The Shoe Companies Are Just as Guilty

[mathboy]

I see very few posts that focus on the villainy of the shoe companies. We seem to damn the weak ones that took the money, but we are not damning those who offered it. Both Adidas and Nike spent millions of dollars corrupting college sports. Don’t tell me the CEO's didn't know. No corporation in American or anywhere else would allow one of its representatives to hand out these sums of money every year without knowing where and how it is spent, and without accounting for the return on this investment.

If you figure a dozen kids got payments of $100k-$150k per year to steer them to certain schools, and this has been going on for 10 or more years, that is a lot of money. What this means is that these companies knowingly and purposefully intended to corrupt college sports.

As for me, I will never again purchase any product from these companies.

 

[tynd10]

I see very few posts that focus on the villainy of the shoe companies. We seem to damn the weak ones that took the money, but we are not damning those who offered it. Both Adidas and Nike spent millions of dollars corrupting college sports. Don’t tell me the CEO's didn't know. No corporation in American or anywhere else would allow one of its representatives to hand out these sums of money every year without knowing where and how it is spent, and without accounting for the return on this investment.

If you figure a dozen kids got payments of $100k-$150k per year to steer them to certain schools, and this has been going on for 10 or more years, that is a lot of money. What this means is that these companies knowingly and purposefully intended to corrupt college sports.

As for me, I will never again purchase any product from these companies.

You will never buy any Purdue gear again?

 

[mathboy]

Purdue should stop dealing with these companies. Otherwise, you are correct, no more Purdue gear. I am sincere about this. It is the only way this stops. Money talks.

 

[Inspector100]

I see very few posts that focus on the villainy of the shoe companies. We seem to damn the weak ones that took the money, but we are not damning those who offered it. Both Adidas and Nike spent millions of dollars corrupting college sports. Don’t tell me the CEO's didn't know. No corporation in American or anywhere else would allow one of its representatives to hand out these sums of money every year without knowing where and how it is spent, and without accounting for the return on this investment.

If you figure a dozen kids got payments of $100k-$150k per year to steer them to certain schools, and this has been going on for 10 or more years, that is a lot of money. What this means is that these companies knowingly and purposefully intended to corrupt college sports.

As for me, I will never again purchase any product from these companies.

I have felt the way for over 20 years. Glad to see you state similar feelings. And to think that in this day that some people are advocating "paying the players." Is that a way to downplay and justify the actions that are all ready taking place? And next on my list is Coach K. I was living in southern Maryland when he got a contract from Nike. He, the school, Duke, and the shoe company went through and exhaustive discussion and statement sequence to state that nothing was inappropriate about the contract. They added that this was a revolutionary type of contract that would enhance all of college basketball as time went on. They were so passionate about their statement and the idea they had to tell the story to the press that I looked at it as overboard and unnecessary. That to me sends up a red flag that their was something fishy in the ocean.

 

[BoiledSteel]

Couldn't disagree more. No one forced those people to take money and I would bet that if there is no one to take the money, the shoe companies would stop offering it.

 

[mathboy]

Couldn't disagree more. No one forced those people to take money and I would bet that if there is no one to take the money, the shoe companies would stop offering it.

Please don't blame a kid from lower economic environment who had probably never seen $100 in one place before. Someone says here is $100,000 to go to this school, and nobody cares if you take it. These guys handing out the money were adults, coaches who were influential in these kids lives. They were tempting 16 year old kids with more money than they had every seen before. I blame the rich guys who knew better and purposefully started out to corrupt college basketball. Don't blame the victim here.

 

[SDBoiler1]

Please don't blame a kid from lower economic environment who had probably never seen $100 in one place before. Someone says here is $100,000 to go to this school, and nobody cares if you take it. These guys handing out the money were adults, coaches who were influential in these kids lives. They were tempting 16 year old kids with more money than they had every seen before. I blame the rich guys who knew better and purposefully started out to corrupt college basketball. Don't blame the victim here.

So were the kids' parents, and usually they were the ones Adidas funneled to money ultimately. Don't make it sound like the parents and sometimes the kids were innocent victims here. They knew exactly what they were doing and they knew it was wrong to take the money. Everything's fine until someone starts ratting out others - then the whole house of cards falls down.

 

[SDBoiler1]

Purdue should stop dealing with these companies. Otherwise, you are correct, no more Purdue gear. I am sincere about this. It is the only way this stops. Money talks.

This is stupid. Purdue has nothing to do with this and by not buying the Purdue-branded Nike merchandise you're actually hurting the school through the loss of licensing fees.

There are no other companies to go to anyway - your choices are Nike (the best IMHO), Adidas, and UA).

 

[chaspark]

I feel for the kids as they are too young to make a decision like this. I agree that the companies are also guilty but the fact stays that the schools and coaches are still more guilty than anyone else. They are the ones who should have said no. They are the ones most responsible for the schools' integrity, no one else. While I feel for the kids, I can't say I'd be so kind toward the schools and coaches.

