UCONN’s Jim Calhoun got slapped on the wrist for “not promoting an atmosphere of compliance”, but that slap on the wrist is a three-game Big East suspension NEXT season.
I’ve heard many radio pundits suggest that Calhoun should have been suspended at some point during this run that UCONN is on (probably in the Big East tourney) and that that alone would likely have derailed their run in the Big East tournament, the 3 seed they’re enjoying and their spot in the Final Four.
Basically, folks are saying that UCONN doesn’t belong. It’s as if the point is, “If this were Tennessee they would have been kicked out of the tournament” or “I can’t believe that UCONN is allowed to tread all over the rules and get away with it just because they’re UCONN.”
It’s the same argument people used with Cam Newton when his illegibility was in question. The unfortunate reality is that most people don’t understand that the NCAA is all about POLITICS.
Jim Calhoun is respected, not a snitch, and he’s won two national titles. Someone like Bruce Pearl is considered a snitch, not a good guy, too rowdy, and not to be trusted. You know the problem? What Jim Calhoun did and what Bruce Pearl did are kind of the same thing. Did Bruce Pearl (according to the accusations) promote an atmosphere of compliance? It doesn’t seem that way.
He just lied about it.
Jim Tressel told some fibs and people are calling for his job, he’s been suspended for basically half of next season, and everyone is questioning Ohio State on every level.
So, why does UCONN get to be there, right now? Because UCONN spoke, they handed down a punishment, and the NCAA accepted. It’s all politics. Those are the facts of life. Plus, are we really pretending that Jim Calhoun did things that nobody else does?
Let’s get off it. College sports are grimy.
