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https://www.wsj.com/articles/arrests-expected-in-probe-of-alleged-bribery-kickbacks-at-college-basketball-programs-1506431065 Bribery, Kickbacks Alleged at Top NCAA College Basketball Programs Federal charges center on alleged scheme in which agents, financial advisers and apparel executives bribed college coaches to direct players to them Chuck Person is a basketball coach with Auburn University. PHOTO: ICON SPORTSWIRE/ASSOCIATED PRESS By Rebecca Davis O’Brien Updated Sept. 26, 2017 10:45 a.m. ET Federal authorities brought fraud charges against coaches at some of the nation’s premier college-basketball programs, including the University of Arizona and the University of Southern California, following a probe of alleged corruption in college sports. Prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office unsealed three separate criminal complaints Tuesday, alleging schemes in which agents, financial advisers and apparel executives bribed college coaches to direct players to them. Among those charged were an executive from Adidas, a financial adviser and a sports agent. Chuck Person, a former star with the National Basketball Association who works as an associate coach for the men’s basketball team at Auburn, his alma mater, was charged with accepting tens of thousands of dollars in exchange for steering student-athletes to a financial adviser. In one alleged scheme, Emanuel Richardson, an assistant coach at the University of Arizona, Anthony Bland, a coach at the University of Southern California, and Lamont Evans, an associate coach at Oklahoma State University, were charged with accepting cash bribes from a sports agent and a financial adviser. Mr. Evans, until March, coached at the University of South Carolina, and the charges stem from his work there. None of schools allegedly involved immediately returned requests for comment. In another alleged scheme, James “Jim” Gatto—identified in the complaint as a basketball marketing executive at a global athletic company—worked with another sports-marketing executive to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars from Mr. Gatto’s employer to high-school basketball players and/or their families in exchange for the players’ commitment to play for NCAA schools sponsored by the company. Jim Gatto is the director of basketball global sports marketing at Adidas, according to his LinkedIn profile. “Today, we became aware that federal investigators arrested an Adidas employee,” said an Adidas spokesman. ”We are learning more about the situation. We’re unaware of any misconduct and will fully cooperate with authorities to understand more.” Mr. Gatto is accused of getting $100,000 to a player so that he would attend a university that has an apparel contract with Adidas.

The Road Begins — Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011 — Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

The early spread is Notre Dame -4.5. Buying or selling? I think it's going to be a close game. Up here in Indiana, every Irish fan talks a lot about last year's 38-3 nightmare. In fact, it's all they'll talk about. I don't know if they're just not paying attention to the current rosters, trending topics coming out of each camp, or what, but they don't see to care about anything other than last year's result, ignoring the ESPN FPI almost putting this game at a 50/50 toss up. Add that to the fact Notre Dame lost huge playmakers from last season on both sides of the ball while Texas has had an entire off-season to develop and improve its young talent. I know the Irish has two proven quarterbacks, but I don't look at their roster the same way I did last year. Anyway, what say you? I think the early spread is fair, and I bet it will stay put before dropping to Notre Dame -3 by game day.

ESPN NCAA Investigating Louisville Book Both Louisville and the NCAA are conducting an investigation regarding a book being released by the Indianapolis Business Journal. In said book, there are allegations of using escorts in their recruitment of players. There will be photos and statements from the escort(s) included in the book. From a Texas perspective, this could be interesting as Louisville AD Tom Jurich is on our short list to fill our vacant AD position. Tom Jurich and Rick Pitino are both denying any knowledge. Andre McGee, a former Louisville Player/Graduate Assistant and Current Director of Basketball Operations is the main focus of the investigation.

A Horn Sports Beach Towel and a T-shirt for the winner. Use ESPN. Group name is: Horn Sports BBall http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2015/en/group?groupID=689413

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/06/sports/n-c-a-a-s-rich-poised-to-get-richer-with-more-athlete-benefits-.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A9%22%7D&_r=0

Apparently, since Texas & Houston are the same seed number, the NCAA privately flipped a coin and determined that Houston will be the Home team on Friday. That makes Texas the Home team on Saturday, and I'm told that a coin flip would happen again on Sunday if that game is necessary. What a stupid way of going about things. IMO, Texas should be home on Friday, UH on Sat, and coin flip on Dunday if necessary. What does the NCAA do if both teams are #1 seeds? Seems like a bonehead decision to me.

As the Longhorns finish this game with 59.6 seconds left in this game, Yahoo's Pat Forde reports that Myck Kabongo will be suspended for the entire season for improper benefits received for a trip he took to Cleveland earlier this year. They took their sweet ass time and now Javan Felix will be the point guard of the future for this Texas basketball team. The NCAA sucks.

Reports have been confirmed that the NCAA is investigating Myck Kabongo and a relationship with Lebron James' own agent, Rich Paul. Yahoo broke it first and here is the article. NCAA investigating relationship between LeBron James' agent and Texas guard Myck Kabongo - Yahoo! Sports To sum up the article Myck worked out with Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph, both represented by Paul, in Cleveland. The issue in question is if Rich Paul paid for Kabongo's transportation to and from Cleveland. That's mainly what the investigation is currently centered around. I talked to a source very close to Myck Kabongo and he said Myck claims "he's good" and should have nothing to worry about. Hopefully that's actually true and this gets settled soon because I'm excited to see the UT basketball team this season. It's 5 O'clock somewhere and OU still sucks...