The University of Miami Scandal

The University Of Miami Football Scandal

August 21, 2011

     In recent news, that literally hit close to home, because of my recent relocation to the beautiful city of Miami Florida.  I found it very shocking hearing about the scandal associated with The University of Miami football team players, and how so much money exchanged hands over the recent years.  In my opinion, it’s a total injustice that those young men already get a “free ride” to a major university, and now exposed that they were given millions of dollars with of gifts, and money in addition.  Don’t get me wrong, I totally feel that athletes are very special people, to be able to disciple themselves in order to reach the level in sports that some of them do, but is all that really necessary for them to be happy and perform to the best of their ability?  Aren’t they suppose to be playing the games that they “love” and aren’t they suppose to be scholars that receive a prize of recognition, exposure, and free education, meals, books, etc. for their hard work on the field, representing their school enough?  My biggest problem is that the University of Miami isn’t the only school that has, is, and will do the same thing to “motivate” their players.  This is a major problem, and the NCAA needs to address it now!  According to Yahoo Sports, a booster name Nevin Shapiro provided impermissible benefits and gifts to at least 72 Miami Hurricane players over the last 10 years.  Research found that the players received cash, entertainment, jewelry, trips, yacht rides, bounties for field plays, prostitutes, and abortions for some of them.  According to the source, everyone knew- the coaches, teammates, and others around the campus of the royal treatment that these players were given and a lot of them have even moved onto pro status, and they are as followed: 

Jon Beason, linebacker, Carolina Panthers, Calais Campbell, defensive end, Arizona Cardinals, Orlando Franklin, offensive tackle, Denver Broncos: Frank Gore, running back, wide receiver/returner, Chicago Bears, Sam Shields, cornerback, Green Bay Packers, D.J. Williams, linebacker, Denver Broncos, Kellen Winslow, Jr., tight end, Tampa Bay Buccaneers to name a few.   The sad thing about this entire situation is that the players that haven’t reached “pro status” are left behind to deal with all of the press negativity, fans, and maybe a chance at the pros.  They must come back down to earth, eat the humiliation of everyone that have benefited in the past, and live a modest lifestyle like any other up and hopefully coming star.  I believe that there has been some foul play in this whole scandal, because in every lie there is some truth, but why did it have to come out right before the season starts?

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Miami-scandal-has-deep-and-massive-ties-to-curre?urn=nfl-wp5211