Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 28, 2011)
Bids/Jobs Advertising deadlines 12:00 Noon Monday Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. To place your ad, email advertising@theskanner.com NCAA Player Reform: A Few Thoughts many blessed with great talent are not so blessed with the simple parental influences By Roger m. groves, professor of law florida Coastal School of law T he NCAA enforcement problem has festered beneath the surface for decades, and allowed to grow into a multi-institutional monster. I think its prob- lems are too complex for a single simple solution. There are root causes we still don’t dig down and deal with. Some societal, some economic, some just plain greed or ignorance. Nor can all the issues be adequately treated in a single post. But there are some issues that seem obvious to me that no one seems to what to address. I have a few suggestions or considerations. One seeks to inspire players to do the right thing. The other is more drastic, borrowing from criminology and technology. That’s for those who still don’t get it. But I’ll save that for another post. First, we need an enhanced way of inspiring the at-risk teenagers to do the right thing. The reason is because the university setting is not supposed to act like the criminal justice system. We must admit that we are asking for voluntary compliance by players to comply with NCAA rules. The prob- lem with getting at-risk star players to conform to NCAA rules doesn’t start with college. Grown-ups identify and coddle those with superior athletic ability at or before puberty. Then the adoring community that loves to see their schools win, including some teachers, sends the subtle but consistent message that for these youngsters, the normal rules do not apply. It should not then surprise us that some of these mixed-messaged 10- 12 year olds become teenagers who are high risks for rules violations. And then there is often family dysfunction where too often the absent or incarcerated father is replaced by AAU coaches or other sports pimps of sorts. The player becomes more a commodity than the loved one. Yet the essence of fatherhood is irreplaceable. The loving daily presence gives a special standing and entre’ to the kid’s heart and mind. The father can then penetrate the athletic aura and say, “Oh no. You won’t do that!” Magic Johnson has plenty of stories about how his father made sure certain behaviors were put in check despite his tremendous fame in high school. He was blessed with that loving connection and correction as part of daily living. Many blessed with great talent are not so blessed with the simple parental influences that many of us take for granted or have forgotten. We should remember too that there are plenty of studies about the disparity –in rules and resources - between the public schools in large urban areas and the schools most college students come from. The vast majority of African Americans in public schools are from a dozen urban under-resourced schools with challenges very differ- ent from the suburban high per-capi- ta cost per student schools. All those factors among others bring tremen- dous adjustment issues once these players go to college. And college itself is the first sniff of almost com- plete freedom that has snared more than just athletes. I am not making excuses for bad behavior, just reasons why it exists. If we don’t understand the problem, we are less likely to find a solution. And unless we understand what motivates and inspires the players, we have little chance of knowing what buttons to push to cre- If we don’t understand the problem, we are less likely to find a solution ate changed behavior among those likely to commit NCAA infractions through their own choice. The separate and next issue is what to do about it. One part of the solution is for qualitative family circumstances early in life. But the past links us to the present and that tragically will take far longer to fix. So we need to start with inspiring teenagers to transform a past “rules don’t apply to me” mentality to the new and very daunting set of rules found in the near-IRS Code level NCAA rule book. Some of us with little appreciation for this transformational issue act shocked as to why such play- ers don’t instantly transform themselves. Read the rest of this story online at www.theskanner.com PROJECT COORDINATOR Portland State University (0.50 FTE). 3-year research project on digital literacy in economical- ly vulnerable populations. Requires Masters Degree in a social science, education or related field and facility with large databases, quantitative and qualitative methods. $42,684 per year (will be prorated to 0.50 FTE), excellent benefits. Submit cover letter and resume by email to ack3@pdx.edu. Review of applications begins immedi- ately. 9-28-11 SUB BIDS / SUPPLIER QUOTES REQUESTED City of Renton Strander Boulevard/ SW 27th Street Extension Phase 1, Segment 2A Bid Date: October 5, at 2:00 pm The Skanner Publishes Several Special Editions Throughout the Year Call 503.285.5555 visit us on the web at www.theskanner.com Subcontractor and supplier quotes requested 24 hours prior to bid date (10/4/11) Walsh Pacific is requesting quotes from subcon- tractors and suppliers, including certified DBE firms, for the following: Dewatering, Erosion Control, Drainage, Traffic Control, Painting, Pile Driving, Earthwork, Concrete Bridges, Concrete Flatwork, Concrete Coating, Precast Concrete Drainage Structures, Pavement Marking, Rebar Installers and Suppliers, Asphalt, Electrical, Fencing & Guardrail, Signing, Trucking, Aggregates, Steel, Steel Erection, Landscaping, Tie Backs, Expansion Joints, Bearings, Surveying, Formwork and others. WALSH PACIFIC CONSTRUCTION Phone(425) 453-4191 Fax (425) 458-9094 846 108th Ave NE, Suite 210 Bellevue, WA 98004 #WALSHPC044DC Walsh Pacific intends to negotiate with all qualified DBE firms to encourage project participation, including consideration of quotes for any item of work, portion of an item, or combination thereof. If you require information regarding assistance in obtaining bonding, insurance, credit, equipment, supplies, materials, or related services please call our office at (425) 453-4191. Plans can be viewed at Builders Exchange of Washington at www.bxwa.com or at our Bellevue office. To schedule an appointment to view plans please contact the number above. WALSH PACIFIC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, AGE, OR DISABILITY. 9-28-11 September 28, 2011 The Portland Skanner page 7
