Real Sports Open Thread
What does the board think of the HBO Real Sports on the NCAA and paying players? So far, my disdain for Jason Whitlock has increased exponentially (if that's possible) and I actually agree with what Coach Rodiriguez said.
Also, not a fan of the academia bow tie look
March 30th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
Jason Whitlock is to national media as Drew Sharp is to Detroit media.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:38 PM ^
I'm about 30 minutes behind, having DVR'd it. I'll check back if there is anything notable/comment worthy that I see.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
Auburn is filthy dirty. If the NCAA doesn't come down on them then I say we keep on stretching.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
They are just killing RR!!
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<br>Let's hope out boosters aren't as stupid as other schools!!
March 30th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
About what? What's going on?!
Damn my not having premium cable television!
March 30th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
Quite interesting. I hope RR smacks Whitlock in the face, and lands a gig next year as HC for a non-competitor.
Also, they totally dismissed the notion about how unfair it would be to allow players to earn money at schools like Michigan, Alabama etc. vs. Bowling Green, Ball St. etc. Are there salary caps? I don't know.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
Completely agree. They also completely glazed over the fact that the two major revenue earning sports fund the rest of the non-revenue earning sports. When Bryant Gumbel referenced Michigan's profit, he didn't reference where that "profit" actually went and his silence on the matter made it seem like that amount just sat in coffers or just went to pay the heads of the departments and coaches.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:09 PM ^
Salaries would cause all sorts of trouble such as major parity flaws. When these people talk about paying players it would be to just let them benefit from their own market value. If adidas wanted to do commercials with Denard he can do them and get paid accordingly. It would be very much like the Olympic style. Michael Phelps is an amateur swimmer but gets paid for endorsements. I think its right to let these kids get to benefit from the value they created for themselves with countless hours of honing their skills
But don't pro sports prove something? If derek jeter spend his career in Kansas City... what would his endorsement portfolio look like? Players migrate toward bigger markets. That said, there's that much more incentive to go to the big schools.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
The one recruit received some hundred dollar handshakes from boosters at both schools.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
the 2 dirtest programs in sports??
March 30th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
If you're talking about all of college sports, I'm going to have to throw Kentucky in the discussion since Calipari is there.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^
forgot about UK b-ball
March 31st, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
also, the other SEC schools except Vandy.
March 31st, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
Do you really think that $100 handshakes don't go on here. Do you really think that when these recruits come for their visits, we don't introduce girls to some of them?
March 30th, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
"guys would talk about rape before they talk bout accepting money"
March 30th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
I'm not watching this show as I don't have HBO, but....uh....what?
March 30th, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^
dont recall which player said it but he said something to the effect of players talking about all sorts of other crimes but no one ever talked about taking money. he said he beleived that players would have talked about raping someone before they admitted to taking money for playing
March 30th, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
I mean, really, how do you prove a program guildty when after games, anonymous booster man was slipping hundreds to star player A during handshakes? If neither will admit it, and there's no paper trail... it is what it is.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
Oh, ok. That makes a little more sense.
At first I thought it was a quote about a booster offering things to players. Like, "come to Auburn, there's tons of stuff you can rape" or something.
March 30th, 2011 at 10:50 PM ^
Give RR the power to clean up football....make him the white knight!! Wonder who he would smite first?? Lol
March 30th, 2011 at 10:59 PM ^
I loved RR's demeanor and positive attitude on this show. I hope this discussion sparks additional investigation/coverage from ESPN, SI, or CBS Sportsline.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
RR has a gift for appearing to be candid when in fact he's saying nothing.
True.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:04 PM ^
March 30th, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^
Auburn really steals the show on this special and with barely a mention of Cam Newton. The arguements for paying players were poorly thought out, it was as if they had pulled them off the street and taped it live. At one point Gumbel tells Whitlock he is in control of the NCAA, he basically shit his pants and mumbled through his answer. Rich Rod did represent well on behalf of college coaches trying to do things the right way and he finally got to bitch a little about stretchgate.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:22 PM ^
I don't have HBO either...does anyone have any good information for streaming this episode online?
March 30th, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
Whitlock and Packer come across as complete blowhards. Whitlock, mainly.
EDIT: Packer just took Tressel to task. Warming.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:26 PM ^
Hell yeah, Rich Rod, bringing up that paying players is a lot worse than stretching (and actually talking about Michigan, and the stretching thing, etc).
March 30th, 2011 at 11:37 PM ^
The segment reminded me of why I dislike Richrod.
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<br>He has politician's bullshit smile, doesn't come across as genuine, and that shameless pitch to the NCAA to try and get hired as a consultant was almost too much to bear.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
reminded me why I dislike you.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^
Petulant child.
March 30th, 2011 at 11:48 PM ^
I was reading the reactions to Rich Rod's comments on twitter, and although I liked him, I'm glad he's no longer an ambassador for our University. There's a lot of hate for that man...
March 30th, 2011 at 11:59 PM ^
that post was too much to bear.
March 31st, 2011 at 10:25 AM ^
what a load of bullshit. I hate RR haters like you.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
Artds- why? Did you disagree with anything he said? I thought all of his points were valid and I agreed with all of them. What, precisely, did you not agree with? Was he wrong when he said the NCAA focuses on the parking violators and not the robbers? Did you disagree when he said he'd like to see a $300/month stipend for kids so they could travel home on break? Did you disagree with him saying that, overall, the whole system is cleaner than 25 years ago? Did you disagree with his saying that the main goal is (at least to him) to get kids to graduate and get degrees and make them better men (paraphrasing)? I guess I just wonder why this reminded you you didn't like him; I'd think it's most likely because of his diction, way of talking, etc., and not the content of what he was saying, as what he was saying seemed sensible and intelligent.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^
I hate RR bashers as much as the Taliban. Get over you f*cking cry babies.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:46 AM ^
JHC. You're a moron. Save society the hassle and don't procreate.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:53 AM ^
Then you hate most Michigan fans and students.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:57 AM ^
There's a big difference between the people who simply thought RR needed to go, and the people who continue to shout obscenities every time they see him or hear his name.
To expound on this point would garner one more meaningless page to an overwritten 36 month diary.
Who knew they were doing wrong, did it anyway, then blamed the University for them doing wrong, and shocked that after they sided with a place that was doing wrong, they were willing to do them wrong too. "I want the $300 handshake, but don't keep me out of my favorite classes". You can't have it both ways, and want to get paid to play football, but then be shocked they primarily want you to play football. If you were so serious about your education, you could have chosen to go to a place like Michigan, where if a class conflicts with Spring Practice, you go to class. Or you go to a place where you know they cut you if they find someone better, but "it won't happen to me". Go somewhere that they don't do that. Show THAT choice, and if those teams get better by doing the right thing, the bad one's will have to change.
Younger generations seem increasingly self-absorbed and amoral in general, but it surprises me that the same naivete is exhibited in some top athletes. It seems that all the hard work they do, which only yields gains over the long term, would teach them the value of discipline and sacrifice.
So much for optimism.