The NCAA is taking lessons from MLB

by berselius on Jul 19, 2008 10:54 AM CDT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/opinion/buzz1.html?ref=opinion

I don't really follow college baseball at all (mainly because my university doesn't have a team), so I'm not really concerned with all of the 'tradition' etc. This is some pretty low stuff though - I can't see how the NCAA isn't making money hand over fist already, since they don't have to pay any of the players/teams.

The bit about the camera at the end was pretty low too - what a bunch of jerks.

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As a Omaha native

This has been a HUGE topic of debate for the past few years. I was a Rosenblatt supporter, as it really is the perfect location for the College World Series. However, with the contract signed, I do believe the new stadium will be even better for everyone – the city, the NCAA, the players, the fans.

It’s easy to blame the NCAA for this, however, they really aren’t to blame. The Omaha Mayor took this and used it to create a legacy for himself. The NCAA had repeatedly said before it was not actively looking for a new stadium, and improvements to Rosenblatt could also secure Omaha’s future as the host city. As the article said,

Omaha officials basically used the N.C.A.A. as cover to ram through a new stadium in an effort to continue the revitalization of the northern section of Omaha’s downtown.

The end part also had absolutely no belonging in the article – it was a personal dispute between him and security guards, who he admitted he pushed.

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Jul 19, 2008 11:16 AM CDT reply actions

Exactly

I read the article, and Bissinger, as per usual, is drawing all kinds of conclusions that aren’t merited by the evidence. He also seems to be pissed at the NCAA for an incident with his camera and wants his revenge.

Sounds to me like this is completely the City of Omaha’s doing.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Jul 19, 2008 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions

That makes more sense

It didn’t really connect with me what reason the NCAA would have to play these kinds of stadium games, since they don’t have economic ‘issues’ on nearly the scale that the MLB owners do. And you’re right, Bissinger is a jerk.

Some people have 3 layers, like pie.

by berselius on Jul 19, 2008 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions

The NCAA makes MLB look like a well oiled machine

The NCAA is a complete disaster of an organization. Its massive rulebook is complex and disjointed. They are paranoid to the point of absurdity. They preach the sanctity of the student-athlete and amateurism, then act like the gestapo. Everything is tied to money (did you know that at championship venues, you can’t use organizations’ existing wireless and internet connections, and instead you have to use the official NCAA contracted provider… which you have to pay to use?)

The draconian rules and ridiculousness of the organization is one of the forces that drove me out of college athletics. It just wasn’t worth it anymore.

In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this -Oysterband

by Ross on Jul 19, 2008 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

Forget about the logistics...

... the writer has basis for a lawsuit. What a bunch of assholes.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 19, 2008 1:51 PM CDT reply actions

How so?

An argument ensued, and I openly admit it got heated.
More heated argument ensued. More security officials arrived, excitedly smelling the scent of action. Camera alert! Camera alert! More argument. One of them got into my face. I got into his face. He pushed into my body. I pushed into his body.

He pushed the security guard, hence everything after that was his own action. No grounds for a lawsuit, but there are grounds for him to get a little lesson in how to act in public.

There is no place like Nebraska - Go Huskers!

by sanantonecub on Jul 19, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I don't see how he has any chance of a lawsuit. Maybe if he had walked away instead of pushing back like a big macho moron, but not the way it went.

"It’s like they have 40,000 players on one team. Forty thousand people want to be in the dugout slapping fives. ‘Passionate’ is an understatement." -- Giants LHP Alex Hinshaw on Wrigley Field

by northsider on Jul 19, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions