It is the biggest scam in sports. All legal but Bush-league, as one named Reggie might say.
It’s U.S. college football, which is about as close to legalized slavery as is allowed in today's society.
It’s an industry in which everyone from the schools to the coaches to marketing firms and advertisers and media, make money. The only ones who are supposed to work for nothing are the guys doing the heavy lifting — the players. Or in this case Reggie Bush.
True, players get an education for free. At least, that's the argument. Big deal. Truth is, at the major schools, players are there to perform on the football field. The classroom is an after-thought. Most don’t complete their degrees in the four-year football window. But they do generate huge money for the schools.
And, if they do take a sliver of the forbidden financial pie, players are suspended, pilloried, deemed as traitors or as in Bush’s case has his name stripped from the halls of the University of Southern California.
Bush’s sin? He took money. Nobody is quite sure how much but it may have involved a rental home for his parents, cash from a school work program and perhaps up to $100,000 depending on who is believed. It’s murky.
Yesterday, the new USC boss Pat Haden, suggested that Bush — who has always denied wrong-doing — had apologized to him privately. Haden said Bush, now a running back with the Super Bowl champion Saints, told him, “If I could turn the clock back, I would. If I could give the Heisman Trophy back, I would.”
Humbug. It’s almost as if the more Bush can be vilified, the less accountable the school.
Bush may have broken rules. Maybe the rules deserve to be broken. They certainly deserve to be changed. The major U.S. college football programs are nothing less than feeder programs for the National Football League. They are the equivalent of baseball’s minor leagues. They are to the NFL what the American Hockey League is to the NHL.
Last year, Pete Carroll’s salary as the head coach at USC was $4.38 million. But some kid trying to keep up in class while working a full-time job as a football player can’t get squat?
Rats to that!
It invites players to cheat. It creates an atmosphere where unscrupulous agents and marketing vultures prey on kids and families who desperately need financial help.
In 2009, the top 120 major college coaches average salary eclipsed $1 million. But if a third-string fullback in Idaho takes a free corn-dog he gets sanctioned. Yeah, that’s fair.
In 2008, the football revenue at USC was $76.4 million. Bush and a lot of other players provided the means to earn that money. So, why should everyone but the players get a piece of it? Texas tops all schools in football revenue with $120 million, followed by Ohio State at $117 million. But even modest programs such as those at Ball State and Akron topped $17 million two years ago.
This isn’t to suggest that college football players should be competing for contracts and million-dollar incentives to attend schools.
But let them earn a living, set up a system of remunertion that will keep the charlatans and snake oil salesmen from preying on them.
If the Reggie Bush’s of the world were given a decent chunk of the pie to start with, maybe the schools and the NCAA wouldn't end up with so much of it on their face.
Coffee break?
49ers backup running back Glen Coffee left camp Thursday and informed the team yesterday that he’s retiring. There is some skepticism, however, that Coffee may be looking for a trade or even a release. It means Michael Robinson and rookie Anthony Dixon will start the season as Frank Gore’s backups.
Bizarre tale
Defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer hasn’t returned to the 49ers after being given two days off to attend to a personal matter. Now the team is reported to be attempting to recover some of the $1.6 million it gave him in 2008 as part of a five-year deal.
Nobody has explained why he hasn’t returned. There is speculation he may be quitting. Although, maybe not. His girlfriend reportedly gave birth to his child recently.
Lots of players go home for babies - but most of them don’t start acting like one themselves.
Text. Phone. Send a letter. I don‚t know, do something.
He's bad news
Leroy Hill is going to miss Seattle’s first game of the season due to a substance abuse issue. He is also facing domestic assault charges. Now Hill has hurt his knee and will be sidelined for several weeks. Not that he was a sure bet to make the club anyway.
One more “issue” and he could go from Leroy Hill to officially just being over the hill.
Quick hits
Patriots defensive end Ty Warren may miss the season to have surgery on his hip for a labral tear ... Forget that wonky start in preseason action by Matt Moore. He, not Jimmy Claussen, will be Carolina’s starting quarterback to start the season according to club staff ... There’s talk again that the Chargers may be looking to trade holdout receiver Vincent Jackson. The Seahawks and Redskins were mentioned this summer as possible destinations ... ESPN reports JaMarcus Russell admits past use of codeine, but that he insists it last occurred three years ago. Russell also admits that he tested positive for codeine after being drafted by the Raiders but says he does not have a drug problem ... Broncos’ Elvis Dumervil (torn pectoral muscle) could be back as early as December after original reports had him done for the season ... Ravens safety Ed Reed may not be ready opening weekend.
bill.lankhof@sunmedia.ca
