In NBA playoffs, less ink means more viewers : FoxSports.com Water Cooler

The Playbook Commentary:


My initial reaction to Whitlock's article is, WOW!

But, what is interesting is that what he writes, I honestly thought earlier in the playoffs when Iverson and Anthony were still playing….I was SO turned off by their tattoos. I think it is ridiculous how they have covered their body in ink.

It does harm their brand, which directly impacts their potential to have a successful financial future.

And, what bothers me even more is that while I watched college basketball during March Madness, I noticed that SO many college students are now all tatted up…..emulating their NBA heroes.

This (professional sports) is a business, when did folks loose sight of that? It is not just a game they are playing. The athletes are responsible to the organization whose jersey they wear at minimum and truly they should be thinking about their potential financial opportunities….endorsements, paid appearances, etc. Bottomline, there are a lot of stackholders they are accountable to.

Now the article by Mr. Whitlock, is what it is….and, he is DEFINITELY going to get slack for his words. But, if folks would first stop and think about it a little bit, what he is pointing out is true….in my professional as well as personal opinion.

In NBA playoffs, less ink means more viewers
by Jason Whitlock

Jason Whitlock brings his edgy and thought-provoking style to FOXSports.com. Columnist for the Kansas City Star, he has won the National Journalism Award for Commentary for "his ability to seamlessly integrate sports and social commentary and to challenge widely held assumptions along the racial divide."


Over the next couple of weeks you'll hear lots of theories about why TV ratings are surging for the NBA playoffs.

Of course it helps that large TV markets with storied franchises (Boston and Los Angeles) are still alive and favorites to make the NBA Finals. And, yes, it helps that the league's two most successful franchises over the last five years (San Antonio and Detroit) are competing against the Lakers and the Celtics.

The conference finals are littered with big stars, too. Kobe, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce, Tony Parker, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobili, Rasheed Wallace and all the rest could make up an all-star team that the rest of the league couldn't beat.

Obviously, there are a lot of factors contributing to the ratings numbers that TNT, ESPN and ABC keep bragging about in nearly daily press releases.

The NBA has been experiencing a resurgence ever since the Suns traded for Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol, the Mavericks got hoodwinked into snagging Jason Kidd and the Cavaliers picked up new spare parts for LeBron.

But there's one issue driving improved ratings that likely won't be touched by all the NBA talking heads on TNT and ESPN.

Tattoos. Or rather the lack of tattoos in the conference finals.

Part of the reason more people are watching these playoffs is because the average fan isn't constantly repulsed by the appearance of most of the players on the court. Most of the key players left in the playoffs don't look like recent prison parolees.

The only accurate way to describe Garnett, Pierce, Duncan, Allen, Manu, Parker and even Kobe is "clean cut." Yeah, there are a couple of tattoos in that group — Duncan has something on his back, Kobe still has his post-rape-allegation tat — but the Lakers, Spurs and Celtics have far less ink on average than your typical NBA franchise.

Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony have more tats on their hands than the entire Spurs roster.

I know many of you probably think the number of tattoos doesn't influence viewing habits. You're wrong. Like everything else televised, appearances matter. There's a reason you don't see nude scenes in movies with fat people. Trust me, fat people have sex. It's just no one wants to see it. Not even fat people.

No one wants to watch Delonte West or Larry Hughes play basketball. It's uncomfortable and disconcerting. You don't want your kids to see it. You don't want your kids to think they should decorate their neck, arms, hands, chest and legs in paint. You don't want to waste time explaining to your kids that some millionaire athletes have so little genuine self-confidence that they find it necessary to cover themselves in tattoos as a way to mask their insecurities.

You just want to watch basketball and feel like you're watching people you can relate to a little bit, people you somewhat respect.

We finally have that again on the NBA's biggest stage, and everyone can see it because the league's substance isn't covered in a barrel of tattoo ink.

David Stern has been arguing that the NBA is the best book. Ever since Ron Artest went into the stands, Stern has been slowly changing the cover of his book. The dress code and the age limit have helped. The midseason trades helped. Garnett's donning of a Celtics jersey really helped. Kobe's maturity and ascension to Jordan's throne has probably been the most important development. Kobe is everything the league wants LeBron James to be.

But don't underestimate how much having a visually pleasing product to look at has benefitted the league at conference finals time.

It's a television show. Pleasant smiles, non-threatening people sell products better than menacing, tattooed brutes.

If I was David Stern, I'd commission Nike and/or Under Armor to create a basketball jersey with long sleeves, all the way down to the wrists. I'd make Iverson wear a turtleneck jersey with sleeves. I'd cover the tats.

Do you think Sports Illustrated would let its swimsuit models cover themselves in tattoos? Models are paid to look good. Athletes are no different from models. Everyone accepts that female basketball players — when possible — are pushed to showcase their feminine beauty.

It's unfortunate that too many young athletes are too unenlightened to approach the game like a business. They resist almost all ideas that would put more money in their pockets. They have to be forced to do the little things that would help them make more money.

Growing NBA ratings is what's best for the players in the long term. Adopting a non-prison-ready appearance would help everyone in the league earn more money. But no one will talk about it.

