The news reports tonight have said that IU has bought out the contract of Kelvin Sampson for $750,000.00 so they can get rid of him for cheating. Sampson had the same exact problem at Oklahoma and that school got in trouble. IU, one of college basketball legendary programs, was a magnificent second chance for Sampson. Who blew it.
Rick Patino, of U of L, was asked recently if it was difficult to understand and obey the college basketball rules for recruiting. Patino sort of laughed and said, "Well, to be honest, no." I almost fell of my chair when he said that. A direct and honest answer!
The Patriots are still in hot water over "Spygate," and allegations going back for years. Their 19-0 run would have always been tainted by this----but that 19-0 dream vanished on the field of play; where things ought to be determined.
What I found most disturbing about the situation with Sampson is that several of the players are threatening to boycott. They are angry that Sampson is gone and they want to be able to choose who they want to play for. These are players who are on full scholarships to attend IU to play basketball. IU is giving them a great deal and they are threatening to boycott? My first thought, probably impossible, but nice, is that they invite these young men in around a table, and have the parents present, and bill the young men tuition, room, and board for their time at IU.
What saddens me is that these young guys need to learn that cheating has consequences. This is a marvelous opportunity for them to learn a lesson not about basketball, but about life. People of integrity win or lose on their own merits, but cheaters, when they win, have tainted victories.
As for Kelvin Sampson, he's probably wishing that the Patriots were a basketball team so that he could find a job...
1 comment:
I agree, John, but how does IU teach the players anything when it took so long to deal with Knight, then bought out Samson's contract? Given his history, they should have suspended him without pay until the investigation was complete.
Any athlete that refused to play should have been suspended from the team as well. I like your idea of contacting the parents, bring them to a meeting and charging them tuition, but I would pro-rate it. Then after 3 days and a warning of what was to come, revoked his scholarship. Every benefit comes with responsibilities, and every behavior should have consequences.
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