Thursday, August 18, 2011

Random Thoughts (August 18, 2011)

USC.  Ohio State.  Miami.

All are traditional college football powerhouses who either are in the middle of or are awaiting NCAA sanctions.

The reason for the punishment is that their players were taking money and other benefits which is illegal under NCAA rules.

This is a problem that major college sports have faced for years and there is no solution.  The fact of the matter is that football players and basketball players bring in billions of dollars from television rights, merchandise, and advertising and they get nothing more than their scholarship.  I'm not trying to downplay the benefits of a free education but it's not a fair trade for the running back at USC or Ohio State or Miami to see their school rake in the dollars from jersey sales and ESPN while they get free classes and books. 

Nevermind that these players fly all over the country during the season at the expense of their class schedule.

It's time for the NCAA to admit that they can not and should not prevent these athletes from making an honest (or not so honest) buck off of their talents...

The Red Sox recent slump could help them improve as a team.

Up until August 31 teams can make trades as long as a player clears waivers.  A player is placed on waivers and is available to every team starting with the team with the worst record.  Teams can claim a player to either make a deal or block a potential move to another team.

Now that the Red Sox are looking up to the Yankees in the A.L. East, they get their shot at players on the waiver wire before the Yankees.  This could help the Red Sox find a right handed hitting outfielder or left handed relief pitcher without the Yankees getting involved.

There's always a silver lining...

The Patriots second preseason game will be like the first one, a glorified scrimmage which will give Bill Belichick a chance to evaluate the younger players and some of the new free agent additions.

That means no Tom Brady.

It's a scam that the NFL teams can charge full price for these games even though the best players never get on the field but I'd rather pay $100 for a preseason ticket to see Brian Hoyer play quarterback than to see Brady get hurt...

Enjoy Josh Beckett tonight...

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