In NBA playoffs, less ink means more viewers : FoxSports.com Water Cooler

The Playbook: FOX Sports on MSN - NFL -

The Playbook Commentary:
If you really want to get folks to take a sincere vested interest in these players, threaten the pockets. The organizations are now being forced to take a more active role in their player's off-the-field activities. Finally, we are getting somewhere.

Now, in order to make sure these players get the point that this thing is serious, the organizations need to implement a new level of personal/professional enhancement initiatives.

Here is where The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative needs to make its entrance. Let MWPR, Inc. bring in The Playbook to help reinforce to the players the fact that what they are getting paid to do is not a game, it's their job. And, that they are to take it as seriously as anyone who has a "9 to 5" does, if they want to keep it.

We believe a professional athlete’s journey to success begins long before the contract is signed and their first game as a professional is played. The proven formula for professional achievement is a mixture of natural talent and a positive personal life. Recognizing that some athletes struggle with keeping it all together – MWPR, Inc. created this mentoring initiative to assist them on this journey. Like no other initiative currently available, The Playbook ™brings productive, positive and purpose-driven solutions to the real-life needs that occur in the natural life-cycle of an athlete. Through a specified curriculum, presentations, personal player testimonies and extended professional services, the immediate and long-term needs of the aspiring and established professional athlete will be addressed.

Our formula is “a positive personal life = professional success”.


NFL won't punish teams for prior player acts
by Alex Marvez
Fox Soprts on MSN - NFL

The NFL's personal conduct policy is about to get stricter — but not before every team is allowed to start with a clean slate.

FOXSports.com has learned new league rules resulting in fines for clubs whose players are suspended for off-field violations begin June 1. But the NFL is pardoning franchises whose players' legal problems occurred before then.

That is good news for a team like the Minnesota Vikings, which has a player (left tackle Bryant McKinnie) facing serious criminal charges following a February arrest. McKinnie, who was arrested on three previous occasions during his NFL career, could face disciplinary action from league commissioner Roger Goodell once the case is resolved. The Vikings, though, won't be financially penalized regardless of the outcome of the McKinnie case.

Teams that sign free-agent players who face possible suspension also will not be fined if such punishment is levied.

"The policy on club fines is being applied going forward (prospectively), not retroactively," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in a Tuesday email. "The plan is that the club to be fined will be the club to which the player belonged at the time of the arrest or violation. But it only applies to arrests or violations occurring after June 1."

Goodell announced the policy change last week and said he may ultimately begin yanking draft choices from teams with multiple player violations. The moves add teeth to the personal conduct policy Goodell introduced in April 2007. Since Super Bowl XLII, the same number of players have gotten arrested or cited (27) as in the same span following last year's championship game.

"When you look at any particular window, it might not look like there's been significant progress," Goodell said at the NFL's spring meeting in Atlanta. "But I think there's a greater recognition of the issue. ... I recognize there have been incidents in recent weeks that concern me. That's one of the reasons we raised the [punishment] again. We will continue to address this issue. It is still a priority for us.

"As I said last year: This is not going to get resolved simply by issuing a new personal conduct policy. It's going to be a continuing reinforcement of the message. You're expected to act a particular way if you're going to be involved with the NFL — period."


FOX Sports on MSN - NFL -

The Playbook: What NOT To Do Post-Season

Police arrested Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah early this morning on charges of possession of marijuana and having an open container of alcohol. According to a police spokesman, Noah was spotted by an officer on a sidewalk holding a plastic cup containing an amber drink, a violation of city law. Cops later found pot on him during a search at the police station. He could face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for the marijuana charge.

The Playbook: ESPN - Grizzlies' Quinn charged with second DUI in less than a year - College Football

The Playbook Commentary: Are you kidding me? Two DUI's in less than one year....and, he is only 22?

After the first DUI, why didn't his attorney, the school, the coaching staff, etc. keep a tighter reign on him to ensure this didn't happen again? And, with the other trouble he was in that caused him to be ineligible to play last season, you would think he would try to be on his "Ps" and "Qs".

In my opinion, it was in the best interests of everyone to have created a winning environment for this young man. And, I truly believe they failed him.

The Playbook: Mentoring Initiative....COMING SOON!



Grizzlies' Quinn charged with second DUI in less than a year
Associated Press
Updated: May 23, 2008, 1:45 AM ET


MISSOULA, Mont. -- Montana offensive lineman J.D. Quinn was arrested Thursday on charges of drunken driving, his second DUI charge in less than a year.

The 22-year-old senior, who transferred from Oklahoma, was arrested after he pulled over for a traffic stop, refused a breathalyzer and requested a blood test, according to his attorney.

Neither of the tests was administered before Quinn posted $500 bail. He pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge the same day.

"He disputes that he was impaired at all," said Paul Ryan, Quinn's attorney. "We continue to monitor his alcohol use, but he's been really compliant and just wants get these matters resolved."

Quinn was arrested in Missoula in July on another DUI charge. He pleaded not guilty to that charge and is awaiting trial.

Quinn, an All-Big Sky selection last season, has been suspended from the team until further notice, athletic director Jim O'Day said.

Around the time of last year's DUI arrest, the NCAA forced Oklahoma to vacate eight wins from the 2005 season because Quinn and quarterback Rhett Bomar took money for work they didn't perform at a Norman, Okla., car dealership.

