OT: THE CAM NEWTON THREAD
This is getting nasty...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5786315
[MOD EDIT: Bumped. And as per Tim, -1,000,000 mgopoints to anyone else who starts YET ANOTHER THREAD on the subject.]
November 10th, 2010 at 1:26 AM ^
His father's church would've been gone by then. I have to say I sympathize with the guy. He has a talent worth a shit ton of money and he's barred from working for the only employer who's in the business of compensating for it. Further, the only path he has to eventually being compensated requires using his talent to generate an obscene amount of money in exchange for a relative pittance while he has to watch his family struggle just to get by. No, I don't blame Cam Newton at all.
The only way this is unfair to me is that it rewards Auburn for breaking the rules everybody plays by.
November 10th, 2010 at 7:31 AM ^
+1
Not to mention the fact that, before he can get paid for his talents at all, he's expected to generate gobs of cash for other people while running the substantial risk of an injury that could limit or end his future prospects.
November 10th, 2010 at 8:01 AM ^
in the pros. It occurs to me that what we ought to do is make a change to the pro side of it, not the college game. These kids are going to BIG name schools, out of state usually, for four years, for free. That's not zero pay. That's easily 50-60K a year, including food and so on.
Instead, allow these kids to market their image, do commercials, licence their name (not the school's gear) etc. Then their talents are earning them a paycheck, without putting schools over a barrel.
November 10th, 2010 at 8:43 AM ^
That is the best way to deal with this. Saves the university from having to pay them and gives these kids a chance to make some coin while in school. As you said, it would need to be done without mentioning the University or its gear, but everyone in the local area (and beyond in some cases) would know who it was.
November 10th, 2010 at 8:59 AM ^
this then lowers the school's branding ability to utilize its players to achieve profit while at the same time providing an impossible grey zone of whether Joe Smith went to Alabama because Alabama was great or because a supporter of the school who owns a car dealership promised him 18k a year for 'advertisements'
November 10th, 2010 at 10:18 AM ^
The player cannot do endorsements and whatnot, but he/she should still own the rights to their likeness. If Auburn wants to sell Newton jerseys, video games, or other marketing with his likeness, he gets paid for it.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^
would never fly because smaller schools would argue they would have zero ability to recruit anyone worth a damn due to the fact bigger schools with larger student/alumni bases would be able to offer more money (larger sales). further, it would create an ever increasing Hollywood competition between players, further increasing the importance of one over the team.
not to mention how would you know which #5 the jersey was bought for on teams with players on both sides, etc.?
athletes need to start considering it an unpaid internship with free room and board that they can discontinue after one year of training. people are lamenting 'think of the children' without realizing that it is beyond absurd pity is being cast on the athlete unable to go from high school (at 17-18) to immediate celebrity status making a bajillion dollars. hell, i wouldn't doubt the NFL coaches are secret fans of this rule due to the fact taking some 18 yr old punk who's never answered to anyone and having to COACH them would be an astounding undertaking.
tom izzo is amazing proof of the value of making a guy answer to an authority. he's had significant success with having high caliber players not flush out due to their ego
November 10th, 2010 at 1:05 AM ^
This would 100% eliminate Cam Newton from the Heisman race and any other post season individual award. The worst thing of all, is this could put the end to a wonderful season for the Auburn Tigers, eliminating and chance of playing for the BCS National Championship.
These are just rumors, so far. Within the next couple of days we shall all know much, much more. In the mean time Boise State and TCU will be paying close attention to what is happening down with Newton and the Auburn Tigers.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:27 AM ^
This actually raises an interesting question.
Yes, there has been a landslide of allegations against Newton and Auburn in the past week or so. But an official investigation is going to take time. Barring an admission of guilt by someone(s), it will probably drag on longer than the remainder of the season.
Assuming this isn't resolved by the end of the season, what are the chances that Auburn is somehow removed from the championship (assuming they win out)? Will it be the human voters sinking Auburn? Will the NCAA preemptively step in?
Personally, I could see a situation where Auburn goes to the title game, even though everyone anticipates their season will be forfeited, but they end up there simply because they don't have cause to keep them out of it.
All that being said, this is all a hypothetical assuming there is substance to the allegations (which is quickly looking more and more likely).
November 10th, 2010 at 1:34 AM ^
I bet Georgia and Bama will have some big fans in Indianapolis in the coming weekends!
November 10th, 2010 at 3:04 AM ^
to expedite matters when players eligibility comes into question.
See North Carolina this year, Georgia and Green this year, and Okl State last year with Bryant.
