ESPN's JAY BILAS has "thrived as someone who understands not only the Xs and Os of strategy but also the promise and pitfalls that imbue collegiate athletics with its inherent drama," according to a profile by Matt Giles of THE ATLANTIC. The former college basketball player/coach and attorney "effectively serves as the sport's WALTER CRONKITE -- a respected commentator unafraid to speak openly about an American institution beset by a fraught and ongoing debate about amateurism." This credibility "helps him relate to fans, university administrators, coaches, and student-athletes alike -- and it has made him a valuable voice on how college basketball needs to improve, from its governance of rules violations to player transfers to transitioning toward a future where players are paid a commensurate wage for their labor." Cincinnati basketball coach MICK CRONIN said of Bilas, "Jay points things out and makes people think. The NCAA is a large business making a lot of money and employing a lot of people, and Jay makes them very nervous." Giles noted Bilas is "willing to use his on-air platform (and nearly two million Twitter followers) to advocate for change." Bilas said, "I spend a lot of time thinking about the contradictions that exist within college sports." He "contends that there are common-sense solutions to the NCAA's eligibility concerns, ones that don’t penalize players for simply trying to survive." Bilas: "All of this results from how valuable these players are, and there is nothing wrong with that. While I don't condone violating rules and laws, we need to change the rules to accurately reflect the current world." Bilas noted that in '14, just as his "public calls for change were gaining traction, the NCAA approached him about joining" its D-I Committee on Infractions. But Bilas "turned down the NCAA's offer" (THEATLANTIC.com, 11/23).