The players were dismissed from the team in August 2006 and lost a year of eligibility. They were eligible to play again last fall.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press


ESPN - Grizzlies' Quinn charged with second DUI in less than a year - College Football

The Playbook: ESPN - Parker to miss two games after guilty plea to two misdemeanors - College Football

The Playbook Commentary: Are you kidding me? Why are the majority of the articles on ESPN/College Football about college-athletes either being indicted, not returning to school after being suspended or ineligible to play due to off-the-field actions? And, this is all this week!

After reading a few, I just couldn't continue to post these stories without saying something. Please explain to me why this young man felt it necessary to carry a gun in his glove compartment. What was he protecting?

See how quick an adolescent act can create an adult situation with major consequences. Instead of him enjoying the full college experience with his class and teammates, he is now forced to live in a supervised dorm, perform roughly 100 combined community services hours, attend NCAA regulated classes, etc.

For what? And, why?

Was it worth it? Is it ever worth it?

Who is watching, speaking, influencing, guiding, supporting these kids to help make sure such things don't happen?

Now, do be clear, I was once a college student and I truly had my fun. However, I was not active in sports and did not contribute to a team and university's success because of my athletic ability. College athletes are more than just regular students; this is evident in how the school treats them, how the community embraces them (especially if they have a successful athletic program) and, how often the scouts and agents pay them a visit.

So, it is safe to conclude that these students have a lot to offer, to a lot of people. And, because of that, should be receiving the support, guidance and positive influence from these people to make sure, at the minimum, they continue to produce the great results that make them so popular.

Is this possible? I believe so.

I HAVE to believe so.


Parker to miss two games after guilty plea to two misdemeanors
Associated Press
Updated: May 19, 2008, 3:36 PM ET


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State receiver Preston Parker will have to sit out the first two games of the 2008 season after pleading guilty Monday to two misdemeanor charges.

The 21-year-old Parker, the Seminoles' most versatile player last season, was arrested in April on a felony charge for allegedly having a loaded .45-caliber pistol in the dashboard of his car. The charge was reduced to a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

At the time of his arrest, Parker was also charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession, to which he also pleaded guilty in Palm Beach County.

"Preston made a very serious mistake, and there are consequences when one of our boys gets in trouble," head coach Bobby Bowden said in a statement. "Preston will have the opportunity to continue as a student and as an athlete at Florida State, but he will have to earn that right."

Parker will be a junior in the upcoming season. He is set to sit out games against Western Carolina and Chattanooga, and return to play against Wake Forest.

Parker apologized to his teammates and fans in a statement released by his attorney.

"I fully blame myself for being in this situation, because it could've easily been avoided," Parker wrote.
Parker scored five touchdowns last year. He caught a team-leading 62 passes, was second on the Seminoles in rushing and was Florida State's main punt returner.

As part of a plea agreement, Parker will perform 50 hours of community service and serve 12 months of probation.

Besides the two-game suspension, the university has set several other conditions for Parker to remain on the team. Those include moving into a supervised dorm, going to weekly study hall, performing an additional 50 hours of community service, attending weekly sessions with the school office that enforces NCAA regulations, submitting to drug testing and mentoring at-risk students.

"He wants to move forward with doing whatever he needs to do to get himself back in good graces with the university and back out to what he does on the football field. This is his first step toward doing that," said Parker's attorney, Jason Weiss.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press


ESPN - Parker to miss two games after guilty plea to two misdemeanors - College Football

The Playbook: ESPN - Reports: Grand jury indicts Arizona DE Turner - College Football

Reports: Grand jury indicts Arizona DE Turner
ESPN.com news services
Updated: May 20, 2008, 9:52 AM ET

A University of Arizona defensive end has been indicted by a grand jury on a sexual assault charge, according to media reports.

A Pima County grand jury indicted Johnathan Turner, 23, on Friday in connection with an incident alleged to have taken place April 3, sheriff's deputies said.

According to the reports, a woman reported that she fell asleep after drinking alcohol at a party and awoke to find Turner sexually assaulting her.

According to court documents, the woman pushed Turner away and went into a bedroom to tell a friend about the assault. Turner followed her and told her friends that she was "tripping out" and that he was just "cuddling" with her.

The woman's friends took her to a nearby hospital, where police were called, according to the reports.
The Tucson Citizen reported that it could not reach Turner for comment. However, his attorney, Richard Martinez, asked that Turner not be judged before the facts are known.

"It is an extremely difficult time for him," Martinez said, according to the Citizen. "He is caught in a situation where I know everybody is going to prejudge him, and that shouldn't be the case until all the details are known. ... Once the whole story is out there will be a different opinion."

"Obviously we are aware of the situation and we are going to let the judicial system obviously take its course," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said.

Stoops said he had not yet discussed Turner's playing status with Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood.

"We will discuss what is best for all parties and make some type of decision this week," Stoops said, according to the report. "We are going to leave him on scholarship and let him continue to work on his education ... He is going to work out on his own."

ESPN - Reports: Grand jury indicts Arizona DE Turner - College Football

The Playbook: ESPN - Hamby indicted on assault charge for altercation near campus - College Football

Hamby indicted on assault charge for altercation near campus
Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech center Stephen Hamby faces an aggravated assault charge for allegedly punching a man in the face twice in March.

