Dark Money Behind Duke Basketball

[HALL85]

https://www.wsj.com/sports/basketba...-tournament-final-four-196aa6b1?mod=Flipboard

No coincidence that Duke was able to assemble the roster they have. A little cynical about the claim that they play by the rules and give Scheyer free rein, but this is the state of college sports.

Nothing stopping SHU or any school from doing the same, but you need a core group/common vision with essentially unlimited resources.

 

[NYShoreGuy]

 

[PJVegas]

Back in the day Duke players drove Suburbans, parents were relocated and given jobs. Coach K denied any violations and basically told the world “you can’t handle the truth”. The precursor to NIL.

 

[its haLL baLL]

You could be the secretary of a Duke booster in the late 2000's with limited to no experience making $100K+ if you were the mom of the right player.

Care to summarize the article? I let my WSJ subscription expire long ago.

 

[phelanma]

Only took from this article is Duke isn't as public, showey with its NIL.

NIL aren't tax deductible correct?

 

[catholicman]

You could be the secretary of a Duke booster in the late 2000's with limited to no experience making $100K+ if you were the mom of the right player.

Care to summarize the article? I let my WSJ subscription expire long ago.

MSN has the article up for free:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/the-dark-money-behind-duke-basketball/ar-AA1C8hZc

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

There once was a young assistant who might have the top up and coming coach who was thought to be the successor of coach K. He left the dirty money in Durham. Shortly after he leaves he brings in the top recruiting class in the country. Anyone think some of that dirty money came with him from people who might have had a vested interest in him succeeding so he could take over for coach K?

 

[wpc75]

wire NIL reported Duke NIL at $20 million this year alone

 

[The_Hall]

nothing burger article.

 

[Seton75]

So many rumors on the net about them. I remember something about Corey Magette. I guess the NCAA tracked down all these rumors and after their investigations, found them all baseless.

 

[silkcitypirate]

Back in the day Duke players drove Suburbans, parents were relocated and given jobs. Coach K denied any violations and basically told the world “you can’t handle the truth”. The precursor to NIL.

Coach K cheated with the best of them .

 

[HALL85]

Only took from this article is Duke isn't as public, showey with its NIL.

NIL aren't tax deductible correct?

The take away for me is that a) the dark money is public now and b), a you have three wealthy guys that took the initiative to fund the program and shield the coach from having to be influenced by others that contribute big sums.

It’s a model that other schools should and need to follow to succeed. It’s just finding that small group that has the wealth and similar mindset.

And what a great way to secure your coach for the long-term. Why would Sheyer ever want to leave?

 

[The_Hall]

Coach K cheated with the best of them .

the best was KANSAS getting dinged for Zion asking for $100k in a duffel bag.

then he signed with Duke....

 

[bornApirate]

Back in the day Duke players drove Suburbans, parents were relocated and given jobs. Coach K denied any violations and basically told the world “you can’t handle the truth”. The precursor to NIL.

Jay Williams was driving an Escalade after committing to Duke. The explanation that was given was his parents had put away money for his college fund and they didn't need to use it since he received a scholarship....

Its very similar to the MLB steroid era. The NCAA allowed it to go on because it increased attendance and viewership.

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

Coach K cheated with the best of them .

As a Seton Hall fan I was scared we would go down that rabbit hole when we got his protégé Amaker. Thankfully when we took Amaker we played by the rules.

 

[The_Hall]

Jay Williams was driving an Escalade after committing to Duke. The explanation that was given was his parents had put away money for his college fund and they didn't need to use it since he received a scholarship....

Its very similar to the MLB steroid era. The NCAA allowed it to go on because it increased attendance and viewership.

few of the basketball players were driving nice cars at my time at SHU. gonzo years.

 

[Burnsly]

As a Seton Hall fan I was scared we would go down that rabbit hole when we got his protégé Amaker. Thankfully when we took Amaker we played by the rules.

I think we kind of get your point. That was over 25 years ago. The Statute of Limitations has expired.

 

[Section112]

I think we kind of get your point. That was over 25 years ago. The Statute of Limitations has expired.

Obviously Amaker did not play by the rules. I knew who our bagman was at the time (easy to figure out).

Duke has not played by the rules for many years but did it really well.

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

I think we kind of get your point. That was over 25 years ago. The Statute of Limitations has expired.

🤣 if things worked out and they were still happening here nobody would blink an eye.

 

[jack 1970]

They have wealthy alumni so they win.Nothing illegal here.

 

[catholicman]

They have wealthy alumni so they win.Nothing illegal here.

