NCAA BASKETBALL SCANDALS

Big sports news this week is the current NCAA college basketball scandal.  Most of the talk shows I've listened to have it wrong.  I'm here to straighten it out.  This has nothing to do with paying players to play sports in college.  Forget that. This has to do with Michael Jordan.

You see.  In 1984, Nike signed basketball player Michael Jordan to an advertising contract.  He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA draft of college players after his second year in school.  There is no telling how much money Nike made from this arrangement but enough that they could pay Jordan millions.  Bo Jackson followed as well as leaders in every sport.  Nike became the unquestioned leader in sports apparel and sports gear marketing. 

Now, it is understood by all companies just how much famous player endorsements mean to a product.  In order to secure the best pro players, companies try to corral them before they turn pro.  The best players are pinpointed long before they leave high school.

Now comes the universities.  Sports apparel and gear manufacturers attempt to sign contracts with the schools for exclusive use of equipment.  In exchange, the schools get free shoes, uniforms, accessories, etc.  all with the logo of the sports company.  This promotes their product line every time a player is seen on TV.   This gives their representatives access to the locker rooms and the inside of the school programs.  Getting the best players to attend a school using one company's equipment is a coup for that company.  Those players will be familiar with and associated with their company.  These best players are then most likely to sign a personal contract with that sports gear company when they turn pro.  (College players cannot sign personal contracts until they turn pro.)

So now, in the FBI has arrested several and threatens many more in the schemes to bring the best players to schools contracted with certain sports gear companies.  Adidas was named but it is rumored that Nike may follow. 

Here's how it went down.  Adidas determined the top basketball players in high school in the world.  My guess is that the number is relatively small - maybe 50 or so.  They evidently had a large budget
available to influence those players to attend schools which were contracted to Adidas.  An Adidas rep would give money to the college coach in charge of recruiting players so that he could give it to a specific player or his family.  Big money!  $25,000.00 for the best players and maybe $150,000..00 to one.  Most of these players only play one year in college then turn pro.  During that year, the colleges attempt to influence the player to sign with Adidas after the season is over and/or sign with a money manager/agent who is secretly tied to Adidas. 

Current Adidas schools included in the FBI investigation:  University of Southern California, University of Arizona, University of Louisville, Oklahoma State University, Auburn University, University of Miami. 

FYI  about our local schools;  UC is with Under Armour and XU is with Nike. 

Surely the investigation will lead to other schools and other sports gear manufacturers.  Changes will come.  I doubt we will have "one-and-done" players in college for much longer.  I see no reason they shouldn't go straight into the pros if they are capable.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."  --Walter Scott