Avanatti strikes again

Barry MuCockinher

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Nov 10, 2010
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https://sports.yahoo.com/new-avenat...zion-williamson-romeo-langford-012143278.html
Thoughts? Not sure why they felt the need to drop an alleged conversation with a UK assistant in there. What am I missing as a reason in doing so? Here's the exact quote from the story regarding UK being mentioned.

DeBose, according to the motion, also “acknowledged in an exchange of text messages with an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky that Nike was funneling payments to high school players through at least ten different EYBL coaches
 
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TeoJ

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Oct 19, 2001
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https://sports.yahoo.com/new-avenat...zion-williamson-romeo-langford-012143278.html
Thoughts? Not sure why they felt the need to drop an alleged conversation with a UK assistant in there. What am I missing as a reason in doing so? Here's the exact quote from the story regarding UK being mentioned.

DeBose, according to the motion, also “acknowledged in an exchange of text messages with an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky that Nike was funneling payments to high school players through at least ten different EYBL coaches
Did you look at who wrote the article?
 

UKCAT5FAN

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May 9, 2010
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https://sports.yahoo.com/new-avenat...zion-williamson-romeo-langford-012143278.html
Thoughts? Not sure why they felt the need to drop an alleged conversation with a UK assistant in there. What am I missing as a reason in doing so? Here's the exact quote from the story regarding UK being mentioned.

DeBose, according to the motion, also “acknowledged in an exchange of text messages with an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky that Nike was funneling payments to high school players through at least ten different EYBL coaches



I'm not sure what that even means. Hopefully someone smarter than myself can decipher this for us. Is this stating that the UK assistant was aware that it was happening? Part of it himself? Or that there was just a text with an assistant who acknowledged a payment was made? This shite confuses me.
 

Barry MuCockinher

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I'm not sure what that even means. Hopefully someone smarter than myself can decipher this for us. Is this stating that the UK assistant was aware that it was happening? Part of it himself? Or that there was just a text with an assistant who acknowledged a payment was made? This shite confuses me.
That's exactly what I was thinking. That quote made zero sense as to why it would be included in the article, due to its vagueness. Then again it's the douchebag Forde doing douchebag things
 

Mad Max

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Avanetti has been right and proven some pretty powerful folks to be liars.

However, I have no doubt our coaches knew about the show companies tactics. I actually think we stopped recruiting players who were too wrapped up in it (cough cough DeAndre Ayton).

I also say that we ALL knew the shoe companies and the handlers were doing this crap. Just no one had proof until the FBI investigated

If we were involved (I highly highly highly doubt we were) it will be interesting to see what they do since they’ve ignored LSU, Duke, Arizona, Kansas, etc
 

Canned Heat

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I am now wondering if this an inside job to take down the AAU system and for the NCAA to continue as is and actually have any respect and authority.

The UK text message is simply included because this was the one instance and only instance of our school. (IMO). This is fully implicating Duke, specifically, and Indiana, which led them to include another prolific team. However, I have no conclusion to our knowlege or lack of knowledge into the scheme.

It would be beneficial to the NCAA to take down the AAU program to continue as a Tax Free Organization.
 

kyups01

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Feb 25, 2007
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He was calling Duke and Nike out again too...he retweeted an old story from when he made the allegations against Zion being payed the artical he retweeted was titled "so what's next for Nike, Duke and Zion after Avanetti's claims?" ....he retweeted the old story and said "Still waiting" 2 hours ago
 
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UK is only ever thrown into these articles for seo/click bait reasons. We're not involved and that's clear as day especially by now.

Theory:

At the time the NCAA mbb was fighting for its life. One and done was in place and kids were looking at overseas/g league options. NCAA knew if they turned their heads, kids would be paid and still go to school. Money would come from shoe companies, not schools, and there would be plausible deniability.

Nike and Jim gatto started it all. Adidas saw how effective it was and hired away gatto for themselves.

FBI investigation threw a wrench into it. Now they had undeniable proof it was going on and had for years.

At the same time, the "movement" starts getting enough momentum now that it too is a real threat to the NCAA. Lebron/rich Paul are in full blown attack mode.

They're trying to year down the NCAA with two different goals in mind: either getting the players paid through the NCAA so they can rep alot of the players. Or get to the point where Lebron/paul start their own league with nike.

For proof, look at the deal they just signed with Drake to bring their "movement" to Canada.

Will be interesting to watch. Will the NBA get rid of one and done? What stance will Lebron/Paul take on that behind closed doors? Will they block it? Or will they offer the alternative? Will the NCAA finally switch to the Olympic model to survive? Will it be enough?
 
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Blueblood410

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Saw the quote, saw Yahoo Sports, flashbulb went off, looked at who wrote it.

Just as I thought. That tells you the only reason Kentucky was brought up. I bet Forde campaigned for it to be the headline and his boss vetoed it.
 

Barry MuCockinher

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Why do you think CAL didn't take KENTUCKY to the Nike Tournament couple years ago? Because he knew that Nike was paying players and paying them not to go to Kentucky.
That's my sentiment as well.... if Cal was playing thr shoe money game he wouldn't be losing elite players like lately. He didn't just lose his touch overnight.... the game got dirtier and he didn't comply. Nike has been making him pay the price ever since. Look at the swing in recruiting 4-5 years ago!
 

FFWhite

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Dec 20, 2006
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Just says UK assistant was aware Nike was paying kids to play summer ball. Does not indicate UK was involved or benefited from these payments. Obvious Duke has benefited. Zion's name continues to pop up. LeBron and Paul steering Reddish to Duke is another example. LeBron is the face of Nike.
 

jameslee32

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Mar 26, 2009
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Yes!! I don't expect this to convict Dook but this material could lead to even more investigations of the program's ties to Nike.
 

jrpross_rivals

Heisman
Feb 21, 2008
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For sure! The part about Zion/ Duke will disappear quicker than Jeff Epstein.
It already did. Avanatti brought this up months ago and it was completely buried.

But to be fair, he has about as much credibility as the prince of darkness himself.
 
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UKnCincy_rivals

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After reading through the first half of the motion, I remain skeptical of Avenatti’s claims.

At the bottom of page 9 and top of page 10, it states that Franklin (AAU coach that hired Avenatti) and Auerbach (advisor to Franklin) believed that corruption extended beyond Franklin’s former team and wanted to investigate Nike EYBL to see how far it went. So Avenatti is stating that they didn’t know anything definitively or have any specifics. They just had a hunch. They may very well be correct, but that’s worth keeping in mind when he talks about having evidence.

The text messages he included are also a bit ridiculous. No one writes texts like that in the course of a normal conversation. To me, these read like someone trying to create a document trail.

Also worth noting is that the text on page 11 references an “unscrupulous parent who self-funded the recruitment of a top player.” Not sure why a parent would need to provide payments if Nike was also paying all of these players as Avenatti suggests.

Much of the document then goes into detail about how Avenatti is being unlawfully targeted by the DOJ because Trump doesn’t like him. As absurd as that sounds, it’s a core element of the motion to dismiss.

Until I see more hard evidence, I’m inclined to dismiss Avenatti’s claims. The guy’s a scumbag.
 
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Listened to Louisville guys on the radio this morning. They have stumbled upon a rather obvious epiphany, evidently. "FBI show up, and suddenly Calipari can't recruit anymore." So, there you have it. Kentucky/Cal are dirty, the law shows up, our gig is up.....

Not much I could do but shake my head and turn the dial.....
 
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