Surprise, surprise. Unchecked Capitalism has always led to corruption; after all, the bottom line always justifies the means, when, in fact, there is very little serious risk when it comes to cheating. Too many people have wasted their time getting an MBA to learn the simple lesson of Capitalism: Profit Good; Loss Bad! The NCAA, itself, has already sold it's values and soul to the profit consumed television networks and cable companies, so why not the players and coaches too? When all is said and done here, only a few scapegoats are bound to be rounded up and forced to wear the projected sins of all the others in the hope that the general public will once again put their heads into the collective sands, tap their red shoes (Nike and Adidas made, mind you) three times, and imagine themselves back at home in Kansas with James Naismith and his peach baskets. Yes, Dorothy, all is well, and, no, Mr. Naismith would have never thought about taking kickbacks for providing peach baskets, my dear.
Sounds like Condoleeza Rice was the wrong choice. Should have been Bernie eh? Oh my, I think you may have indicted every facet of present day basketball. What would your plan be to clear away all this rampant Capitalism . I would like to see this stuff cleaned up but I am not sure who should be in charge and what the end result looks like. Morality and ethics were a hallmark of Naismith as it was many of the early mentors of the game. Conversely, if you think Wooden, Allen and Rupp were clean I have some bridges for sale.
I don't necessarily have a problem with rampant Capitalism, my friend. It is what it is. According to Karl Marx, and regardless of your political perspective, it is going to all end up crumbling anyway. After all, people will eventually grow tired of seeing the same programs playing for the National Championship year and year out. Snore. If I have a problem with anything it is those who continue to be shocked by the continued level of cheating and corruption at the collegiate level. It should not come as a surprise that the likes of Wooden, Allen, and Rupp were cheating nor that current Power 5 teams and coaches are doing the same. If certain people with resources are paying big sums to just get their kids admitted into school, imagine what is being payed under the table for some big name athletes to be retained at certain programs? It is not hard to see the priority that certain programs put on Athletics. Just check out their facilities. Point in fact, the stadium in Happy Valley is much bigger than Peden Stadium. Someone is paying for all of that, so why shouldn't certain athletes get a cut of the pie as well? After all, it is kind of like putting money in a secretive off-shore company for later use. If the wealthy and affluent in America can do that, why not the student athlete too?
The idea that there are coaches out there that are that much more talented than the rest of the equally capable and competitive field is ridiculous. If someone is getting high dollar to coach, I would suspect that his players and staff are cashing in as well somewhere along the line. After all, it doesn't make sense that a bunch of kids, some of whom have become streetwise professors by the time they have reached college, would tolerate anything else.
Sports -- like Hard-boiled Crime Fiction -- has always reflected the truth of our particular society, while challenging us fans to seriously evaluate what we are willing to tolerate or not tolerate. In truth, I usually begin to lose interest in the NCAA tournament once the Cinderella teams begin to drop out around the Sweet Sixteen, but that is my own personal taste.
Personally, I would rather have far more teams in the tournament like I would rather have far more players in various areas of business. I think that such a thing, more than anything, allows for a more competitive balance regardless of who is cheating or not cheating at the end of the day.