Reconsidering the Player's Family Needs Money Rationale
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Sometimes, when a young college player goes to the pros early, the reason given is that his family needs the money; this was said frequently about Ben McLemore’s parent.
I used to accept this reasoning sympathetically.
But then it occurred to me: why are some poor parents of players able to come to Lawrence, where jobs appear to be fairly plentiful for parents of players, and work jobs for from 1 to 5 years, but other parents of players are for some reason too poor even to come and work such jobs?
The logic escapes me.
What gives here?
Why could, say, Marcus and Markieff Morris’ mother come from Philadelphia, where she and her sons reputedly once lived in abject poverty, and work a job while the Twins were here, but, say, Ben McLemore’s mother could not?
I don’t mean to be critical of Ben’s mother here, or even focus on her in particular either.
I am just trying to understand this situation a bit better.
Is it that certain parents of certain players are drunks, or junkies, or otherwise so disabled, that they are incapable of working jobs in Lawrence?
Or are there just some poor parents that refuse to work a job and demand their sons jump so they, the parents, can get a nice house without having to work? Surely it is not this.
Perhaps someone that understands the ins and outs of recruiting and of getting jobs for players’ parents can clear this up?
Has there been a change in recruiting rules that prevents alumni from hiring player’s parents while they are at a college on scholarship to play basketball?
Very curious about this?
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@jaybate 1.0 I thought about this same thing, many times. I think Cole’s dad lost his job and moved down here. Pretty sure Tyshawn’s mom and sister, Kevin Young’s mom and bro lived here too. I wondered about Ben’s mom, was she responsible for a lot of family members? Did she want to stay close to Bens dad? Was she capable of working? Don’t know! I know Ben deserved to stay in college!
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@jaybate 1.0 – Jaybate I was kind of thinking in the same terms as you. I also started a thread at the same time as you. However after rereading my post and then yours, I believe you did a much better job than I did. Jaybate you are a master of thought and the English language.
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@jaybate As the father of Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, will he be staying four years or going pro early to pay for your lavish lifestyle?!?!
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On the issue of employing a relative, this may fall under a “benefit to a relative.” I like the summary at the Boise St. site.
http://broncoathleticassociation.com/about/ncaa-donor-guide/
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Thanks. Do you see anything in those restrictions prohibiting a booster, or non booster, from hiring a player’s parent willing to move to Lawrence to work a job after the player enrolls? It did not leap out at me. Odd that it would not be discussed rather explicitly, if it were categorically a violation.
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Are you suggesting you are Svia’s father? And are you alluding to the wallet busting cost of living in Vail? If so, congratulations on your son’s scholie and new KU playing career!!!
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Yes, it’s strange how these rationales are said often and one wonders about them without asking; then one day the wondering perks up into a question.
Lots of wonderings are like this, I suppose.
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Thoughts and ideas and questions often perk up at nearly the same time and yet independently of each other among persons. Erwin Schroedinger and a young American physicist reputedly came up independently with definitive formalizations of quantum theory independently within a few weeks of each other. Schroedinger just happened to get recognized as being first, when it was probably a tie. Some even say the American was first. It hardly matters. Many others were nearing solutions too, and all were standing on the shoulders of others.
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@jaybate 1.0 No, I didn’t. I looked at the NCAA by-laws, too. The bylaws define “Extra Benefit”, at 16.02.03, and include “family members” in the prohibition. It says that an extra benefit is impermissible unless specifically ok’d by the NCAA. I don’t see anything specific.
It is odd that it isn’t addressed specifically.
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/usc/genrel/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/ncaa-manual.pdf
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@jaybate Well played!
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I will guess that if the parent(s) has some marketable skills, he/she can be offered a position without raising red flags withe the NCAA. However, if the parent(s? has no marketable skills, it would raise all kinds of red flags id he/she is offered a position other than a minimum wage position. Some will take any position, such as Cole Aldrich father (a sheet metal worker) that worked as welder and janitor while living in Lawrence, some others prefer not to take menial jobs and just bide their time waiting for the kid’s big payday; not a good thing IMHO.
Some as Angel Morris move to town, get a job and become the adopted mother for many players. She was truly a blessing for the team, particularly TRob ,who lost his mom and she was there for him.
