Interesting Day Ahead...

[mu03eng]

Thank god we're not an adidas school.

While I don't think we're involved (at least based on everything I'm hearing, we would be very, very, very surprised to be involved).....I don't think it is restricted to the schools that have Adidas as a their equipment provider.

My understanding is this involves Adidas steering AAU players it "sponsors" to schools(regardless of equipment sponsorship) who would then in turn steer players to agents who would sign the player and would steer them to Adidas for contracts.

Basically, coaches were paying for access to Adidas AAU kids, and then turning around and selling those kids to agents.

[blikemike2]

The quote is probably accurate. Pitino did not spend any of his money or any of Louisville's money to recruit Bowen. They did not have to, because a shoe company did. The real question is whether Pitino knew what was going on.

The article connects the dots, Bowen family accepted money, had he committed to Michigan St he could be facing ineligibility.

[StillAWarrior]

It started with an SEC investigation I believe into one of the agents or middlemen. He got pinched and started to squeal.

"Louis Martin "Marty" Blazer III,, a former Pittsburgh financial adviser, who was accused of swindling $2.35 million from five clients by the Securities and Exchange Commission, was the cooperating witness who helped the FBI in its investigation of the basketball coaches and other defendants, according to U.S. Department of Justice documents obtained by ESPN."

[wadesworld]

Hopefully Giannis hasn't signed on the dotted line with Adidas yet!

[nyg]

"Louis Martin "Marty" Blazer III,, a former Pittsburgh financial adviser, who was accused of swindling $2.35 million from five clients by the Securities and Exchange Commission, was the cooperating witness who helped the FBI in its investigation of the basketball coaches and other defendants, according to U.S. Department of Justice documents obtained by ESPN."

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20824193/ncaa-basketball-coaches-10-charged-fraud-corruption

Just beat me to it.  Here's the source and cooperating witness.  #1 on bus, now #2, #3, etc........

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

While I don't think we're involved (at least based on everything I'm hearing, we would be very, very, very surprised to be involved)

I can't imagine we're involved. I could be misunderstanding but I think shoe companies would only shell out money for kids that are expected to be in the NBA one day.  They only recruit wet have had who was a consensus lock to the NBA out of high school was Henry.  I don't think we had any shoe dealings there.

Just hoping that Kansas is involved somehow.

[muwarrior69]

FBI has set up hotline.

http://dailycaller.com/2017/09/26/the-fbi-setting-up-a-hotline-for-college-basketball-corruption-is-incredibly-stupid/

[VegasWarrior77]

The talk in Las Vegas when Shabazz Muhammad committed to UCLA was that he was going there because it was an "Adidas School".
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/04/13/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Shabazz.aspx

[Spotcheck Billy]

No athletes are going to get screwed over. They all know that, if they are caught, accepting money would make them ineligible.

If When schools are disciplined and banned from the post-season the current students are effectively punished unless they can transfer without sitting out a year aina?

[GGGG]

FBI has set up hotline.

http://dailycaller.com/2017/09/26/the-fbi-setting-up-a-hotline-for-college-basketball-corruption-is-incredibly-stupid/

You read that crap? 

[Pakuni]

You read that crap?

Where else is one going to get insight on what NFL owners really think?

[mu03eng]

Can we at least leave the crap commentary in that retched hive of scum and villainy called the SuperBar?

[muwarrior69]

You read that crap?

I have a subscription to the New York Times as well. So I'm not particular to whose "crap" I read.

[wadesworld]

The talk in Las Vegas when Shabazz Muhammad committed to UCLA was that he was going there because it was an "Adidas School".
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/04/13/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Shabazz.aspx

That happens quite often.  Heck, Diamond Stone chose Maryland because his dad was given a job by UnderArmor and they're a UA school (and he couldn't get into UW, duh...oh and forget that UW was already in the process of transitioning from Adidas to UA by that point...).

[Spotcheck Billy]

t-shirts are already commemorating this event: https://twitter.com/phillipmbailey/status/912719890028613632

[cheebs09]

t-shirts are already commemorating this event: https://twitter.com/phillipmbailey/status/912719890028613632

I understand it from a rivalry perspective, but I'd be shocked if Calipari wasn't sitting in his office sweating a bit (as well as many other coaches). Hopefully, we aren't included on that list.

[Jockey]

Just to add a bit of levity:

The prez of Louisvile really said this today "UofL is committed to ethical behavior and adherence to NCAA rules; any violations will not be tolerated."

[Oldgym]

t-shirts are already commemorating this event: https://twitter.com/phillipmbailey/status/912719890028613632

The University-6 jersey wins the day.

[StillAWarrior]

t-shirts are already commemorating this event: https://twitter.com/phillipmbailey/status/912719890028613632

"Already?"  I would have thought they had those in storage.  Actually, I would have thought they had been a top seller for quite some time.

[StillAWarrior]

The University-6 jersey wins the day.

Yeah, that one is definitely new.  And hilarious!

[Pakuni]

The plot thickens:

Darren Heitner @DarrenHeitner
Sources: Basketball agency ASM Sports was raided today. FBI had warrant, took Andy Miller's computer.


Miller is an agent whose client list includes Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka, Dwight Howard, Kristaps Porzingis and Myles Turner.

[Windyplayer]

The quote is probably accurate. Pitino did not spend any of his money or any of Louisville's money to recruit Bowen. They did not have to, because a shoe company did. The real question is whether Pitino knew what was going on.

Bingo. I'm guessing constructive notice is enough in these cases, too (AKA burying your head in the sand is not a defense).

[chapman]

ESPN pretty much buries the Louisville part of the story, with no mention until paragraph 8:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/20824193/ncaa-basketball-coaches-10-charged-fraud-corruption

Pat Forde/Yahoo on the other hand calling for the death penalty:

https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa-needs-give-louisville-basketball-death-sentence-bombshell-allegations-prove-correct-181930063.html

[GGGG]

Rick Pitino just released a video statement.

[MuMark]

Rick Pitino just released a video statement.

Nice! The Sergeant Schultz defense!