WHAT'S THE POINT

I never played big-time college sports, so hopefully someone who did or who knows more about college sports than I do can answer these two questions for me. What is the point of NCAA investigations? and How does the NCAA determine what programs or issues to investigate? The recent investigation into the high school transcript of a former University of Memphis player who fits the description of Derrick Rose has prompted me to ask these questions, because in my eyes, the NCAA is the most bass-ackwards sports organization that I have ever seen (that hasn’t been run by Isiah Thomas).

It has been reported by a variety of media outlets that the NCAA is investigating allegations of a player fitting the description of Derrick Rose using a stand-in for the SAT Test and having high-school grades changed so that he would be able to qualify for a scholarship at Memphis (where he only played the mandatory one season). Although these allegations would qualify as big violations of NCAA rules, I find the timing of this particular investigation rather peculiar. Since he has left high school Derrick Rose has led Memphis to a Final Four, become the #1 draft pick in the NBA, led the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs (where they participated in one of the best playoff series of all time), and won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. So, I ask of you, do you really think that he cares about an NCAA investigation into his high school transcript? Also, if Barney Fife and the rest of the NCAA investigators find that these allegations are true, what can they do to him?

There are those who would argue that the investigation still needs to take place and that the coaches and/or administration must be held accountable if any wrong-doing has taken place. However, that will also be difficult to do because the “Teflon Don” himself John Calapari is no longer pacing the sidelines at Memphis. He has taken his great recruiting ability and excellent coaching skills to COLLEGE BASKETBALL WINNINGEST PROGRAM, The University of Kentucky (he has also been told that he is not at risk in the investigation). So again I ask, what is the point?

There are only a couple of possible outcomes for this investigation. One possibility is that nothing could happen. If the NCAA finds that no rules were broken during the recruiting of the player that fits Rose’s description, then life would go on as normal for all of the concerned parties. However, if it is decided that violations did take place, then Memphis will almost certainly face some sort of NCAA sanctions. This could mean that they could possibly have to forfeit their recent Final Four appearance and all of the income earned from it. Trust me, no one is going to forget that they made it to the Final Four even if the NCAA strips them of that distinction. Much like everyone still remembers the Fab Five of the University of Michigan from the early 90’s. The NCAA also found them guilty of rules violations and removed all of their records from the books, IN 2003 (man I’m glad the guilty parties had to deal with the consequences of their actions, the NCAA is never late, but always right on time)! They could also lose scholarships and/or be put on probation. What a way for new coach Josh Pastner to start his head coaching career?

As far as elite college basketball jobs go, the University of Memphis does not qualify as one of them. They are in a terribly weak conference and were only regularly on TV because they had a high-profile coach, in Calipari, that was able to recruit the kids that networks wanted to put on television and schedule games with big name programs. Now that he is gone, look for Memphis, if they avoid NCAA sanctions to remain near the top of Conference USA, but not garner very much national attention. On the other hand, if the NCAA does decide to sanction them, look for their program to follow a similar path as the Georgia Basketball program after the Jim Harrick fiasco. They were so hamstrung by sanctions and bad publicity that the next coach never had a chance. That would be terribly unfair to Pastner because he will be there to deal with the fallout, while Rose (if it is actually him that they are investigating) continues to collect NBA millions while becoming one of the faces of the NBA, and Calipari enjoys his thrown on top of the College Basketball World at the University of Kentucky. Since all of the alleged parties of interest have moved on, someone please tell me, what’s the point of this investigation again?

AND NOW FOR MY BALLER & SCRUB OF THE WEEK

BALLER: Stan Van Gundy (Head Coach Orlando Magic) – You may look like the third Super Mario Brother or an “actor” that I won’t name here because this is a family blog, but you figured out a way to defeat LeBron James and the Pips in order to move on to the NBA Finals. Congratulations! Be sure that after you win the championship this year, that you go up to Pat Riley and tell him to “Kiss the Ring” for the way he played you during the 2005 – 2006 season. Now go out and beat the Lakers, because I HATE KOBE BRYANT!!!!

