NCAA needs real reform, not quick repair job

The latest move by the NCAA to give athletes a few more rights highlights shows at least one thing about the people in charge of the cartel that runs college sports.

They can move quickly when their golden goose is threatened.

That became clear this week when the NCAA adopted new rules hurriedly put forward in the wake of the ongoing scandal in college basketball. The rules were recommended in April by a commission formed when the existence of an FBI probe into pay-to-play allegations surfaced. They are designed to give elite basketball players more options, including the right to hire agents even before they commit to a school.

“These changes will promote integrity in the game, strengthen accountability and prioritize the interest of studentathletes over every other factor,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said.

It all sounds good, a tidy package of giveaways designed to solve some of the more pressing issues facing college basketball. For those lucky enough to be ranked among the best in the