Good afternoon . . .
Maurice Clarett was a star. His ability on the football field was unmatched. Numerous "big time" college football teams wanted Clarett to play for them. Ohio State became the "winner." During his first and only season with Ohio State, he led the team to a national championship. There is nothing unusual about Ohio State being a national champion, but Clarett could have been part of a dynasty.
After his successful season, Clarett like many young men with talent became arrogant. The university and NCAA rules did not apply to him. He received cash and other items of value from boosters and Columbus businessmen. He was one of those players who received a "do nothing" job for the summer. The rumors led to an NCAA investigation. During the investigation, Clarett lied to university and NCAA officials. At one point he said coaches and the athletic department were aware of the "gifts" from alumni and boosters. The result of the investigation showed Clarett was responsible for the gifts and he was subsequently suspended from the football team by the university and the NCAA. At that time, he was allowed to continue in school.
Clarett began to miss classes and failed to make adequate "progress" toward a degree. He was invited back to the football team, but by that time Clarett had an agent, a violation of NCAA rules. Clarett was asked to leave the team and the university. His scholarship was eventually rescinded.
With all the talent in the world, Clarett continued to claim the university and the athletic department were to blame for his problems. His next choice was to attempt to enter the NFL Draft. The National Football League has a rule that says prospective players must be out of high school for three years before they can enter the draft. Claret was only out of high school two years.
Clarett sued the NFL saying the league' rule violated antitrust laws by preventing "any employment opportunity from an otherwise qualified applicants."
The federal trial judged sided with Clarett, but before the NFL Draft, the league appealed to a federal appeals court which sided with the league. The appeals court said the NFL was shielded from antitrust laws because of its collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association. While this stopped Clarett from entering the 2004 NFL Draft, he will be eligible for the 2005 Draft.
Undaunted Clarett had his attorneys filed an appeal with the US Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court today rejected without comment Clarett's appeal.
Maurice Clarett had a bright future. Had his ego and arrogance not led him to the wrong side OBI the football, he would have been a national treasure, a player without peer, champion. Instead Clarett's value to a professional football team his minimal. He has not played in at least two years. He still believes that rules are for someone else. If any NFL team drafts him, they will get what they ask for. Will Claret go high in the draft? No. He may be drafted in the latter rounds, the ones not shown on ESPN.
His star has faded. He lost his opportunity to make a difference.
Bloomberg.com: U.S.
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For those readers who cannot get enough of the Michael Jackson child molestation trials, here a report. News
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Dan Rather's interim replacement, Bob Schieffer, is openly campaign for the job.
When Leslie Moonves addressed television critics about changes in the CBS Evening News, he said he did not want a "voice of God" type of program. The type of program that featured Dan Rather. Moonves did not realize that interim replacement Bob Schieffer and inherited executive producer Jim Murphy would make immediate and necessary changes.
The most notable new feature are the ways correspondents are featured during the telecast. Reporters now "tease" the pieces and there are periodic "question and answer" sessions with Schieffer. a far cry from the "no tag line" or "get on get off" attitude under Rather.
"It's more different than I thought it would be," Mr. Moonves said of the broadcast. "Clearly, they have made an effort to incorporate some of the changes we talked about.
"It would be stupid of us not to pay attention to some of these things they're trying that are working."
CBS News president Andrew Heyward who was spared from dismissal over Rathergate, said that the reworking of the broadcast "now gives us an opportunity to develop a smart plan without feeling under the gun."
Will Schieffer remain? Unknown at this point, but the changes in the "CBS Evening News" have piqued the interest of executives.
Schieffer remains too liberal for my tastes. So, I have not seen the revamped 'Evening News."
The New York Times > Business > Media & Advertising > At CBS News, Some Temporary Changes May Stick
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More tomorrow.
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