Interesting new article in the USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/tourney/2017/03/13/lavar-lonzo-ball-ucla-march-madness-nba-draft/99126082/

We can leave aside the absurd proclamations about his son Lonzo being better than Curry. And how he himself could take Michael Jordan one-on-one. Or saying his son will only play for the Lakers. And even the absurd notion that his kids are worth $1 billion for shoes. That's just blowhard stuff.

What I'd like to know is how a "personal trainer" (with a middle school PE teacher wife) can afford in LA:

-a $100,000 BMW for Lonzo
-a $100,000 BMW for Jello
-a on-site paid handler for Lonzo in Westwood who attends all practices, home games and road games.
-a 5 bedroom house with a pool

I wonder if the "entourage" that hangs around this family has anything to do with this. I'm willing to bet this guy is gonna land UCLA in some deep trouble. This seems to be a very, very sketchy situation. Even Bruin fans I know are openly advocating cutting ties with the family.

TheSouseFamily;842819068 said:

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Interesting new article in the USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/tourney/2017/03/13/lavar-lonzo-ball-ucla-march-madness-nba-draft/99126082/

We can leave aside the absurd proclamations about his son Lonzo being better than Curry. And how he himself could take Michael Jordan one-on-one. Or saying his son will only play for the Lakers. And even the absurd notion that his kids are worth $1 billion for shoes. That's just blowhard stuff.

What I'd like to know is how a "personal trainer" (with a middle school PE teacher wife) can afford in LA:

-a $100,000 BMW for Lonzo
-a $100,000 BMW for Jello
-a on-site paid handler for Lonzo in Westwood who attends all practices, home games and road games.
-a 5 bedroom house with a pool

I wonder if the "entourage" that hangs around this family has anything to do with this. I'm willing to bet this guy is gonna land UCLA in some deep trouble. This seems to be a very, very sketchy situation. Even Bruin fans I know are openly advocating cutting ties with the family.

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LOL.
Of course he is getting paid.
It is a joke.

I wanna know who taught Lonzo that broke looking shot?

And also, what kind of revenue does that 'shoe' company bring in? Is all the payola money funneled through it? Just make sure to pay your taxes, LaVar....

Sam Gilbert lives?

Doesn't the Dad care that he's causing everyone in the world to now root against his sons?

Won't happen but I'd love to see UCLA penalized. Someone just needs to follow the money. We weren't able to capitalize in football when SC got hit by the NCAA, but I think we would be able to in basketball if UCLA gets hit.

ncbears;842819086 said:

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Sam Gilbert lives?

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Exactly. UCLA will never get busted.

Ball's younger brother scored 82 points in a game...I couldn't figure out how a HS game creates enough possessions to let anyone score that much. Ball's team was fouling the other team to create possessions for Ball. That's just so wrong. Just like the $ to the Ball family is off and how the dad wants 1B for all 3 sons. This is everything that is wrong with youth / HS / college sports all rolled up into a single package.

SFBear2012;842819125 said:

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Won't happen but I'd love to see UCLA penalized. Someone just needs to follow the money. We weren't able to capitalize in football when SC got hit by the NCAA, but I think we would be able to in basketball if UCLA gets hit.

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Pom Pom was a much better coach than Alford is. Don't recall ever seeing Bush's parents on TV, but Papa Ball is a mess.

75bear;842819090 said:

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Doesn't the Dad care that he's causing everyone in the world to now root against his sons?

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He should be worried that his looniness might hurt Lonzo's draft stock. I guarantee GM's are going to ask Lonzo about his dad and see what his response is.

SFBear2012;842819125 said:

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Won't happen but I'd love to see UCLA penalized. Someone just needs to follow the money. We weren't able to capitalize in football when SC got hit by the NCAA, but I think we would be able to in basketball if UCLA gets hit.

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While I have no idea what's really going on there, I could picture the money not coming from UCLA (or even its supporters). Ball could be getting the money from AAU/agent sources, based on his future earnings, and just be using UCLA as a one-year, high profile stop on his way to the NBA.

Question: If it turned out he was getting paid, but not from UCLA sources (and maybe even not during the 9 mos. he was enrolled), is UCLA still in trouble?

Big C_Cal;842819149 said:

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While I have no idea what's really going on there, I could picture the money not coming from UCLA (or even its supporters). Ball could be getting the money from AAU/agent sources, based on his future earnings, and just be using UCLA as a one-year, high profile stop on his way to the NBA.

