NCAA KEEPS TRYING TO PUT ITSELF OUT OF BUSINESS

 Short Stuff:


The NCAA no longer will require athletes to sign a letter 

of intent that binds them to a school for a minimum of 

one year. Say what? … It’s true … It’s damn true. The 

NCAA Council voted to do away with the NLI (not to be 

confused with the NIL that permits paying the little dears, 

in some cases, outrageous sums of money.) … The 

argument in favor of the latest step designed to eliminate 

the governing body pretty much had to do with the NIL 

which was forced on college sports by the courts. In place 

of the NLI … the deep thinkers running (ruining would 

be a more apt description) college sports – most notably 

football and basketball – apparently envision contracts 

that will make athletes akin to employees of the school … 

Hey, it was bound to wind up like that anyway … as 

college athletics have become more professional than the 

NFL and NBA. How so? Simple. All college athletes are 

free agents, and there is no salary cap.



Speaking of once-amateur (but no more) football … 

former LSU linebacker and team captain GREG 

BROOKS is suing coach BRIAN KELLY, the school, 

the team trainer, several assistant coaches … plus assorted 

medical people and a Baton Rouge hospital … to name a 

few … for negligence in treating a head injury that 

reportedly has left him in need of what was described as 

“lifetime assistance.” Stay tuned. The first story we saw 

failed to mention how much Brooks wanted … but don’t 

be surprised if he settles … for a lot.



Unable to sign IGOR SHESTERKIN for a record 8 

years, $88 million … the New York Rangers reportedly 

have offered second-line left winger ALEXIS 

LAFRENIERE an 8-year deal worth $8.5M annually … 

and, if he’s smart, he’ll sign immediately … before they 

wise up and change their corporate mind … A year ago 

New York was desperate to move the team’s 2020 No. 1 

draft choice (first overall). Make us an offer. Now, the 

Rangers, who already have several over-priced players 

(see JACOB TROUBA, $8m per), want to reward the 24 

year old LAFRENIERE after a good-but-hardly-great 29 

goals, 28 assists in 82 games … after three seasons as a 

bust? Get serious! … Actually, the 2020 draft wasn’t what 

anyone would describe as loaded with talent … but the 

Rangers did OK overall … landing defenseman

 BRADEN SCHNEIDER with the 19th pick in the first 

round and forward WILL CUYLLE in the second round 

(No. 60 overall) … as well as tough-guy MATT REMPE

 in the sixth (165 overall) plus goalie DYLAN GARAND

 and forward BRETT BERARD, both invited to camp 

this year before being sent to AHL Hartford … There 

were 217 draftees in 2020. Counting all NFL games 

played by them through 2023-24, Rempe’s 71 PIM (17 

games) ranked eighth overall.


Until next time ... 






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