The "bad character" angle is mostly a coping mechanism that people employ to help themselves feel better about him leaving Iowa State. I have no idea if the $840k number is correct, but even if it's half that, it was still 4-5 times what Iowa State was able to offer at the time. Seizing the opportunity to get life changing money isn't bad character. He didn't rob a bank or scam a charity. He decided to play basketball for a different school than the one I like. If that's the worst strike against his character, then he's doing just fine, I think.