SCRUB: LeBron James’ Background Singers (AKA the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers) – What happened? You had the best regular season record in the NBA this season. Then you choked when it really counted. You gave LeBron James virtually no help in this playoff series. Outside of James and Delonte West, no one on that team showed any toughness on the court. In crunch time LeBron had to bring the ball up court, survey the defense, and make the play (shot or assist, and sometimes both) to keep you in the game. He also had to play virtually every minute of every game, which obviously wore him out. Just think, if he had just a little bit of help, you would be playing on the Big Stage in the NBA Finals. But instead you will continue to be his background singers in small nightclubs.

THE HAWKS ARE ONE MOVE AWAY

On Thursday night I was sitting in my living room thoroughly enjoying the Boston Celtics victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, when I suddenly began thinking about my favorite team, the Atlanta Hawks. I began to think about the moves that new General Manager, Rick Sund should make (besides re-signing Josh Smith & Josh Childress to long-term contracts) to improve our young, exciting, up and coming team.

Some of the ideas that entered my mind included:

Draft Derrick Rose (my regular readers might have noticed that I am a huge Derrick Rose fan) – That won’t happen because unlike previous years, we made the playoffs and are without a lottery pick; in fact, we don’t have a draft pick at all.

Require the entire team to grow Josh Childress style afros (to promote team unity) – That won’t happen because Al Horford would look incredibly funny.

Petition the league to allow them to play all 82 games at home – THAT SIMPLY WON’T HAPPEN

Trade Mario West for LeBron James (we found a team dumb enough to take Sheldon Williams, so anything is possible) – OK, this is just wishful thinking, and if we lose Mario West, who will guard the opposing teams best perimeter player for the last 2.3 seconds of each quarter.

Although I know that none of the previous suggestions will ever be seriously considered (although they would be interesting), I do have the answer that will propel the Hawks to a top four team in the Eastern Conference. THEY SHOULD ACQUIRE TAYSHAUN PRINCE from the Detroit Pistons.

After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals, Pistons GM Joe Dumars said that things would change and that he would evaluate all of his options. With that in mind, it is now the time for us to make our move for Tayshaun Prince. He is the missing piece to the Hawks puzzle. Acquiring a player of Prince’s caliber is not going to be cheap. We are definitely going to have to give up something of value to acquire a player who can shut down the opposing teams best perimeter scorer, defend a quality post player, all while rebounding well and giving you 12 to 15 points a game. Therefore I propose that we offer Marvin Williams (former #2 overall pick) and Salim Stoudamire to Detroit for Prince. This trade will be a win-win for both teams. It would shake things up in Detroit with a quality young player with great upside. It would also give Atlanta just what they have been missing, an elite perimeter defender with the ability to score.

Adding Tayshaun Prince would give the Hawks one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. It would also help Joe Johnson immensely. Joe Johnson is the best scorer and the best perimeter defender on the Hawks team and having Prince would allow him to guard someone other than the best perimeter player on the opposing team. That way he would have more energy on the offensive end of the court in the fourth quarter. This would also help him to stay out of foul trouble. Tayshaun Prince also provides VETERAN LEADERSHIP and CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE to one of the youngest and inexperienced teams in the league. He is a team first guy who is very unselfish and will easily fit in with the Hawks.
I know that some of you won’t like the idea of parting ways with the talented Williams, but his skill set simply doesn’t mesh well with the Hawks. He is basically a 6’9’’ mid-range jump shooter, who is not an elite rebounder or defender. I truly believe that he will improve and be a very good player down the line, but you have to give up something to get something in the NBA. (That’s unless you make a deal with the Grizzlies who, as Jeff Van Gundy stated, simply "donated" Pau Gasol to the Lakers cause for basically nothing). I too would miss Williams. But let’s be honest, he is a nice guy and a nice player, but he NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HAWK (we should have drafted Chris Paul or Deron Williams in the 2005). If Rick Sund is serious about building a contender in Atlanta, he should take my advice and trade Marvin Williams for Tayshaun Prince. Trust me on this, he won’t be sorry.