Abuses in Intercollegiate Sports

During class on October 2, 2018, we discussed intercollegiate sports and the abuses within them. Colleges/Universities all over the United States abuse the NCAA rules. Whether it be illegal recruiting, students taking easy majors, altering their grades, or exploiting them. With scandals like the Sandusky scandal, North Carolina paper class scandal, and the Larry Nassar scandal at Michigan State, it seems as if the abuses at the intercollegiate level are neverending.

Included in the neverending cycle of college abuses are the illegal recruiting tactics, that we discussed in class, in order to get high profile athletes to attend their program.

Brian Bowen II is a former 5-star recruit who committed to play men's baskeball for the University of Louisville. When he signed with the university, it seemed lucky to then-coach Rick Pitino, to get a talent such as Bowen to play for one of the most prestigious basketball programs in recent history.

Then the FBI investigation took place, and players like Brian were forced out of the NCAA.

During the recruiting process, the family of Brian Bowen illegally received up to $100k from an Adidas connection for him to play for Louisville. During the trial, when one of the Adidas executives was asked what the money was for, his reply was to simply "level the playing field." Brian's father, Brian Bowen Sr, also listed the numerous other universities who offered money to his son. Schools including:

• Arizona- $50,000
• Oklahoma State- $150,000 cash, $8,000 for a car, and additional money to buy a house
• "Help with housing" from the University of Texas
• Creighton- $100,000 and a "good job"

The young basketball player was also receiving money to play at the high school level. Listed below are the number of schools who were giving money to Brian Bowen II.

• $2,000/month to attend La Lumiere
• $25,000 to play for the Michigan Mustangs (grassroot program on the Adidas circuit)
• $5,000-$8,000 to play for the Nike Meanstreets
• $18,000 offer from Spiece (Nike grassroot program)- this offer was rejected
• $6,000 for consulting fees from Adidas for work Brian's father said he did not do

Unfortunately for Brian Bowen II, he is one of few athletes who actually gets caught in these kinds of scandals and now has to face the consequences. Having said that, Bowen's NCAA eligibility has disintegrated nonetheless and has since signed with the Sydney Kings.

Source: https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2018/10/5/17941060/brian-bowen-fbi-scandal-offers-creighton-texas-arizona-louisville-nike-adidas

Athletes As Role Models

In class on September 18, 2018, we discussed the topic of athletes being role models. In that discussion, we covered some of the qualities that a role model should possess. Those qualities include:

1. being a leader
2. caring about their community
3. being a hard worker
4. having a good work ethic
5. being genuine

We also discussed a checklist in which what role models should have. Examples include:

1. being honest
2. being committed
3. having good sportsmanship
4. having a good sense of humor
5. being fair
6. having determination
7. possessing a good self-image
8. having high moral values

Unfortunately, not all athletes possess these qualities nor do they check any of the listed characteristics above.

The player above is Mychal Kendricks, a current football player for the Seattle Seahawks. Mychal has also played with the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as the Cleveland Browns. While a member of the Cleveland Browns, news broke that the linebacker had been indicted with offenses in inside trading. Kendricks and friend, Damilare Sonoiki committed these severe crimes back in the years of 2014 and 2015, while he was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

In more detail, the linebacker did claim that he did not know the details of his actions, he did, however, state that he knew what he was doing was not right. Kendricks made a profit of approximately $1.2 million off of mergers from the information that was given to him by Sonoiki. The US Justice Department also alleged that, in turn for his insider tips, Damilare Sonoiki received tickets to Eagles games, $10,000, and more. The two now face three federal charges, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, and aiding and abetting. 

Even though Mychal Kendrick is a first time offender, and likely won't face the maximum sentence, his charges are added up to carry a 25-year prison sentenced, along with a $5.3 million fine after time served. 

Since the story broke the linebacker has been released by the Cleveland Browns, signed by the Seattle Seahawks, and indefinitely suspended by the NFL as he goes through the process of his crime.

For more information on the story: https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/08/29/mychal-kendricks-cleveland-browns-insider-trading-case-damilare-sonoiki-blackish

Youth Sports

On September 20, 2018, our class discussed the topic of Youth Sports. We covered all aspects of youth sport, varying from the background, trends, problems, pervasiveness, and more. In more detail, we touched upon the decline of youth sport within the last decade, dropping almost 10 percent from ages six through twelve. These days kids are more interested in the media and the latest Madden game on their game consoles rather than competing in a competitive contest. Others have also opted not to play sports that are at risk for brain injury including, soccer.

In a recent study by the Sport and Fitness Industry Association, US youth have been dropping the sport of soccer at alarming rates over the course of the last three years. Nearly 14 percent of children ages six through twelve have discontinued in competing in soccer, dropping the number down to approximately 2.3 million kids. According to Joe Drape of the New York Times the participation of youth sports, as a whole, has dropped down significantly within the past decade, as we previously discussed in class. The reasons for this drop-off? The youth have been more occupied with other distractions including their electronics, as well as participating in other sports such as baseball and basketball. Another reason for the decline is because of the financial demand. According to the statistics from the Sport and Fitness Industry Association, 35 percent of soccer players are generated from homes that have an income of approximately $100,000 a year whereas 11 percent come from homes that make approximately $25,000 or less a year.

On the other side of the argument, some say the problem doesn't lie within the sport alone but with the high demand for top-tier play. Other reasons include:

• high risk of injury as the annual injury rate for the sport of soccer is around 10,000 injuries
• increased emphasis on sport specialization which has led to overuse training/burnouts/injury
• soccer not serving all kids

Source: https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2018/07/16/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Soccer.aspx?hl=youth%20sports

Sports and Politics- Sport As a Propaganda Vehicle

On October 4, 2018, we talked about the role of politics in the sports culture, more specifically, the political uses of sport as it is used as a propaganda vehicle. In most cases, athletes who use their superstar platform to stand up in what they believe is right is largely controversial. Athletes raising awareness to controversial topics such as social injustices among African-Americans has dated back years beyond my generation's time. In the last several decades we have seen athletes such as, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who protested against African-American treatment after placing in the 200-meter race during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, as well as Toni Smith, who protested against the war between our country and Iraq.

Today, being no different than years previous, we see athletes standing up to controversial issues that our country faces.

Eric Reid is a Safety for the National Football League, who was recently signed to the Carolina Panthers within the last two weeks. Reid, following those before him, has used his status as an NFL player to help raise awareness to topics he feels need awareness, in his case, it's social injustices amongst African-Americans in the United States. The safety had a stint with the San Fransisco 49ers in which he also partook in kneeling during the national anthem, which drew both positive and negative feedback, one could even debate as to whether that is the reason he hadn't had a job in some time. 

When the time came, during his first week back in the league, Reid knelt again as the anthem was played. After the game, the Panthers' safety was asked as to why he continued his protest, his response was that it was furthered by current events. The current events include the confirmation of judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and the recent hiring of the police officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice back in 2014. The newly signed safety used his star platform to voice his displeasure with the nation as of late. In addition to the kneeling movement, Eric also wore a t-shirt that read "Know your rights" that also stated 10 points. 

To read more about the topic visit: https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2018/10/08/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Reid-NFL.aspx?hl=kneeling.