This makes my blood boil!

[Raymeus]

As Iowa State fans we can relate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/op...es&emc=tha212#

[Jarrods79]

You and me both. I feel that the hypocrisy from the NCAA is becoming more egregious...and hopefully it will be too much to ignore. Someone please step up.

[twistedredbird]

kind of hard to stomach. the national championship teams of college biggest sports are both tainted. Says a lot if you ask me.

[Cyclonepride]

There are a few things there that are unnecessary to the story other than for ideological pokes in the ribs, but I agree that the NCAA's inequitable application of power is ridiculous.

[Mumbai1986]

Awesome article. Yeah, the NCAA is a joke right now. SO inconsistent and money grubbing. This is a serious question, but will things ever change?

[CyForPresident]

Things are becoming worse and worse just like the old SWC. Eventually someone is going to go far and the proverbial **** will hit the fan. Probably the Senate pulling the non-profit tag.

[CyCrazy]

NCAA a little crooked... No way

[CloneAlta]

As Iowa State fans we can relate.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/op...es&emc=tha212#

The NCAA is a good training ground for Congress. They've already gotten the "bureaucracy" game down, now they're working on the "sleeze" game----and, they are right on track to match up with Congress.

[ontheverge]

Be interesting to see a poll of who is the biggest joke. Congress or the NCAA.

[JP4CY]

Be interesting to see a poll of who is the biggest joke. Congress or the NCAA.

One is non-profit and makes billions. One is for profit and is in the hole trillions.

[cyatheart]

The NCAA is going to kill the golden goose.

For instance, you want to stop the cheating at USC and other schools. Ban them from TV for 5 years. That would be the end of it. But instead they slap USC with some tiny scholarship reduction for a couple years and in a year or two USC will be right back on top.

You want to stop the cheating. Ban coaches like Calipari, Kelvin Sampson for life.

But they don't. Why? Does it really mattter if UCONN is down for a few years in bball? Does it really effect their bottom line much? Does it really matter if USC sucks in football for 5 years? On the margin maybe it does, but they are going to be fat and happy anyway. So why ruin the college game by letting guys like Jim Tressel off with a few games suspension? Just tell Ohio State, either he is fired, or you aren't on TV for 5 years. Case closed. But they won't, god forbid the NCAA knock down one of the big programs.

[twistedredbird]

NCAA gives non-profit 501 c 3 associations a bad name and is a reason a lot of non-profits are shaking in our boots right now.

I am an association professional. This is what I do for a living. NCAA and the ARP are causing a lot of problems for small non-profits. Sarbanes Oxley is just a tip of the iceberg. Over 500 non-profit organizations are being shut down this year. The problem is these big powers have become so driven by money they have lost sight of their true mission; and most associations are small, most under $500,000 in annual operating money, are paying the price for increasing legislation. There are several bills on the hill that have hurt us recently, like increased reporting, etc. Maybe in theory, not a big deal, but for a non-profit, an extra $10,000 a year in operating costs to a $250,000 a year organization in a culture of diminishing donations, and reduced employer paid memberships to professional associations, it is huge.

Also, the tax law around sponsorships is so complicated, its a 40 page document. NCAA knows how to milk it to the extreme, but I have to work with accountants and lawyers every year to update my sponsor contracts as the tax law changes so frequently.
NCAA and universities have staff whose sole job is dealing with these issues, but its the small non-profits, that are the backbone of our services community, that are feeling the pinch more than anyone.

[moforisu]

Someone needs to take the NCAA to court on an issue like this and smear it all over the media. That or have all of the companies who pay for advertising, ie all the money, get smeared for supporting an organization as corrupt as government.

[PGreen ISU '92]

Great article! Everyone should read this.

[bosco]

The NCAA is like the great aunt in the old folks home with schizophrenia. Some times when you visit her she knows who you are, some times she thinks you are her son, and some times she thinks you're the old lady across the hall who is trying steal her clothes in the closet and tries to beat your brains in with the bat she hides under the bed. The problem is that you never know which one you are going to get when you visit her.