{"id":80861,"date":"2018-03-12T15:38:02","date_gmt":"2018-03-12T15:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"\/rcntv\/?p=80861"},"modified":"2023-03-01T23:59:08","modified_gmt":"2023-03-01T23:59:08","slug":"true-march-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.astound.com\/atvn\/true-march-madness\/","title":{"rendered":"True March Madness"},"content":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company.<\/em><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/em>It is NEVER good when the acronyms NCAA<\/a> and FBI<\/a> are used in the same sentence. But as everybody gears up for the start of March Madness<\/a> \u00a0this week, the bigger concern for the NCAA is the FBI investigation into the black market of college basketball.<\/p>\n

Big-time schools with big-time programs like Miami<\/a>, Louisville<\/a>, Auburn<\/a>, Oklahoma State<\/a>,\u00a0 Southern California<\/a>, and Arizona<\/a> are all being investigated for either funneling money to families of star recruits or steering current college players, who are soon-to-be NBA<\/a> players, to potential agents for money. This involves offering bribes (as high as $100,000) to players\u2019 families, assistant coaches, and head coaches. The NCAA, obviously, prohibits this kind of activity.<\/p>\n

In other words, someone was getting \u201cpay-to-play\u201d money. \u201cPay-to-play\u201d is the same phrase those of us who live in the Lehigh Valley have heard over and over again in the past few months in connection with the mayor of Allentown.\u00a0 As you must know, he was found guilty and faces many years in prison. \u00a0In the same vein, the FBI investigation could send coaches and shoe company executives to prison.<\/p>\n

Some question the ethics of a university making millions and millions off the skills of their athletes, offering the athletes little in return. Duke<\/a> reported they made $33.7 million for the 2014-15 season when they won the national championship.\u00a0 And the coaches of these money-making programs take in millions of dollars themselves.<\/p>\n

It is estimated basketball shoe companies take in @ $950 million annually.<\/p>\n

In the ideal world of the NCAA, a basketball player receives nothing other than a college scholarship (the elite players almost never finish college) and some meal money. Is it any wonder they and their parents want a piece of the immense pie that they help to create? \u00a0Many wonder who really is a victim here – certainly not the institutions that get these players; certainly not the shoe companies that get the university endorsements; certainly not the coaches; and certainly not the players.<\/p>\n

So, yes, fill out your office pool, enjoy the next few weeks of college basketball, and try to forget that this is all going on around the game. But, rest assured, the scandal is not going to go away.<\/p>\n

This March Madness will certainly lead to April Madness, May Madness, etc.<\/p>\n

ABOVE THE EARS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gary\u2019s Guesses (March Madness) By Region<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0West <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

With Xavier<\/a>, North Carolina<\/a>, Michigan<\/a>, and Gonzaga<\/a> in this region, this is a VERY, VERY tough one to pick. My heart is with Michigan<\/a> because of Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman of Allentown Central Catholic High School<\/a>.\u00a0 Providence<\/a> is hot right now after forcing overtime against Villanova<\/a> in the Big East tournament championship.<\/p>\n

My pick \u2013 North Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

Midwest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone ALWAYS likes Duke and they are #2 in this region, with Kansas<\/a> getting the top spot. Michigan State <\/a>is #3, but with the Big Ten tournament played a week earlier than the others, they have had a long layover (could actually be good for them).\u00a0 But not quite good enough.<\/p>\n

My pick \u2013 Kansas<\/strong><\/p>\n

South<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is where the #1 team in the nation, Virginia<\/a>, resides and they are the best. Defense wins championships and they are a great defensive team.\u00a0 Maybe Kentucky<\/a> or Cincinnati<\/a> can forge an upset, but I do not think so.<\/p>\n

My pick- Virginia<\/strong><\/p>\n

East<\/strong><\/p>\n

As good as Virginia\u2019s defense is, that\u2019s how good the #1 seed Villanova<\/a>\u2019s offense is. They just won the Big East tournament, were ranked #1 longer than any other team before giving it up to Virginia, and seem to have the easiest region.<\/p>\n

My pick – Villanova<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. It is NEVER good when the acronyms NCAA and FBI are used in the same sentence. But as everybody gears up for the start…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"Yoast SEO Relevanssi index exclude","inline_featured_image":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-behind-the-mic"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTrue March Madness - ATVN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"True March Madness - ATVN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RCN or any other agency, organization, employer or company. 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