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I mean, everyone knows that college football players getting paid under the table is nothing new but this is the first time that I can remember in which someone who actually directly paid these guys is going on the record and naming names. Crazy!
•Raiders TE Greg Townsend turned to Luchs, then a ball boy, for a urine sample since he knew he wouldn't pass a "surprise" drug test.
•Pretty much everyone on UCLA in the mid-90s was taking money from agents.
•Jonathan Ogden didn't accept money, but he did take Luchs's tickets to see Janet Jackson in concert. "I went with a 6'9" guy who weighed more than 300 pounds and who screamed "Janet!" the whole night like a teenage girl."
•Chris Mims took $500 per month during his senior season at Tennessee. Tony Banks also got paid monthly.
•Ryan Leaf had big-time credit card debt, so he accepted monthly payments from Luchs. He would eventually leave Luchs for Leigh Steinberg, but after signing his pro contract, he paid Luchs back about what he had received.
•Santonio Holmes told Luchs it wasn't worth talking to him, because Holmes was already receiving regular payments from another agent.
•Dana Stubblefield, J.J. Stokes and Keyshawn Johnson all turned down money from Luchs.
•Gary Wichard never paid money to players, but it was no secret that he may have paid a UNC coach to steer his players to him.
•Finally, the Mel Kiper story:
In 2000, before a meeting with Stanford defensive lineman Willie Howard, Gary arranged for ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper to call. Gary and I were talking to Willie in Gary's office when Gary's phone rang, and he put it on speakerphone.
"Viper, how are you?" Gary said. That's what he called Mel, Viper or Vipe. "Viper, I'm sitting here with the best defensive lineman in college football. Do you know who that is?"
"You must be with Willie Howard," Mel said.
Gary used Mel like that all the time. In the agent business, people know Gary and Mel are close, and some people suspect that Mel ranks players more favorably if they are Gary's clients.
The Kiper thing cracks me up. "Jimmy Clausen is a top five pick and is the best QB in this years draft!!" Riiight. Glad Kiper is finally being exposed. He should lose his job for sure. On the other hand, objectivity pretty much doesn't exist at ESPoN, so he's probably OK.
I don't understand how the cradle and grave of capitalism tolerates the sham that is the NCAA! To call their rules hypocritical is an understatement.
Example: BASEBALL.
Star prospect out of high school is drafted, paid a bonus, enrolls in college with the team paying for it, plays for the college, attends and participates in the drafting team's farm system practise and games. If they're actually in school for the education and experience, and can handle the course load, they do, graduate and move on to their career. If not, they leave school early and do the exact same thing, only sooner.
Why is Football and Basketball different?
The school wouldn't have to provide a scholarship, chase the student around to make sure they attend classes, or stay out of trouble. That's up to the student athlete and their sponsor, the team that drafted him. The school has no obligation to him, treat him like any other that's paying their own way. They coddle him at their own cost and peril.The school can provide the scholarship to a student that truly needs it and wants the education, it's still being paid for by the same revenue that the student athletes are generating anyway. What difference does it make if the athlete is in school for a semester or until graduation? There are plenty of athletes just itching for the chance that would line up around campus for the opportunity. He makes decisions in his and the family's best interest, the school has no business meddling in that with 'advice' on whether the athlete is ready or not. That's what agents and team scouts are for. If they make it great, if not, such is life.
Even if the school offered a scholarship to a student athlete, who later decides to take money from a pro team or agent, what's the big deal? Yank the free ride, make them pay their own way. If it's discovered after they leave school, make them pay back the cost, make it part of the scholarship condition they have to sign, so even if it's discovered 20 years later, they're still on the hook for it.
It would do away with all the subterfuge. If teams, scouts and agents want to sign a kid in middle or high school, their call. It's an investment, just like any other in the business world. Quit with the sanctimonious BS that's currently in place, deal with it in a practical manner.
I don't understand how the cradle and grave of capitalism tolerates the sham that is the NCAA! To call their rules hypocritical is an understatement.
Example: BASEBALL.
Star prospect out of high school is drafted, paid a bonus, enrolls in college with the team paying for it, plays for the college, attends and participates in the drafting team's farm system practise and games. If they're actually in school for the education and experience, and can handle the course load, they do, graduate and move on to their career. If not, they leave school early and do the exact same thing, only sooner.
You cannot be awarded a baseball scholarship at an NCAA institution if you have signed a professional baseball contract or hired an agent.
A lot of baseball players have been DRAFTED, did NOT sign with a professional team, and have played NCAA baseball.
Some college players go straight into the minors after the NCAA season BUT hat effectively ends their eligibility in baseball.
You cannot be awarded a baseball scholarship at an NCAA institution if you have signed a professional baseball contract or hired an agent.
You don't NEED the scholarship if you already have a pro contract. If an agent wants you, they're going to have to make it worth your while to sign. Will they get you an endorsement deal? Can they get you enough up front from a pro team to pay for college? Whatever it is, at least the athletes won't be under any illusions.
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A lot of baseball players have been DRAFTED, did NOT sign with a professional team, and have played NCAA baseball.
True, but only because they wanted to raise their draft stock since they're eligible for re-drafting if they stay in school for two years. In the meantime, they have to go to class and make the grades.
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Some college players go straight into the minors after the NCAA season BUT hat effectively ends their eligibility in baseball.
And that should apply to ALL athletes. Right now a majority of the colleges are nothing more than farm teams for the NFL and NBA, at tax payer expense too.
FWIW. Most people don't know that Ricky Williams college was paid for by a MLB team (Phillies?). NCAA rules are weird for sure. I personally can't stand the NCAA.
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