 

[asmith640]

I'm no lawyer so I'm very unsure of the possibility of this occuring.

Being the Nike and Adidas are named in criminal scandals, could Purdue break contract with Nike?

With that said, Under Armour is not a bad second choice to Nike. Great material. CEO went to Maryland. Unnamed so far in scandal.

Possibility schools could leave and make the switch? I'd love to see all the B1G in UA gear. It could really send a message

 

[BoiledSteel]

So were the kids' parents, and usually they were the ones Adidas funneled to money ultimately. Don't make it sound like the parents and sometimes the kids were innocent victims here. They knew exactly what they were doing and they knew it was wrong to take the money. Everything's fine until someone starts ratting out others - then the whole house of cards falls down.

Exactly right.

 

[dumpsterFyre]

I'm no lawyer so I'm very unsure of the possibility of this occuring.

Being the Nike and Adidas are named in criminal scandals, could Purdue break contract with Nike?

With that said, Under Armour is not a bad second choice to Nike. Great material. CEO went to Maryland. Unnamed so far in scandal.

Possibility schools could leave and make the switch? I'd love to see all the B1G in UA gear. It could really send a message

Yup, good enough for the Golden State Warriors. Good enough for Purdue.

 

[bonefish1]

Having previously lived in Chicago for 19 years, there's always someone offering to give a bribe and even more people willing to accept them.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Yup, good enough for the Golden State Warriors. Good enough for Purdue.

Could always go with Big Baller Brand!!! I'm sure Lavar is absolutely giddy with all this coming out.

In all honesty, I wonder what school would be the first to link themselves with that brand. It could potentially be a big move for both as long as they turn out to be quality players in the NBA.

 

[SDBoiler1]

I'm no lawyer so I'm very unsure of the possibility of this occuring.

Being the Nike and Adidas are named in criminal scandals, could Purdue break contract with Nike?

With that said, Under Armour is not a bad second choice to Nike. Great material. CEO went to Maryland. Unnamed so far in scandal.

Possibility schools could leave and make the switch? I'd love to see all the B1G in UA gear. It could really send a message

If you think UA is totally clean, think again.

 

[boiler2288]

I hear Pitinos mother and mistress are both working as pizza makers now. Getting some of that sweet-sweet Papa Johns $$

 

[PU pit bull]

 

[Indy_Rider]

If you think UA is totally clean, think again.

The way they have really seemed to come out of nowhere in this market to become a major player. I really doubt they are clean.

 

[FirstDownB]

Could always go with Big Baller Brand!!! I'm sure Lavar is absolutely giddy with all this coming out.

In all honesty, I wonder what school would be the first to link themselves with that brand. It could potentially be a big move for both as long as they turn out to be quality players in the NBA.

OMG Lavar is the whistle blower!!! It all makes sense now

 

[asmith640]

If you think UA is totally clean, think again.

Please read, I said unnamed in scandal, never said they were totally clean or even clean.

If they are cleaner, Id llike to see B1G use them

 

[mathboy]

This is stupid. Purdue has nothing to do with this and by not buying the Purdue-branded Nike merchandise you're actually hurting the school through the loss of licensing fees.

There are no other companies to go to anyway - your choices are Nike (the best IMHO), Adidas, and UA).

Nothing "stupid"about it. These companies decided at the executive level to corrupt college basketball. They are the true bad guys here. Yes, taking the shoe company's money made the high school kids part of the corruption, but they would have had no real experience to help them make a better decision. As far as the kid (or his parents) knew, this was how things were really done.

The shoe companies are the real bad actors here. They acted with malice and forethought to corrupt these kids. UA may not be clean, but they are not implicated at this point. I think Purdue should break their contract with Nike on the basis of corruption and sign with UA immediately. Make a statement!

 

[Treed1967]

Nothing "stupid"about it. These companies decided at the executive level to corrupt college basketball. They are the true bad guys here. Yes, taking the shoe company's money made the high school kids part of the corruption, but they would have had no real experience to help them make a better decision. As far as the kid (or his parents) knew, this was how things were really done.

The shoe companies are the real bad actors here. They acted with malice and forethought to corrupt these kids. UA may not be clean, but they are not implicated at this point. I think Purdue should break their contract with Nike on the basis of corruption and sign with UA immediately. Make a statement!

All these shoe companies are corrupt trust in believe that. Making a statement to not wear nike won't matter they are just the sponsorsed company that supply the apparel for most Nike sponsored teams. It's the corrupt agents, coaches and parents who got caught up being treated like they in the NBA already. Many are to blame and all these shoe companies are corrupt trust me when I say that. The FBI came into and dropped a bombshell on every player ,coach aau coach corrupt agents and anybody involved in cheating. This is about to get way worse b4 it gets better watch what's about to go down and I for one am glad that something is being done about what has been going on for many many years. Stay tune.

