Two Sides of the NCAA - Violations and Arena Atmosphere

- - -

Two things got my dander up during the latest rounds of the NCAA Basketball tourney.

This is of course in addition to the on-going failures of Petino and Calipari teams to hit free throws. (I mean they don't shoot them well during the year - why would anyone expect the results to be different in the tourney - isn't that the whole "definition of insanity" thing, doing the same thing but expecting different results?) Not that I'm bitter because of my brackets or anything.

The first thing was Coach Jim Calhoun's reaction to questions about rules violations that came up recently.

As allegations gain steam, Calhoun does his own Big Dance

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/george_dohrmann/03/27/calhoun.sidesteps/index.html
Now, I generally like Jim and the program he has put together. I also had some sympathy for him when he was recently all over YouTube being attacked for his salary. But in a system of college sports that is regulated mainly to protect what's left of the "student athlete" myth, to publicly state that "in a 508 page manual - a mistake could have been made" is just sending the wrong message. This also coming from a man who has not been shy about condemning the recruiting practices of other coaches. The college basketball glass house is just too easily shattered these days.

So there is my defense of the NCAA. Now for the critique.

Requiring all courts to have uniform designs in the tourney is one thing. (Although the design was a bit plain.) But to ask all the arenas - like the garden - to take down all the banners is absolutely absurd. One of the draws for both spectators and players is to play in professional sports arenas - with all the decor and atmosphere. The banners of the garden and the accompanying feel give the players and fans such an added pump. It is just a shame this often stodgy and narrow minded organization had to over think this one too.