Question: If it turned out he was getting paid, but not from UCLA sources (and maybe even not during the 9 mos. he was enrolled), is UCLA still in trouble?

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Didn't U$C claim they didn't know Reggie Bush was getting paid/benefits??

The short answer ... yes

Big C_Cal;842819149 said:

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While I have no idea what's really going on there, I could picture the money not coming from UCLA (or even its supporters). Ball could be getting the money from AAU/agent sources, based on his future earnings, and just be using UCLA as a one-year, high profile stop on his way to the NBA.

Question: If it turned out he was getting paid, but not from UCLA sources (and maybe even not during the 9 mos. he was enrolled), is UCLA still in trouble?

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If they knew about it and didn't do anything, yes. Isn't that how they got SC when Bush got agent benefits?

The Dad seems to be pretty smart in hiding the sources of his money well. I wouldnt expect anything to come of it. Not sure people want to go after the dad anyway, he seems nuts and is probably more trouble than it is worth.

I don't know any details. His sons seem to be well grounded; I don't root against them. He is a promoter. Lonzo is the best KNOWN college player in the nation. His sons are the best KNOWN HS players in the nation. I imagine he has set up some large shoe contract riding on the back of Lonzo with his branding.

I do worry about the boys; its a lot of pressure. I don't for a second think Lonzo is better than Steph; that's again just promotion. His boys are not the best college or HS players either but it doesn't matter.

I don't feel sorry for UCLA. They are entering into this willingly. If there is a huge risk of NCAA violations, do we think they would honor scholarships to Angelo and then Melo?

In many ways to focus on him, the crazy things he says, are all part of his plan. He is winning.

StillABear;842819175 said:

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I don't know any details. His sons seem to be well grounded; I don't root against them. He is a promoter. Lonzo is the best KNOWN college player in the nation. His sons are the best KNOWN HS players in the nation. I imagine he has set up some large shoe contract riding on the back of Lonzo with his branding.

I do worry about the boys; its a lot of pressure. I don't for a second think Lonzo is better than Steph; that's again just promotion. His boys are not the best college or HS players either but it doesn't matter.

I don't feel sorry for UCLA. They are entering into this willingly. If there is a huge risk of NCAA violations, do we think they would honor scholarships to Angelo and then Melo?

In many ways to focus on him, the crazy things he says, are all part of his plan. He is winning.

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Lonzo is a legit Top 5 college player. He's probably having the best freshman season that any college PG has ever had. His Efficiency (look at his eFG%, TS%, assist to TO ratio) is astounding. And he has the highlight reel that further expands his lore.

All that said, LaVar is basically a bald-headed Don King. In age of Trump, perhaps we shouldn't be as shocked as we are about what he's saying.

If you haven't read this article check it out-interesting. Confirms a lot of what you all are thinking...


http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/03/11/the-ballfather-lavar-ball-and-his-3-sons-intend-to-change-basketball-forever/

calgldnbear;842819151 said:

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Didn't U$C claim they didn't know Reggie Bush was getting paid/benefits??

The short answer ... yes

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If they know or 'should' have known.

There are avenues which UCLA would be legitimately unaware. But, given how public these assets are, UCLA's compliance department would probably be expected to at least give the situation a cursory look.
Does sound kind of sketchy though.

tsubamoto2001;842819182 said:

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Lonzo is a legit Top 5 college player. He's probably having the best freshman season that any college PG has ever had. His Efficiency (look at his eFG%, TS%, assist to TO ratio) is astounding. And he has the highlight reel that further expands his lore.

All that said, LaVar is basically a bald-headed Don King. In age of Trump, perhaps we shouldn't be as shocked as we are about what he's saying.

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Yeah look no further than this very board/ "shocky"

85 Fly;842819186 said:

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If you haven't read this article yet check it out-interesting. Confirms a lot of what you all are thinking...


http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/03/11/the-ballfather-lavar-ball-and-his-3-sons-intend-to-change-basketball-forever/

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He's basically Trump. The Trump Brand... The Big Baller Brand.

SFBearz;842819190 said:

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Yeah look no further than this very board/ "shocky"

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You speak truth SFBearz.

petalumabear;842819198 said:

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You speak truth SFBearz.

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I don't understand taking shots at a guy who fully supports our program with in person support and high donation levels. Very petty

SBGold;842819202 said:

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I don't understand taking shots at a guy who fully supports our program with in person support and high donation levels. Very petty

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Hey if you like him attacking student athletes, other posters with regularity and generally acting like a horses backside, more power to you. Some here don't.

