“Failed to comply with sanctions imposed …”
“Exceeded NCAA limits …”
“Acted contrary to the NCAA principles of ethical conduct …”
“Failed to deport himself in accordance with the generally recognized high standard of honesty …”
“Engaged in an impermissible recruiting contact …”
After a one week “internal investigation” of the above charges, Indiana University President Michael McRobbie announced that Kelvin Sampson and the school will agree to a $750,000 buyout of the coach’s contract and he will resign, and that Athletic Director Rick Greenspan cosigned on that decision.
Meantime, it is being said that a …

The Los Angeles Lakers were in an unenviable position last night in Phoenix. Win, and you’re supposed to because the Suns are getting acclimated to the Big Philanderer, Shaquille O’Neal. Lose, and Phoenix becomes an instant NBA media darling with O’Neal as a conquering hero. Fortunately LA won, 130-124, led by Kobe Bryant’s 41 points. And fortunately Shaq’s biggest effect was on the back of Raja Bell’s - a perpetual-motion hack machine - head with a little less than three minutes remaining in the game. (Now for my NBA officiating …

Well, it looks like I’m wrong about the Dallas Mavericks trade. I thought Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban added Devean George with full knowledge that his inclusion would automatically set off George exercising his Early Bird Clause rights and nixing the trade. I don’t know that any player would want to lose up to $10 million and be moved to a losing team if he could avoid it and I felt Cuban wanted to mollify the Mavs fans and his star Dirk Nowitzki without actually making a move. As it …

Jazz is the only original American art form. And basketball is the only original American sport. Many white people only see basketball as a ghetto game. Many black people see basketball as a form of love. Jazz and basketball are our blue note reminders to those white people that they brought us here from another land.
When the trumpet wails, it is a call from Africa. When the trumpet wails, it is a call from home. When the trumpet wails, we remember the Trails of Tears, too - yes, Trails. Of. …

Chris Broussard was struggling to keep his “all-access to Shaq” card today on the Mike and Mike in the Morning Show. He actually said Bill Walton went too far in his, “Shaquille O’Neal’s arrogance is an insult to people who think,” statement about O’Neal. Rather than look at the statement and assess it, Broussard stammered and battled mightily before throwing Walton under the bus. Hey, he can always have a private conversation with Bill and the two can argue away and Broussard can say, “Yeah, you have a point,” but …

“Shaquille O’Neal’s arrogance is an insult to people who think.”

That amazingly honest public statement was made by Bill Walton Sunday on ESPN’s Sportscenter. Sportscenter show host Chris McKendry - understandably - laughed uncomfortably and tried to verbally wiggle out of and around that damning comment.
I’ve had conversations with people recently about O’Neal and the stunning similarity in his flagging performance in Miami with a similar slippage in conditioning and play in Los Angeles. There were the “injuries” that looked more like laziness. The fully two steps too slow moves to the …

The New York Knicks are difficult to watch. They play with a lackadaisical attitude fit more for a shoot around than the game itself. Many nights in many arenas teams open in free-flow mode: one pass, open jumper, two passes, open jumper. Defense is for after muscles are loosened and minds are right. For Charlotte the game officially begins with 7:58 remaining in the first quarter with a one point lead and the score 14-13.For New York, the score is 67-44 at the half - they are down 23 points …

New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury, along with center Eddie Curry, were told they were not starting against the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night. Marbury was said to be upset about being benched and was reported to have made several disparaging remarks about Knick head coach, Isiah Thomas. Yesterday, the Knicks fined Marbury for approximately $195,000 for leaving the team - presumably in a huff - without permission. Marbury, however, is appealing his fine indicating that he was granted permission by the Knicks to take a short leave from the …

I watched #22 Kentucky fail to put forth the effort to play a basketball game against a team with the nickname, Runnin’ Bulldogs. The Runnin’ Bulldogs would be Gardner-Webb University, located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, population 3,866. Seriously, 3,866. The student population is approximately 4,000.Last season the Runnin’ Bulldogs, a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, had a 9-21 overall record and finished seventh in the 12-team conference. This season, so far G-W is 2-0 with a win over Alabama A&M and an 84-68 upset of Kentucky.
This was supposed …

Last Wednesday I watched the Denver Nuggets play the Detroit Pistons. Of course I was hoping to watch Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. However, of greater interest to me was watching swing man J.R. Smith. The last time I saw Smith he was arbitrarily jacking up three-pointers and getting pulled from a playoff game and asked to leave the team for the remainder of the series. The last time I heard about Smith he was involved in a car crash in which his SUV he was driving overturned, killing his …