Tigers' Title Try Tarnished after Takeaway

The University of Memphis cherishes their storied basketball program. Authoritative head coach, John Calipari’s arcane action during the 2008 season has produced 38 fewer victories for the trying team. The NCAA stripped the Tigers of all 2007-2008 wins on Thursday. The hierarchy, known to be a corrupt entity in the past, ruled Memphis used an ineligible player during their run for the national title. That player is believed to be the Chicago Bulls’ number one pick in 2008, Derrick Rose. This penalty marks the second time Coach Calipari and the prestigious program vacated Final Four seasons. In 1985, the Tigers lost their appearance and Calipari’s Massachusetts team surrendered its berth in 1996.
Shirley Raines is the President of Memphis. Raines believes the NCAA’s ruling is unjust and unfair, and the University is appealing the penalty. The Tigers lost the 2008 National Championship to Bill Self’s strong Kansas Jayhawks team in overtime. I still consider that title game one of the best in college basketball history. Even though I despise the Memphis and am not a fan of Calipari, the NCAA takes another hit. I am tired of hearing reports and scandals involving players who cheated their way through class and teams that suited up ineligible students. It proves not only do the coaches and players not care, but the system itself if more concerned with athletic success than academic progress.
Calipari was essentially promoted after taking Memphis to the final two years ago. He now coaches a legendary, but temporarily struggling, program at Kentucky. Calipari is sure to resurrect the Wildcats and convince recruits to enroll at the university to play basketball. I doubt his reputation as a coach will be affected at all by Thursday’s takeaway. The NCAA report did not name the player who was ineligible, but all fingers point to Rose. The player was accused of having another student take his SATs so he would be eligible as a freshman. Rose was cleared to play in 2007 because Memphis did not have enough evidence to validate the accusations. The NCAA defended its decision to strip the Tigers of all victories that year because the named student played in every game. Rose appeared in all 40 games that season for Calipari.
My question is where was the infractions committee when someone else was conjugating verbs for Rose? NCAA chairman, Paul Dee, admitted the committee never bothered to investigate the SAT situation. How is that excusable? The Eligibility Center initially ruled Rose eligible to play even though his academics were called into question. Rose failed his ACTs three times before apparently sitting for the exam in Detroit. Why he would travel to Detroit is still a mystery not one NCAA official considered serious enough to dissolve. The ineffectiveness and laziness of the NCAA is concerning. However, the governing body of college basketball is not completely to blame for the situation. The Memphis athletic department should have made a better attempt to comply with standards and ensure players’ eligibility. Dana Kirk suffered similar violations with Memphis basketball in 1985. The consequences did not make a difference because Memphis allowed it to happen again. The athletic department was placed on three years’ probation. So what? Rose is now making millions as the NBA’s reigning rookie hoopster. He could care less about his cheating college days and the implications that incurred. Actually, the repercussions amount to nothing. The NCAA’s previous and numerous cases involving similar matters did not leave a lasting impact or impression. The players won’t receive post-season bans or lose scholarships. Calipari may be out a hefty stack of greenbacks, and Memphis has to return the revenues of the championship run. But Calipari will go on to coach at another school and the one he left has a blemished and tarnished legacy, but will continue to send players to the Big Dance. Basketball and life will go on. Unfortunately, so will the scandals.

Parting points: Song for Friday- Weezer’s “I want you to”