Hamby, indicted by a grand jury Tuesday, is accused of punching the man during an altercation near campus. The victim suffered a fractured jaw and was treated at a Lubbock hospital, police said.
Hamby fled the scene, according to a police report.

Hamby, a 6-foot-3, 287-pound junior from San Antonio, walked on at Texas Tech and rose steadily on the depth chart before starting for the first time last season.

Hamby's attorney, Tom Pitts, declined to comment Wednesday.

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said in Wednesday's edition of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that he knew of Hamby's altercation and had not decided whether to discipline him.

"His status is we'll see what the facts are and then address it based on the facts," Leach said. "We're not going to jump to any conclusions."

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press


ESPN - Hamby indicted on assault charge for altercation near campus - College Football

The ULTIMATE argument for the need of such a program as The Playbook

The question posed in the The Playbook© commentary earlier today is applicable here. Mr. Professional Athlete, What is Your Game Plan....OFF-the-field? Because one is needed. Don't get distracted by today's hype and initial financial reward for playing hard in college. As a rookie, you need to get your personal team together and create a solid plan for both your financial and physical future.

This article is truly the ultimate point to why programs like The Playbook© are needed and long overdue.

A rookie’s security depends on more than draft-day decisions

Street & Smith's Sports and Business Journal

By Jason Cole

Published April 21, 2008 : Page 17

The 2008 NFL draft will launch a new class of athletes who may very well focus on living a higher lifestyle than they can afford without considering the financial challenges awaiting them.

The financial decisions that players make even before they sign their contract affect the quality of their lives for years beyond their playing careers.

First-round draft picks will sign contracts with large salaries and bonuses. Most rookies, however, will not.

In 2008, the minimum salary for rookies is $295,000, for second-year players it is $370,000 and for thirdyear players it is $445,000. These salaries apply to all but the first 31 players drafted (although round-one draft picks can choose to take these minimum salaries if it makes the most sense in their total contract package).

No guarantees
Unlike MLB and NBA contracts, they are not guaranteed. Signing and roster bonuses are the only real guarantees in what are traditionally four-year NFL rookie contracts.

The NFL Players Association estimates that at least 78 NFL players were defrauded of more than $42 million between 1999 and 2002 alone. Fraud and poor financial decisions have caused many NFL players to go broke.

Dale Carter, a first-round draft pick who played in the NFL for 13 years, filed for bankruptcy in 2002 claiming debts of $5 million.

Financial decisions NFL rookies make even before they are drafted or sign their first contract can affect their lives long after their playing careers end.

Fred Taylor lost his entire $3 million signing bonus in the William “Tank” Black fraud scheme. Black, a sports agent, was sentenced in 2001 to nearly seven years in prison on a money-laundering charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Sanford said during trial that Black abused his clients’ trust and stole between $12 million and $14 million from them. NFL players testified that Black used his position as their agent to steal millions from them through bogus investments.

Getting drafted does not guarantee employment in the NFL. From 2000 to 2007, according to Colin Lindsay of GBN Report, an online NFL draft site, an average of 37 draft picks annually, or 15 percent of those players drafted, were released prior to opening-day rosters.

Being prudent in the early years is crucial to achieving ultimate off-the-field success. Rather than spending, athletes need to save.

It makes sense to keep a portion of one’s earnings invested in safe short-term cash and cash equivalents if for nothing else but to have some liquidity and a safety net. I recommend that these rookies seek more financial training.

NFL education
In an effort to help their players handle their money responsibly, the NFLPA has stepped up its programs to educate young players about important financial issues.

All rookies are required to attend a symposium covering lessons about finances (among other topics). The NFL also provides a background-check service to screen any business opportunities players may encounter.

A rookie who receives a $1 million signing bonus and a starting salary of $295,000 will net about $1.2 million (before any spending and after fees taken by a business manager, agent, taxes, social security and union dues) over the average NFL career of 3.3 years.

If the player earned 7 percent on investment savings while spending $100,000 after taxes per year during his 3.3-year career, he’d accumulate $1 million at retirement. This will create an annual income stream of $40,000 (with annual cost-of-living increase) if he wants his money to last for the rest of his life.

If he continued to spend $100,000 after taxes and had no other earned income, he would run out of money after only nine years.

In most cases, rookies have poor or zero credit once they leave college. To establish good credit, they must pay their bills on time and avoid accumulating too much debt.

Rookies who are concerned about poor spending habits and lack a handle on their cash flow should hire a business manager to hold them to a fixed monthly budget. I recommend paying oneself back in the form of forced savings to start building a nest egg for retirement.

One way to address this is through the NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan, which is a 401(k) plan. A player’s NFL team matches the player’s pre-tax contributions 2 to 1 up to $20,000.
Thus, a player who elects to defer a maximum of $15,500 pre-tax from his paycheck will receive a $20,000 tax-deferred matched contribution from his NFL team.

Due to players getting only 17 paychecks during the season and then receiving no paychecks during the off season, planning for one’s spending and savings has to occur well in advance of the off season.

Establish residence
Many athletes do not realize that the state where they reside when they receive their signing bonus determines its taxation. In California, this means paying 10.3 percent, including a millionaire’s tax of 1 percent. To save or avoid state income taxes, look to establish residency in states such as Texas or Florida before contract signing.

