Thursday, January 29, 1998
Baring truth behind McCoy fiasco would benefit to all
KARIAKIN: Secrecy places all involved on defensive, hurting
team’s reputation
Someone has been a very bad boy.
Or, maybe someone is just the object of overly intense media
scrutiny.
The problem is, we don’t know which, and as long as those
involved keep quiet, the best we can do is speculate.
Did Jelani McCoy test positive for marijuana? Again?
Is Jelani McCoy in academic trouble?
Is Jelani McCoy currently under investigation for rules
violations?
Or, is the media simply barking up the wrong tree?
Nobody on the outside knows, and nobody on the inside is saying
anything, so the rumors keep flying.
To the detriment of McCoy, and the University.
I think I speak for most people when I wonder, "What the hell
are they doing?"
If the rumors are false and nothing is going on, then say so. If
McCoy is guilty of some infraction, then act on it.
To paraphrase a famous expression, either shoot or get off the
pot. (Oops, no pun intended with the "pot" thing.)
The vague answers by everyone involved and the claims of McCoy’s
right to privacy look fishy as hell.
Everyone keeps acting like they’re tip-toeing through a
minefield.
Which naturally begs the question, "If there aren’t any mines
out there, why are they treading so carefully?"
As Athletic Director Pete Dalis told the Los Angeles Times this
week, "We’re being told by the people who are guiding us that we
can’t say anything, so I can’t say anything."
But who are those people?The University? The University’s
lawyers? McCoy himself?
One thing is clear: it isn’t the NCAA or the Pac-10
Conference.
Dave Hirsch of the Pac-10 denied there was any outside
investigation of McCoy, stating that "That’s an institutional
matter."
Boom!
Sounds like a mine just went off: pardon the somewhat circular
logic, but if whatever is going on is an "institutional matter,"
then there is something going on, right?
Perhaps Hirsch was simply referring to McCoy’s and Kris
Johnson’s previous alleged marijuana use, but it sure didn’t seem
like it.
Regardless, the handling of this incident further tarnishes the
image of the program – an image that is already less than sparkling
after the last year and a half or so.
It’s getting to the point where the team isn’t even phased by
scandal anymore.
"This team’s better prepared to cope with distractions that are
being played out in the press," head coach Steve Lavin told the
Daily Bruin.
He added that this week has been no tougher than any other in
terms of prepping the team.
While we’re all happy that the Bruins can stay focused through
all of this, it’s a little frightening to think that a week filled
with daily accusations and innuendo simply blends in with the rest
of the year.
A few years ago, a week like this would have stood out like
George Zidek at a midget convention. Now it’s become ho-hum.
Are the Bruins becoming the (gulp) Dallas Cowboys of college
basketball?
Now, before anyone starts calling me Chicken Little, I’m not
saying the sky is exactly falling: to the best of my knowledge, no
one has rented a condo for sex and drug parties, and no one has
been found in a hotel room with strippers and cocaine (Dallas
staples both).
But the heavens spanning over the UCLA basketball program do
seem a little lower these days.
And when you’re 6-10, you don’t have to drop too far before they
smack you upside the head.
"It’s definitely taking its toll," McCoy told reporters last
week after the Louisville game.
"I mean, I’m getting tired of hearing it, but there’s nothing I
can do about it."
Yes, Jelani, there is. According to the lawyers, you are the
only one who can do anything about it.
If nothing is going on, then the next time someone asks, just
say, "No." Otherwise, people are going to keep assuming that the
answer is really "Yes."
It may not be fair, but that’s how it is.
Rob Kariakin wants to apologize if this column wasn’t up to his
usual standard of mindless comedy, but occasionally it is important
to write about something serious. He promises to do his best to
avoid it in the future.