Several former college football players have sued Electronic Arts and the NCAA over the unauthorized and uncompensated use of their likenesses for profit. link I personally think that it's about time. 

I have long thought the NCAA has strayed from its core mission with regard to the big money sports of football and basketball.  Division I football needs an end of the year tournament to determine the champion.  The BCS is just too messy.  I don't know a college football fan that thinks any differently.  Yet, there curiously is no such tournament.  Why?  MONEY.  Despite the increasing parity of college basketball, every year there are fewer mid-major teams in the NCAA tournament.  I believe this year saw the fewest mid-majors since the tournament went to 64 teams. Why? MONEY. 

This thing with EASports is yet another example.  Everyone knows that EA games uses the likenesses of college athletes.  EA and the  NCAA are profiting.  Why not the athletes?  I personally think that NCAA doesn't have ground to stand on here.  The royalties that college athletes would earn from EASports cannot be validly linked to any concerns about recruiting or fairness, since all athletes would get the same amount of compensation.  This is unlike advertising, where only stars at top programs would be able to cash in on their likenesses.  And it is unlike the old no-show jobs that big program athletes used to get at booster businesses.  Nevertheless, the NCAA doesn't want athletes to receive royalties, whatsoever.  Why?  Because the NCAA wants to keep all the money for itself.  I mean, why pay someone when you can exploint them for free?

Well this sums up nicely how twisted the rest of the sporting world is when it comes to UK basketball. Kansas blog posted a preseason top 25 and UK was 3rd while Kansas was first. I meant my comment as a joke and the response gave my quite a bit of..wait for it...Schadenfreude!

by BleedinUKBlue on Jul 2, 2009 9:18 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

just love the hear yourself talk? Seriously, I thought Misery fans were bad with how irrational they are and how much they have a hard on for KU. But, this is ridiculous.

You have been IRRELEVANT for nearly 5 years now. You had a HOF coach in Tubby Smith (WHO WON A TITLE) and you ran him out of town. He was the greatest thing in the world back then, huh? So was Billy G when he was first hired. You guys were so happy that you had that young, top prospect of a coach and were so ready to win multiple titles…. SPLAT! Now you got the ultimate shady dude and you think it’s gonna be different? Why? What’s better about Calipari? He cheats and doesn’t get caught?

Seriously, Kentucky fan (ALL OF YOU), get a life, get over yourselves and please realize that even your shit does stink, too – just like the rest of the world. And, spare me the "all-time winningest program" bullshit. That’s a crutch for a fallen program and a maniacal fanbase that wouldn’t admit that they had a drug problem if you were sprinkiling crack on your cereal instead of sugar.

Your collection of one-and-done players don’t give a shit about playing for Kentucky. They are there because Calipari and how he gets players to The League. None of them even want to be in college period, but for the NBA they have to. It has nothing to do with your "storied program" and how you have "the best fanbase in the country." It’s about the $$$. They will not mesh together and be competitive against a close-knit squad with even close to comparable talent. The first time John Wall jacks up a contested three instead of throwing it into Orton in the post, he’s gonna whine and bitch and sulk all the way down the court and then you’ll turn your back on him – just like you did Tubby Smith. (By the way, that Tubby sure can coach. He’s made Minnesota competitive.)

    
God, I hate Kentucky fan more than Misery fan. (Right now, at least.)

Trey-Hillman-I'm-A-Dumbfuck-Giveaway-Counter: How do you make an infinity sign on the computer? ∞
Crowder >>>>> Ryan

by KCsince88 on Jul 3, 2009 3:14 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I guess adding a :) makes all the difference in the world.
I’m not here to argue with you, but some myths I just cannot let go by….Tubby was not run out of town. He resigned to the well wishes of the bluegrass, both from people who were happy to see him go and from his many MANY supporters all across the bluegrass because he still had MANY supporters. The fact is his final years were absolutly an embarressment when it came to recruiting, and both him and the school realized it was best for him to part ways. We here wish him all the well and hope he does well in Minnesota. Kentucky went from an upbeat style of play with Pitino to a slow half court with Tubby and fans didn’t want that style of play.Finally, Tubby bowed out gracefully and I for one hope he wins the Big 10 this year. All in all, both parties benefited.
Billy G was…well he was Billy G. Insulting players, calling them crybabys, throwing diapers at players because they couldn’t take his non stop verbal abuse..enough was enough and we are glad hes gone. Billy G is the one who was run out if anyone ever was, hence this ongoing lawsuit.

As for your comments about stuff I never said and regret that it is the view of my team, well, I guess you said it all.

Glad to be apart of Rock Chalk Talk ;)

by BleedinUKBlue on Jul 3, 2009 3:44 PM EDT

ESPN reporting once again that Coach K will not leave Duke for the Lakers.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4298038

"Five years ago, Krzyzewski was courted by the storied franchise before he ultimately turned down a reported $40 million offer and stayed at Duke."  ...  " 'I will never leave Duke until I leave coaching.' "

40 million clams ... come on. Coach K got the kind offer Pitino couldn't say "no" to and said N-O. That's capital N and capital O. I'm sure they'll keep on fishing for someone to assume the reigns out in wacky LA. Who else might be on that list? Anyone think coach Cal may jump to the NBA once again if the stars line up right for him? Oh, I don't think he's going anywhere soon - but someday?

Who will run the Lakers on the road while Jackson stays in LA? Rick got the keys to the Celtics and the proceeded to crash and burn - and then to the 'Ville ... eech!! The basketball gods can be so cruel.

