Aaron Brown VS head of NCAA

[annagull]

Is Aaron Browwn the Larry King of out generation? Stupid, softball questions, and Aaron wasn't even sharp enough to the head of NCAA to speak on life about dorm rooms. Aaron looked like Gomer Pile interviewing Myles Brand, the head of NCAA.
Mr. Brand assured us that college basketball and football players live the lives of other students. They attend class, share dorms, study groups are the first activity on a Wednesday night. Yep, these kids have the all American college experience.

[david_vincent]

1. They have their own dorms

so they don't have to mingle with lower forms of life. And their
dorms have their own parking lots, right in front, so they don't
have to park their cars half a mile away like everybody else.
All good reasons why I went to a college with no organized sports
programs of any kind. No one could major in "sports equipment
installation" either, which they can in some so-called universities.

[annagull]

2. "sports equipment installation"?

Jaysus, that is insane. Hey, I'm going to college for a degree in parking cars, think I'll get a job in the bush whitehouse? :-)

[KharmaTrain]

3. I Used To Like Aaron...Brand Is An Enabler

No, he's not the Larry King of our generation, he still has a pulse...barely. I first watched Mr. Brown on ABC Overnight and he was fun and light...ideal for a 3am hangover. Then he became a "serious journalist"...moving up and out the ABC food chain. At first I saw him as the next Bernie Shaw, but no longer. He definitely shows a real attitude in his topics and the way he handles them. Most times it's as though we need to be carefully walked through a story since we just don't get it the way he does. That's annoying.

Brand is the goon who tolerated Bobby Knight and all his boorish behavior. How many chances did he give the guy since he was so intimidated by him and knew how much money and "prestige" he gave the University.

I've worked with Division I programs and the largest programs are rife with deception, enabling and special treatment. One time I had to work with a football player...the kid could run sideways and forward at the same time, but couldn't read two sentences to save his life. This guy was barely literate...a good kid...but all that mattered was his time in the 40. I spoke with his "tutor" (a grad student...also an "education" major) and expressed my shock at how poorly he could read and didn't even dare to look into comprehension. The person virtually blew me off...first of all saying that really didn't matter in that major and as long as he showed up, he should get the credit...if there's a problem that he should be contact. He even tried to pry the final grade out of me before it was posted. The guy tried to do well, but he was a pawn on a game and later I learned "dropped out" when a new running back came through.

The coaches are even worse. The live in this martial law society...especially football...beyond reproach to most, fawned over by the sports media (don't wanna piss the coach off, you won't get in the press box) and the administration (got 4 tix for Saturday??).

It's time to call an end to the farce of college athletics...let the kids go pro, or put such tight lids on things that it sucks the money out of the system. REALLY clamp down on betting, prohibit coaches from outside incomes like shoe deals and summer camps and redistribute revenues to equally fund mens and womens program. I know it'll never happen, thus you get cretins like Barnett and yet another scandal at a state university...supposedly a safe haven.

The last couple days I've gotten tired of seeing the parade of Sports Talk oafs (most from ESPN) who are pleading Barnett's case. Oh, he didn't know what he was saying (then why'd he rush to the mikes as fast as he did?) or He's got a great record (of course wins trump all) or don't judge everyone by one rumor or bad instance. That'd be great if last year it wasn't the coach in Alabama, and the numerous sexual and criminal assaults that happen on college campuses that are either unreported or shoved under the carpet. It's even gotten to the High School level where boorish behavior is considered a "right" for an athlete.

I guess this is the price one pays for living in a warrior culture.

[annagull]

4. Wow, IM, you just blew my mind

and put me in the college athletic freakout. You are right, too many mechanics greasing the money train, the kids on it really don't have a chance at an education. They have been scored and noted , and these guys who made it such a monymaking venture will reap the wind of their bad investment. You have to wonder what happened to the kids who were good in High School, but not good enough for the college? Or, if they had money for college? What we get is Corporate education, best in the field gets the money, best at bat gets the money. Are you comfortable America leaving the corporations in control?

[KharmaTrain]

5. Look At The Entire System/Culture

This first hit me back in High School...I detested the "jocks" getting all the special treatment and the arrogance of the coaches, and then observed it "up and down" the ladder throughout college, then as a teacher and parent.

Just look at how much money is made on Saturday football and basketball. A solid program that gets TV exposure can bring in a lot of money to a school...and of course money trumps education and principals (pun intended) every time. I was part of negotiations of these broadcasts and the money and politics involved is thick. For example, the school will ask for $xxx to a Pepsi or Coke...most of that money goes into the athletic department...and in return that beverage is the only one students can get on campus.

That leads to your great point about the corporate education system that has evolved. David Horowitz should be jumping for joy...the system isn't designed to educate as much as it is to protect those who work inside the system and profit from it. The only ideology here is folding green. It's seeing the "food court" that are large payoff by Taco Bell and other corporates to suck up quick, easy cash.

The kids always get lost in the shuffle since they're molded to conform to the corporate world (I never lasted) and treated as chattle...counted for government money, tuitions and a ton of corporate and corporate/welfare grants. Poor kids don't stand a chance...and that's the way this regime likes it...it'll make it easier to refill those lost slots in Iraq next year.

[annagull]

6. Pepsi...or Coke...

Man, IM, you have really opened up my eyes. Some things I already knew, like how "branding" our kids is part of the culture.. However, I didn't realize how sports had really taken over our lives literally until your post. I had been noticing more coverage of high school games, local college games.. but the connection is startling. From the Pepsi/Coke machines to the principals office, corrouption and lies, on our kid's heads.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Thank You...It's A Dirty Secret

This isn't something that's clandestine, just the undersurface of our culture. As a lifelong and proud cynic, I've always looked a little closer at things than most.

Now some wingnut could use our posts and say this is why vouchers and private education is the answer. However private schools are far worse since not only do they fall outside the scrutiny of state regulators, but most are affiliated with religious orders and take very nice advantage of their tax-free status.

In essence this nation has turned non-profit into profit and our educational system is an unfortunate example...especially when it results in lifetime damage to a young person who played the game well...but not well enough.

I just saw another report on Barnett and it's as though he's the victim. Spare me! He'll move on...collecting the rest of his six figure a year salary along with what other perks he was offered, play golf for a couple months and either resurface at another school or in some TV booth. All the while he'll tell his friends how he was jobbed here...those girls had it coming. Disgusting!