report accomplished very little good,” said Ken Rosenthal, senior baseball writer for FOXsports.com.
Rosenthal said that there could potentially be some positive outcome from the report, if the suggestions in the report are implemented.
It seems as though the Mitchell Report seemed to only stir up the offices of the Commissioner and the front offices of Major League teams. I feel that former Senator Mitchell just told us what we already were thinking.
And what about good old Roger Clemens? My colleague Galo Pesantes believes that Clemens is completely guilty and is a liar. It also seems like everyone else is ratting him out, and he just won’t ‘fess up to it. But what will be the effects on fans and the upcoming season as a result of Clemens, Bonds and Pettitte in court and being splashed across newspapers and news broadcasts as liars and drug users? I honestly think that it affects them more than it affects the fans. They are the ones having their names in the mud, and they are the ones who are losing their shot at baseball glory. The game will go on without them.
“I do not have concrete evidence, but I suspect that Roger Clemens is lying when he says he did not use performance-enhancing drugs. I suspect he will try to say what Marion Jones did: she said she thought she was getting injections of vitamin B-12,” Elliott said.
As for the fans perspective, Elliott said that Clemens will lose his reputation.
“There will be a backlash against him and scorn for him. His past achievements will be viewed suspiciously,” Elliott said.
As for the business baseball, Rosenthal said that baseball is doing well.
In “MLB’s Advanced Media Arm Pulls in Profits,” written by Jorge L. Ortiz for USA Today online, Major League Baseball brought in $6 million in annual revenues including $380 million in online revenues.
Rosenthal said baseball will move to a better place, but as for completely cleaning the game up; it may not happen, and if it does, it will come after a long period of time.
“I don’t think its ever going to happen. Cheaters will always be ahead of the drug testers,” Rosenthal said.
As for fan attendance, the experts I talked to agreed that the game and the passion that fans have for is strong enough to look past the scandal, but when it comes to players, opinions will be questionable. On the other hand, Elliott also said the scandal will probably not affect attendance in the upcoming season because of the uniqueness of the sport, affordability and the sentimental value it has on families.
“I think fans will be more skeptical than ever when they see a player have an especially good season or see an athlete break a record of some sort. I've covered a lot of track and field, and whenever an athlete reaches a personal best, the normal reaction now is to wonder whether he or she is clean. It's sad to think that way, but that's reality,” Elliott said.
“I don’t think fans are bothered enough to stay away from the ballparks,” Rosenthal said.
As an avid fan of baseball, I know that even though all of these events have potentially put the MLB in a negative light with some, I will continue to go to games this season. In fact, I cannot wait to go to my first game. However, I would be lying if I said that the Mitchell Report and seeing these Major Leaguers in court has not affected me. It made me think that a game that was, in a sense, pure, and full of rich history could not be tainted. I never thought a game that is so simple in the joy it brings to people could be so complicated. Along those lines, it made me think of all of my peers who have looked up to these players as role models in the game of baseball and aspired to play like them. Most of the players named in the Mitchell Report are these role models of my generation. With that said, though, I think that fans will also continue to support their teams and the game of baseball because what it comes down to is a true love of the game.
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