Phil Mushnick: Syracuse-UNC represents ugly, unchanging reality of NCAA sports

[Tugg Speedman]

This is emerging as the story line this weekend.  Cheating schools being rewarded..

The NCAA brought this on themselves by taking Syracuse and not punishing UNC.

Syracuse-UNC represents ugly, unchanging reality of NCAA sports
April 1, 2016
Phil Mushnick

http://nypost.com/2016/04/01/syracuse-unc-represents-ugly-unchanging-reality-of-ncaa-sports/?utm_source=applenews&utm_medium=inline&utm_campaign=applenews

It doesn't matter that Saturday's Syracuse-North Carolina national semifinal will be played between teams that logically wouldn't be perennial powers if not empowered by years of demonstrable academic, financial and social fraud.

It's easy to blame the coaches, Roy Williams and Jim Boeheim, based on what they knew or chose not to know. Yet neither was able to succeed — and grow extremely wealthy — without the selectively blind approvals from the stewards of the universities.

Those ostensibly in charge of Syracuse and UNC know what it takes to reach the Final Four, and they're all in. How many Division I coaches are hired on orders to run a clean ship? They're hired to win, few-to-no questions asked.

The fraud is so blatant, so similar to organized crime — racketeering in that schools become fronts for football and basketball teams loaded with full-scholarship recruits who have no reason to be enrolled beyond winning ballgames — that UNC star Rashad McCants was named to the academic dean's list for "earning" four A's despite having never attended those classes.

[GGGG]

It can be argued that the NCAA took it easy on Syracuse.  But they are serving their punishment. 

The NCAA hasn't ruled on North Carolina yet.  So you can say "not punishing...yet."  They will get punished.

The question I have is, what do people want in terms of punishment?  More show causes for coaches?  Even less scholarships?  More post season bans?

As Chicos correctly points out, the NCAA is policing itself.  The members don't want harsher penalties. 

[Groin_pull]

It can be argued that the NCAA took it easy on Syracuse.  But they are serving their punishment. 

The NCAA hasn't ruled on North Carolina yet.  So you can say "not punishing...yet."  They will get punished.

The question I have is, what do people want in terms of punishment?  More show causes for coaches?  Even less scholarships?  More post season bans?

As Chicos correctly points out, the NCAA is policing itself.  The members don't want harsher penalties.

Not sure there's much of an argument...the NCAA did take it easy on Syracuse.
As far as UNC, I expect nothing more than a slap on the wrist and radio silence thereafter. UNC is one of the premier players in the NCAA. The NCAA wants to move on as quickly as humanly possible. And since ESPN is all about the ACC, look for them to comply. Prediction: a mild "punishment" with ESPN saying very little about it.

[muwarrior69]

Jim Boeheim was in the 1994 film Blue Chips about corruption in college basketball; a fictional Western University Basketball (UCLA?) program where the alumni arranged untraceable payments to recruits. Made me laugh when Boeheim would hold up his hands in anguish loosing out on a highly sought after recruit. What a hypocrite. Film was on cable just the other night.

[Herman Cain]

Generally I agree with most of Phil Mushnick  columns. I think this one is a bit over the top though. The UNC case has not been finalized so we don't know what the penalties are. Obviously Syracuse received their penalty, and will deal with the consequences  of lost scholarships as time goes by.

[NCMUFan]

Punishment should be dealt out by the other 350 NCAA schools that played by the rules.  Judgement by peers.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Jimmy B is no stranger to lack of institutional control...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/01/syracuse-scandal-timeline-bernie-fine-investigation_n_1124038.html

And in the 90's for minor violations (cash in Christmas cards)...
http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/02/sports/colleges-ncaa-calls-a-two-year-foul-on-syracuse.html

In all these instances, combative Jimmy seems in need of some Ginko Biboa to help his awareness problems.