Opinion
by Tom McMillen After November 23 when the Congressional Super Committee must send its recommendation to Congress or face automatic cuts, the federal procurement landscape will never be the same. To reach approximately $1.2- $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years will require extraordinary discretionary cuts. Maryland and Virginia are particularly vulnerable because of […]
Opinion
by C. Thomas McMillen What is one thing you would do to fix college sports? How to Fix College Sports The source of the present problems can be traced to 1984 when the U.S. Supreme Court, in the landmark decision NCAA v. Oklahoma, stripped the NCAA of its monopoly power over broadcasting rights to college […]
Opinion
by C. Thomas McMillen In “The Shame of College Sports,” Taylor Branch writes that the NCAA has “an unmistakable whiff of the plantation” and that student-athletes are denied their Constitutional right to due process. Agree or disagree? How to Fix College Sports I agree with his assessment that the NCAA operates a paternalistic system in […]
Opinion
by C. Thomas McMillen A SERIES of recent scandals involving players receiving money, cars and other improper benefits, along with violations by recruiters and sports agents, has debased the already tarnished reputation of college sports. Schools like the University of Miami, the University of North Carolina and the University of Southern California, to name just […]
Opinion
by Tom McMillen Fairness Demands That College Athletes Be Allowed Adequate Representation in Pro Negotiations Last week, longtime University of Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams announced his retirement, and very quickly Maryland announced that Texas A&M Coach Mark Turgeon will replace him. No one doubts that during contract negotiations, Turgeon had lawyers advising and representing […]
Opinion
by Tom McMillen Universities should be able to ‘claw back’ compensation when athletic programs face sanctions It’s a drearily familiar cycle: Successful colleges coaches sail away from one job to another, leaving in their wake a university with a tarnished reputation and an athletic program facing multiple NCAA sanctions. Take John Calipari, former coach at […]
Opinion
From The Hill by Tom McMillen The nation’s childhood obesity epidemic is finally beginning to draw serious attention, and not a moment too soon. However, our efforts to deal with this epidemic are far too focused on what kids eat and not enough on getting them up on their feet. Over 25 million American children […]
Opinion
From USA Today by Tom McMillen The NCAA scored big: a $6-billion television contract, which finances the NCAA and participating athletic programs. In addition, universities ponied up another $4 billion for new facilities during the past few years, even though the majority of athletic programs lost money. And 40-plus coaches hit the jackpot with $1-million- […]
Out of Bounds is a hard-hitting analysis of how the influence of money on sports is corrupting sports on all levels, especially at our institutions of higher education. The book provides a clear-eyed look at the problems with the mindset that values “sports above all,” a mindset that has led to events such as the recent scandal at Penn State.
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