Celtics fined $30,000 for Ainge contact with Durant

[EastStang]

While I have no doubt that UT is probably doing something underhanded in recruiting battles, they never get caught, never get punished, so why worry about it? One of these days, they will get theirs, but probably not in my lifetime. In this case, no NCAA violation occurred and thus, there is nothing to carp about and nothing to investigate. Now if someone gave Durant a 50 cent box of Tide, I'd want a full scale investigation.

[Danny Noonan]

Someone shouldn't be questioned just because they're good.

So, please tell me, what would Ainge be negotiating with Durant's mom in the stands? You're absolutely positive they're negotiating. Please inform us all.

Not questioning because Durant's "good." I'm questioning because where there's smoke, many times there's fire.

Again, why was Ainge fined, if it's so innocent?

Do you think it would be cool for an agent or NFL exec to hang out with an SMU football player's family at a road game weekend - and what if SMU knew about it?

Man, you guys are really fired up about this. Gotta go - poke salad on the stove.

Ainge was fined because the NBA has rules about this. Just like Phil Bennett can't comment on players that haven't signed LOI's. He can't try and talk to them before a certain age. If he does, Bennett broke the rules - not the player or the high school.

Please tell me 1) what was being negotiated? 2) Why it was being negotiated?

Even though you're sure it happened, I'll settle for a logical theory.

[expony18]

Gee, guys. (read Danny and Stallion)

Who thinks my post is stupid now?

Again - will anybody now look at Durant or UT? H*ll, no.

you act as if UT invited ainge to come sit next to durants mother... How is UT in the wrong here?

[Blunt Pony]

Someone shouldn't be questioned just because they're good.

So, please tell me, what would Ainge be negotiating with Durant's mom in the stands? You're absolutely positive they're negotiating. Please inform us all.

Not questioning because Durant's "good." I'm questioning because where there's smoke, many times there's fire.

Again, why was Ainge fined, if it's so innocent?

Do you think it would be cool for an agent or NFL exec to hang out with an SMU football player's family at a road game weekend - and what if SMU knew about it?

Man, you guys are really fired up about this. Gotta go - poke salad on the stove.

Ainge was fined because it is against the rules. Same as it is against the rules for an NBA exec to comment on a collegiate player who has not declared for the draft! For God sake man, next thing you know you will be blaming Darrell Royal for the Kennedy assasination. I wonder if the DMN has explored that angle???

[Stallion]

Does Texas have to cheat at least in Football? Seriously how much cheating is going on in RECRUITING when they get 20 commitments out of the first 21 offers at Junior camp BEFORE recruiting even gets going a year before signing date. I doubt much dirty recruiting goes on with early early commits in football. Its the kids that string the process on until signing date that should be really scrutinized. UT hasn't fared well AT ALL with these last minute recruits for several years. I see absolutely ZERO evidence that Mack Brown has been involved in any shady recruiting episodes over the last 8 years or so he has been at Texas. Of course, I'm fully aware that there are all kinds of benefits flowing to players at a lot of schools once recruits enroll in college. But Mack Brown seems to run a pretty clean program in RECRUITING as far as I can tell. The underbelly of the UT program are the running off scholarship players and the very poor graduation rates which are largely the product of the NFL and the the players "encouraged" to transfer. All bets are off in Basketball recruiting which has become a much more slimy business with street agents, AAU coaches and sponsors.

[ALEX LIFESON]

"The underbelly of the UT program are the running off scholarship players and the very poor graduation rates which are largely the product of the NFL and the the players "encouraged" to transfer. All bets are off in Basketball recruiting which has become a much more slimy business with street agents, AAU coaches and sponsors."

You left out all of the criminal acts.

[mr. pony]

[quote="Stallion"]Does Texas have to cheat at least in Football? [quote]

Ah, yes, the ol' "big schools don't cheat, because they don't have to."

Ask Arkansas and Alabama about that. Why did/do they cheat?

Danny, I never said I'm SURE Texas did/does anything wrong.

I just want to know why questions are never asked. Nobody cares. For instance, I never saw Ainge's fine in the DMN's print edition. (Maybe I missed it.)

Today's DMN says Durant has been contacted by Kobe and told he has a $30-50 million shoe contract waiting. Ho hum.

If Durant has previously accepted any of these offers, either verbally or in writing, this past season, he's ineligible and UT might forfeit wins.

The NCAA has toughened its amatuerism laws recently. Check 'em out.

[mr. pony]

Another thing: If Durant verbally accepted Kobe's "offer" on behalf of Nike, his decision for next year is made. He's ineligible to play for Texas.

[2112]

why does stallion always race to the texas longhorns defense?

[mr. pony]

Good question - and why does he always hammer SMU?

[DallasDiehard]

.... I see absolutely ZERO evidence that Mack Brown has been involved in any shady recruiting episodes over the last 8 years or so he has been at Texas....

And you're comfortable saying this because of the extensive investigation you've run down there? Come on, just because Coach February gets patted on the back for his class every year doesn't mean he's clean. He might be, he might not. But all it means is that if - IF - there's anything shady going on down there, they cover it up well. I have no reason to believe they cheat down there, but I also have no reason to believe they don't.

[Stallion]

I'm comfortable because 60% of his players commit within a week of the first day they possibly could be offered and 80% within a month or two and because there has never been a single insinuation of illegal recruiting by Mack Brown at UT. So I generally give people the benefit of the doubt when they have a prior track record. And yes I follow it pretty close.

[Danny Noonan]

mr. pony, your accusations:

Never said the Celtics were paying Durant, simply meddling and negotiating, which used to be against the rules.

I think it's highly unlikely that Durant is without representation

Celtics will likely get first pick at Durant. Don't tell me business isn't getting done.

Provide one piece of evidence that proves this. Provide one good reason why this would be happening.

There's ZERO reason to believe he has an agent. There's no good reason the Celtics would try to begin negotiations with a player that may or may not go pro, and may or may not be available to them. Especially since there really are no negotiations between teams and rookies. that's why NBA rookies don't hold out.

So please back up your previous statements. Or at least try to.

[Danny Noonan]

Does Texas have to cheat at least in Football?

Ah, yes, the ol' "big schools don't cheat, because they don't have to."

Ask Arkansas and Alabama about that. Why did/do they cheat?

Danny, I never said I'm SURE Texas did/does anything wrong.

I just want to know why questions are never asked. Nobody cares. For instance, I never saw Ainge's fine in the DMN's print edition. (Maybe I missed it.)

Today's DMN says Durant has been contacted by Kobe and told he has a $30-50 million shoe contract waiting. Ho hum.

If Durant has previously accepted any of these offers, either verbally or in writing, this past season, he's ineligible and UT might forfeit wins.

The NCAA has toughened its amatuerism laws recently. Check 'em out.

1. First there is a difference between Arkansas and Alabama and Texas. If you don't think its 10x easier to recruit to Texas than those schools then you're crazy. Second, Arkansas and Alabama cheating has nothing to do with Texas. If Rice gets caught cheating, should NCAA start investigating us as well?

2. You said you were sure Durant did something wrong.

3. Here is a link to the DMN reporting about Ainge's fine. Also has a story about Jordan getting fined. Conveniently, you did miss it.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... index.html

4. He's been offered a shoe contract. Proves nothing. What if one of our players is offered a banking job while still eligible? Should we investigate?[/url]