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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Miami Vices (Shapiro Scandal)



At this point in NCAA Athletics, any news of illegal activity or monetary scandal is a bit desensitizing.


It's like hearing a new name pop up in MLB with connections to steroids. We all know it's going on.


Aren't we all numb from the allegations, investigations, indictments, and convictions from the Fab Five's, UNLVs, USC's, and Miami's of yesteryear?


Well the Miami's of today is the current headliner in sports controversy. Recently, convicted felon and super-booster Nevin Shapiro dropped an atomic bomb worth of accusations on the University's football program that he insists will lead to an inevitable "Death Penalty."


And according to what's being reported, Shapiro's claims of excessive cash and gift giving to players appear to be totally plausible.


The whole operation has been described as "the passing of the baton from Uncle Luke" regarding rapper Luke and his transgressions from the early 80's.


This is where I have a problem with the story. Luke illegally rewarded players with money, but it came from a space of love and support. Luke, for most accounts, genuinely cared for the kids because a lot of them emerged from the same dire background in which he did.


Shapiro on the other hand is an outsider "wannabe" who wanted to buy his props instead of earning it.


He was that guy who wanted to be included in the cool guy circle and be a "Big Man On Campus." Once he accrued enough money through his ponzy schemes, he did just that.


But now that he's doing 20 years in prison for a crime that's unrelated to the University of Miami, he wants to get his Magic Johnson on and drop dimes?


I guess there isn't honor amongst thieves. A lot of people want to point fingers and blame each other, but the bottom line, the system is flawed. What's happening in Miami is an isolated story that is being perpetuated across the country, just maybe not to the same debaucherous and disregarding degree.


Until as a whole figure out a way to pay these athletes and monitor the money exchange themselves, big time NCAA sports programs will continue to be a sunny place for shady boosters and agents.

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