Greetings Cougar Nation!
I’m back after a rigorous syllabus week that included lots of “learning” and “attending” classes followed by a three day weekend that set my liver back a few years. I couldn’t help but celebrate after the Cougs finally gutted out a tough road win over a quality conference performance on Saturday night. So instead of doing something totally original, I’ve decided to go a different route for today’s post!
I’ve copied and pasted a column that will run in tomorrow’s Daily Evergreen. It may ruffle some feathers, but I think it’s finally time that the Reggie Moore situation be addressed swiftly and justly by members of the university. Hope you enjoy my perspective. Click on the link to read!
For Cougar basketball fans, this past weekend was the definition of bittersweet. While the team performed well by splitting two games in the Bay Area, they may have lost their best playmaker for the remainder of the season.
As recently reported, WSU starting point guard Reggie Moore (cq) was suspended Saturday after Whitman County Prosecutors cited the sophomore for possessing under 40 grams of marijuana and a piece of drug paraphernalia.
The scandal raises a question that is revisited with frequent regularity in college sports. What is an appropriate punishment for student-athletes who break the rules, and what institution has the right to dish out the consequences?
Many would argue that there are far worse crimes than owning a small amount of marijuana, especially when use of the drug is widespread throughout the United States. It is unlikely that Moore will face any jail-time, however, his future with the WSU basketball team remains in doubt.
Moore isn’t the only NCAA athlete to break the law within the past year. In fact, his actions are far less harmful than a handful of dynamic athletes who have faced little to no punishment at all.
University of Oregon starting running back LaMichael James (cq) pushed his girlfriend to the ground in the offseason preceding his magical Heisman campaign. He can thank Chip Kelley (cq). In addition to calling a variety of innovative plays, the coach who has often been praised for his integrity only suspended James for a game. Talk about sending a message.
In addition to James, Heisman Trophy Winner Cam Newton went unpunished by both his school and the NCAA after it was revealed that Newton’s father shopped his son’s services out to the highest bidder. Those who believe Newton had no knowledge of his father’s actions either sing “War Eagle” every night before bed or are just plain foolish.
Then again, I can’t blame the University of Auburn for not punishing Newton. After all, they paid good money to win that BCS National Championship.
What about our “friends” at the University of Washington who reside peacefully on the other side of the state, void of any sense of moral or lawful responsibility?
When I step back for a moment and take an atypically unbiased look at both UW and WSU, it appears that our school is the only one school taking the law seriously.
If you haven’t heard, last week a 16-year-old girl legitimately accused a prominent UW basketball player of statutory rape at a house next to Garfield High School. The university hasn’t revealed the player’s name despite the fact he is over the age of 21. In addition, they are continuing to allow the athlete to play in basketball games. If the girl is indeed telling the truth, both Lorenzo Romar and University of Washington Athletic Director Scott Woodward should be fired for their incompetence.
To me, Moore’s punishment shows that WSU’s athletic department expects extremely high levels of integrity from its student-athletes. I agree that those who are receiving a free education should be held to a higher standard than your average WSU student. Because unlike Moore, if I were to pass out drunk in front of Munchies, I wouldn’t make the cover of the Seattle Times.
Moore’s actions were irresponsible, but his non-violent crime doesn’t warrant a severe punishment. To our knowledge, he didn’t put anyone in harm’s way. He was certainly in the wrong, but he doesn’t deserve to be suspended the rest of the season because of the precedent already set by other universities. In the end, a simple slap on the wrist should suffice.
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