http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/prep_sports/article/0,1426,MCA_480_2390329,00.html
Boosters beware, Tide has changed By Geoff Calkins Contact reporter October 31, 2003 Remember that criminal case against Alabama booster Logan Young? It's rolling, baby. Young was indicted Thursday for conspiracy to commit racketeering, bribery of a public servant and structuring a financial transaction to evade reporting requirements. Which is a helluva way to treat a fat-cat, jock-sniffing, Crimson-wearing booster, isn't it? For the love of Bear! Whatever happened to the good old days, when the rich guys in the skyboxes could get away with anything? Young didn't say much Thursday. Just "Yes, Ma'am," (I understand the charges) and "Yes, Ma'am," (I understand my rights) and "No comment" (that's why I pay my lawyer the big bucks). But Young had to be wondering about the world these days, about how he came to be staring at the prospect of hard time. It didn't used to be like this! Jail? For being a booster? Boosters hung out on the sidelines. They shared dirty jokes with the coaches. They leered at the cheerleaders and teared up when the band played the alma mater and got the best seats to everything. And if they were caught cheating, well, what's the worst that could happen? The coach could be fired. (There are other coaches.) The team could go on probation. (Probation doesn't last forever.) The school could take away the keys to the skybox. (OK, bummer. But not like prison!) Which is what Young is looking at today, and it's about time, really. Not to say that the guy is going to be convicted, necessarily. He's got a fine lawyer who says he's going to fight the charges "with every fiber in our body." That would contrast with Milton Kirk and Lynn Lang, who have already pleaded guilty in the case. So we already know as a matter of legal fact that Lang sold Albert Means for $150,000. We just don't know if Young is going to be convicted as the money man. The indictment makes entertaining reading, anyway. Especially the section listing the "overt acts" Young is alleged to have committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. Mostly, he went to the bank. And went to the bank. And went to the bank. And . . . could it be he just had a thing for free toasters? The indictment lists 24 separate cash withdrawals for amounts between $2,500 and $9,800. Most were in the $9,000 range. Withdrawals for $10,000 require that a Currency Transaction Report be filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Coincidence? Sure! And can I interest you in some swampland near Mobile? None of which means Young spent the money on Means, of course. He's innocent until proven guilty. He could have been buying up Mike DuBose bobblehead dolls. But if Young was behind the scheme, here's hoping he pays. It would be a happy change from the normal brand of NCAA justice, which punishes everyone but the folks most responsible. The cheating head coach gets a job at another school. The cheating booster survives to boost again. Meanwhile, players who have nothing to do with the cheating are told they can't be on TV or go to a bowl. That's why this case is important. Because it focuses the blame squarely where it belongs. On the men who should know better. On the dirty boosters behind it all. On Dec. 1, Young is scheduled to go to trial before a jury of his peers. If convicted, he'll be sent to jail for a maximum of 15 years. Possible message to boosters everywhere? Roll that. Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364; E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
