It was great to see the Kevin Ollie-led University of Connecticut Huskies win the national championship in college basketball on Monday. Ollie joins a small fraternity of African-American coaches who have “cut the nets down.”
John Thompson of Georgetown, Nolan Richardson of Arkansas and Tubby Smith of Kentucky were the only men before Ollie to have that claim and two of those coaches are now in basketball’s Hall of Fame.
The other story made me wonder was that of Shabazz Napier. Napier was selected at the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and was the heart and soul of the team. While on the podium during the celebration Shabazz took the advantage of having the attention of America to make a statement.
“You’re looking at the hungry Huskies,” Napier told the crowd and TV audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens when you banned us.”
One thing here. U Conn was banned from participating in the tournament because the program did not meet the basic academic standards prescribed by the NCAA. No recruiting scandal, no point shaving, nobody being paid under the table. The Huskies did not play in the tournament because they did not have players who had good enough grades. Plain and simple, no ifs, ands or buts here, and yet Shabazz made it seem like he and his teammates were persecuted for some wrong reason.
Time for a reality check here, as all they had to do was to go to class and do the work.
Funny how we never heard a word from the NCAA on how this rule really worked. It was also put into place because of the blatant lack of respect that then Coach Jim Calhoun had shown toward the rule, which eventually cost him his job. It may have been said that he was retiring, but the NCAA had far more dirt on this program than they shared with anyone. Since Calhoun was moving on, the two-year ban was all the punishment they received.
Had Calhoun and U Conn chose to fight, U Conn would not have been national champions on Monday night, as they would be banned.
Shabazz Napier is a superior leader, and he did choose to stay at U Conn during the ban while others fled. But the notion that they were singled out is off-base here. All they had to do was earn better grades. And it is obvious that what some schools are now teaching athletes so they can “get by,” many of of them should not be there in the first place. Their academic level does not meet the requirements these students are charged with fulfilling.
Another sad story in the world of college sports as we know it. Oh well, time for everyone to sweep this one under the carpet like they do everything else these days when it comes to the NCAA and how business is done.
No Tiger. Now What?
Now that it has sunk in that Tiger Woods will not play in this week’s Masters because of back surgery, one would have to ask, “Now what?”
While Woods has not been the dominant factor in the game he once was, he is still the face of golf as we know it, and there are many that are glad he is not there. This is the time of the year when the haters show their true colors about Tiger Woods. More than one has stated that they are looking forward to the Masters without Tiger. I guess they want the good old days back.
To those who are delighted that Woods is not there so Phil and the also-rans now have a shot at winning, let me remind you that without Woods, golf would have a different look if it had remained all white. The TV ratings, which drive sports, certainly would not be as high, nor would the sponsorships that players and tournaments count on.
To those who are happy that the greatest golfer of our time is unable to play because of injury, shame on you. If not for Woods, you may need a new day job.
Even though a diminished Woods has had his struggles on the course, he still moves the needle like no one else the game has seen. Woods still cashes checks for just appearing at some tournaments, and golfers never saw so many digits on a check before his arrival, yet few are willing to acknowledge what he has done for the sport.
There are several reasons why many have turned on Tiger. Some reasons are obvious. As for the others, Tiger has taken the same approach President Obama has: do not make any new friends while in office. Woods has kept the media at a distance, and some do not like it.
You all remember the media feeding frenzy when he had his domestic issues that led to divorce? Why would he cuddle up with any of the creeps who put him through that?
Woods is not a touchy-feely guy. If you want to talk golf, he is a bastion of knowledge. Anything else, take a number and he may get back to you. He seldom allows anyone to break a story, as he takes advantage of social media rather than risk being misquoted or having his comments taken out of context.
The PGA this season has tried to hand the title of the face of golf to someone else. Many of the other players are being talked up, only to have them fall on their face when the light is shining on them (see Rory McIlroy). Someday someone will emerge as a consistent player like Tiger woods has been in the past, but until he totally shuts it down, my suggestion is to show him the respect he is due until someone is good enough to take it.
There has been plenty of time for someone else to emerge since Woods’ setbacks, and there is still no front runner. This weekend will be no different, no matter who puts on the Green Jacket.
