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Tuesday, September 07, 2010
The New York Times says banking and housing records given to the NCAA show Enes Kanter received benefits that could jeopardize his amateur status for UK
17 comments:
WG
said...
Well crap. If half of what the Turkish general manager says is true - that Kanter drew a salary in his final year, that the family received housing, food and spending money for three years - Kanter won't be eligible.
But how can you reconcile the information that is being provided by the general manager and the apparent denials given by Kanter, his family "and what Nike is saying" (whatever that means)? How can their stories be so at odds?
They both want different results... Kanter wants to play at UK, Turkish team wants to not lose future prospects to the NCAA. The truth lies somewhere inbetween...
That's very Solomon of you. And usually good advice. I hope the NCAA gives the Kanters an opportunity to respond to the financial documents point by point.
If it turns out he did receive improper benefits, better to have found out now.
Curiouser and curiouser this situation becomes.... I agree with anon #1 up there, they both have a lot to lose in this situation. I don't see how you could honestly say the kid needs to be gone for an entire season, but I can see a scenario like the Randolph Morris situation a few years ago. This is going to get very interesting in the next few days/weeks....
“You can’t have a contract before 18. You can’t be professional — you’re not allowed to be unless they’re violating FIBA rules,” Calipari said. [DeCourcy, Sporting News, Apr. 14, 2010]
I guess Cal wasn't expecting the Turkish team to violate FIBA rules ... Surprise!
I'm happy to be wrong about this, but this is more than a one-for-one suspension deal, like with WVU's Kilicli. This is a threshold amateur status issue: play for pay. And the NCAA can go only so far to open up their league to foreign players without completely eviscerating the concept of amateur athletics. No, Kanter shan't play a minute of college ball.
The truth will be in whether it can be verified that Kanter and his family drew checks and deposited them at the Turkish bank, as reported in the NYT. If those checks were forgeries (which I am praying they are), it will cast serious credibility problems on the Turkish GM.
I agree that this whole scenario is highly strange. Why would Kanter have made the commitment to come to the US and play in college, knowing amateur status requirements, if he, in fact, accepted this cash? It is very odd.
Well how much does it cost to take care of a college basketball division 1 athlete during the course of a year over here in America? It prolly costs around the same; about a good 100k investment with meals, travel, plane tickets, etc. I think the NCAA is comparing whether the benefits are similar to what student athletes here are provided.
As is being noted elsewhere, kids at prep schools and the mighty Oak Hills are receiving a lot of benefits once you add it up, too. It's that fact that allows for foreign players to come over at all when so many are playing for professional teams.
Assuming the Kanters can't and don't blow this out of the water with excellent evidence, it will come down to whether the NCAA wants to go toe to toe with foreign basketball associations now or later. If they want to wait for a simpler case or to buy time, Kanter is ineligible. If they want to open the floodgates, he may be cleared. Also matters how many of them have an anti-Cal or anti-UK agenda, too.
How is an educational prep 'school' the same as a pro team. It is a pro team. If he played for a pro team in the U.S., and did not get paid, would he still be eligible. I think not.
----How is an educational prep 'school' the same as a pro team. It is a pro team. If he played for a pro team in the U.S., and did not get paid, would he still be eligible. I think not.----
Because in Eurpoe, all teams are essentially "pro teams." They don't have High School ball. But for minors, it is not much different than prep school or AAU ball. In prep school, the kids get free room and board, travel to the games, athletic equipment and training, etc. In AAU, same thing except room and board is only on tournament trips - not year round. SO - if Katner is receiving "money" to reimburse him for the expenses of playing, including room, board, travel, athletic equipment, etc., then (1) it could cost $100K over 3 years, and (2) it could be very similar in benefits to what a prep school or AAU star gets entirely legally in the US. This is why the NCAA changed the rule, and why Katner is really the test case of how the NCAA will treat this similar but different European system.
JackB, your waisting your time brother. They will not deviate from their agenda of anti-Cal, I'm just surprised they haven't accused Cal of paying Kanter 100 grand....
Trying to compare Kantner's play in Europe to a prep school is just naive. If Kantner played for a U.S. pro team, and they only paid for his travel and board, would he still be an amateur? Would the NCAA allow him to play college ball. That is the correct comparison. Marc is an idiot. There is no mention of Cal in my comments. If Marc disa grees with you he thinks you must be anti- Cal. That is the way he operates.
In most circles the one resorting to name calling is the idiot...just saying..
While I don't necessarily agree with the prep school comparison of the situation I will say you calling your statement the "correct comparison" just once again shows your weak grasp of intellect.
While the comparison is close it does not address the facts as stated above that they do not have organized high school basketball in Turkey and the kids play on these "Pro" or "club" teams in order to just be able to play, something very different than the US where we have organized basketball from grade school up. What you refer to is not comparing apples to apples. JackB is closer but it's not exact either. It's a special situation hence the change in NCAA rules this year to address such.
And yes you are on here to be anti-Cal and anti-UK and it jaundices your judgment, apparently your the only one that cannot see this.
Dear MARC, 1)The NCAA plays by it's rules, not the European rules. 2) You did not answer the question as to what the NCAA would do regarging his eligibility if he played for a US Team for travel and board expenses only. 3)You have a cult fetish that anyone that disagrees with you is automatically anti Calipari. Cal was not mentioned by anyone on the blog other than you. 4) You are indeed an idiot, but I will go easy on you, because your little mind can only think so far. I am glad to work with you to help bring your standards up to a more thoughtful and substantial level. Take a look at WG's comments. That person really tries to get it right. One day Marc you will get there. I just know you will. Bye Bye!
LOL...your grade school logic is weak Jr. If you were half as smart as you thought you were you wouldn't waste your time on this fan blog, enough said my anonymous friend.
