The Federal Trial Is Underway

[PonyLaw90]

Getting bits and pieces of the federal trial relating to basketball corruption. You guys may remember the story was that Louisville paid Brian Bowen and his family $150,000 to attend Louisville. Testimony today indicated that Arizona was ready to pay him "an outrageous amount" and so was Oregon. Lots of schools already implicated are being named.

For once, I'm glad we are not in the mix.....

[One Trick Pony]

Jinks

[JasonB]

It will be interesting to watch it play out. A lot of schools were given a heads up beforehand that their names would be implicated in the discussions.

[redpony]

If I read the article correctly it seems like those being implicated are saying the feds have no business in this investigation - it should be the ncaa investigating. Of course we all know how that would play out. An arky directional school will get creamed and the big boys would just continue doing what they do.

[PonyLaw90]

Irrespective of the legal positioning presented by the implicated universities, one thing is crystal clear: The NCAA is wholly unprepared and ill-equipped to identify and prosecute illegal transactions that are now being employed by coaches and shoe companies. How is the level field fair for any "normal" university when the big boys are paying $100,000 + for the prime stars?

NCAA enforcement is a joke and a farce. The Feds are showing that on day 1.

[One Trick Pony]

Yeah it's a joke

[Stallion]

The NCAA does not have the jurisdiction or legal authority to enforce the laws of the United States or its various states. Without the ability to subpoena and sanction witnesses it has no business attempting to concurrently enforce ILLEGAL activity. In fact, once a criminal case is filed or reasonably contemplated, the NCAA should abstain from any such attempts because it can not ensure procedural due process, prosecutors will not cooperate or share their work product with the NCAA during their investigation, witnesses will refuse to cooperate since they are entitled to their 5th Amendment right not to incriminate themselves and there is a different standard of proof in criminal versus civil/private administrative proceedings. Once the criminal proceedings are completed the NCAA should accept the findings of the Courts and proceed with their compliance. You may not like it but that is the only reasonable course. Even civil legal proceedings are routinely stayed until the completion of criminal proceedings

[Topper]

Maybe the NCAA should amend its bylaws to require member institutions to produce records and witnesses relevant to its investigations. Failure to comply could result in harsh penalties. Then perhaps it could enforce its rules against schools that currently laugh in their face. And while they are at it, maybe they could enforce a rule or two against a couple of corrupt programs down the interstate.

[redpony]

would love to see that happen. Then again we all know the ncaa is as corrupt as a politician and will never bite the hand that feeds it big $$$.