The raid of booster Ed Martin's home last week by the Federal Bureau of Investigation once again raises questions about the integrity of intercollegiate sports. Although the focus of the current FBI probe is on whether Martin ran illegal gambling operations; the possible financial connections of Martin with former University basketball players could result in serious repercussions for the University.
Martin was banned in early 1997 from having any association with University sports teams after attempting to provide incentives to athletes and their families such as offering plane tickets to players' families and improper contact with prospective players during recruiting visits. If the outcome of the current FBI investigation points to improper payments to former University basketball players from Martin after he was banned, this would be a devastating blow to the reputation of the University. Athletes competing on University teams need to realize that, because many of them are relatively well known, they are some of the University's most important representatives.
In 1997, the University escaped with minor penalties after launching its own investigation into purported violations on the part of the individuals in the basketball program during a NCAA probe into the events. Even though this investigation concluded quickly, it nevertheless caused a lot of problems for the University basketball program. Recruiting suffered due to this investigation, leading to the decline in the quality of the University basketball team. Furthermore, former University basketball coach Steve Fisher was fired.
The University has since increased its efforts to prevent further incidents that could tarnish the reputation of the University. The current ongoing investigation only involves former basketball players. The University and the athletic department have taken every step to cooperate with the authorities - this is reflected by the fact that none of the current players and coaching staff on the University basketball team are currently believed to be involved.
University President Lee Bollinger and athletic director Tom Goss should be commended for taking the initial steps to cooperate with the authorities. In doing so the values and integrity of college sports have been upheld and the potential for further damage to the reputation of the University has been at least minimized.
Intercollegiate sports have always been an important part of life at the University and have been instrumental in shaping the University's reputation. The success of the University's participation in college sports relies on the athletes who compete, but just as importantly, they must honor their responsibility as the University's ambassadors to much of the world and uphold the tradition of integrity in college sports.
Every year, the University's alumni donate millions of dollars to their alma mater. Gambling allegations could force alumni to be less generous in their annual donations. Boosters and gambling may have provided quick cash for some players, but it is the University that ultimately suffers from stories of shady exchanges regardless of whether they are true or not.
Whether individuals within the athletic department were aware of Martin's alleged activities or not, the entire situation paints an unflattering picture of the University. Administrators must continue to work diligently to diffuse the booster situation in order to maintain the University's reputation.
05-17-99
| Next Article |
should be sent to: daily.letters@umich.edu | should be sent to: online.daily@umich.edu |