I often advise rookies to set up an LLC for all marketing, endorsement and trading-card income streams.

With an LLC, a player can elect to make an additional retirement contribution (up to 25 percent of net LLC income), as well as deduct certain travel, agent, financial adviser and business management expenses against income. In all of the excitement and anticipation of this year’s draft, let’s not forget the reality of short careers and poor money decisions that these players will experience.

Jason Cole (Jason@abacuswealth.com) is a certified financial planner and managing director of Abacus Wealth Partners.

The Playbook: What is Plan B?

The Playbook Commentary:

What is Plan B? Does a professional athlete place as much mental and physical energy in creating a Plan B, JUST IN CASE, things don't go as planned? More times than not, they don't. And, that is a shame. Because in life, nothing is guaranteed. And, you are as hot and good until tomorrow's new kid comes along. I am curious to see what happens with Schweigert and Biamila and others like them. Even if they get picked up by another team, they and all players should not place all their future eggs in that one uncertain basket. They should have options...because at the end of the day, no one should be more concerned with their future on any level more than themselves.

The question is, "What is your game plan for life?" The answer is, "The Playbook©: Mentoring Initiative can help you create it."

Coming Soon!


Raiders release S Schweigert, LB Gbaja-Biamila
Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders released safety Stuart Schweigert on Tuesday, cutting ties with a former starter who lost his job late last season.

Schweigert, a third-round pick out of Purdue in 2004, became the starter at free safety midway through his second season in Oakland and started 37 consecutive games before being replaced last season.

Schweigert lost his job to Hiram Eugene when he was forced to miss a game with an injured calf and then played as a backup in the final five contests of the season.

Schweigert struggled at times last season as a run-stopper and the Raiders set out to improve their tackling at safety this offseason by signing Gibril Wilson from the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Wilson lined up mostly as a strong safety during last week's practice open to the media, with former first-round pick Michael Huff shifting to his more natural position of free safety. That left little room for Schweigert, who missed the open practice with a leg injury.

Schweigert had 215 tackles and four interceptions in 63 games with the Raiders. He also had 20 passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

The Raiders also released linebacker Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, signed as a free agent earlier this offseason.

The Raiders began their second week of offseason practices Tuesday in a session closed to the media. It was the first time running back Darren McFadden and quarterback JaMarcus Russell got to work together.

McFadden, the No. 4 overall pick in last month's draft, was not allowed at last week's practices because he is a rookie. Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in 2007, was not at the rookie minicamp the previous week.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Raiders release S Schweigert, LB Gbaja-Biamila - NFL

The Playbook argument continues to be proven: Saints' Grant charged with involuntary manslaughter - NFL

Saints' Grant charged with involuntary manslaughter
Associated Press

BLAKELY, Ga. -- New Orleans Saints defensive end Charles Grant has been indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a February altercation at a nightclub.

Grant, who was stabbed in the neck during the fracas, was charged by an Early County grand jury that also charged Laquient Macklin with felony murder and feticide in the shooting death of Korynda Reed, 23. Reed died after being taken to the Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan, after the fight early Feb. 3.

The indictment was posted on the Web site of the Early County News on Tuesday.

"We are aware and have no comment," Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said.

District Attorney Charles M. Ferguson could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Sheriff's Capt. Will Caudill said at the time of the melee that there was no known connection between Grant and Reed. He said the fight started inside the club and then moved outside, and Grant was attacked after shots were fired.

Woodrow Gray was indicted on a charge of aggravated assault in the knife attack on Grant, a former University of Georgia star from nearby Colquitt.

Grant was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. He had 2½ sacks in 2007 while starting 14 games for the Saints and has 38½ over his six-year career.

In addition to Grant and Macklin, and Marshae Stromer, Anthony Wilson, Jarvis Tinson, Rodreaco Gray and Woodrow Gray were charged with involuntary manslaughter for alleged participation in the fight.

Grant also received misdemeanor fighting charges.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

ESPN - Saints' Grant charged with involuntary manslaughter - NFL

The Playbook: ESPN - USC, Tim Floyd have no excuse for turning a blind eye - Columnist

USC, Tim Floyd have no excuse for turning a blind eye
By Pat FordeESPN.com



In a just world, USC basketball would have something in common with SMU football in the near future.
The death penalty.

It's not going to happen, because NCAA bylaws don't work that way. And besides, they're not likely to ever again disband a program for a year after the smoking crater it left at SMU.

But USC deserves it. The school has so far escaped facing NCAA prosecution for compelling allegations that star tailback Reggie Bush and his family were lavishly compensated by an aspiring agent while playing for the Trojans. Now comes a devastating, thoroughly documented "Outside The Lines" report that goes into stunning detail about the money and gifts star guard O.J. Mayo allegedly received before and during his one season at USC.

All directly beneath USC's chronically blind eyes.

You can plead ignorance once -- and even that was almost impossible to believe, in the case of Bush. Plead it twice? Um, no. USC should be crushed by the NCAA, the Pacific-10 and its own administration.

Especially with a player everyone in Hoopsworld strongly suspected was no amateur before he set foot in Los Angeles. You had to search hard to find a soul who didn't think O.J. Mayo had been prostituted for years as his prep legend grew, starting in seventh grade. (Put it this way: When early Mayo confidant Sonny Vaccaro gets muscled out of the scene, somebody's bringing some serious juice to the table.)