November 10th, 2010 at 9:25 AM ^
To see Auburn win a national championship that is later vacated by a pay to play scenario after losing out on a national championship they should've been awarded durin the whole Reggie Bush/USC fiasco. (there should probably be another period in there somewhere, oh well.)
November 10th, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^
November 10th, 2010 at 1:10 AM ^
Maybe this is pessimistic, but what seems more likely: 1. several media agencies get together and decide to do a real hit job on this kid; or 2. a big time school pays a guaranteed-to-be-a-star player to come to their school? I'm leaning #2 at this point. My only hesitation is the Freep jihad here at Michigan. The sheer number of sources on this story, however, makes me think it has to have legs...
November 10th, 2010 at 9:03 AM ^
National media is looking into this situation, not local reporters with an ax to grind. It seems from reports that the NCAA has been 'investigating' these allegations since January, and with the reports of cheating from Florida, the stolen laptop, other schools suggesting he/ family was soliciting funds, there seems to be merit in this story.
And taking of what could be $200,000 is much different than extra stretching.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:10 AM ^
Is it premature for me to be thinking "Hello Kris Frost?"
November 10th, 2010 at 1:19 AM ^
Well, my question in all of this is how do you get paid? Are you dumb enough to have bank records and abnormal spending habits from a booster? or does the booster pay an "uncle"? or do they set up off shore accounts?
it just seems that if someone thinks you got paid, it'd be easy to find out because of the paper trail.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:27 AM ^
That is why you don't leave a paper trail. Make sure you get cash from the boaster. Do not take the cash to a bank, but instead leave it in a coffee can and take a little out each day or maybe leave it all in there for a few years. Don't buy a new car. Don't buy a house. Don't tell people. This stuff isn't hard...unless you happen to be stupid.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:55 AM ^
Or, alternatively, you could launder the cash through a 501(c)(3), like, for example a church.
I'm not saying it happened I'm just saying it's a possibility. And it happens more than many people think.
November 10th, 2010 at 6:49 AM ^
A 501(c)(3) has to account for every dollar accepted as a donation. Where it came from, who it came from and what not. If the story about Cam's father basically taking a church from bankruptcy and rebuilding the actual church is true, there will be clues in the paperwork. There will be inconsistencies in the amount of donations, hell there may even be a tax receipt for a big donor. I can't imagine a booster chucking 200k at a 501(c)(3) and not getting a receipt for it. However, I would imagine that has been covered up, and more likely the FBI will be able to audit the tax records and find wild inconsistencies.
November 10th, 2010 at 7:20 AM ^
Mr. Newton runs 5 of these churches. If these allegations are true he seems like the type of character that would filter the donations through the 5 entities and then use some invoicing tricks or entity to entity donations to get the work done on the church that was in need of repairs.
November 10th, 2010 at 8:17 AM ^
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization does have to account for every dollar. A church enjoys a special exclusion in the tax code that does not require them to file a tax return. They are required to provide receipts to donors, but there is no reporting to the government on the church's part. The donor needs to provide the receipt to substantiate the deduction. I doubt if a booster gave money to the "church" they would deduct the "donation" since saving taxes was not the motivation for the "donation".
November 10th, 2010 at 9:59 AM ^
November 10th, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
an increase of tithes within a 4 month period of 40k/church ...?
November 10th, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
Well, I guess this is my point. Isn't it close to impossible to not leave a paper trail.
Bottom line is that you are getting paid to play college football and there will always be abnormalities in the people receiving the improper benefits lifestyle, bank account, expenditures, etc.
If you receive $200,000 something always changes. Whether its your business receiving upgrades (Newtons Church for example), a new car, you're spending habits change (i.e. spending more or saving more because of the extra cash flow), or someone who is close to you having these changes (family member, family friends keeping or spending the money for you).
I highly doubt people have the willpower to keep a large chunk of money hidden in their basement for years without spending it or giving hints of suspicion.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:19 AM ^
I hope the FBI investigates this and dishes out some prison sentences. If that precedent is set there will be a much smaller number of these little cam newton bastards every year. If you're THAT good you can wait 3 to 5 years to get drafted before you bank on the talents you were given by God(!).
November 10th, 2010 at 1:22 AM ^
YEAH! SCREW CAPITALISM!
Isn't prison sentences...I don't...kinda harsh?
November 10th, 2010 at 1:24 AM ^
Naw, NCAA prison has the comfiest beds
November 10th, 2010 at 7:34 AM ^
NCAA '12, now with a new "Prisons" mode......
