Hey Guys, We'll just have to wait & see if this current money-straitjacket, greedy feeding frenzy is something which is good or bad for college hoops, & how many of us can abide these changes.
Money has also been a part of the college game. I remember the point shaving scandals of the 50's, 60's & 80's. I remember playing in the old MSG & watching through the smoke, the first 30 rows - mostly gamblers in sharkskin suit & smoking Cubans - overreacting to seemingly meaningless shots by scrubs at the end of games. I always let my teammates be aware of the point-spread so they wouldn't be the guy who hit that shot & became instant targets.
But now, college hoops has no rules anymore & the inmates are running the asylum. The NCAA oversight is dead. And of course, the shady folks (mainly unscrupulous agents, boosters, coaches, universities & parents) will exploit the situation - now right out in the open. You don't need to leave an envelope anymore.
When I was a kid, my whole goal was to play college basketball & get a free college education - worth then around $6000 for four years. There were mostly good people in the game then & my goal gave me a hoops & academic focus I may not have encountered otherwise. I met my goals & went on to play pro in Europe & also got a MBA from Yale.
But now? Just watch how many of the quality people leave the game or retire early with these insanely greedy changes. It's already happening in both hoops & football.
Of course, most of today's kids don't value a $250K free college education anymore. Many would never qualify for admission. Few even go to class. But now, they will enter the transfer portal every year to make sure that every one of their "uncles" gets paid by the new school. The Largest & Highest bidders will win that game.
Yes, we'll have to wait & see as this all swirls around us & high school kids become millionaires, get shoe deals & drive Ferrari's (hey, LeBron drove a Hummer H2 as a kid). But honestly? These changes really hurt my college hoops lovin' heart.
Father Demo
