“The coach of a top AAU team also runs a nonprofit foundation that mixes basketball and education — but are the connections too friendly with some collegiate programs?

[Mark Adams’] connections and motives, he says, are clear and pure. But others in the high school and collegiate basketball communities keep asking questions: What about Adams’ ties to Indiana University basketball and about how his son got a job under coach Tom Crean with no prior college coaching experience? What about whether Adams stops communicating with African basketball players if they don’t follow his advice when selecting a college? What about Indiana Elite, which has evolved into a pipeline for top players to IU, punctuated by future verbal commitments? What is going on with his nonprofit’s donations and expenditures? And what about gifts bestowed upon Colombian-born forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea, a top IU commitment for the Class of 2012?

…A close look at [Adam’s NPO] A-HOPE, Indiana Elite and relationships with specific college programs revealed findings that in some cases might draw the scrutiny of NCAA investigators to Indiana, that have raised concerns among other college coaches and that have some prep school administrators and coaches swearing off working with A-HOPE again.”

This article both worries and enrages me.  When I started reading it, I had to stop because I literally felt too nauseous to continue.  It sounded bad.  Like, really bad.  Everyone is in a tizzy about it (obviously), and I have a lot more reading to do before I get my bearings, but after calming down and finishing the article, I’m mostly pissed.

First of all, the timing of it.  I know they purposely released it the day after they released their c/o 2012 rankings, but really ESPN?  Fuck you for not even allowing me 24 hours of happiness.  And a 5-month investigation?  SERIOUSLY?  You spent 5 months investigating high schools juniors who verbally committed to a team that went 3-15 in conference this year?  Just so you could turn around and say “GOTCHA!” when we showed the first sign of recovery?

Secondly, the entire premise of Fish’s accusations is a little ridiculous.  He implies that because all these people are “connected”, there must be something illegal going on.

Indiana is a basketball state, and Bloomington is Mecca; you can’t use the development/existence of a basketball community there as inculpating evidence.  For example, Fish implies that Adams’ residence in Bloomington is proof of an unholy union.  Do I even need to explain why that is absurd?  He talks about the fact that former IU players and coaches stay in close contact and stay involved in Indiana (state and University) basketball like it’s some giant conspiracy.  No.  It’s an alumni network like any other.

It even seems like he attempts to implicate Dan Dakich in his conspiracy theory, because he played at IU, played with Steve Alford, and “also coaches an Indiana Elite 16-under team, has a contract with the adidas AAU Camp, is a former 10-year IU assistant coach under Bob Knight, and served as IU’s interim head coach in 2008”.

It’s a fucking joke.  Dan Dakich was born and raised in Indiana, as was Mark Adams.  Not to mention the fact that this kind of networking occurs in all social and professional circles — and basketball is both of those.

Thirdly, less than a year ago, ESPN published an article basically praising Tom Crean’s development of Indiana’s AAU system.  That article discusses the same players and relationships mentioned in the new article, but with a completely different tone.  I’m annoyed how ESPN blatantly manipulates facts to paint IU in whatever light it pleases.

That being said, I am still concerned about the evidence presented in this article.  Like I said, I have a lot of reading to catch up on before I know what to think, but I am worried.  I know these accusations fall into a gray area at best, and I’m reminded of Tom Izzo’s suspension this past season.  Like the article says, I find the idea that Crean would willingly do anything wrong laughable; we’re still on probation, for christ’s sake.  We’re not going to get away with anything right now.  However, what if, like Tom Izzo, we unintentionally break rules that are unclear?  The NCAA is unlikely to be sympathetic.

So yeah, I’m concerned.

(Source: ESPN)

Ok, Deadspin is pissing me off.  First, they posted this article about the “#1 Cubs Fan”, scoffing and clearly not realizing it was an April Fool’s joke.  They updated the story to reflect the joke after people pointed it out on Twitter and in the comments, but they didn’t even acknowledge that their readers brought it to their attention.  That rubs me the wrong way.

And then this article is just ridiculous.  That headline is a fucking joke.  His “solo defamation crusade”?!  Are you KIDDING?  Calipari is widely regarded as a scum bag!

The author also took issue with this 2009 statement from Knight:

“Integrity is really lacking [in college basketball]. We’ve got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation, and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.”

The author’s retort:

“He was wrong […]. Calipari has only had one school — Memphis — on probation.”

Oh, sorry.  Coach Knight was probably referring to the fact that Calipari has had Final Four’s vacated at two schools.  The author failed to mention that.  And she says that like the fact that he only put one school on probation should be applauded.  stfu.

Whatever.

(Source: deadspin.com)

A fun read (don’t worry — pictures too!) from Ballin’ is a Habit