Will you still have the same passion for Kentucky basketball when we have a line up of pros playing ONLY for money. What will Kentucky basketball even BE when that happens
-
-
It's a question.
Eventually, it will settle into a norm and no one will even think about it.
I've always thought there should be some kind of profit sharing. Why should they not get a piece of that pie."I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you."
Genghis Khan -
College sports have been a farm team for the pro leagues forever. The only difference is now the farm teams are getting paidComment
-
It's a good question honestly. There's no doubt that my interest in basketball in general has diminished lately. I haven't watched a non-UK regular season game in several seasons. But that's not just because of paid players. The officiating and the endless video reviews have played a part too.
I still watch all of the UK games, but there was a season or two there toward the end of Cal where there were several I missed. Pope has renewed my interest, but I'm not certifiably crazy about UK basketball in the same all encompassing way I was for about 30+ years ending around 2018 or so.Comment
-
These kids have been paid/compensated in one form or another. 18 year old "starving students " having tats for days and probably meal tickets and "rental cars" among other things...the only difference now its out in the open. Akin to how people can bet on games...it was always there if you wanted to find it...now its just an app awayComment
-
Why can't Zakai Ziegler come back?Comment
-
Bingo.
I went to high school with Rex Chapman. I remember him announcing his decision for UK and within the next week he was driving a brand new IROC-Z28. It affectionately came to be known as the I-REX. While Rex never told me anything for certain, I was friends with his sister and she more or less admitted to some things, and he's pretty much on record these days saying others. Heck, half the guys who have been retired from pro ball for two or three decades are spilling the beans, whether it's former players from UK, UNC, Kansas, Syracuse, etc., etc., it doesn't matter...money was flying from all different kinds of angles.Comment
-
I remember that era all so well, I REX lol. My cousin was one of the top players in the state during the Chapman high school years so I was able to live through that era.
I actually met Chapman sister and his mom years ago. They came to set up some kind of event for at my ex mother in law's house selling something lol lol lo. His sister was pretty cool but totally forgot her first name.
Anyways, back to the pay for play. Of course it has been going on for many years. My relatives supplied both UK and UofL athletics with vehicles for years including staff, coaches, players etc. Can honestly say I never was able to get any first hand dirt on UK players but it wouldn't matter, I would not speak on it it anyways.
Now U of L is a different story. I can remember back in the 80's U of L players would show up in a small town I grew up in to visit the local banker for years. Labradford Smith comes to mind along with a few others. Pretty evident what was going on. That same banker was eventually convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison.
When I was in the car business, I remember T wilt under pressure Williams coming into the dealership to purchase a new $60k TAHOE at the time. This was the summer after his junior year. Dude traded in a like new charger and left at least $2k worth of shoes in the trunk, he didn't care. Vehicle was put in the name of someone out in Washington lol. In my interaction with him, I asked him about Patrick Patterson and he kind of rolled his eyes. Oh well, my friend then talked to this dude like a child lol lol lol, straight punked him out to be honest.
Back in the day, I used to mingle with a ex UL player Troy Smith, yes that Troy Smith. My analysis is this, overall he's a crappy person regardless if he was guilty or not.
As much as I hate U of L, used to play many rounds of golf with Coach Crum, funny how that all works.
Anyways, moral of the story, players getting paid and fringe benefits has been going on forever. From small schools to big schools, just the way it is. Personally I always felt that if they could send me to the Afgan mountains at 18 years old, players should get paid for bringing in all the money they generate, just my opinion.Comment
-
Honestly, don't think it would be much different than lately. I think we're pretty far removed from guys picking/staying at a school because of loyalty. I will continue to be a diehard who plans their schedule around games, but what is different is when the game is over. Win/lose, once it's over I just go on to the next thing. Losses do not keep me up at night anymore.
The NCAA, networks, schools, and coaches are all getting millions; so, I do not really care if the guys are getting a piece of it in the open now.Comment
-
Unless I missed something. Is a player now allowed to get drafted and play for a NBA team then come back to college with eligibility??
Is this the meaning of pro's playing college basketball??
If that's the case, there are a whole lot of very good pro basketball players who played at UK who still have 3 years of eligibility left.Last edited by KentuckyWild2020; 2 weeks ago.Comment
-
No, the guy played two years in the G-League, declared for the draft and then withdrew. NCAA ruled his was eligible to enter college as a Jr, and will play for Santa Clara. Interesting situation, but I do not see that being a norm.
Comment
-
I think there is (and should be) a distinct difference between pro (NBA) and essentially semi-pro (developmental leagues, International leagues, COLLEGE, etc.). I look at anyone other than actual NBA as a "paid amateur". Sure, technically they are "professionals"....but we all know they're really not. Not in the way we've always looked at professional.Comment
-
Understood.
Looks like Pandora's box is WIDE OPEN these days.
I can see why Virginia's coach and others have decided to get out of college sports. Same for Nick Saban at Alabama. I suspect Jim Harbaugh at Michigan was thinking the same thing and returned to the NFL.
At least on the pro level, there is a salary cap involved with the exception of MLB.
It truly is the WILD WILD WEST in college sports these days. I don't have a problem with players getting paid but the filthiness of all, it truly is a cut throat business these days.
Comment
-
Not to pick on you, because I see this posted all the time, but I think that the Coaches like Saban, Harbaugh, K, Jay Wright etc., are getting out not because of the players getting paid ( we all know that Bama, Michigan...hell all of them were paying players, just not upfront) but they are getting out because of the ability of the players to transfer whenever and however many times they want. So they are no longer able to stockpile players for continuity. That is why I think a lot are getting out. So they do not have to constantly re-recruit for positions that used to be filled with the next guy in line.Comment
Comment