It’s Time To Put Up Or Shut Up !

It’s Time To Put Up Or Shut Up !

Well the furor over the latest shenanigans of the Miami Hurricanes’ program carries on unabated and that’s largely in part to the claims now being made by incarcerated felon Nevin Shapiro . University President Donna Shalala along with AD Shawn Eichorst and senior compliance officer David Reed all now seem to be a loss to explain what went wrong on the campus of the school during their tenure. I would suggest that there has been an environment of calculated misdeed that has been ingrained within this university for the better part of two decades ! And at no time has anyone within the athletics department faculty governing the program has seen to address this matter and stem the tide of malfeasance . So on goes this saga as Shapiro makes his claims that now have embroiled current and former players of the school’s football and basketball programs .

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As things now stand I certainly would like to see what the outcome will be after the findings of the NCAA’s now five month ongoing investigation. Mark Emmert has seen fit to have legal counsel undertake this exercise on the collegiate body’s behalf . At some time the NCAA will have to take a stance and make an example of the university, very much in the same as they had previously done with the SMU Mustangs over two decades ago.

It certainly will interesting to see if Paul Dee as chairman of the NCAA’s Infractions Committee will recuse himself from any deliberation , as it relates to the University of Miami when it comes to a decision as to what form of punishment will be levied against the school. Dee served as a former AD of the program and to my mind it would be seen as a conflict of interest , albeit that his tenure ended with the school over ten years ago . Pat Haden currently serving as the athletics director of USC would certainly have a valid claim were Paul Dee seen to be part of any discussion concerning what form of punishment if any is levied against the Canes. As chairman of the Infractions Committee he played his part in making sure that the punishment meted out to USC was severe , with the loss of multiple scholarships, postseason play in any football games or for that matter BCS sanctioned games . One cannot deny that the athletics director of USC would have a valid argument against Dee presiding over the deliberations as it relates to Miami but this is simply what we have now come to expect from the NCAA ! As the governing body of collegiate athletics this institution is simply bereft of any intelligence much less integrity to begin with. Much of this came into being long before succeeded his predecessor Myles Brand as the body was thought of as corrupt and open to any form surreptitious activity just as long as they were able to profit from those actions financially .

Did I miss something but overnight , did the sky suddenly turn a different shade of blue ? Suddenly the whole baseball world is awry as the game’s first player has tested positive for HGH . Minor league player Mike Jacobs has become the first North American athlete to test ” positive” for the steroid and it certainly doesn’t bode well for the claims now being made by the league and in particular Bud Selig ——— that baseball (MLB) has the most stringent drug testing policy in all of professional sports . Unfortunately, the game simply doesn’t test the players playing at the major league level , where the union’s collective bargaining agreement prohibits such testing but allows for it at the minor league level , ostensibly because of the power of the MLBPA (union).

Rob Manfred states that can foresee the day where the players at the major league level will be tested for steroids then quite possibly someone has failed to pass on that information to Michael Weiner and his members of the MLBPA . Given the fact that the league hierarchy has simply been powerless to even have the temerity to truly discuss the matter in depth with the union they have chosen instead to cower like a child in the corner that has been rebuked simply for doing nothing at all. Bud Selig is ” spineless” and it speaks to his incessant stupidity as the baseball commissioner ! And all this for an executive who’s compensated with an extremely exorbitant salary if the rumors are to be believed . It is said that Selig’s salary for the fiscal year ending 2010 hit $20 million . Given the team salary of the New York Yankees , that wage would place Bud Selig alongside Mark Teixiera , CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez and most certainly in line with the 15 highest paid players in the league .

If Bud Selig cares as much as for the game of as much he invokes the names of Hall of Famers — Jackie Robinson , Hank Aaron , Willie Mays , Lou Gehrig and Sandy Koufax in the way that he has done . I certainly believe that the commissioner has simply been about creating sound bytes, merely for the sake of making them because he believes it is in fact what the fans would like to hear ! His actions hasn’t simply borne out what he aspires to see for the game .

Certainly if baseball wants to remain resonant amongst the fans then issues such as steroids and how best to deal with having a policy that is fair and seen as equitable in the eyes of the fans rather than the idiocy that we are now seeing . It is time now for the league hierarchy along with the team owners and the union to seek a remedy where there is some consistency as to how MLB addresses the issue of steroids and its testing policy. Perhaps it is the frustration of the fans who have seen Alex Rodriguez , Rafael Palmeiro , Mark McGwire , Sammy Sosa , Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds simply evade the wrath of the league in spite of either the allegations , speculation or proven case where these players’ names have been closely associated with presumed steroid abuse and the inevitable “Mitchell Report” which simply cast an even bigger cloud over the game .

Even with the advent of causing his school complete embarrassment Terrelle Pryor is in for a rough start to his NFL career. At the insistence of commissioner Roger Goodell the player will have to forgo the first five games of the NFL regular season . With the ongoing investigation of the Ohio State program and that is even school president Dr E Gordon Gee and AD Gene Smith now feeling that this sordid affair is now behind them . The school’s former football coach Jim Tressel has relinquished his role riding off into the sunset but knowing whether or not he will be able to hold a similar post at some point in the future.