StillABear;842819175 said:

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I don't know any details. His sons seem to be well grounded; I don't root against them. He is a promoter. Lonzo is the best KNOWN college player in the nation. His sons are the best KNOWN HS players in the nation. I imagine he has set up some large shoe contract riding on the back of Lonzo with his branding.

I do worry about the boys; its a lot of pressure. I don't for a second think Lonzo is better than Steph; that's again just promotion. His boys are not the best college or HS players either but it doesn't matter.

I don't feel sorry for UCLA. They are entering into this willingly. If there is a huge risk of NCAA violations, do we think they would honor scholarships to Angelo and then Melo?

In many ways to focus on him, the crazy things he says, are all part of his plan. He is winning.

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Lonzo Ball is a phenomenal player, he should be player of the year in all of the NCAA. And he doesn't talk at all, his dad is all over the news but Lonzo is only seen in sports highlights. A good showing in the tournament and he will be the top pick in the draft.

SadbutTrue999;842819189 said:

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If they know or 'should' have known.

There are avenues which UCLA would be legitimately unaware. But, given how public these assets are, UCLA's compliance department would probably be expected to at least give the situation a cursory look.
Does sound kind of sketchy though.

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What if they all played it carefully so that he never took anything during the 9 mos. while enrolled at UCLA (just before and after)? I'm no Bruin Lover; just posing the question...

Maybe the family gets paid by prospective agent(s)/shoe company, based on Ball's future. Then he just goes to UCLA for a year in order to further his "brand" on the way to the NBA. UCLA uses him. He uses UCLA.

I'm not saying the whole thing doesn't kind of stink (although maybe it's just life these days), just asking what UCLA's situation might be.

Ball wants everything. You can't get it if you don't ask. I don't like him but if he's after everything? Fine with me. The problem is the person PAYING him, not the one asking to be paid.

petalumabear;842819211 said:

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Hey if you like him attacking student athletes, other posters with regularity and generally acting like a horses backside, more power to you. Some here don't.

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Exactly. Money doesn't equate to class or dignity, in life or within this venue.

SBGold;842819202 said:

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I don't understand taking shots at a guy who fully supports our program with in person support and high donation levels. Very petty

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Oh you mean the asshat who post stuff like this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shocky1:
...baseball players are a bunch of mostly white middle class kids that are doing poorly in the classroom & on the field

...country which is basically a bunch of skinny white kids running in circles & **** like that.

...women's lacrosse & field hockey are a bunch of bitchy high maintenance self entitled rich kids from prep schools back east

...and that brings us to rugby, a sport played predominantly by white males

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BeggarEd;842819259 said:

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Oh you mean the asshat who post stuff like this?

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Shocky's got a future in politics

Back to the Balls...

SBGold;842819202 said:

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I don't understand taking shots at a guy who fully supports our program with in person support and high donation levels. Very petty

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I have a private PM from him from three years ago where he rips Marcus Lee pretty good on a personal level for not choosing Cal.

The fact that you find him interesting/entertaining/deserving of respect says unflattering things about your judgment.

Chapman_is_Gone;842819470 said:

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I have a private PM from him from three years ago where he rips Marcus Lee pretty good on a personal level for not choosing Cal.

The fact that you find him interesting/entertaining/deserving of respect says unflattering things about your judgment.

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What is worse - bashing a non-Cal athlete in a private message or disclosing someone else's private message bashing a current Cal athlete? Just saying . . .

gobears725;842819263 said:

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Shocky's got a future in politics

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He's got something, for sure, because a number of posters here seem obsessed with him.

Kinda reminds me of when a kid in my 4th grade class said that they hated "female student XY". The teacher cut a long strip from a sheet of construction paper and wrote "LOVE" on one end and "HATE" on the other end. After holding it up for all to see, she bent the strip into a loop and said, "If you look at it this way, 'hate' is very close to... 'love'. Hmmm... " The hater kid yelled "Ewwwww!" and then proceeded to never say anything bad about anybody else for the rest of the year.

BearGoggles;842819581 said:

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What is worse - bashing a non-Cal athlete in a private message or disclosing someone else's private message bashing a current Cal athlete? Just saying . . .

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Oooh. Ohhh! I know the answer!

When the board freak sends me an unwanted and unsolicited PM, are you saying he is owed anything from me? Wow, that's an interesting concept.

Back to the more interesting board topic here:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18915008/charles-barkley-issues-one-one-challege-lavar-ball