Stan Van Gundy has no problem airing ugly truths about big-time basketball.
The Detroit Pistons head coach blasted the NCAA as the “worst” organization in the sports world Sunday prior to his team’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, according to ESPN. Van Gundy delivered his scathing assessment of college sports’ governing body in the aftermath of Yahoo’s report, which claims the FBI is investigating more than 20 Division 1 men’s basketball programs for suspected NCAA rules violations.
“The NCAA is one of the worst organizations — maybe the worst organization — in sports,” Van Gundy told reporters. “They certainly don’t care about the athlete. They’re going to act like they’re appalled by all these things going on in college basketball. Please — it’s ridiculous, and it’s all coming down on the coaches.”
Van Gundy didn’t limit his ire to the NCAA. He also ripped the NBA over it’s so-called “one-and-done rule,” which prohibits players from entering the league until they’re at least one year removed from high school. Van Gundy believes the rule has racist underpinnings.
“People that were against (players) coming out (of high school) made a lot of excuses, but I think a lot of it was racist. I’ve never heard anybody go up in arms about (minor league baseball or hockey),” Van Gundy said. “They are not making big money, and they’re white kids primarily and nobody has a problem.
“But all of a sudden you’ve got a black kid that wants to come out of high school and make millions. That’s a bad decision, but bypassing college to go play for $800 a month in minor league baseball? That’s a fine decision? What the hell is going on?”
That’s certainly a question worth asking, coach.