So you take the Bush allegations, add a side of Mayo and ask the question: Has there ever been a more textbook definition of "lack of institutional control"?

If all the allegations stand up, USC athletic director Mike Garrett and the Inspector Clouseaus who comprise his compliance staff must lose their jobs over these serial embarrassments, or the school has no credibility whatsoever. When USC's two highest-profile sports both have star players allegedly on the brazen take from agents, somebody needs to answer for it. A lot of somebodies.
Or USC can take its ignorance and explain it to the NCAA Committee on Infractions, which shouldn't be in much of a mood to listen if the same OTL facts are presented to NCAA investigators as compellingly as they were on national TV and on this Web site Sunday.

According to the OTL investigation, Mayo received thousands of dollars' worth of clothes. A flat-screen TV for his dorm. Hotel rooms for him and his friends. And receipts for all of them, provided to ESPN by insider-turned-whistle-blower Louis Johnson (whose stories were remarkably consistent and verifiable, according to those who worked on the piece).

But it gets better: The swag allegedly was financed by a man named Rodney Guillory, who previously had gotten former USC guard Jeff Trepagnier in trouble for accepting agent kickbacks. Not only did that fail to get Guillory banned from campus, he also wound up a fixture within the program. Of course, who wouldn't want a 43-year-old scammer hanging around a college freshman?

According to transcripts from OTL's interviews with Johnson, Guillory was sitting in the USC basketball offices when Mayo's signed letter-of-intent rolled off the fax machine. Johnson also said coach Tim Floyd talked frequently with Guillory about Mayo whenever "issues" arose.

In the wake of this, it's hilarious to listen to Floyd's interview on "Pardon The Interruption" before Mayo started his brief career at USC. In a previous episode, Michael Wilbon had arched an eyebrow about taking someone with Mayo's red flags into the program. Floyd's response made Mayo sound like a tragically misunderstood Eagle Scout.

According to Floyd, Mayo was raised by a single mother who didn't have the money to pay a big cell phone bill -- which ostensibly is why Guillory discouraged Floyd from calling him during his recruitment. Floyd also said the kid "doesn't have anything" materially.

Despite that, the USC coach apparently never got around to wondering how the poor child from Huntington, W.Va., could afford the expensive clothes on his back or the expensive shoes on his feet. How about the flat-screen TV in his dorm? That never set off an alarm? If the answer is that USC coaches or compliance workers never set foot in Mayo's dorm room … why the hell not?

When you recruit someone radioactive, you better have everything checked down to the smallest detail. Or else your program turns into Three Mile Island.

Johnson told ESPN that he believes USC did not know about any of the kickbacks Mayo allegedly received. Why?

"I think after the Reggie Bush fiasco that they would have definitely taken steps to prevent this type of thing from happening again," Johnson said.

Except they apparently didn't. Which is astonishing. And damning.

(However, it would not qualify as "repeat violator" status with the NCAA. The school has not been penalized -- or even charged -- in the Bush affair, and until that happens, USC would not fall under the repeat violator umbrella. That's why it couldn't get the death penalty. But a postseason ban would seem to be both plausible and justifiable.)

You have to assume USC simply didn't want to know. Didn't want to know the extent to which runners already had set their hooks into their highest-profile basketball recruit ever. The Trojans knew they were in this deal for one year before Mayo turned pro, and they probably just averted their gaze, hoping nothing blew up and the victories would pile up.

It's a scenario playing out right now on many other campuses nationwide, guaranteed. Agents and their runners are identifying who can play as early as college scouts are, and they're commencing the jockeying for position. And we all know what wins most of those turf wars: money and favors. Most topflight young basketball players have at least been offered plenty before college, even if they haven't accepted it.

It's a problem the NCAA desperately needs to get a grip on if college basketball is going to maintain even a hint of a legitimate relationship to higher education. The sport's repeatedly pilloried reputation took another big hit with this revelation, but perhaps it will spur other Louis Johnsons to tell the truth about what's going on in college hoops and youth basketball.

And as for USC?

Fight on.

And deny on.

Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.
ESPN - USC, Tim Floyd have no excuse for turning a blind eye - Columnist

Dialing up True Love while Temptation is on the Other Line - AccessAthletes :: The Real Athlete Blog

Dialing up True Love while Temptation is on the Other Line - AccessAthletes :: The Real Athlete Blog

The Playbook: ESPN - Florida player allegedly used deceased woman's credit card - College Football

The Playbook commentary:

Now this one is sad on so many levels. First, and foremost, why did this young man find it necessary to do what he did? This action speaks of total desparation. Now, yes, with gas prices the way they are, we all would love to be able to catch a break. But, NOT like this....so sad.

What is also sad is how fast the university's team dismissed Hornsby. Severing all ties and any level of responsibility. Now, understanding that this is not the first or second time this young man had been in trouble, and in knowing that, a red flag goes up for me....who takes responsibilty for the previous times? What was done to help him, "see the light" when the first and/or second incident occurred? This is scary because it shows that players are valued only when they are producing key results on the field....nothing is sincere. And, if this is not the case...perception is reality. Time to rethink how you manage players, communicate to the media/public and prioritize your goals.

