Old Baylor Scandal Assistant Coach Story

[moe09]

Just read this on ESPN.com, and thought it was an interesting viewpoint of one of the big scandals in college basketball. Whether or not people feel the need to comment, I felt it was a fairly good read, if not just some of it.

sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=3371852&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

[theexorcist]

"Bliss isn't, however, surprised that Rouse hasn't been able to find a job. He doesn't see the shunning any differently than Ray, but Bliss said he believes Rouse, as a new assistant, failed to recognize the gravity of his actions, how they would be perceived in the coaching community. Bliss said he also believes, as Rouse contends in his lawsuit against his former attorney, that Rouse never intended for the tapes to become public.

"I've gotten past judging people; I judge my own actions and they were wrong," Bliss said. "The thing about his actions, I think that's where a little bit of the misunderstanding occurred -- on his part. I feel badly because I think I let him down. I felt like I didn't do a very good job of mentoring him.

"I called because I knew there would probably be people who did not understand the situation. I wanted him to know that I understood as much as I could and that I wanted to help him have another opportunity, that I think he is deserving of another opportunity."

All of the above were quotes by Bliss.

Ok. If you're not familiar with what happened, try en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baylor_University_basketball_scandal

Wow. I'm beyond words.

Great article.

[moe09]

I'm still not sure how Bliss isn't behind bars somewhere.

[jgalt]

Those mentions of what Coach K and boeheim are really disgusting. I realize that they may feel violated if an assistant recorded what they are doing, but what are they doing that shouldnt be recorded? Rouse did the right thing, period. It is pitiful that guys are afraid of him. Anyone who agrees with K's and Boeheim's sentiments is just gross.

[DFW HOYA]

Gross? Of course it is, but that's why they call it the "coaches fraternity", and Rouse stepped outside the code.

Many of these articles, both nationally and in Texas, speak well of Rose's ability to coach--if not a head coach, certainly as an assistant or even a director of basketball operations. But while Krzyzewski adds yet another Duke alumnus to his bench, Rose just wants a chance. And not just at Duke, but when the entire spectrum--D-I, D-II, D-III, NAIA, juco, even high school...is aware but no one moves to act, it's a disgrace.

[The Stig]

What's even worse than Rouse not having a job is that others hit by scandals (including Bliss) are still coaching.

[fatthew]

I wonder if Rouse would still be as toxic if he didn't record the conversation. What if he had simply told the NCAA what was going on, instead of secretly taping conversations? And it seems like there is a legitimate question as to who released the tapes to media. Once he did record the conversation, did he need to release the tapes to the media (assuming he was the one who did so)? I think he did the right thing by speaking up, but I don't know if he went about it in the right way. Doesn't necessarily justify other coaches not giving the guy a shot, but I can understand their position.

[SFHoya99]

I love how people like K and Boeheim don't differentiate between snitching on rules bending, and oh, slandering a dead person with false charges of being a drug dealer to save the coach's own unethical ass.

Hmmm, that Coach K ethics institute must be something.

And Bliss is utter, pure scum.

[theexorcist]

May 7, 2008 11:21:54 GMT -5 fatthew said:

I wonder if Rouse would still be as toxic if he didn't record the conversation. What if he had simply told the NCAA what was going on, instead of secretly taping conversations? And it seems like there is a legitimate question as to who released the tapes to media. Once he did record the conversation, did he need to release the tapes to the media (assuming he was the one who did so)? I think he did the right thing by speaking up, but I don't know if he went about it in the right way. Doesn't necessarily justify other coaches not giving the guy a shot, but I can understand their position.

I think he had to record the conversation. If he doesn't record the conversation, Bliss and his assistants deny everything. There's no proof. AND Bliss then stabs Rouse in the back (to emphasize, this is figurative, not literal, since you never know with Bliss) and tells coaches at conventions that Rouse recorded his conversations.

If you're going to do this, you make it bulletproof.

[jgalt]

They should require teams that have scandals in the past to have Rouse on their staff and he has to wear a wire every where.

[moe09]

I'm going to say it again since I think it's worthwhile. Shouldn't somebody like Bliss be behind bars somewhere? Stuff like this makes me sick to my stomach... Just reading what he said. Slandering some poor kid who was murdered. Just absolutely unbelievable to me. Where's the humanity? Does this man have any sort of decency? Respect of other human beings? Wow...

[jgalt]

i agree with moe, bliss hasnt seemed to have been punished at all for his actions. punished not necessarily implying the law, but more like professionally

[moe09]

Yeah, I mean, maybe I exaggerate a little, but I think some sort of punishment is definitely in line here. How someone could do something like this and walk away practically scot-free is beyond me.

[jgalt]

i think that it is a moral issue. Bliss clearly acted immorally if not necessarily illegally, so his "punishment" can only come from those who interact with him, meaning primarily his colleagues. he shouldnt have a job anywhere near basketball in my opinion, but it is a testament to the sliminess of college sports that he is still coaching. Alumni shouldnt put up with schools hiring coaches who have acted this way and dont seem to be moving away from those actions.

[theexorcist]

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/phil_taylor/05/13/whistle.blowers/index.html?bcnn=yes

What an awful article. Rouse is linked to "snitching".