Rutgers, welcome to the Big Ten!
These videos are always entertaining. Especially when they involve a big story like Rutgers firing college basketball coach Mike Rice. And especially so when it’s a big story that I was of course aware of, but just way too caught up in writing other stuff. And then when you have the time to write it, everyone else has already done the Rutgers Mike Rice story, because it’s a 24-7 news cycle we live in now.
Mike Rice was a well deserved firing. Even though Rutgers really dragged their ass on this one. Rutgers finally fired Mike Rice Wednesday after a videotape showing him shoving, grabbing and throwing balls at players and using anti-gay slurs during practice aired on ESPN.
The video, broadcast Tuesday on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, led to harsh criticism from both New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Lebron James. Rutgers is the state University of New Jersey and Lebron James is the best current NBA player.
With increasing pressure on both a state and national level, Rutgers terminated Rice after three disappointing seasons. Rice apologized for his actions (with a lot of fake tears) at a news conference outside of his house.
The video came to light through former director of player development Eric Murdock. It shows Rice hurling expletives and anti-gay slurs at his players.
Murdock claims he was fired when he tried to blow the whistle on Rice’s harsh behavior towards his college players. Murdock plans to sue Rutgers for wrongful termination. Maybe the Rutgers Athletic Director should be next?
Murdoch showed the 30-minute video, which consists of several practices edited together, to the athletic department in December, but that only led to Rice’s suspension. It wasn’t until Murdoch took the video to ESPN and it was aired that the university took actions to fire Rice. Way to keep it on the down low, Rutgers. That shows gross negligence on the part of the Rutgers A.D.
Again Rutgers, welcome to the conference
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, a Google News site generating millions of visitors. He’s an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on Comcast SportsNet and the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks)