- And here we go! If you haven't already, check out Taylor's Atlantic cover story The Shame of College Sports and Byliner e-book The Cartel, both on the NCAA and college sports.
- Hello. This is like a space walk for me, as I was illiterate about Twitter until a few days ago. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119094499870912513
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:01:56 - While Taylor's work on the NCAA has been widely discussed by major media outlets in the past few weeks, responses from college publications have been few:
- Welcome. I'm hoping to hear from a college newspaper editor or two, but all questions are welcome. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119095361104130048
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:05:21 - Ianastewart comes in with the first question:
- Hi Taylor, I was curious what you make of the idea of conference realignment. It seems geared toward nothing other than more $$. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/ianastewart/status/119094699637219328
— ianastewart (@ianastewart)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:02:43 - @ianastewart Yes, conference realignment heads the football schools toward more money and a playoff without the NCAA. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119094912804327424
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:03:34 - Mr. Branch, what if schools pooled the money like a pension plan to distribute to athletes upon graduation or eligibility? #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/MJ_Croley/status/119095274252677120
— MJ_Croley (@MJ_Croley)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:05:00 - @MJ_Croley Yes. They could do that. And that may be all the players want. But it shouldn't be a dole without their consent. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119095637844307969
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:06:27 - That's an idea from a friend of mine who is a D-1 bball coach at the mid-major level. Those are the kids that get squeezed most. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/MJ_Croley/status/119095898230898688
— MJ_Croley (@MJ_Croley)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:07:29 - @MJ_Croley Yes. A lot of these coaches want to take better care of their players, but most can't say so publicly. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119096188145381376
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:08:38 - Baseball's reserve clause eventually required an arbitrator to kill it. What mechanism can force the issue here? #fixthencaa
http://twitter.com/ReasJack/status/119096042338787328
— ReasJack (@ReasJack)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:08:03 - @ReasJack Well, an antitrust suit could do so. Several are pending. The courts already struck down restrictions on adults. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119096433453449216
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:09:37 - @taylorbranch @ReasJack Frankly, I think one of the big conferences may get fed up with NCAA petty enforcements and revolt. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119097268807811072
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:12:56 - @fdberry OK. But the question is what authority allows imposed restrictions on college players and not on coaches or schools. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119097052612399104
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:12:04 - (1) Raise the basic stipend (2) Athletes allowed to receive cash and benefits from anyone but school and identified boosters #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/fdberry/status/119096773938655232
— fdberry (@fdberry)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:10:58 - Authority? Eligibility to compete. I don't understand the point. NCAA should enforce (a) academics and (b) level playing field #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/fdberry/status/119097387175251968
— fdberry (@fdberry)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:13:24 - @fdberry Yes, but by what authority? No law can impose amateurism. The NCAA has only a shaky cartel agreement. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119097645414363137
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:14:26 - But I don't want to lose the student-athlete concept. Horrific effect on wannabees #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/fdberry/status/119099530233921536
— fdberry (@fdberry)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:21:55 - @fdberry A lot of people don't want to lose it. I didn't either. But it's our sentiment imposed on the rights of others. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119100309267156992
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:25:01 - Not really. We do set social goals. We can make eligibility requirements. That's how it all started. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/fdberry/status/119100600062455808
— fdberry (@fdberry)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:26:10 - Can impose sanctions on school and boosters. Beyond that, the kid should be free #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/fdberry/status/119097958921805825
— fdberry (@fdberry)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:15:40 - What we can't do - fairly - is restrict income sources. #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/fdberry/status/119100784402116608
— fdberry (@fdberry)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:26:54 - Why won't the NCAA hand out the death penalty any more. USC, Miami, Ohio State? It seems they're just as guilty as SMU ever was #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/ianastewart/status/119097931457499136
— ianastewart (@ianastewart)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:15:34 - @ianastewart Because the NCAA fears the football schools and conferences won't tolerate inteference with their tv revenue.... #FixtheNCAA
http://twitter.com/taylorbranch/status/119098213121785856
— taylorbranch (@taylorbranch)Wed, Sep 28 2011 17:16:41
