TheGraphicOnline

Here’s something a little light, to temper the ponderous problems of the current scene.

Jon Ford sends an e-mail message that arises out of what my be a world-changing attitude toward sports created by the Butler Miracle. It comes directly from the legendary hoopster, Bobby Plump, who happens to be Jon’s brother-in-law. (You didn’t know that? You’ll be forgiven. But if you don’t know who Bobby Plump is, move to another state.) Another trivia fact: Bobby is a former Butler cage star, and he is ecstatic about what his alma mater has done in the NCAA tourney even though it my eclipse the aura of his “last shot.” Here’s the news flash that Bobby sent:

Friday, April 9, 2010

Butler Hoops Team Under Investigation — AP

INDIANAPOLIS–Butler’s run in the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Game may be tarnished after reports surfaced today that all 13 players on the roster are being given good educations in an effort to help them find good jobs after they leave the school. “It’s important to remember that right now these are only allegations — allegations that we are looking into,” said NCAA president James Isch.

“But, obviously, if true, this would be very disappointing. The NCAA has certain expectations and standards. It’s not fair for players at one school to be given good educations while athletes at other member schools receive basic, remedial instruction that is worth essentially nothing.” According to documents seized from the school’s registrar’s office, Butler players have received an education worth $38,616 per year totaling more than $150,000 over a four-year career.

Compare that to player at a school like Kentucky , where tuition is set at $4,051 — but with an actual value far below that. “We don’t want to say too much until these reports are confirmed,” said Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari. “But we’re talking about almost $140,000 difference in education per player — and that’s even if my players stayed four years or graduated, which many of them do not. Then these Butler players are reportedly stepping into good jobs after graduation while my kids, if they don’t make the NBA, have absolutely no job prospects or life skills. It’s far from a balanced playing field. They are buying the best players by giving them a high-priced education.”

In addition to the allegations that they were given an expensive education, many Butler players have been spotted around campus holding books, studying and engaging in interesting conversations. Others have been seen with people who are known to not be tutors. Butler point guard and Kentucky native Ronald Nored, who is reportedly a secondary education major, denied allegations that the Bulldog program is cheating.

“The discourse on this matter is fatuous and inane,” he said, implicating the program further.

* * *

It all reminds me of an incident that occurred a few years ago at my alma mater, Swarthmore College, a small Quaker-related college near Philadelphia, in size and other respects somewhat similar to Earlham College. Being a Division 3 college dedicated to high academic standards, as Earlham is, its football team always had a won-loss record in football similar to Earlham’s, which means they rarely had a winning season. A few years ago, the S’more gridders suddenly were unbeaten for the entire season! Was there great joy on campus? Yes. But not with the faculty. The professors wanted to know what went wrong. They formed a committee to investigate! Was the college attracting an undesirable element? Was it subsidizing athletes? I don’t remember what was the outcome of the committee action, probably nothing. But a few years later, the college president appointed a committee that advised abolishing football entirely — declaring that they were spending too much on football and couldn’t afford it anymore. Swarthmore has an endowment three times the size of Earlham. Earlham still has a football team.

–Vic Jose

Vic Jose :: Apr.11.2010 :: Uncategorized ::

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