Have Mercy! 5 Scandals That Rocked College Sports

If you thought the Kardashians brought the drama, enter in Operation Varsity Blues. The scandal has rocked Hollywood along with the sports and academic world but it’s not the only (or even the biggest) college athletics scam out there.

They always get caught.

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

1. Yesterday, the Justice Department released the news about Operation Varsity Blues, a cross-country admissions scandal. Over 50 people were charged in the scheme, with 33 of them being parents, including CEOs and actresses Felicity Huffman (Desperate Housewives) and Lori Loughlin (Full House).  In some instances, parents bribed college coaches to recruit their students as elite athletes, even though they had no athletic background. Some even went as far as creating a fake athletic profile for their children by photoshopping them into sports photos and including them in the admissions packets. (This scandal goes way beyond the sports aspect, so click to read more). IT WASN’T ME

2. From photoshopped to something more permanent, five football players at Ohio State were suspended for selling memorabilia and receiving discounted services at a local tattoo parlor. “Tattoo-Gate” was just the tip of the iceberg of Ohio State football scandals that eventually led to the resignation of their head football coach. HOPE THE TATTOO WAS AT LEAST SPELLED RIGHT

3. In late 2017, the FBI uncovered a college basketball bribery scandal so big, people are still being sentenced for it. This scandal had more moving parts than a lobster. It included coaches pocketing cash for referring players to agents and financial advisors to Adidas paying athletes when they committed to play for Adidas sponsored schools. And of course, there were adventures to topless bars with lots of booze. WHERE ARE THEY NOW

4. The mob and college is not something you’d typically put together until discussing the Boston College points shaving scandal. Richard “The Fixer” Perry bribed Boston College basketball players to do everything they could to throw the games. But it didn’t really work out for the mob as despite the threat of physical violence and brutal intimidation tactics, they couldn’t control a bunch of college kids. The mob didn’t make a ton of money on the scandal and Perry was later charged and thrown in the slammer. FIX THIS

5. SMU (Southern Methodist University) received the sharpest penalty on this list. They ignored the NCAA’s (college sports governing body) warnings about cheating and illegal benefits for their players (think cars, cash, etc). The NCAA shut down their football program for an entire season. SMU still has the distinction of being the one and only major college football program to be shut down by the NCAA. A BADGE OF HONOR?

Changing the subject

Let’s talk about the top three topics in the world of sports today including James Corden’s brilliant punk of David Beckham, why you’ll need hand sanitizer in Coachella this week and the ‘most dramatic “Bachelor” ending ever.’ READ

5 Things To Know About The Scandal That Rocked College Basketball

As if sports didn’t have enough excitement already this week with the anthem protests, yesterday news broke of an FBI (yes that FBI) investigation into a bribery scandal amongst big-time college basketball programs.  Like a good episode of Law and Order, here’s how it all went down.

These are their stories,

The Last Night’s Game Team

---

Five things to know about the scandal that rocked college basketball

1. The investigation, which started in 2015, resulted in charges for assistant basketball coaches from four schools who pocked cash in exchange for pointing players toward certain financial advisors and sports agents.

2. The other party in trouble is Adidas. They’re in hot water for paying athletes when they committed to play for Adidas sponsored schools. Coincidence that last week they were named the second most popular shoe in America, passing Jordans? That’s some shady stuff.

3. Four assistant basketball coaches have been charged with violating federal statutes on bribery and wire fraud. They’re from the University of Arizona, Auburn, Oklahoma State University and USC (University of Southern California). University of Louisville may also be amongst the accused.

4. This is where it’s going hurt even more. The penalties are just beginning. Not only do those involved have to worry about the FBI charges but the NCAA smackdown on the schools could be painful. Louisville could face the NCAA death penalty as this isn’t their first violation. (See the coaches’ corner for more on this).

5. Why is the FBI involved you ask? Well because the institutions are receiving federal funds and this violates the federal statues on bribery and wire fraud (amongst other charges). Besides they have investigation resources the NCAA doesn’t have like wiretapping, subpoenas and threats of prison time. Yowza.

 

Keep the converstion going. 

There's more to sports than scandals. Here's what else is happening in the world of sports including who's having a baby, who danced with MC Hammer and what is the death penalty? Read on. 

The Rundown: Papa Don't Preach

So long July, welcome August!

Time flies when you're having fun,

The Last Night's Game Team

---

MLB (Major League Baseball)

• Dad you’re embarrassing me. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie may want to think twice the next time he goes to a baseball game. A few weeks after he was booed for catching a foul ball, Christie was caught on camera berating a fan at a Chicago Cubs – Milwaukee Brewers game. Good news. Even though he was angry, he didn’t spill his nachos. Bad news. His son works in the Brewers baseball operations department. Off to family therapy. 

Soccer

• You go girls. In a huge win, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team came from behind in the last few minutes to beat Brazil in the Tournament of Nations. Next up? They'll face Japan in the final game on Thursday.

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship)

• Redemption. Fighter Jon Jones returned from a year suspension to reclaim his championship belt on Saturday night at UFC 214. He won with a knockout of opponent Daniel Cormier. It’s the first-time Cormier has ever been knocked out.

Overtime

• Meet 15-year-old Moziah Bridges, CEO of Mo’s Bows. Like many of us may have done as a kid, he started a business. His side hustle surpassed our lemonade stand when it was featured on Shark Tank. Bridges just inked a seven-figure deal to make bow ties for each of the NBA (National Basketball Association) teams. Check them out.

Sideline stat

• Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre joined the 3,000-hit club on Sunday. He is only the 31st player in baseball and the first Dominican born player in history to reach this milestone. How did his fans celebrate his accomplishment? The Fort Worth Zoo named a baby giraffe after him.

Coaches’ corner

• The insufferable papa LaVar Ball is once again in center of controversy. (Ball's son Lonzo plays for the Los Angeles Lakers). As a coach in a basketball tournament this weekend, he asked to have a female referee removed from a game after he was unhappy with her call. After Ball’s use of derogatory and sexist language, the officiating group gave the tournament a big middle finger and ended their relationship with the tournament organizer, Adidas. Enough already.