And, lastly, what is sad is the tragic way two young people died. They can not be forgotten in this....no matter what.

I hope that someone tries to step in and save the life of Mr. Hornsby, while he still has a chance. He should not easily be dismissed...he still has a promising future, maybe not on the field, but in life.

MWPRInsight


Florida player allegedly used deceased woman's credit card
ESPN.com news services

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida Gators safety Jamar Hornsby has been kicked off the team after turning himself in Friday to answer charges he allegedly used the credit card of a woman killed six months ago in an accident that also killed a teammate.

"He is not a part of our program," Florida coach Urban Meyer said in a news release.
Hornsby, a 21-year-old junior, learned Thursday that a judge had issued a warrant for his arrest on charges he used the dead woman's gas card for six months, so he surrendered on charges of credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card, lawyer Huntley Johnson said.

Hornsby was released from jail several hours later on his own recognizance.

Hornsby allegedly used a credit card issued to Ashley Slonina, a University of Florida student who died in an October 2007 motorcycle accident that also took the life of Gators walk-on Michael Guilford. It was not known how Hornsby obtained the card.

Alachua County Sheriff's Office spokesman Stephen Maynard said the card was used 33 times in Alachua County and another 37 times in Jacksonville, for $3,000 in charges.

"I would love to hear the explanation for utilizing the card of a deceased person," Maynard said.
Hornsby is accused of using the card starting Oct. 13, 2007, the day after the woman's death, the newspaper said.

Slonina, the girlfriend of another Florida teammate, was apparently getting a ride home from Guilford when his motorcycle struck a curb at high speed near campus early on the morning of Oct. 12.
Hornsby, who has played the last two seasons mostly on special teams, has had two prior off-field problems during his Florida career. He was cited in April 2007 on misdemeanor criminal mischief charges when he caused $750 damage to a car by throwing a man onto the vehicle's hood during a fight.

He also was suspended from playing in last year's game against Georgia for selling his tickets to the game, a violation of NCAA rules.

Guilford, a walk-on defensive back, had earned national attention for playing the role of Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith on the scout team during preparation for the 2007 Bowl Championship Series national title game, which the Gators won 41-14.

Information from ESPN.com college football reporter Mark Schlabach and The Associated Press was used in this report.


ESPN - Florida player allegedly used deceased woman's credit card - College Football

The Playbook Poster Child: ESPN - Florida state attorney drops case against Broncos' Thomas - NFL

The Playbook Commentary:

My two cents before you read yet another story about a player not thinking, whatsoever....Mr. Thomas should get down on his knees and thank God that the charges were dropped. This situation is becoming too much the norm in the world of professional sports, especially within the NFL. And, it is so ridiculous because it doesn't need to happen. Why do you find it necessary to be in possession of any illegal substance, when you know that your job has mandatory drug testing? Why do you find it necessary to associate with folks who obviously do not respect your job (yes, playing football is not a game) and don't take the potential consequences of their actions into consideration before they get you involved? People (players, agents, the NFL, family, friends, etc.), can we PLEEZE wake up?!

Now, of course I am not going to illuminate the problem without offering a solution, at least one solution, from my POV. My firm's latest initative under MWPR │Presents, is The Playbook. This mentoring initiative looks to bring productive, positive and purpose-driven solutions to the real-life needs and situations that occur during the lifecycle of a professional athlete. And, pertaining to players in crisis...there are proactive as well as reactive programs developed to address these scenarios including: Under Your Jersey: Game Day Decision; Post-Game Wrap-up; and, 4th & Goal.

I would LOVE to be able to help the Marcus Thomas' of the world and their "agents"realize once and for all that this thing is for real....let us help you (the professional athlete) make your career a successful one.

Coming soon!

Florida state attorney drops case against Broncos' Thomas
By Bill WilliamsonESPN.com(Archive)

The Florida state attorney's office has dropped its case against starting Denver Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas.
Thomas had been arrested in March in Clay County, Fla., for cocaine possession. However, charges were never pursued by prosecutors. According to the Clay County clerk's Web site, the case was abandoned Friday.

Thomas' attorney, Charlie Truncale, said Friday night that he had spoken with assistant state attorney James Boyle earlier in the day and was told the case had been dropped.

"It's over," Truncale said. "I'm so pleased for Marcus."

Thomas, who was dismissed as a senior from the eventual BCS champion Florida Gators in 2006 after repeated positive tests for marijuana, was arrested with his former high school teammate, Bryce Carter, in Jacksonville, Fla.

According to the county Web site Friday, Carter is being charged with third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance.

Truncale said in March that both Thomas and Carter told the arresting officers that the cocaine was in the possession of Carter, who was driving when Carter's truck was stopped for a traffic violation.

However, those statements were not part of the police report. Thomas, Truncale said, recently talked to prosecutors and maintained his story. "I'm just glad the right thing was done," Truncale said.

The Broncos had no comment Friday night. However, coach Mike Shanahan said in March that the team supported Thomas. Sources have said that if Thomas would have been prosecuted, Denver likely would have cut him.

"Marcus is so appreciative of Coach Shanahan's support and he is happy this thing is over," his agent, Richard Burnoski, said Friday night. "He's looking forward to the future with the Denver Broncos."

Denver drafted Thomas in the fourth round in 2007, moving up to get him at the No. 121 spot by trading a package of picks to the Minnesota Vikings.

