Bloated By Corruption And Cover Up

It isn't even bloated Midnight Madness time yet. We don't often go off on other topics, particularly sports, the real life's blood of this sports  junkie nation. But this one doesn't deserve a pass. Signs don't lead; they follow. And the signs have been there longer than a stuttering preacher's sermon.

A teenage high school kid gets a basketball scholarship to go to one of the big boy schools.  Where's the foul in that?  Can somebody ask Jim Boeheim, please?

Pitino spoke about Bowen's recruitment with WHAS-840 Radio's Terry Meiners shortly after the player committed in June.

"We got lucky on this one," Pitino told Meiners. "I had an AAU director call me and ask me if I'd be interested in a player. I saw him against another great player from Indiana. I said 

'Yeah, I'd be really interested.' They had to come in unofficially, pay for their hotel, pay for their meals. We spent zero dollars recruiting a five-star athlete who I loved when I saw him play. In my 40 years of coaching this is the luckiest I've been."

The criminal complaint outlines the involvement of a University-6 coach, who is not listed by name but is described as an assistant coach. 

Rick Pitino most likely uttered the above last June during a radio interview with a straight face. And that's just part of the story of the recent blockbuster in an FBI sting operation into tne corruption, abuse and bribery now swirling around college basketball big time. Pitino for non-sports fans is head basketball coach at the University of Louisville, a school, like it's head coach, that is no stranger to questionable goings-on in college basketball. It's the Big Money Game, forget The Big Dance

If the allegations turn out to involve Pitino, it's hard to think of a more deserving big time college basketball cheat. Recall over the years there's been many. Rumor has it Pitino is considering Dick  Vitale, one of the games biggest apologist, to defend him. Jumping full 360 slam dunk that would be a fun court room scene. Pitino lying through his teeth and Vitale spitting through his.

For anyone who believes there hasn't been dark and dank shenanigans going on in this game for many still in their teens for years, roll over Beethoven and tell the higher-ups at the NCAA the news. Tell them too about the money. A while ago we had some deflated footballs in the news. Maybe this time with a little luck we will get a lot of air let out of the round ball in a game that is reportedly about competition, character building and integrity for student athletes on their journey into adulthood.

Remember Pitino's claim: "We spent zero dollars recruiting a five-star athlete....In my 40 years of coaching this is the luckiest I've been."  If there's fire related to this current smoke, the luckiest Pitino may ever get is staying out of jail, a joint where some thinks he would fit in well. He could coach dome real pick-up games there.

Here are two words for you, Coach Pitino: Prove it.

See https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/dont-be-shocked-college-hoops-is-dirty-be-surprised-it-took-so-long-to-get-exposed/