Power

First of all, let me say that this issue inspired me to the point that I actually called 'The Michael Kay Show' on my commute home last night when they were discussing it. I subsequently was pulled over for using my cell phone and ticketed for cell phone usage and not being able to provide insurance (mine expired March 31st and I hadn't put the new insurance in the glove box yet). Fun times.

Anyway.

I'm writing this under the assumption that Mike Rice will be fired as head coach of the Rutgers basketball team no later than Friday. (Update: At 10 AM EST, it's been reported that Rutgers fired him. Good riddance.) After ESPN aired that video yesterday, there is no other punishment for his actions that will appease his victims, the taxpayers of NJ and the general public. Tim Pernetti should have fired him in December, but he can fix the situation now by finally doing the right thing.

Mike Rice is a bully. The video evidence proves him to be an abuser. He physically and verbally abuses his players. He is able to do that because of his power as head coach. These young adults had to take the abuse and turn the other cheek. If they spoke up or fought back, they'd likely be cut from the team and thus lose their scholarship. The Rutgers basketball team doesn't have a rich history of sending their ballplayers to the NBA. These students need their education and need their scholarship to stay in school. As you can see in the video, they're numb to the abuse. They learned quickly how the coach behaves and what to do in order to stay on the team.

Mike Rice failed at his job. His job as a coach and educator is to mold these young men into respectable adults and win games. He certainly hasn't won games at Rutgers; they haven't had a winning record since he's been head coach. And he obviously failed in educating. He's just an angry, abusive man who should be nowhere near a teaching space. In addition to not wanting him near current students, how could you expect him to recruit?

Tim Pernetti also failed at his job. Once evidence was provided that Rice was a terrible human being, the termination should have been given. The behavior, on the hours of video, proves he does not deserve to coach. Pernetti  basically covered up the situation by keeping Rice as head coach. A three game suspension for a head coach on a team that doesn't win games is nothing. After the Sandusky PSU scandal, our collective sensitivity for abuse is heightened. Because Pernetti didn't fire Rice upon first seeing the videos, he too needs to go.

The NCAA failed at their job (yet again). A head basketball coach in the best basketball conference was suspended. Did they investigate why he was suspended? If not, why not? If so, why were they OK with the self imposed punishment? The NCAA perpetually protects coaches and punishes players.
Mike Rice was free to bounce from school to school. Student athletes must sit a year regardless of why they're transferring. Coach is verbally and physically abusing you? Oh well, sit a year if you want to transfer. Coaches make millions. Players try to trade their jersey for a tattoo and they're punished. The NCAA is a hypocritical joke but they have the power. Until something more powerful than them steps in, (federal government?) the NCAA will continue to not care about the student athletes.