Men of the Scarlet and Gray

It’s all about the Benjamins

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But really, is it?

I don’t know who Shane Lohman is (do you?) but he’s apparently the definitive source for uncovering the seedy underbelly of the collegiate sports world, complete with hundred dollar handshakes and car dealer specials. His recent post at the Bleacher Report, “Brandon Jennings Was Going to Get Paid Either Way—Just Like Michael Beasley” (article appears to have been pulled) is educational in that “Sources? We don’t need no stinking sources” kind of way. (Thanks to original MotSaG friend Dave for the tip)

He starts out talking about a couple of basketball stars (Beasely and Jennings) and the special treatment and French benefits they (Beasely) received. Then, since this is a story about college athletics, Shane takes a swing at the low hanging fruit:

Terrelle Pryor signed with Ohio State earlier this year, and don’t kid yourself about his motivations for signing. Maurice Clarett was not an isolated incident—and athletes receiving extra gifts doesn’t just happen at Ohio State.

Pryor did not sign with the Buckeyes because of superior athletic facilities, or because he thought he would fit their offensive system the best. Terrelle Pryor chose Ohio State because they won the bidding war.

It is not a coincidence that the university with the highest athletic department budget in the country landed the biggest football recruit in recent memory.

Really? You’re going to go there, Shane? You don’t think that the fact that Ohio State is a perennial football powerhouse, Top 5 in the nation year-in, year-out, was any incentive for Pryor to choose OSU over any other school? The fact that the athletic facilities at OSU are top-notch in every way makes no nevermind? Or that Tressel has routinely shown that he will build an offense around the stars he’s got? None of that means anything?

Oh, you’re going to play the Clarett card. Fair enough. The guy who, once his bluff was called, refused to testify to the NCAA or give any specifics about his allegations? And was then subsequently given the big boot off the team. That’s pretty shaky ground you’re standing on.

I don’t doubt there are some things going on between boosters, players and the like (see the previously mentioned hundred dollar handshakes). But to claim Beasely amassed a hundred and twenty large? And that, in all likelihood, Terrel Pryor will, too? That’s a lot of fricken handshakes.

Update: It appears that the powers that be at the Bleacher Report have decided to pull the article. Not really sure what happened. Google Cache is no help, either. You’ll just have to take my word for it.