 

[Dakota Girl]

Please don't blame a kid from lower economic environment who had probably never seen $100 in one place before. Someone says here is $100,000 to go to this school, and nobody cares if you take it. These guys handing out the money were adults, coaches who were influential in these kids lives. They were tempting 16 year old kids with more money than they had every seen before. I blame the rich guys who knew better and purposefully started out to corrupt college basketball. Don't blame the victim here.

Honestly, I think they are all culpable, player, coaches/school, parents, and corporations, etc.. While not all of them are used to large sums of money they are all old enough to know right from wrong. I will assign more blame to the adults and money men but I won't totally absolve the kids either. Just my view, for what it's worth.

 

[SIBoiler2]

OMG Lavar is the whistle blower!!! It all makes sense now

No way. Lavar wouldn't just blow a whistle. He'd be on TV beating his chest and naming names.

 

[Wolegib]

I'm just wondering. Bowen was rated somewhere between 20-30? right?

What were the top 5 players offered? I know Porter got a job for his dad. But that was totally legal, right?

 

[bonefish1]

Honestly, I think they are all culpable, player, coaches/school, parents, and corporations, etc.. While not all of them are used to large sums of money they are all old enough to know right from wrong. I will assign more blame to the adults and money men but I won't totally absolve the kids either. Just my view, for what it's worth.

I tend to agree with this, but you have grown ass men, con-artists, hangers-on, street agent, etc who all see a top recruit as some kind of financial windfall and all they have to do is talk the kid into accepting some money under the table that will help his family and no one will ever know anything about.
That's a lot of influence in a 16-17 year olds ear and the temptation of $ is hard to ignore when everyone around him is saying "trust me".
Now granted, the kid's parents should know better but if they've got their hand out as well, then the kid is in a no-win situation.

 

[SDBoiler1]

I tend to agree with this, but you have grown ass men, con-artists, hangers-on, street agent, etc who all see a top recruit as some kind of financial windfall and all they have to do is talk the kid into accepting some money under the table that will help his family and no one will ever know anything about.
That's a lot of influence in a 16-17 year olds ear and the temptation of $ is hard to ignore when everyone around him is saying "trust me".
Now granted, the kid's parents should know better but if they've got their hand out as well, then the kid is in a no-win situation.

Enough of the victimology. There should be consequences for making poor decisions, including taking bribes from bagmen.

 

[Dakota Girl]

I tend to agree with this, but you have grown ass men, con-artists, hangers-on, street agent, etc who all see a top recruit as some kind of financial windfall and all they have to do is talk the kid into accepting some money under the table that will help his family and no one will ever know anything about.
That's a lot of influence in a 16-17 year olds ear and the temptation of $ is hard to ignore when everyone around him is saying "trust me".
Now granted, the kid's parents should know better but if they've got their hand out as well, then the kid is in a no-win situation.

Yes. It's hard to resist temptation, peer pressure, and bad guidance which is why it is so critical as a parent to not only teach ethical behavior but to practice it. There will be some parents who have directly screwed up there kids lives in this mess.

 

[bonefish1]

Enough of the victimology. There should be consequences for making poor decisions, including taking bribes from bagmen.

I'm not claiming the players to be victims. Maybe more like, easy prey. When everyone around them, including thier coaches and sometimes parents, are saying 'trust me' and someone grew up in circumstances where $50K or $100K might as well be $1,000,000, then it's hard for a 16-17 year old to have the worldly wisdom to say "no, this is wrong".
Trust me, I'm a staunch believer in personal responsibility and consequences but this isn't a decision of deciding whether to steal a candy bar.

 

[ChuckJr]

The kids taking the money are not victims. The schools playing by the rules are victims. Being poor doesn't make you a victim. In my case it empowered me.

 

[FirstDownB]

The apparel companies together with the NCAA create a high stakes $$$ merchandise game where corruption will always find its way in. That is certainly a contributor, along with the personal accountability of the guilty actors.

If NCAA is serious about getting the influence of the labels out of the game, why not require all NCAA team jerseys and apparel to be made without any conspicuous branding? No visible Swoosh or UA or Adidas. Sure, the NCAA would lose some money, but the NCAA is not all about making money, right?... Right?...

 

[SDBoiler1]

I'm not claiming the players to be victims. Maybe more like, easy prey. When everyone around them, including thier coaches and sometimes parents, are saying 'trust me' and someone grew up in circumstances where $50K or $100K might as well be $1,000,000, then it's hard for a 16-17 year old to have the worldly wisdom to say "no, this is wrong".
Trust me, I'm a staunch believer in personal responsibility and consequences but this isn't a decision of deciding whether to steal a candy bar.

In my book, easy prey = victims. Slicing it pretty thin if you ask me.