NCAA Punishes Kindness, Turns Blind Eye to Criminals

For all of my sports watching life I've heard of the ridiculous rules the National Collegiate Athletic Association imposes upon its players and member schools. Some of the rules are necessary, some necessary evils, and others are just plain idiotic. Their most recent enforcement of the rules is simply a punitive move against citizenship and kindness, and their lack of punishment of arrested athletes has me scratching my head.

I am not a fan of Alabama Crimson Tide athletics, but I may become one. Any athletic program where 201 student-athletes give free textbooks to others is okay by me. Yes, Alabama is being punished for having a couple hundred young people who think getting free textbooks for others who can't afford it is worth the risk of NCAA punishment. Even if half of the athletes sold the books at discounted rates to non athletes, they were still doing something which helped another save a little (hard to come by as a student) cash. The program as a whole is on probation for three years, and all wins with identified players participating will be vacated. There has also been a $43,900 fine levied against the Crimson Tide (roughly the price of all the books "illegally" given away).

On the flip side of the NCAA rules coin, getting arrested doesn't put you or your school in any trouble with the powers that be. I heard today that, since 2005, 24 Florida Gator football players have been arrested. On this subject the NCAA has nothing to say. In fairness, eight of the arrests have lead to the charges being dropped, but that means 16 players likely did something that lead to a conviction in criminal court.

How can any governing body take themselves seriously given the interesting dichotomy revealed today: Do something good for others and you may be punished, do something illegal and no adverse action will be taken. This should be their slogan. What a great message they have sent today to high school and collegiate athletes all over the country.

Brian William Waddell is a foodie, beer geek, and author. His numerous blog posts range from food to politics. He also has a book of poetry, Fractured Prose, available here, and is ready to publish his second poetic endeavor.