17 comments:
Well crap. If half of what the Turkish general manager says is true - that Kanter drew a salary in his final year, that the family received housing, food and spending money for three years - Kanter won't be eligible.
But how can you reconcile the information that is being provided by the general manager and the apparent denials given by Kanter, his family "and what Nike is saying" (whatever that means)? How can their stories be so at odds?
They both want different results... Kanter wants to play at UK, Turkish team wants to not lose future prospects to the NCAA. The truth lies somewhere inbetween...
That's very Solomon of you. And usually good advice. I hope the NCAA gives the Kanters an opportunity to respond to the financial documents point by point.
If it turns out he did receive improper benefits, better to have found out now.
Curiouser and curiouser this situation becomes.... I agree with anon #1 up there, they both have a lot to lose in this situation. I don't see how you could honestly say the kid needs to be gone for an entire season, but I can see a scenario like the Randolph Morris situation a few years ago. This is going to get very interesting in the next few days/weeks....
“You can’t have a contract before 18. You can’t be professional — you’re not allowed to be unless they’re violating FIBA rules,” Calipari said. [DeCourcy, Sporting News, Apr. 14, 2010]
I guess Cal wasn't expecting the Turkish team to violate FIBA rules ... Surprise!
I'm happy to be wrong about this, but this is more than a one-for-one suspension deal, like with WVU's Kilicli. This is a threshold amateur status issue: play for pay. And the NCAA can go only so far to open up their league to foreign players without completely eviscerating the concept of amateur athletics. No, Kanter shan't play a minute of college ball.
The truth will be in whether it can be verified that Kanter and his family drew checks and deposited them at the Turkish bank, as reported in the NYT. If those checks were forgeries (which I am praying they are), it will cast serious credibility problems on the Turkish GM.
I agree that this whole scenario is highly strange. Why would Kanter have made the commitment to come to the US and play in college, knowing amateur status requirements, if he, in fact, accepted this cash? It is very odd.
Well how much does it cost to take care of a college basketball division 1 athlete during the course of a year over here in America? It prolly costs around the same; about a good 100k investment with meals, travel, plane tickets, etc. I think the NCAA is comparing whether the benefits are similar to what student athletes here are provided.
As is being noted elsewhere, kids at prep schools and the mighty Oak Hills are receiving a lot of benefits once you add it up, too. It's that fact that allows for foreign players to come over at all when so many are playing for professional teams.
Assuming the Kanters can't and don't blow this out of the water with excellent evidence, it will come down to whether the NCAA wants to go toe to toe with foreign basketball associations now or later. If they want to wait for a simpler case or to buy time, Kanter is ineligible. If they want to open the floodgates, he may be cleared. Also matters how many of them have an anti-Cal or anti-UK agenda, too.
How is an educational prep 'school' the same as a pro team. It is a pro team.
If he played for a pro team in the U.S., and did not get paid, would he still be eligible. I think not.
----How is an educational prep 'school' the same as a pro team. It is a pro team.
If he played for a pro team in the U.S., and did not get paid, would he still be eligible. I think not.----
Because in Eurpoe, all teams are essentially "pro teams." They don't have High School ball. But for minors, it is not much different than prep school or AAU ball. In prep school, the kids get free room and board, travel to the games, athletic equipment and training, etc. In AAU, same thing except room and board is only on tournament trips - not year round. SO - if Katner is receiving "money" to reimburse him for the expenses of playing, including room, board, travel, athletic equipment, etc., then (1) it could cost $100K over 3 years, and (2) it could be very similar in benefits to what a prep school or AAU star gets entirely legally in the US. This is why the NCAA changed the rule, and why Katner is really the test case of how the NCAA will treat this similar but different European system.
--JackB
JackB, your waisting your time brother. They will not deviate from their agenda of anti-Cal, I'm just surprised they haven't accused Cal of paying Kanter 100 grand....
Trying to compare Kantner's play in Europe to a prep school is just naive.
If Kantner played for a U.S. pro team, and they only paid for his travel and board, would he still be an amateur? Would the NCAA allow him to play college ball. That is the correct comparison.
Marc is an idiot. There is no mention of Cal in my comments. If Marc disa grees with you he thinks you must be anti- Cal. That is the way he operates.
In most circles the one resorting to name calling is the idiot...just saying..
While I don't necessarily agree with the prep school comparison of the situation I will say you calling your statement the "correct comparison" just once again shows your weak grasp of intellect.
While the comparison is close it does not address the facts as stated above that they do not have organized high school basketball in Turkey and the kids play on these "Pro" or "club" teams in order to just be able to play, something very different than the US where we have organized basketball from grade school up. What you refer to is not comparing apples to apples. JackB is closer but it's not exact either. It's a special situation hence the change in NCAA rules this year to address such.
And yes you are on here to be anti-Cal and anti-UK and it jaundices your judgment, apparently your the only one that cannot see this.
Dear MARC,
1)The NCAA plays by it's rules, not the European rules.
2) You did not answer the question as to what the NCAA would do regarging his eligibility if he played for a US Team for travel and board expenses only.
3)You have a cult fetish that anyone that disagrees with you is automatically anti Calipari. Cal was not mentioned by anyone on the blog other than you.
4) You are indeed an idiot, but I will go easy on you, because your little mind can only think so far. I am glad to work with you to help bring your standards up to a more thoughtful and substantial level. Take a look at WG's comments. That person really tries to get it right. One day Marc you will get there. I just know you will. Bye Bye!
LOL...your grade school logic is weak Jr. If you were half as smart as you thought you were you wouldn't waste your time on this fan blog, enough said my anonymous friend.
i think we need to cut ties now instead of the reopening the case late and stripping games and a possible championship
Actually, I am a lot smarter than I think I am.
LOL
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