There are lots of questions, including that the story was either missed or buried by the anemic, soul-less local press. "Scooped by Yahoo! Sports", the headline should read. While it is plausible that UM President Donna Shalala knew nothing of the conduct of the players off-field, we are not talking about one or two bad apples violating NCAA rules: 72, count them, seventy two players we know about were named by Nevin Shapiro, the pretend centi millionaire who delivered the blow. President Shalala --a woman I admire-- is the programs biggest fan, but really. One could ask where was the Dade state attorney? The answer would be, sitting next to Donna Shalala.
Once one of the strongest programs in the nation, UM football was brought low by NCAA violations in the not-so-distant past. Now, what?
The real indictment here is of Miami, itself, in the decade of decadence when looking the other way was endemic of economic and political interests driven by speculation and fawned over by the mainstream media. This is how a convicted Ponzi schemer, doing 20 years now in federal prison, could worm his way to the heart of UM's reputation. Glitz and hype is the heart of Miami. So a young businessman shows up, who looks a year out of college himself, with millions to throw around and fuel the party: we all need a little help from our friends, if only to maintain appearances. Remember we are the 305. Could it have happened anywhere else in America? Not to this depth. We are talking about (or Yahoo! Sports, is) an atmosphere of sex, drugs and rock and roll that even the neighbors could hear. “Put it this way: there were times I’d be on my way home and I’d roll by the house and the whole thing, and there was a lot going on there. A lot,” a neighbor told Yahoo. “Players and cars and all that.”
The UM board of trustees has soul-searching to do. Where does this chapter fit in the narrative they wants to tell the world? They better find out fast. Bio-tech center, medical school powerhouse, emerging law school great, best party school in nation with plenty of chances for star amateur athletes to be with prostitutes where the girls in the cafeteria won't do. Sigh.
Nevin Shapiro got busted. I often wonder why so many other of Miami's fried fish, from the biggest like R. Allen Stanford-- who stole billions while embraced by the GOP hierarchy in Florida-- to Scott Rothstein, Tony Masilotti, James Burke and other losers who broke laws influencing city and county government, don't do more squealing. The truth can set us free. I guess the answer is, they didn't have Yahoo! to talk to.
11 comments:
I'm just wondering wondering why everyone is so quick to believe a professional con man sitting in federal prison? Perhaps THAT says more about us and what we think of the UM athletic program than anything else.
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Yeah, the same point has been flogged on the Miami Herald website. But I would be very surprised if throwing this red meat onto the media table wasn't thoroughly vetted by Yahoo attorneys. Not to say it couldn't happen, but the Herald does note the reporter is well respected. We will hear from the NCAA soon enough. Maybe this gives hope to other Ponzi schemers sitting in prison, whose stories could help "air out" the dark history of our times.
Don't kid yourself, if you think this is not just as pervasive at many of the other BIG PROGRAMS.
Look at what Ohio State is dealing with. Florida was slapped with over 100 violations in the early 80s, and you don't have to look far to see what Texas, Oklahoma, SMU, USC, and many, many, others deal with.
I'm not defending Miami, as a matter of fact, I attended a rival school, but its not anything that hasn't happened, or is currently happening at other schools.
It's an unfortunate side-effect of young kids with celebrity-like status, and no money, no real supervision, and tons of money being generated by, and thrown at them.
M
Rick, he's cooperating with authorities -- if he lies to them he's in even deeper doodoo. And what would possibly be his motivation? Plus he's already produced receipts and invoices and several players have confirmed the charges.
I still find it appalling that a Yahoo reporter from Kearny, New Jersey first discovered and broke this story rather than the Miami Herald. If you read the Q&A Forum with the Herald's Greg Cote, it's obvious that many Herald sports readers are having great difficulty with this realization also.
I am sure the Herald reporters are saddened too, even more than Donna Shalala. Thanks, Knight Ridder executives and thanks McClatchy for THAT.
Shapiro is reported to have gotten into a drunken argument with a UM staffer just outside the press box at Joe Robbie.
Ask yourself how or why no single reporter (a) heard about the altercation and/or (b) was curious as to why a booster almost got into a fistfight with the director of compliance?
Gimleteye is probably right: even the reporters are in on the scam, or so it seems.
From last night's Ch. 7 report it sounded like Shapiro was upset because none of his UM sports buddies, who acted like his best friends when he was underwriting parties, visited him after he was arrested. Awww, poor little rich Nevin and his fair weather friends.
South Florida Lawyers.....maybe a reduced sentence?
Maybe it's just me, but I have a real hard time believing a convicted con man.
I'm funny like that, I guess.
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We're not talking about his word. The documents and admissions by the players go way beyond that.
Another program that makes millions of dollars annually has problems. Seriously dude, why are you surprised?
We need to stop treating these kids like amateur athletes and start treating the NCAA as it is, big business and as Greg Cote says, a recruitment monopoly for the NFL.
This doesn't phase me at all.
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