While the NCAA celebrates its Men’s Basketball Championship tonight in Atlanta, news stories, columns and critics continue to take issue with the organization. In Miami, Greg Cote writes the NCAA's brand is “tarnished, ... damaged," and the Final Four "fails to hide all of the ugliness underneath" as recent scandals at Rutgers, Miami and Auburn are prominent in the news cycle (MIAMI HERALD, 4/7). In DC, John Feinstein wrote under the header, “NCAA Shows Up To Its Final Four Celebration With A Black Eye” (WASHINGTON POST, 4/6). In Phoenix, Dan Bickley wrote it has been “all scandal, all the time” (AZCENTRAL.com, 4/6). In Miami, Dan Le Batard wrote the NCAA’s “weakened and antiquated empire fell to a knee with a groan last week." It was a “truly awful week for the rotting empire and its principles” (MIAMI HERALD, 4/7). In DC, Barry Svrluga noted “March Madness” is the NCAA’s “most well-known phrase capturing the organization’s signature event, yet its participating schools are at the mercy of another sport.” The NCAA’s controversies surround “football money, a driving force of change that even reaches basketball’s Final Four.” Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino said, “We don’t like it, but we understand it. The one thing you can’t do is complain about it. Sometimes, you have to move on” (WASHINGTON POST, 4/6). In Orlando, Jerry Greene wrote under the header, “From Rutgers To Auburn, It Sure Seems Like We’re Addicted To College Sports Scandal” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/7). The SENTINEL's Matt Murschel writes under the header, “Change Needed At The Top For Both Rutgers And NCAA” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/8). ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez said of NCAA President Mark Emmert’s Final Four press conference Friday, “First, you essentially dismiss your institution’s lack of control when it comes to the Miami investigation and yet now when you’re talking to the media you act defensive and arrogant and you’re shoving things in reporters’ faces. I just think that’s unfair, it’s not a good look and I think the guy probably needs to go" (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 4/5).