So maybe the Lakers will go after Roy Williams ... after all, he said goodbye to Kansas with a good thing going on. Players kind of coach ... they offered 40 million 5 years ago what's the going rate today? The NBA is tough place to play ... a good guy from my High School was cut after only one year on the job .. and he made the playoffs. (Michael Curry @ Detroit). The NBA will chew you up and spit you out. It is a no mistakes business - you're off - you're out. Is there a college coach willing to take that challenge? Maybe not with a small market NBA team, but with the Lakers?

For now it looks like Kurt Rambis with Phil on Speed Dial ... hope he's got the Verizon Network! hee hee  LOL :)

is smart.

At least according to Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated.

Perhaps Billy G. should have been a football coach instead :P

I don't know how all of this will play out (and in fact, it isn't clear to me that Kiffin actually did offer a scholarship), but it is fascinating, isn't it, to see how different the perspective can be.

There is some derision of this action on-line, but I'm pretty sure there won't be the outpouring of piousness that was prompted by Gillespie's recruitment of younger players. Gee whiz, at 13 what does any child know of the world? I would say that it is ridiculous for a barely-teenager to be making any kind of commitment. Having adults out recruiting pre-pubescents strikes me as totally outlandish.

Then again, maybe he isn't 13. Maybe he really is 16. And maybe he's a Chinese female gymnast. :P

Hey All,

my company just rolled a new service that can help any HS player.

VideoCoachMe provides one on one coaching sessions with former pro and college coaches from around the country. Using our amazing technology, both the coach and you will be watching one of your games together-at the same time!, while the coach will give you a live step-by-step analysis of your game, over the internet, from your home.

we have a special promotion that you should try, it's free... 

Video Analysis for High School Player

Attempts to recover money in the R. Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme has targeted, among others, 7 current and former major leaguers:

Targeted by the filing are accounts at Pershing, a clearing broker used by Mr. Stanford and where brokerage accounts were held by retired pitcher Greg Maddux, retired New York Yankees slugger Bernie Williams, current Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon, Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew, Texas Rangers outfielder Andruw Jones, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena and Jay Bell, a shortstop who played for several teams before retiring in 2003.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/06/25/kentuckys-jarmon-could-go-in-supplemental-draft/

"Jarmon is the most likely of the three players to be drafted, and he’ll work out at Kentucky on July 9. He also participated at the Kentucky Pro Day before the draft, measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds with a 4.76-second time in the 40-yard dash."

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/06/08/jarmon-to-declare-for-supplemental-draft/

Going to the Eagles?  That would be great for Jarmon; Philadelphia is a popular pick among the experts to go to the Super Bowl next season...and lose to New England or Pittsburgh.

Notice Jarmon's company - an oft-suspended WR with multiple arrests and an OL who couldn't stay on the field due to persistent academic problems.  The aforementioned situations are classic Supplemental Draft cases (off-the-field behavior and academic issues).  Not only does Jarmon's talent make him a surefire pick on 7/16, but the fact that his issue was a misunderstanding about a supplement and not run-ins with the law or problems attending class/getting the grades further works in his favor.

hey guys,

I have not heard anything on the idea of a possibility for Big Blue Madness at Commonwealth in a pretty long while, anybody out there in UK land got any updates. I think it would be pretty spectacular. I saw a mock-up photo of what it would look like the other day and it gave me pure chills. My idea, start raising money for a dome and turf!!! Just a thought.  Football deserves it too. Go Cats!!! I just can't wait for the fall

Ken Howlett has inspired a new T-Shirt, and a few of us have decided to take this little project on.

Continue reading this post »

Forgive me if this has been discussed. If so I’ve missed it, so please berate me and allow me to go on my merry way.

My miscellaneous thought of the day.

Why do we still have an open scholarship? I have head several possible guesses. A walk on will get for next year. Matt Pilgrim may be back (unlikely but it’s been a rumor). A Chinese shooting guard to replace Jody. A mystery recruit we will add. I tend to think it’s a little different than that. I think Coach Cal is showing his class here.

I think the scholarship is still Jody’s and Cal is holding it until after the draft.  As some of you may know, if a player with collegiate eligibility goes undrafted after declaring for the draft he may return to school if he notifies his coach within 30 days of his intention (Link here). This is also a rule that will be eliminated next year (link).

With this in mind, what would happen if Jody does go undrafted and coach has already filled his spot? We would leave this young man in limbo with no where to go but overseas or into basketball obscurity. Sorry Jody I know you were our leading scorer last year and all but we have given your scholarship away to someone else.

Now with that rule in mind, lets review the current situation. Jody is entering the draft, projected everywhere from end of the first to undrafted. Imagine the pressure on the kid? I wouldn’t want to quit my job to go apply for a job I have no assurances of landing. So what does our new coach, a coach Jody has never played for, do? He assures Jody will have a home should the worst happen and he goes undrafted. Hey kid you have too much to worry about. If things don’t work out you can come back and we’ll just go win a national championship.

I’m guessing after the draft tonight we will see some action with the open scholarship. Either it’ll be Jody’s if he isn’t drafted, or someone else will fill it (I would guess Pilgrim or a walk on for a year).

Now, how does that make you feel about our coach? I have no inside knowledge so I can’t say for certain this is what the situation is. But my common cents tells me we have one hell of a coach and doesn’t want to leave a kid, especially one as talented as Jodie hanging.

Oakie