Shanahan repeatedly has said Thomas was a top-15 quality pick. He finished last season as a starter and is expected to be teamed with Dewayne Robertson, just acquired from the Jets, in the middle of Denver's defensive line.

Bill Williamson covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

ESPN - Florida state attorney drops case against Broncos' Thomas - NFL

Hamilton resigns post at Georgia Tech | ajc.com

Hamilton resigns post at Georgia Tech
By STAFF REPORTS
Published on: 05/07/08

Joe Hamilton's career on the Georgia Tech football staff ended less than two weeks after it started when he resigned Wednesday, a day after his arrest on charges of drunk driving, hit-and-run, marijuana possession and open container.

Hamilton, the 1999 Heisman Trophy runner-up, had hoped to use his assistant player personnel job as a steppingstone to a position as an on-the-field coach. Instead, he faces charges from an early Tuesday traffic stop on the Tech campus.

Hamilton did not immediately return a voice and a text message sent to his cell phone.

"Today, I sadly accepted Joe's resignation," Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson said in a released statement on Wednesday. "I know he has great love and concern for this program and always will. Both athletic director Dan Radakovich and I made it clear to Joe that we would offer any support he requires in the coming weeks and into the future. Joe will always be a part of the Yellow Jacket family."

He had just joined the Tech staff on April 28. His duties included assisting with recruiting and helping the players.

Hamilton apologized to Tech and professed his innocence after a bond hearing in courtroom in Fulton County Jail Tuesday evening.

Hamilton was pulled over shortly after midnight by a Georgia Tech police officer because his black Ford Expedition matched the description of a car in a nearby hit-and-run crash.

Officers smelled alcohol on Hamilton's breath and asked him if he had been drinking and involved in an accident. Hamilton admitted that he had a few beers and that he hit another vehicle from behind, the report said.

Hamilton failed a series of field sobriety tests, including walking in a straight line and standing on one leg.
Hamilton, 31, received his history, technology and society degree from Tech last August. Since graduating, he has been a personality on Tech's pre-game radio show. He also provided color commentary on the game replays on CSS-TV.

The 5-foot, 10-inch quarterback played for Tech from 1996 to 1999. He led the team to an ACC championship in 1998 and finished second in the Heisman Trophy race the next year. He moved on to play in the NFL and the Arena Football League.

Hamilton resigns post at Georgia Tech ajc.com

MWPRInsight: Evidence of why "The Playbook" initiative is timely

It's academic: NCAA reveals APR sanctions
Steve Megargee is a national writer for Rivals.com.

Orange Bowl champion Kansas and Washington State were the only programs from "Big Six" conferences to face penalties. Other schools facing penalties for football were Akron, UAB, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Hawaii, Idaho, UNLV, New Mexico State, North Texas, San Diego State, San Jose State, Temple and Toledo.

The list of major programs facing penalties is longer in men's basketball. Colorado, Kansas State, Purdue, Seton Hall, South Carolina, USC and Tennessee were among the 53 Division I programs cited.

A total of 218 teams at 123 schools will be sanctioned for poor performance, NCAA president Myles Brand said. Another 712 teams were publicly recognized last month for APRs in the top 10 percent of each sport.

Every Division I sports team calculates its APR each academic year. The APR is based on the eligibility, retention and graduation of each student-athlete on scholarship. An APR of 925 equates to an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of about 60 percent.

The average APR for all Division I student-athletes is 961 – 951 for males and 969 for females. This year marked the first time the average eligibility and retention rates both showed increases.

"Overall, there is much to be encouraged about with the latest data," Brand said. "When we started four years ago, baseball and football were in serious trouble. There has been great improvement in both of those sports.

"We are not out of the woods, however. There are individual institutions that have seen steady decline in APR over the last four years. The situation is dire for them."

Teams that score below 925 on the APR and have a student leave school academically ineligible can lose up to 10 percent of their scholarships. Teams also can be subject to penalties for poor academic performance over time.

The majority of basketball programs facing penalties recently had coaching changes. Coaching changes can be problematic for a school's APR, particularly with the transfers that can result.
No school faces penalties in more sports than Sacramento State, which was cited in baseball, football, men's basketball, men's golf, men's indoor track, men's outdoor track and women's tennis. The Hornets are a I-AA football program.

Schools facing penalties in six sports included UAB (football, men's basketball, men's golf, men's soccer, men's tennis, women's basketball), New Mexico State (baseball, football, men's basketball, men's tennis, women's tennis, women's outdoor track) and San Jose State (baseball, football, men's basketball, men's cross country, men's soccer, women's basketball).

The single-year APR has increased 12 points for baseball and 11 points for football since 2003-04, when the NCAA began collecting data on this issue. The APR for men's basketball declined each of the past two years before increasing four points this year.

This is the second year for "historical penalties." Second-year sanctions include restrictions on scholarships and practice time. Starting next year, teams that receive three consecutive years of historical penalties (below 900 APR) face the potential of restrictions on postseason competition in addition to scholarship and practice restrictions.

Every program posting an APR score below 925 is required to develop a specific academic improvement plan. Teams posting APR scores below 900 must submit their plans to the NCAA for review.

Steve can be reached at smegargee@rivals.com. Link to article: