Nevermind all the major problems that continue to beset the USA. Turns out, there's a push underway by a few of our Einsteinish legislators to outlaw on-line gambling. I don't partake myself, but good luck with that. Given most of the host sites already originate from foreign countries, just how do these "worthy" Senators plan on enforcing such a law? Monitor every American's desk-top, lap-top, Ipad, smartphone, etc? Well, OK. They're already doing that in the name of supposedly keeping us safe. But short of shutting down the "world wide web" entirely, which is beyond even their pompous control -- despite the typical election year propaganda -- this is an utterly ridiculous idea.
Head men's basketball coach Steve Masiello of Manhattan College recently had an opportunity to move up in the hoops hierarchy. The head coaching job at South Florida was evidently his for the taking. Just one problem. His resume. It said he received a degree in communications from the Univ of Kentucky back in the day. But upon doing a background check before officially hiring him, the USF folks discovered the UK folks said he had never received a degree from their university. Oops.
Now Masiello might be one heckuva great basketball coach, but he also knew damn good and well all along that he never got that degree. So why did he lie about it? It was stupid. In this day and age, where most everybody can thoroughly check out anybody else's complete bio on-line in about 10 minutes -- did Masiello really think South Florida was going to start paying him big bucks without checking him out first? Dumb, dumb, dumb. And if he lied about that -- then what else might he have lied about along the way?
I just read an article about Masiello where the author said it was only a minor "infraction". It was suggested Masiello be fined an undisclosed amount of money and perhaps even suspended for a few games. But after paying that debt to society, or more specifically the NCAA, Stevie should be allowed to carry on with his career ambitions, wherever they may take him. That sounds great, and I couldn't agree more. But again, there's a problem.
Though it's pretty obvious Masiello wished to leave Manhattan College for the greener (in more ways than one) pastures of South Florida, he never officially resigned from the former, and the latter apparently has dropped him from consideration in lieu of his false resume. Masiello's in no-man's land right now regarding being a head coach. So who's going to fine him or suspend him? If you're the person in charge of hiring a new head basketball coach at South Florida, would you have brought a guy in only to immediately slap him with a suspension? How incredibly stupid would that have been?
Oh, it gets even dumber. As this is written, Manhattan College is technically still stuck with him. So what do they say? Everything's on hold while Masiello "reviews his degree status" with the Univ of Kentucky.
So what's to review? UK has already confirmed he never got a degree. The transcripts don't lie. Whether he was one class or ten classes short is irrelevant. One either attained a degree or they didn't. And one shouldn't pretend they have one if they don't. Good grief, yours truly got a BS in engineering from Oakland Univ many moons ago. That stood for Bachelor of Science. But at least it was real. In Masiello's case, a BS degree seems to stand for something quite different.
The above mentioned author went on to say if every college coach that got caught in such a lie was fired -- there wouldn't be any college coaches. To which I say BS, of course.
It would simply mean institutions of higher knowledge have honest coaches, as well it should be. These guys (and gals) should be under a microscope at all times. They should be held to a very high standard. While athletics definitely play a huge role at the collegiate level (see revenue), most coaches would agree they're guiding their young charges through life as well during their time at university. And if the student-athletes know a head coach can rise to great fame and fortune, based at least partially on a willful lie at his/her very roots -- then yours truly would submit this is definitely sending a very wrong message to those they are supposed to be educating. Coach lied, got away with it, and is making mega-bucks anyway? That certainly sets a bad example for the young minds looking up to their coaches for guidance when times get tough. OK for them to lie? Must be OK for me too. While that might not exactly fall into the stupid category -- it definitely leaves a whole lot to be desired in the entire scheme of things.
But going back to my original thought of stupidity -- methinks I'll try my hand at a little 5 card stud online before those ever-loveable legislators pass their law, and SWAT and Navy SEAL teams come crashing through my door to send me off to Gitmo with the rest of the terrorists.
At least I'm not lying about it.
Maybe....
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