 | Scoreboard, Baby - A Story of College Football, Crime and Complicity, by Ken Armstrong and Nick Perry |
“Crime and Complicity” indeed. The crimes perpetrated by these college football players include rape, armed robbery, felony assault, shooting, animal cruelty and DUI. Thorough investigative reporting reveals how these thugs, most of whom were academically challenged (to put it kindly), were able to keep their scholarships and play football, despite mounting evidence that they were dangerous criminals. Coaches, university administrators, and, most outrageously of all, judges and prosecutors were only too willing to look the other way or give them second chances, all because of their champion football team. I was especially disheartened by the portrayal of the King Co. prosecutor’s office, which dragged their feet on a rape investigation and then eventually declined to press charges (despite strong evidence).
The book is a thrilling read, whether or not you like football (I don’t, particularly). At times, however, I found myself so repulsed that I had to put it down. Reading about the rape of a college freshman (and the subsequent foot-dragging investigation) was particularly difficult.
Very few people come off looking good in this book. Coach “Slick Rick” Neuheisel’s perfidy had me shaking my head in disgust, but I can’t say that was news. Still, the sheer number of people who seem to have lost their moral compass was surprising. Nonetheless, there were some honorable people, including the brave rape victim, Marie, and Seattle Police Detective Maryann Parker. About the only other bright note was football player Anthony Kelley, who hit the books and discovered there was more to life than football, going on to win a prestigious scholarship to study abroad.
This is a damning indictment of the UW football program, division I intercollegiate athletics, and our sports-worshiping society. Sadly, I don’t think anything will ever change. Big money has thoroughly corrupted college sports.
The book is a thrilling read, whether or not you like football (I don’t, particularly). At times, however, I found myself so repulsed that I had to put it down. Reading about the rape of a college freshman (and the subsequent foot-dragging investigation) was particularly difficult.
Very few people come off looking good in this book. Coach “Slick Rick” Neuheisel’s perfidy had me shaking my head in disgust, but I can’t say that was news. Still, the sheer number of people who seem to have lost their moral compass was surprising. Nonetheless, there were some honorable people, including the brave rape victim, Marie, and Seattle Police Detective Maryann Parker. About the only other bright note was football player Anthony Kelley, who hit the books and discovered there was more to life than football, going on to win a prestigious scholarship to study abroad.
This is a damning indictment of the UW football program, division I intercollegiate athletics, and our sports-worshiping society. Sadly, I don’t think anything will ever change. Big money has thoroughly corrupted college sports.
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