November 10th, 2010 at 7:54 AM ^
I think the only program in that level right now would be Sparty, with occacsional cameo's from individuals (Newton, Austin, perhaps Blount if going back a year)
November 10th, 2010 at 5:41 PM ^
That is just classic MSU.
November 10th, 2010 at 8:20 AM ^
[insert MSU joke here]
November 10th, 2010 at 8:20 AM ^
[insert MSU joke here]
November 10th, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^
I unlocked 'The Longest Yard' achievement in NCAA '12!
November 10th, 2010 at 1:28 AM ^
Don't be an asshole.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:31 AM ^
Yeah, how dare this guy whose talents are worth millions of dollars now (and could vanish in an instant) try to get compensated beyond the relative pittance he's getting?
November 10th, 2010 at 2:02 AM ^
Oh please. While I don't agree with TJ at all, you're wrong on the opposite extreme.
This notion that these poor student athletes are just victims in all this is absurd.
Do they work hard? Yes.
They're also getting a free education (Graduating college debt free is huge), fame, renown, status, etc. out of the deal. His living expenses while in college are provided for. He has a place to stay, gets to eat like a king at training table, and probably gets laid left and right.
Yeah, I feel really bad for poor, poor Cam Newton.
November 10th, 2010 at 3:53 AM ^
November 10th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
HA! Pleeeease, let's talk about inefficiencies. How about the black market for talent that's developed, the one Newton's cashed in on?
November 10th, 2010 at 7:44 AM ^
"Graduating" "college" "free education"
We know about graduation rates.
We know that, on average, college football players spend 40+ hours/week on football related activities.
We know they are often warehoused in easy programs that don't teach them much. And that often, the same happened in high school and the kids come into a university (at relaxed admissions standards) fundamentally unprepared. I mean, we just had a story two days ago in which a University of Florida graduate (or at least multiple-year attendee) said that he "didn't know who the fuck Anne Frank" is. The same guy, a few years ago, played a game in London and was surprised to learn that people there spoke English. Thankfully, for Channing Crowder's sake, his skills as a linebacker got him further than his top AAU-level university or his high school education could have.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^
Not all student athletes, specifically Cam Newton. He's recouping his scholarship money thousands of times over for Auburn and yet you think it's fair that he should have to struggle to watch his family struggle to make ends meet? It is totally unfair.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^
Is it fair?
No. But life's not fair. And he has it better than many, many people out there.
When things happen like Katrina to New Orleans, earthquakes to Haiti, and tsunamis to Southeast Asia, I find it hard to feel sorry for a kid that gets treated like a rockstar (and laid like one too), eats like a king, and is getting a free education which will set him up for life (whether he makes the NFL or not. I guarantee you Cam Newton will never struggle to find work. Well, maybe he will now.).... all for throwing a ball around.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
Beyond that is still a massive surplus of profit that he can't touch while he lets his family struggle. It would kill me to know that.
November 10th, 2010 at 10:51 AM ^
Yeah I agree but that describes a lot of people in rank-and-file blue collar jobs as well, who slave away for minimum wage for a (multi-)national corporation that is wildly profitable.
At least Newton has things like what I mentioned above, plus free health care, and a bright future where he will be ridiculously wealthy ahead of him.
Is Cam Newton's life perfect? No. But no one's is and he has a much, much better situation than most. So I find it really difficult to feel sorry for him.
November 10th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^
Blue collar workers work in a free market and Cam Newton doesn't. The federally sanctioned monopoly in his field bars him from employment.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:50 PM ^
Cam Newton works in a free market just as much as anybody else here (for the record, I hate talk of freedom to change positions, etc. People always say "If you don't like your job, leave!", as if there are always comparable or better jobs at hand and it is the easiest thing in the world to change careers. Just because xomebody can change jobs doesn't mean it is practical. I equate thiese types of comments with "America, love it or leave it" comments.) For instance, he could take hit talents to any number of private employers should he find the conditions on the Auburn football team too onerous. But he chooses to play football in a NCAA regulated environment. He should abide by the rules. This would be like me using my employer's facilities for illegal gains, and then letting him take the fall for it when the shit hit the fan.
November 10th, 2010 at 12:54 PM ^
I'm talking about the market for his talent which is a monopoly which bars him from employment. The market for football talent is not a free market at all.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
Except there is the CFL, as well as various regional pro and semi-pro teams. True, they pay less, but one does not have to fuss about the educational dog-and-pony show to do this.
November 10th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
No. The CFL isn't even in this country and the NFL has no competitor, this fact was recognized by the federal gov't when it granted the NFL an exception to anti trust law.