It has been a "difficult final year" in office for SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, who yesterday gave an extensive interview for the first time since last July after undergoing "back surgery, radiation and a series of chemotherapy treatments that he said are now completed," according to Jon Solomon of CBSSPORTS.com. Slive said, “I feel as good as I've felt in a very long time." As Greg Sankey "transitions to becoming the next SEC commissioner, Slive shows little signs of being a lameduck commissioner." Slive: "The presidents and chancellors made it very clear that I am the commissioner. As a matter of fact, now that I am getting further and further away from chemo, I'm getting more and more feisty. I don't hold back on my opinions. Over 13 years, Greg and I have consulted on all major decisions. There's really nothing different going on now than has gone on for the last 13 years.” Solomon noted Sankey is "so cognizant of Slive's final few months that the next SEC commissioner won't yet publicly share details of his agenda for Year 1." Sankey said he has been "intentionally careful because my approach has been that Mike is still the commissioner and will be, and I'm certainly not inclined to overshadow his next couple of months as we head into" the SEC's spring meetings. Meanwhile, Solomon noted Slive and Sankey "continue to push for transparency in cost of attendance stipends for instances when schools provide individualized amounts to players." The SEC "proposed NCAA legislation for such transparency that got defeated in January." Slive: “For reasons that still escape me, I don't understand why that didn't pass." Sankey said that the SEC, pending legal outcomes over cost of attendance, "could provide transparency measures within the conference." Sankey also "hinted at more proposals from the SEC on benefits to athletes through NCAA autonomy" (CBSSPORTS.com, 4/20).
STILL IN GOOD SPIRITS: The AP's John Zenor noted Slive is retiring on July 31 but will "still have a voice in SEC business, saying he will remain in Birmingham and be a consultant to the conference." Slive has remained "mostly out of the limelight since announcing in October that he had cancer and setting a retirement date." Yesterday he "looked a little frail during the 56-minute question and answer session but was in good spirits" (AP, 4/20). In Mississippi, Michael Bonner notes Slive "bragged about the success of the SEC Network." In its first year of existence, the net "became the most successful launch in the history of cable television" and now "reaches nearly 100 million people across the country." Slive: "I'm not going to talk about finances, but so far it's been very, very successful" (Jackson CLARION-LEDGER, 4/21).
