Volume II No. 05
 09-19-03
 Cashing Out Chris Webber And Maurice Clarett
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2003

 There are many who might shudder at the thought of reading 
 about the misdeeds of yet another over-indulged athelete or 
 drugged-out Hollywood movie star. But, the sports and 
 entertainment businesses both mirror society - and the ills, 
 thereof. 

 So we have the sorry tales of high profile athletes Chris Webber 
 and Maurice Clarett. -- Let's take the case of Maurice Clarett first.

 Last season Ohio State won the "fictional" National College 
 Football Championship. Mostly on the back of a black running 
 back with slick moves on the football field, and a questionable 
 personal background off of the field. Now that Clarett is facing
 criminal charges, Ohio State can't seem to wash their hands fast 
 enough of this student-athlete, who is in fact, far more athlete 
 than student. Clarett has been suspended from the football team 
 for a year because he filed a false police report - after his SVU 
 was broken into and several items were stolen. { he exaggerated 
 the value of the items that were stolen }

 Graciously, Ohio State has allowed Clarettt to keep his scholarship
 while he serves out the supension.

 In reality, Ohio State deserves more of a kick in the pants than 
 a pat on the back, because this kid - who will most likely never 
 play a down of football for the university again - is in a limbo 
 of sorts. He is too young to apply for the NFL draft, and no 
 other major college will want to take a chance on someone who 
 has already been caught in a lie once, and thus, would have too 
 many eyes watching and waiting for another misstep, should 
 Clarett be given a second chance.

 This is an old story. Clarett should never have been at Ohio
 State in the first place. The university administrators should
 have known the "bad penny" they were getting. -- Beforehand.

 In fact, any other "student" with a background such as his would 
 have undergone far more scrutiny, before being allowed anywhere 
 near that campus. But, this perennial college football power was 
 all to eager to exploit this kid. -- And his moneymaking potential
 for the athletic department.

 But, as soon as trouble came knocking, they were just as eager 
 to drop Clarett. And waive all responsibility for this naive young 
 ballplayer's bad judgement. And lack of maturity.

 Is this the best that an institution of higher learning can do?
 Waive goodbye and claim "we" didn't do anything wrong?

 Chris Webber's case is as disturbing.

 A decade ago, the Fab Five were the talk of college basketball.
 Five talented ballplayers of outstanding ability were sure to 
 bring the NCAA College Basketball Championship to the University 
 of Michigan.

 Well, the Fab Five underachieved. That NCAA Championship
 never materialized. Three of the five; Chris Webber, Juwan 
 Howard, and Jalen Rose went on to become better than average 
 NBA talents. But, it wasn't long before word began to leak out 
 of possible NCAA violations at the University of Michigan
 during the reign of the Fab Five.

 Although, years passed and the Fab Five faded into memory,
 the Feds began looking into the allegations and eventually a
 university booster -since deceased - was indicted and charged
 with making illegal payments to Chris Webber { and others }
 before and during the time Webber was enrolled at the University 
 of Michigan.

 As with Clarett, Webber's story is not unique. These young 
 athletes are endulged from an early age { as soon as they begin 
 to show any potential } spoiled by the adults around them, 
 and later offered money and cars, by people attached to the 
 universities in question.

 The universities keep a wary and reluctant eye on what is 
 happening in their athletic departments, and gladly draw all 
 the benefits of these ballplayers presence on their campuses. 
 But, when the NCAA investigations begin, and the indictments 
 are drawn, these same college administrators take the hear no 
 evil, see no evil, approach.

 All the fault falls upon overeager alumini and dishonest coaches.
 Not to mention the greedy athletes, themselves.

 Get real.

 Major college athletics is a cesspool.

 Athletes who aren't real students in the first place, devalue the
 vary paper that they are handed if they do manage to graduate. 
 In the meanwhile, the universities earn tens of millions of dollars 
 on the backs of these students. And yet too many of these 
 students walk away from campus that final time, with nothing 
 but memories, and little in the way of a real education.

 This does not even include the perennial transfers, who move
 from college to college looking for playing time. -- And never
 graduate. And the outright drop-outs who disappear into the 
 ether. Never to be seen or heard from again.

 Back to Chris Webber's case.

 Webber is a sly one. He has a winning smile. And a ready 
 explanation for the many times he's been caught on the wrong 
 side of the law. He is nobody's boy scout. And deserves less
 sympathy than what he's received from Michigan alumini,
 fellow NBA players, and fans, who only care about his prowess
 on the basketball court.

 Webber pleaded guilty to lying to a grand jury about the money 
 he received from the deceased booster. In a surprise move,
 Tuesday the judge deferred Webber's actual sentencing
 for two entire years, while he performs community service
 during the next two summers. 

 Can you imagine an ordinary "Joe" receiving  this kind of treatment? 

 What is at stake is the judge will make a final determination as 
 whether to categorize Webber's crime as a misdeameanor or a 
 felony, depending upon how well - or not - he completes his 
 community service.

 Do tell.

 Webber has wiggled free, yet again.

 In a surprise move, University of Michigan officials have asked
 the federal courts to order Chris Webber to reimburse the school
 in the amount of $695,000. No doubt, the university feels aggrieved
 at the loss of it's NCAA tournament wins do to Webber's actions, 
 not to mention the cost the university incurred in legal fees.

 To complete the circle the University of Michigan should calculate
 what percentage of the millions Chis Webber - and his fellow Fab 
 Fiver's - earned the university by running up and down the basketball
 court in a Michigan uniform. Then they could deduct the $695,000
 from that.

 As a matter of fact, Ohio State could do the same for Maurice Clarett.

 Alas, it is much too much to hope for.
 

 ReadingPost.Com
 © Copyright 2003

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