The Buck"I"s

Issue: What do I make of the whole Ohio State football debacle?

Short Answer: It is quite sad, actually.

Reasoning: First, let me tell you why the players are at fault.  This is single-handedly one of the most selfish acts I have ever seen (hence, the title of this post).  Terrelle Pryor, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Mike Adams, and Solomon Thomas have spat in the face of the Ohio State tradition.  They have taken awards, jerseys, championship rings, and gold pants (awarded for a victory over the University of Michigan), and sold them for money and tattoos.  These things were given to them by the football team and they sold them for the betterment of themselves (if, you know, tattoos make you "better").  In the HBO documentary film Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry, Ohio State players talk about their gold pants as if they are their most prized possession.  Players from the 1930's can't help but smile when they hold up their gold pants for the camera.  Current Buckeye players sold theirs so they could get more tattoos.  Sad.

Another reason the players are at fault is because they knew the rules.  Let me explain why this rule exists.  Let's look at a college baseball player (something I believe I am qualified to speak on) and imagine what the University gives him.  A new glove every year (value $200), a new bat every year (value $300+), a pair of cleats (value $100), a pair of turf shoes (value $75), a pair of Oakley sunglasses (if you are at a school sponsored by them, value $150), a ring (if you win something, value $1000) and sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, t-shirts, sliding shorts, a protective cup (a must), and batting gloves (value $300).  Now, say that kid decides to go sell some of it, or take it back to the store, or trade it for something.  Is this fair?  No, it's not.  These things are given to the kids to use, not to make a profit.  The rule exists for a reason, and the Buckeye players knew it.  I'm sure they just thought they wouldn't get caught.  Life lesson: if you are going to do something illegal, make sure you don't do it with someone who is also doing something ELSE illegal (the tattoo parlor was under investigation by the IRS).  Sad.

Finally, the reason the kids aren't at fault: The NCAA is the most hypocritical governing body on the face of the earth.  The NCAA makes millions, if not billions of dollars off of these kids.  Yes, they get a free education for it, but you can't tell me they don't deserve something more.  Take it from a former college athlete, who wasn't allowed to work in college (not that I would have anyway) - the extra money would help.  Beyond that, the NCAA spat in the face (there seems to be a lot of that happening in this post) of our entire sports-watching-society when they suspended the players for the first five games of next year, but NOT the Sugar Bowl (with a little helping hand from the Sugar Bowl CEO).  The NCAA knows how much money the Sugar Bowl will make with Terrelle Pryor and Dan Herron and DeVier Posey playing, and the NCAA knows how much the Sugar Bowl will make without Terrelle Pryor and Dan Herron and DeVier Posey playing.  It's safe to assume (yes, I know) the figures are not close.  So, the NCAA decides it is going to teach a lesson to these 18-22 year old kids by suspending their suspensions for 8 months.  What kind of message does this, and the Cam Newton situation (using the "I didn't know about it" defense) send to kids that play at smaller schools?  Would they get the same treatment?  The answer is a resounding NO.  The NCAA does what it wants, when it wants, because they have no one governing them.  So, so, sad.

And when these Buckeye players declare for the NFL draft next year, instead of sticking around for their suspensions and a half of a season, it is going to hurt the kids, the University, and college football.  Sad indeed.