But highly unethical at the time

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

Obviously Amaker did not play by the rules. I knew who our bagman was at the time (easy to figure out).

Duke has not played by the rules for many years but did it really well.

I laugh when I see people saying they think Duke is terrible for doing what they're doing, yet we would all do it in a heartbeat if we had the same “problem” of alumni with extremely deep pockets who want to invest in players

 

[catholicman]

I laugh when I see people saying they think Duke is terrible for doing what they're doing, yet we would all do it in a heartbeat if we had the same “problem” of alumni with extremely deep pockets who want to invest in players

Don't be so sure of that.

 

[HallX2]

Jersey connection. Kid had expensive taste.

Former Duke F Thomas sued over jewelry

A starter on Duke's 2010 national championship team purchased nearly $100,000 in custom jewelry that season from a New York firm that caters to professional athletes and is now suing him for failing to pay the balance of what he owes.

www.espn.com

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

Don't be so sure of that.

I'm pretty damn sure of that when it comes to anyone having as much passion about SHU basketball that they post on a message board. I do believe the people wishing we had crowdstrike money would give if they had that type of money.

 

[HallX2]

Every arms race comes to an end due to financial exhaustion. Believe it or not it’s the key reason the Soviet Union collapsed.

 

[dehere23]

I don't get why the article refers to it as "dark money". Unless it is to get clicks.

 

[HALL85]

I don't get why the article refers to it as "dark money". Unless it is to get clicks.

Agree. Probably because these guys are the “anti-Repoles” preferring to be in the background.

 

[dehere23]

Agree. Probably because these guys are the “anti-Repoles” preferring to be in the background.

Yea I don’t get the fixation. Some boosters are more out front than others whether it be him or the Ark people. Others not. For some what their business is probably lends to that too. If you run a private or selective investment fund you get nothing from being out there to the masses. If your business is about people buying products I can see the reason. Ultimately though it doesn’t matter.

 

[ivyhillparkk1963]

wire NIL reported Duke NIL at $20 million this year alone

So to me not impressed with them making final four.
Just high paid mercenaries

 

[dehere23]

So to me not impressed with them making final four.
Just high paid mercenaries

I still am. They have had a great season. They had to mold talented freshman with returnees who are also talented plus high major transfers filling specific roles which requires buy-in from those kids.

 

[HALL85]

I still am. They have had a great season. They had to mold talented freshman with returnees who are also talented plus high major transfers filling specific roles which requires buy-in from those kids.

Not too hard to get kids to buy in when they are cashing seven figure checks…

 

[dehere23]

Not too hard to get kids to buy in when they are cashing seven figure checks…

No doubt but you have to get role players taking less than that to buy in and not have buyers remorse. And at the professional level we’ve seen countless examples of guys taking $$ and not buying in

 

[PJVegas]

So many rumors on the net about them. I remember something about Corey Magette. I guess the NCAA tracked down all these rumors and after their investigations, found them all baseless.

Problem was the Suburbans they were driving were real, the relocations were as were the jobs. Precursor to Russiagate I guess. 😵‍💫

 

[HALL85]

No doubt but you have to get role players taking less than that to buy in and not have buyers remorse. And at the professional level we’ve seen countless examples of guys taking $$ and not buying in

Duke is an outlier. Going to pay way over market even for bench and the history and culture is a lot for kids to fight. And if those three donors are in lock step behind Scheyer, I don’t see many stepping out of line.

 

[SHUHoopsFan]

Duke is an outlier. Going to pay way over market even for bench and the history and culture is a lot for kids to fight. And if those three donors are in lock step behind Scheyer, I don’t see many stepping out of line.

My understanding is part of the sale at Duke is they will see you’re taken care of after college. That’s the hardest part to turn down

 

[burtmanjack]

Duke is an outlier. Going to pay way over market even for bench and the history and culture is a lot for kids to fight. And if those three donors are in lock step behind Scheyer, I don’t see many stepping out of line.

They do not pay over market for bench -- or even for guys like Flagg who had way better financial offers from big time programs. They pay what they decide they will pay and then say "you get to be part of the Duke BB network, which is much more valuable in the long run."

I have been good friends with one of the "guys in the shadows" referenced in the article going on 40 years now.

 

[its haLL baLL]

My understanding is part of the sale at Duke is they will see you’re taken care of after college. That’s the hardest part to turn down

I know firsthand of a former Duke player getting an offer from a large investment bank after graduating in "Investor Relations" where his sole responsibility was going to dinners and events to talk about his time at Duke. It is (was) a very real thing.