Pryor’s agent Drew Rosenhaus now has to impress upon any team willing to take a chance on the player that his problems are far behind him . With the NCAA ,themselves having imposed a five game suspension on the player after he was embroiled in numerous allegations that upon investigation had been verified and found to be true. In light of that showing, the player decided to forgo his junior season with Ohio State and making himself eligible for the NFL Supplemental Draft . It is my belief that Rosenhaus will do utmost to sell his client as someone who’s capable of leading a team especially at the quarterback position . Pryor, himself , will have a hard time proving that he is the right man for the job. Quarterback’s taken in this past draft have found their way unto teams seeking either backups , starters or simply someone (third string) to carry the clipboard.

If Terrelle Pryor isn’t able to prove himself worthy enough of a starting position as a quarterback then there is always a possibility for the player to switch positions and become either a tight end or wide receiver . There’s an increasing belief that this may well be the best possible option for the player. Is Pryor good enough to have a successful career in the NFL ? Only time will tell but most definitely there is a great deal of intrigue being built up in anticipation to see how the player will fare. If he is unable to matriculate what was a moderately successful career at the collegiate level , step up within the NFL , then there’s every chance that Terrelle Pryor can become a star in the NFL .

Well now that Chad Ochocinco seems to have found a resting place for his languid career . I just hope that the player can live up to the claims that he’s a Canton bound future Hall of Famer ! Bill Belichick , his coaching staff and New England Patriots’ general manager Nick Caserio took a chance in acquiring the player via a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals . It certainly looks as if Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth another cast off who has joined the Patriots and found themselves welcomed , for both players this is their last chance at redemption.

In their first two preseason games of the New England Patriots seem to have hit their stride having not really lost a step from last season in spite of their postseason upset at the hands of the New York Jets .

Having decisively won the AFC East in 2010 with a 14-2 mark the letdown of that loss to the Jets remains fresh in the minds of the players , perhaps none more so than Tom Brady . The Superbowl winning MVP player knows that shocking loss and the fact that questions arose not simply about his play but the lack of heart from the team had many wondering if Brady’s heart was still in the game and not elsewhere . After-all , he’s now married to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen , father of two children , has immeasurable wealth alongside Peyton Manning , the duo it has to be said are the ‘faces of the NFL’ .

Once again building through the draft and the acquisition of free agents seems to be the path that Bill Belichick seems to be taking . Complacency on the part of the team , the coach and his staff may well have the main reason behind the Patriots’ fall from grace last season. Certainly, this season the team will have to prove themselves worthy and in particular the new additions to the roster , notably Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth.

At some point during the season we well begin to discover what the New England Patriots will be about over the course of their schedule. Character , depth , heart and force are the traits I am hoping to see from the team ! A set-back for the organization and it’s once again back to drawing board , something I believe that neither Belichick or the members of the team will simply want . Their goal will be a berth in the Superbowl and the end scenario of this team raising the Lombardi Trophy .

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What thoughts if any do you have with regard to the points raised within this piece ? Simply leave a comment as you deem fit on this topic and other salient points you feel pertinent .

Alan aka tophatal ……. https://tophatal.wordpress.com

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Picture and slide show details below .

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(1) Shawn Eichorst the current athletics directors of the Miami Hurricanes . Only in his current position for a little over a year , he succeeded Kirby Hocutt who now holds a similar position with Texas Tech . Miami Herald / Hector Garcia ……

(2) David Reed compliance director for Miami Hurricanes’ athletics program . It would be an understatement to suggest that Reed has simply sat idly by as the program has slipped down the ladder further into an abyss of shrouded malfeasance and lack of oversight during his tenure . courtesy of University of Miami . ……

(3) Mike Jacobs, seen here at Rockies spring training in March, says he took HGH to treat knee and back problems . Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press …

(4) Bud Selig , Rob Manfred and former MLBPA Executive Director Donald Fehr who now holds a similar position with the NHLPA are seen here being sworn in before giving testimony to the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee up on Capitol Hill , Washington DC in 2008 . AP/Getty Images /Jamie Squires …….

(5) JEANNETTE, PA – AUGUST 12: Terrelle Pryor works out at a practice facility while quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson looks on on August 12, 2011 in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images …….

(6) New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) smiles as he talks to teammates Rob Gronkowski (87) and Sebastian Vollmer (76) in the huddle during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011 in Tampa, Fla. The Patriots would go on to defeat the Buccaneers 31-14 AP Photo/Brian Blanco ……..

(7) New England Patriots’ Albert Haynesworth during NFL football training camp in Foxborough, Mass. Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011. AP Photo/Winslow Townson ……….

(8) FOXBORO, MA – AUGUST 11: Chad Ochocinco (85) of the New England Patriots talks with teammate Tom Brady (12) in the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 11, 2011 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The New England Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 47-12 . Photo by Elsa/Getty Images …….

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