HIGHER PAY HIGHER STANDARDS

Much has been made, debated and discussed about whether Rick Pitino knew about the reported myriad of portable strip clubs disguised as dorm rooms on the campus of the University of Louisville; the dormitory named after his brother in law who died in the tragic 9-11 attacks. Seems there is a hidden irony there and since I'm not close to Rick or the University I digress.

Does Coach Pitino have one more escape clause?
Photo-SI.com

I believe much more should be made about the expectations of our Coaches and their conduct. There is no shortage of players getting suspended, expelled, losing scholarships, etc followed by a holier than thou Coach saying it doesn't reflect the values and character of the team and the university. Really!? I take your absurd comment and mirror you one; the U of L players are reflecting the value and character of their coach at least. We all remember Rick Pitino and his alleged sordid affair highlighted by the Italian restaurant, albeit it rumored brief, tryst. But what happened to the Pitino after that? Suspension, no; loss of pay, no; self imposed sanction, not that I know of. So if I'm a player then I say let the portable strip club continue because no harms comes this way based on what happened to the coach. I mean he even got a pay raise and extension while the women involved was sent to jail.

Dave Bliss was allegedly involved in a murder cover up
Photo-The Sporting News

One coach friend says the rule of thumb for coaches is to stay one step ahead of the posse, meaning before they fire you morph into Ghost on Power (Love that show!). But the sad reality is when coaches feel probation, violations and or sanctions coming that would limit the schools post season play or ability to capture top recruits they're gone! They're typically the cause or another coach err fall guy is to blame for something they knew nothing about. It's amazing how they know everything at the podium when they get hired, saying this is my program and I'll know everything that goes on here trust me.

No one could believe the allegations surrounding Joe Paterno that ultimately brought him down
http://www.post-gazette.com

Well we can't trust you; because everything good that goes on you're taking credit for it and well aware of, but when it goes wrong its one of your assistant coaches who has to now fall on the sword without compensation and you lament the fact how you're disappointed in them. Wow...reality TV is headed your way. I simply say the crime follows the villain. If you violate NCAA Rules, and it's discovered after you're gone, the school that employs you goes on probation. Sadly players and new recruits are left to discover how the power play works when everyone knows the former coach did the dirty work. The anger and confusion surfaces when they watch that same coach march into the post-season next year while the now ineligible kids, who've done nothing wrong,  lament how long it will be before they can play in the post season. Regrettably if they're a senior it will never happen which adds insult to injury.

If you want to clean up college sports big money makers, set new and higher standards for the highest paid players in the game, the coaches. It seems we have more compassion for the coaches who should know better, than the kids who are learning the definition of doing better.

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller