Institutional Neglect of Institutional Power: Should the NCAA Penalize Penn State’s Football Program

(A version of this essay appeared in New York Times: Room for Debate)

The travesty of the Penn State/Sandusky-gate speaks loudly to institutional power and the culture of protection, cover-up, and secrecy that prevails in college athletics, specifically, and university administrations, in general. The severity of Sandusky’s offenses goes beyond the reach of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) ability or need to take action against Penn State football program for the following reasons:

·      Sandusky was found guilty in a court of law and will be sentenced to time in prison. Any additional criminal charges of neglect by university administrators should also be addressed by the court of law. 

·      According to President of the NCAA, Mark Emmert, the mission of the NCAA “is to be an integral part of higher education and to focus on the development of our student athletes.”[1] Any penalty administered by the NCAA against the Penn State Football program will undoubtedly and adversely impact the athletes they are concern with developing. Since no athletes were implicated in these charges, penalizing the football team or other athletic teams would only result in penalizing the innocent.

·      Lastly, although the public perception regarding the power of the NCAA may be distorted, the institutional neglect that occurred at Penn State reached beyond the athletic department, and since a Penn State University employee, who had access to university property and the opportunity to violate young boys, the University should be held liable. Effectively addressing this institutional neglect is far beyond the reach of the “power” of the NCAA.

Efforts of the NCAA should be in addressing the organizational culture of the athletic departments they oversee that allow good and bad men to behave badly where criminal behavior occurs and is protected. Fostering transparency and addressing the athletic privilege that is abused within these athletic departments should be a priority in the NCAA’s mission of focusing on the development of student athletes.

Additional collaborative efforts by the NCAA and the University/University System should take the following into consideration:

1). They should provide assistance (counseling services, etc.; fine the athletic department to cover the tab) to the victims, remove Paterno's statue from on campus and his name from all buildings on campus (regardless of his donations), remove his statue, disavow Paterno's & Sandusky's athletic accomplishments from the time of the first offense, etc.
2). The above suggestions are tolerable given the commercial interests of both of the NCAA and University.  Keep in mind that the NCAA's primary role is as an advisory board that governs its members, but it has evolved into a corporate enterprise that now manages the commercial interests and expansion of its members. With that said, Penn State football is a major corporate enterprise: e.g., during the 2011-2012 season football revenue was $72,747,734 with expenses of $19, 519,288 - not a bad ratio. The NCAA and Big Ten will be taking this into consideration before acting irrationally by handing out a Death Penalty. I know SMU is an example, but the offenses were directly related to the TEAM and involved team members.

3) This case is unprecedented and will require unprecedented action.

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[1] On the Mark: Quotes from President Emmert on various NCAA topics. http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/NCAA+President/On+the+Mark (accessed July 16, 2012).

College Football Playoff: Unstoppable

The financial impact of a college football playoff is estimated to be worth from $5-$6 billion. This estimate is predicted based on a multi-year media agreement.  It does not include the sell of tickets or the economic impact to the hosting cities. Yes, the “former” BCS system had it flaws of not accurately producing a national champion and the bowls were losing popularity, but are these the motivating factors? I doubt if there would be many disagreements to the conclusion that the move to a playoff system is driven purely by economic motives. The urgency to generate more revenue, build bigger facilities, and to host bigger collegiate sport spectacles is like a runaway train speeding unmanned, uncontrollable, and without the aid of Denzel Washington and Chris Pine to bring it under control; it’s unstoppable. 

The issue that is often lost in the discussion regarding revenue generation and expenditure is the athletic labor force – the athlete. Therefore as the revenue increases so do the athletic demands that are placed on this athletic labor force. There is no way to expect greater returns without the expectation of greater athletic output, which ultimately require athletes to make sacrifices to their lives as “students”. 

The final issue of concern is the racial dynamics of this athletic labor force.  For racial demographics of the 2011 and 2012 BCS National Championship games, Blacks athletes made of 61% of the teams competing in the games. In last year’s championship game alone, Black athletes made up 71% of the teams. My main point here is that Black males are economic imperatives; i.e., their athletic talent is essential to the economic viability and expansion of this college football industry. Similar to the key position Black male basketball players occupy in generating 90% of the NCAA’s revenue, Black male football players are critical to the college football enterprise.

Since we have evolved to a playoff system, is the possibility for compensating athletes beyond the bare minimum of an athletic scholarship becoming more of a reality? Is fair compensation inevitable; especially as athletic demands increased placing greater pressure on athletes? Or, will we continue to allow this unstoppable system continue out of control on the backs of young men? 

NHL Fans: Open Season On Attacking Black People

Sport has often been considered to be a racial barometer that predicts progress in race relations in this country. Whether it was the breaking of the color line in Major League Baseball by Jackie Robinson or the increase representation of Blacks athletes in the NFL and NBA, one might conclude that this nation has progressed racially; especially when you evaluate this in light of how Blacks have faced many obstacles in this country from slavery to Jim Crow Segregation. The visibility Black athletes have in popular media somehow nullifies these historical experiences and suggest racial progress - really?

Furthermore, with the election President Barack Obama, many are suggesting that the U.S. has metamorphosed into a post-racial era. On the contrary, I believe we have been jettisoned into a pro-racist era where there is an opened season to attack and/or kill Black people. The death of Trayvon Martin, the white terrorist attack in Tulsa, Oklahoma, or the killing of Kenneth Chamberlain are fatal results of this open season on Black people. To a much lesser degree, the death threats and the N-word filled tirade by Boston NHL fans launched against Washington Capital's Joel Ward is another example of this open season. These are just a few examples that should inform us that a post-racial society is only a mirage.

I am not surprised that Boston "sport" fans behaved in this manner. As products of their environments, they are simply operating out of the context prescribed to them by a system of white supremacy. I am surprised that you are surprised that this type of racist nonsense happened in sport. Although sport has been a site of resistance - for example the Black Power Salute during the 1968 Olympics - it has also reflected and reinforced some of the dominant oppressive ideologies that are prevalent in this country. The Boston's NHL fans N-Word tirades are simply an example of deep-seated racism that prevails throughout institutions in the U.S. and illustrates how sport and sport fans can and do reflect and reinforce dominant racist ideologies.

Critical Race Theory: From Analysis to Practice to Revolution

Recently, Critical Race Theory (CRT) has come under attack in the mainstream media due to President Obama’s affiliation with the late Professor Derrick Bell; one of the founders and key contributors of this theoretical framework. In a nutshell, CRT seeks to expose the pervasiveness of white supremacy in various institutional arrangements (legal system, education, sport, etc.) in this country that have categorically disadvantage people of color, in general, and Blacks, specifically. Yet, it has been misinterpreted by modern day white supremacist, tea partiers, and other conservatives as being a dangerous dogma that seek to bring the white majority into submission.

At the recent College Sport Research Institute Conference at University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, a session examined CRT and college sports. This session was led by Dr. John Singer of the University of Texas A&M providing a review and overview of CRT. It also consisted of scholars presenting on how CRT has informed their research and practice in college sports. For example, Joseph Cooper of the University of Georgia and Albert Bimper of University of Texas – Austin both provided examples of how CRT has informed their research on Black male athletes; while Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique of the University of Texas A & M and Dr. Fritz Polite of the University of Tennessee presented examples of how CRT informed their work in developing programs to mentor Black female athletes (see Sista to Sista program created by Dr. Carter-Francique) and the program Dr. Polite has initiated to mentor of Black male athletes and empower them to be mentors to young aspiring athletes.

Therefore, CRT, in its infancy in the context of college sports, is being used as a tool of analysis and explanation, as well as a tool to inform how programs are develop to empower Black male and female athletes.  It can also be used as a proactive revolutionary theory for athletic reform that further empowers Black athletes. For example, interest convergence, one of the tenets of CRT, simply suggests that the interests of Blacks will be accommodated when it converge with the interests of Whites and where Whites stand to benefit. 

In college athletics, Black male athletes play a significant role in the revenue generating sports of college football and basketball. They make up over 60% of the athletes who generate over 90% of the NCAA annual revenue. Furthermore, they make up the majority of starters on the majority of the top ten teams across the nation. Since predominantly White NCAA institutions are benefiting the most from the athletic labor of Black males, it would be in their best interest to support and promote the interests of Black male athletes. Therefore, having this knowledge compels Black athletes to better understand their individual power to negotiate and their collective power to make demands that insure their academic success and physical safety as athletes, while reducing the exploitation of their talent and likeness.

The Assassination of Trayvon Martin: A Victim of A.R.T. Descriptors

Polarizing racial events often capture this Nation’s attention. Often reminding us of U.S.’s deep dark racist secrets and continually making it evident that race still matters in the age of post-racial propaganda. Case and point: Trayvon Martin; A seventeen year old black male racially profiled, harassed, and gun down in Sanford, Florida while walking home. Black males have often been the victims of physical violence and death at the hands of whites because we are Black men. Racial profiling is not a new occurrence for Black communities. As Strange Fruit, populating southern trees we are all too familiar with racial profiling. Now it is either “driving while black” or “walking while Black,” we have been the targets of this nation’s mismanaged racial policies. George Zimmerman simply joins the list of terrorist who have troubled our existence and our desire to be both Black and American. Zimmerman’s assassination of Trayvon is a reenactment of the senseless violence and lynchings that have plagued the history of Black males on this continent.

Who are we to really blame for the Zimmermans of the America. Unfortunately, desegregation has only addressed some of the structural inequalities that were remnants of slavery and Jim Crow segregation. It did not address the ideological issues that prevail in the minds of Zimmermans who fail to evolve beyond their racist beliefs and stereotypes about Blacks. To them, we are racially profiled as either ATHLETES, RAPPERS, and/or THUGS (A.R.T Black male dominant descriptors). Each semester, I encounter cognitive dissonance when I stand in front of a class of predominantly white students who have framed black males using these A.R.T. descriptors. Their gaze alerts me to how they are struggling to disarm the racial filters they have constructed through, inappropriate socialization, limited racial interaction, and mis-education.

Trayvon unfortunately fit the description of a Thug to George Zimmerman. Therefore, while we are celebrating March Madness and cheering for teams comprised predominantly of Black male ATHLETES (who are generating millions of dollars for predominantly white institutions), PLEASE remember Trayvon Martin: a victim of A.R.T descriptors. We can never erase our racist past, but we can work to prevent a racist future for the future generations of Trayvon Martins by stopping the reproduction of Zimmermanites!

The Case of Manning and Tebow: The Harsh Reality of Professional Sports

The harsh reality of the professional sport world is visible in the Denver Broncos’ administration handling of Peyton Manning’s entry and Tim Tebow’s departure: strictly business, nothing personal.  It doesn’t matter that Tebow had an impressive impact on the Denver Broncos, the city of Denver, and developed a nation of Tebowmania followers.  All that matters is the bottom line and apparently Peyton Manning is a better choice of reaching the bottom line – i.e., taking the Broncos to the Super Bowl.

The lesson to be learned from this transaction is that professional sports, despite their entertainment appeal, despite their role as a formidable cultural practice in this country, they are strictly a business seeking to maximize profits.  Unfortunately, similar to other callous corporations, the transactions some professional sports make neglect to take into consideration the human element: fan support, players’ families, emotional and psychological well-being.  None of these factors really matter in the decision making when profit is the ultimate motive.  Besides, with the NFL having billionaire status, who will complain when players are treated and traded like properties on the stock exchange.  These players are multi-millionaires so they should man-up and live with these harsh reality of this industry, or try another profession – right?  It is hard to be sympathetic to multimillionaires and their plight when the 99%ers are squeaking out their existence in a daily grind with individuals who wish they could have traded to another universe. 

Well, I guess I am a bit naïve in thinking that in the midst of this business enterprise there may be a glimpse of compassion and loyalty in professional sports, where not only a player has loyalty to a team, but a team demonstrates loyalty to players.  The retirement of Hines Ward is an anomaly today in professional sports.  The mere thought of a player spending his entire career (14 years) with one franchise is unimaginable. Maybe I just need to wake up and face the harsh reality about the reality of professional sports.

Underdogs of the World Unite

A version of this piece appeared in the New York Times Room for Debate section on March 13, 2012. 

Each year during March Madness, it is always refreshing when mid-majors (e.g., Butler or George Mason) or academics-first institutions, like Harvard, make the bracket cut. It provides the average fan with an opportunity to identify with their plight.  Given the economic conditions of this nation, many Americans are feeling like underdogs – modern day Davids facing Goliaths. With the of predominance major conferences (SEC, ACC, Big 10, etc.), the appearance of smaller conference teams provides a redeeming element to this multibillion-dollar tournament and an opportunity for us to cheer for the underdog.

Underdogs aside, however, it’s hard for me to get excited about this tournament when the harsh reality is that less than 1% of the 380,000 student athletes in this country generates more than 90% of the yearly revenue for the N.C.A.A. Furthermore, over 60% of this “less than 1%” are African American males – the true underdogs. Academic achievement is the lowest among these athletes. It is not because of their academic inabilities but because of the athletic demands placed upon them.  Imagine if you were one of 12 employees whose abilities were responsible for generating millions of dollars each year for your athletic corporation. How much quality time and energy would you have to give to other activities?

Each year several reports are produced to highlight the incongruities in competitive college athletics, where dismal academic performances are overshadowed by athletic dominance. To offset this imbalance, more funding must go into the academic development and preparation of the labor force that is generating this revenue. For the 2010-11 fiscal year, the N.C.A.A. redistributed 61% of its revenue to Division I conferences. A meager 17% went to student/academic specific funds: 5% was earmarked for the Academic Enhancement Fund and 12% went to the Student-Athlete Assistance Fund. In order to support and focus on the student in “student”-athletes and restore the Collegiate in National “Collegiate” Athletic Association, the N.C.A.A. and its Division I conference member institutions must put academics at the center of revenue distribution and reduce the economic exploitation of the “student” athlete.

Jeremy Lin and the Politics of Race and Difference in Professional Sport

The recent wave of Linsanity has prompted much discussion in the popular press and beyond.  It provides insight into the politics of race in the U.S., and America’s unending search for the Great “White” or “non-Black” Hope.  

Jeremy Lin, a 6’3” point guard from Palo Alto who was Ivy League educated, not recruited by any major university, released by two National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, is currently playing fanatically for the New York Knicks.  He is temporarily assisting some in that search.

He has created a sort of cult following: from Lin naysayers, non-NBA fans, non-sport fans, to die-hard NBA fanatic.  Headlines across this nations’ newspapers have tried to capture this craze in one-word phrases and one-liners like: LINsanity, LINcredile, Amasian, LINning Streak, LIN Your Face, The LINderalla Story, LIN Long and Prosper, LIN & Bear It, or “Jeremy Lin, and the New York Knicks.” 

He clearly has been a surprise and a redeeming factor in a league that started late due to a lock-out as a result of a dispute between owners and players over revenue sharing and salary cap issues.  In the midst of dwindling fan support, surfaces a young talented yet virtually unknown who has ignited a new interest in the NBA and increased ticket sales for the Knicks, as well as, increased the sale of merchandise for sport paraphernalia entrepreneurs.  Being of Chinese and Taiwan decent makes him basically an anomaly in a league where athletes of Asian decent makeup only 1%, while 82% of the players are African American.

These racial demographics provide a context to examine the politics of race and racial perception.  Jeremy Lin is an average NBA player.  However, his race and educational pedigree trumps his ability, creating a unique situation where he is marketed and mass consumed as the Messiah to the NBA.  Unfortunately, the commodification and exploitation of his “uniqueness” is being done in spite of his humble and modest nature. 

The entrance of Blacks in predominantly white sports has not encountered the same type of instant popularity.  Serena and Venus Williams are examples of how they had to prove themselves by winning tournaments and championships.  It was their exceptional abilities and performance that lessen the impact of their difference.   

Finally, what is the connection with the media’s addiction in comparing Lin with Tim Tebow?  Is Tebow the standard for Christian excellence in professional sports, white male athletic excellence, or the Great White Hope for the NFL? “Come on man”.  “You can not be Serious.”

Before we are easily enticed by the commodification of difference, and before we gullibly consume the latest fad of celebrating ethnic diversity in the NBA, remember how it also works to reinforce racial division and racial stereotyping.  How we illuminate and market racial difference can cause diversity to be a distraction rather than a gift.