Basketball thread

[Athos_131]

Jason Kidd reportedly a 'serious candidate' to coach Lakers, which makes zero sense

This is terrible idea.

I am all on board with Lakers doing it.

#Resist

[Athos_131]

‘Apology’ of UC-Irvine coach Russell Turner shows he really doesn’t get it

#Resist

[MissBarbara]

Stop Excusing Tom Izzo’s Assholery

#Resist

Sorry for the delayed response. And keep in mind my relative ignorance of this topic (I'd never heard of Tom Izzo, but, having two degrees from a Big 10 university, I have heard of Michigan State).

I saw a report on this incident last Friday, and my reaction was the same as this author's. I found the video of the incident to be shocking, and I found Izzo's "explanation" of the incident to be even more shocking.

I don't disagree with Izzo's basic point: It's a single-elimination tournament, and one bad mistake, or one lack of effort or attention, could send the team home early. But the  problem is not his point, it's the way he chose to make his point, and it's the way that choice has been celebrated, agreed with, and waved away that is troubling.

Izzo uses the example of someone in any business being held accountable by his superiors. Leaving aside fact that amateur athletics is not a business (well, at least not for the players), Izzo's point, "I don’t know what kind of business you’re in, but I tell ya what, if I was a head of a newspaper, and you didn’t do your job, you’d be held accountable" -- is ludicrous on its face. Yes, a newspaper editor will hold his writers and reports accountable, but he will never publicly bully and disgrace them. If he did so, he's very likely be fired.

And so should Tom Izzo.

[Athos_131]

Izzo uses the example of someone in any business being held accountable by his superiors. Leaving aside fact that amateur athletics is not a business (well, at least not for the players), Izzo's point, "I don’t know what kind of business you’re in, but I tell ya what, if I was a head of a newspaper, and you didn’t do your job, you’d be held accountable" -- is ludicrous on its face. Yes, a newspaper editor will hold his writers and reports accountable, but he will never publicly bully and disgrace them. If he did so, he's very likely be fired.

NCAA Athletes are unpaid labor.

#Resist

[Athos_131]

The NAIA is home to March’s biggest basketball frenzy

Was a part of this for quite a while.  It's intense.  The locals in Kansas City would pack a lunch and watch basketball in Municiple Auditorium from 9 am to 11pm for 3 straight days.  Every style of basketball you can imagine.  

When segregation reigned supreme, the NAIA threatened to pull the tournament if the hotels didn't desegregate.  Hotel owners relented.

#Resist

[Athos_131]

Michael Avenatti goes on Twitter offensive, claims Deandre Ayton, Nike involved in cash payments

#Resist

[MissBarbara]

Izzo uses the example of someone in any business being held accountable by his superiors. Leaving aside fact that amateur athletics is not a business (well, at least not for the players), Izzo's point, "I don’t know what kind of business you’re in, but I tell ya what, if I was a head of a newspaper, and you didn’t do your job, you’d be held accountable" -- is ludicrous on its face. Yes, a newspaper editor will hold his writers and reports accountable, but he will never publicly bully and disgrace them. If he did so, he's very likely be fired.

NCAA Athletes are unpaid labor.

#Resist

I agree, and I believe the time has come to remedy that injustice.

[watcher1]

For so many years, professional football and basketball have been using colleges as their minor leagues with very little or no cost to the owners. As in professional baseball where they have a minor league system in place, the same should hold true for football and baseball. Let the athletes who just want to play go into the minor league system and let those who want both a college education while still wanting to participate in football or basketball continue as it is set up now.

As for Jason Kidd's name being mentioned as coach of the Lakers, what will Lebron James have to say?

[Athos_131]

For so many years, professional football and basketball have been using colleges as their minor leagues with very little or no cost to the owners. As in professional baseball where they have a minor league system in place, the same should hold true for football and baseball. Let the athletes who just want to play go into the minor league system and let those who want both a college education while still wanting to participate in football or basketball continue as it is set up now.

This is not the first time you've shown you don't understand the whole picture on this issue by using this argument.

MiLB pays their players very little.  Less than minimum wage, and MLB has faught legislation for pay increases.

There are 351 Division I basketball schools.  The NBA draft is 2 rounds, for 30 teams.  If you consider 12 scholarship players plus two walk-ons that comes out 4914 players.  That comes out to 1% of eligible who might make a squad -if you don't consider international draftees as well. Furthermore, only first round picks get guaranteed contracts. I'd have to imagine the percentages are even lower in college football given roster sizes.  Your claim of professional leagues using colleges as a minor league is insignificant as opposed to more glaring issues.

This does not address the billions of dollars the NCAA and major Division I colleges bring in from these athletes.

Major college sport is a business given the amount of money involved.

Athletes are not allowed to profit off their likenesses, but the schools, shoe companies and the NCAA are.

#Resist

[watcher1]

It is about money. Those that have it want to keep or obtain more and those that don't have it want a piece of the action.

Hypocricy is also at the core when it comes to university sports programs.

The entire system has to decide whether they let college athletes receive money from jersey sales or maybe a commercial or two or even pay them a stipend during their season or continue with their time worn statements that college athletes are students first and not professionals. Hard to do when colleges are paying obscene salaries to their basketball and football coaches.

[Athos_131]

Whatever Michael Avenatti Has On Nike, No One Really Gives A Shit

#Resist

[MissBarbara]

This does not address the billions of dollars the NCAA and major Division I colleges bring in from these athletes.

Major college sport is a business given the amount of money involved.

Athletes are not allowed to profit off their likenesses, but the schools, shoe companies and the NCAA are.

#Resist

We've discussed this topic before, and now, as then, I agree with you.

It's time to stop pretending that college athletes, especially football and basketball players, are "pure amateurs," or that they are attending their colleges and universities for the sake of a quality education. That ship sailed a long time ago, and it's time for the NCAA to take its head out of the sand and develop a program where athletes can profit off their likeness used in video games, jersey sales, etc. are at least somewhat compensated.

At the same time, it's worth noting that non-athletes benefit greatly from the massive amounts of revenue athletic programs garner for their university. I certainly did. My undergrad education was heavily financed through scholarships from my university, to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars, at least part of which was financed by sports program revenues.
 

[Athos_131]

Dean Smith once said athletics are the front door of the university.

They aren't representative of what's inside, but they do give a first impression.

I believe the last time Illinois made a trip to the title game their applications at least doubled.

#Resist

[Athos_131]

Good for Matt Painter.

#Resist

[_priapism]

Texas Tech beat Michigan.  Texas beat Colorado in the NIT.

[Athos_131]

Texas Tech beat Michigan.  Texas beat Colorado in the NIT.

I'm sure those UT donors are all that money they paid Shaka Smart are thrilled he can't get into the big dance.

#Resist

[Athos_131]

Rick Barnes, What

Speaking of Texas, here's their old coach doing a hairbrained thing.

I watch some of these games and wonder what the head coach and their assistants do all day, because I know damn well we'd never pull this shit.

#Resist

[Athos_131]

Manu Ginobili’s Spurs jersey retirement ceremony was a fitting tribute to his career

GINOBILIIIIIIIIII!

#Resist

[Jed_]

My team Tennessee lost in OT, so then I briefly switched to Oregon to cheer on to take it all.  Very briefly.

Now I guess I’ll go with Kentucky.

I feel sorry for Kentucky.  While it might be self-inflicted, they got Mitch and Rand to deal with.

[Athos_131]

Giannis Antetokounmpo Made A Little Girl Cry Because He Loved Her Artwork So Much

#Resist