There is a controversy brewing on social media that involves an article by The Oregonian, a picture of John Calipari, Megan Calipari and Jay Bilas.
First, let’s look at the article by the Oregonian. They published an article today titled “Basketball bribes: How Adidas bankrolled a black market for top teenage talent.” The problem is that they used a picture of John Calipari in the article to increase clicks.
Here’s a look at the article and the picture via a retweet from Bilas:
NCAA knew about T.J. Gassanola over a decade ago, yet did nothing. NCAA members partner with (sell players to) shoe companies, therefore, the NCAA does it. After all, NCAA is the members. So, what is the NCAA accountability? None. Asleep at the wheel. https://t.co/aSi319tqgI
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) February 4, 2019
Here is an excerpt from that article (which has nothing to do with Calipari):
T.J. Gassnola could have been finished with basketball in 2006, after the New England recruiter admitted giving money to his youth players.
He seemed done for again in 2012, when the NCAA banned his team from prestigious summer events because of his ties to a professional sports agent.
Gassnola’s issues might well have made him a pariah in college basketball circles. Instead, he gained easy access to its elite. He chatted up coaches at North Carolina State. He texted with Louisville legend Rick Pitino. He even dined with Bill Self immediately before the Kansas coach’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
It was all thanks to Adidas.
The sneaker giant, desperate to boost its anemic basketball business, overlooked glaring red flags about Gassnola and elevated the street-savvy hustler to an integral role in its sports marketing operation. In return, he took their $1 million-plus as a do-anything bagman in the shoe war against Nike and Under Armour. He funneled at least $150,000 to the families of sought-after recruits to entice those players to join Adidas-sponsored grassroots or college teams, he testified.
That secret deal-making came into clear view amid an unprecedented two-year FBI investigation and federal trial that criminalized corruption within college basketball. Prosecutors argued that paying families didn’t simply violate amateurism rules but constituted fraud against the universities that unknowingly awarded scholarships to ineligible players.
Megan Calipari didn’t care much for the site using a picture of her dad:
So you’re telling me this is the only picture available of him? This picture. Where he is not even in focus but my dad is? Do better @Oregonian https://t.co/CqAiGnHQL8
— Megan Calipari (@MeganteCalipari) February 4, 2019
Bilas then appeared to tell Megan to read the article…or have someone read it to her (Ouch. Really?):
Read the article. Or, have someone read it to you. The Oregonian isn’t out to get you.
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) February 4, 2019
That did not go over well with Big Blue Nation:
Classy!
— Jay Lawless (@UKJayL) February 5, 2019
— kevoooo (@kevo00o) February 5, 2019
Whoa Jay. “Have someone read it to you” is a pretty harsh thing to say to anyone. Let alone a highly educated women. I’m very disappointed in you. Thought you were above such comments.
— Zack Hatfield (@MischievousDM) February 5, 2019
Seems that some @espn employees can say whatever they want without consequence. Others aren't so lucky.
— Brian (@bkbullock33) February 4, 2019
— Rejetta Caudill (@Born2bBertha) February 4, 2019
Bilas sounds like a misogynist. Come on, man, be better!
— Lisa Denny (@denny_lisa) February 5, 2019
Hey @MeganteCalipari can I read this article to you? My PhD is in neuroscience not literature, but I think I know at least half the words.https://t.co/qD4DG7C1zn pic.twitter.com/qmdVcyj2O7
— Cody Siciliano (@CodySiciliano) February 4, 2019
