Johnny Manziel and the NCAA

Enter the defendant. That would be one Johnny Manziel, aka Johnny Football.

Enter the prosecution. That would be the NCAA.

Not long ago, Manziel autographed a whole bunch of stuff. Most reports say he signed his name to various items over 4000 times in a few different sittings.

The NCAA, in their, ahem, infinite wisdom, smelled a rat. Surely Manziel got paid for doing such things, so they let loose their dogs of war, otherwise known as the infractions committee, to nail this culprit.

Nevermind they didn't have any evidence that Manziel had committed such a heinous crime against humanity as a famous college athlete actually -- HORRORS -- getting a few bucks in return for the countless millions he has generated not only for his own university (Texas A&M), but for the NCAA coffers as well.

But oh my, they looked. And they looked some more. They probed into every possibility they could think of  trying to find something -- ANYTHING -- they could use as evidence that Manziel had received illegal compensation. (Actually it's not illegal -- just against NCAA rules).

Yet in the end, despite all the NCAA's horses and all the NCAA's men, not to mention their dirty tricks department -- they came up with nothing. They couldn't show that Manziel had ever accepted a nickel, let alone the thousands they had originally suspected him of taking. No mysterious deposits in a bank account, no recent purchase of something he otherwise should not have been able to afford, not even a coffee can with a few C-notes buried in his back yard. Nothing. Nada. Zip. An off-shore or Swiss bank account? Puh-leeze. Yours truly is fairly certain those type people wouldn't consider a single key-stroke over the possibility of setting up an account for a measly few grand. They've got much better things to do than waste their time over chump change.

At that, what seems to get lost in the argument is Manziel's parents are quite well to do. This was recently brought to the forefront when the persecutors went after Johnny because he was sitting courtside at an NBA playoff game. How could he afford that, the myopic ones protested? Turns out his parents bought him the ticket. Oops. Inadmissible evidence. Perhaps someday the NCAA zealots will  add another rule whereby any student-athlete isn't allowed to have parents that have done well in life. I wouldn't put it past them.

Seemingly thwarted at every turn in their relentless pursuit of Johnny Football, the NCAA did what any other prosecutor would do. Huff and puff, and threaten -- all in the hopes of reaching a plea bargain. They can't just let this go and admit they were wrong all along. Oh hell no. Prosecutors don't operate that way. They want a conviction -- ANY kind of conviction, so they can somehow justify the otherwise absurdity of their baseless inquisition in the first place.

And it appears they got it. Texas A&M has agreed to suspend Manziel for the first half of their opening game against -- football fodderous Rice, which they could likely beat by 40 points with a cheerleader playing quarterback. In return, the NCAA has signed off and considers the matter closed.

In a murky statement, the officials at A&M conceded that Manziel may have been guilty of an "inadvertent violation".

Johnny Football's crime? By signing so many things, he should have been aware that such items could be sold by others to make a profit.

If it wasn't so outrageous, it would be laughable. Consider the sports paraphernalia business that has gone on forever. Athletes sign things. Sometimes other people sell them to make a few bucks.
But somehow it was determined that Manziel should be punished because he autographed a bunch of stuff.

Just think about it, and draw your own conclusions.

In my opinion, some rule changes need to be made indeed. When the NCAA inquisitors are going after an athlete, coach, or university -- then OUT with them. Have the names and pix of the investigators published wall-to-wall, like what happens to their "suspects". Check out their bank records, who they associate with, sex lives, any criminal history, etc, etc. In short, put THEM under the microscope, as well. Why should they have the right to ruin other peoples' lives while remaining faceless and nameless themselves? Even when they get it wrong, like the Manziel case, they're never held to any degree of accountability.

They should be.