Author Archives: Kent Sterling

Michael Avenatti busted as he attempts to extort Nike out of $20-million

Michael Avenatti is a scarf guy. I don’t trust scarf guys.

Michael Avenatti is not a good guy. When porn stars turn on you, it’s time to re-evaluate priorities

He showed up uninvited in my living room for the first time as he represented porn star Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against Donald Trump. That suit went nowhere, as did Avenati’s 2020 presidential bid.

Daniels fired Avenatti last month for behavior she described as ‘extremely dishonest’. When porn stars turn on you, it’s time to re-evaluate priorities.

Avenatti didn’t, so he ran afoul of the law..

This afternoon, Avenati was arrested, charged with extortion, and bank and wire fraud for his role in an attempt to lever between $16.5 and $26.5 million out of Nike. Avenati claimed on Twitter that he would release details of more scandalous shoe-related behavior related to college basketball.

Tmrw at 11 am ET, we will be holding a press conference to disclose a major high school/college basketball scandal perpetrated by @Nike that we have uncovered. This criminal conduct reaches the highest levels of Nike and involves some of the biggest names in college basketball.

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 25, 2019

That Avenatti is a miserable excuse of a human being is beyond debate, but if he decides to fire his bullet after making bail, there could still be a headline out of this sordid affair other than “Idiot self-absorbed attorney busted”.

Click here for a $1 comprehensive dental exam done by the best dentist in Indiana – Dr. Mike O’Neil at Today’s Dentistry

Everyone know how it works – or how it used to work before the whole Gatto/Code/Dawkins unpleasantness. Shoe guy gives basketball player’s family cash – basketball player commits to program sponsored by the shoe company. It was seen as cash finding value – mostly victimless, and mostly not an NCAA issue because the shoe guy and the uncle were clever enough to do it without a paper trail.

Avenatti may never make good on his threat, but if he does it and rats out dozens of coaches, maybe the outcome will be to acknowledge the inanity of the rule book as it exists today. After all, if everyone is cheating equally, is anyone really cheating?

The only logical response to Avenatti talking is paying no attention, but if the details are extra salacious, that’s going to be hard for me.

Avenatti is a douche, but sometimes a douche with a good story is worth 15-minutes of our time.

Did you know Purdue and IU have never both played as late as March 26th during same season?

Breakfast with Kent – Purdue explodes into Sweet 16; Pacers hammers Nuggets; IU rolls into NIT elite 8

Sports, Nothing but Sports – basketball mom loves Izzo; IHSAA hoops preview w/ Osborn, Carlisle, & Shanahan

Tom Izzo unapologetically does exactly the right thing to help freshman Aaron Henry

When Izzo gets mad, people learn. That’s a good thing for a freshman like Aaron Henry.

Tom Izzo screamed at freshman Aaron Henry during yesterday’s win against Bradley, and those who don’t get it are putting Izzo on blast.

Henry is a 19-year-old kid who wasn’t getting back on defense with enough energy, and Izzo let him know in no uncertain terms, that is not acceptable.

ESPN.com’s headline recounting the incident reads, “MSU’s Izzo doesn’t apologize for yelling at Henry.” I’ll take Idiotic Headlines for $600, Alex!

Not only should Izzo not apologize, Henry and his parents should thank Izzo for investing the energy necessary to re-boot Henry’s hard drive and correct a behavior that if left unchecked could cost him millions of dollars.

Click here for a $1 comprehensive dental exam done by the best dentist in Indiana – Dr. Mike O’Neil at Today’s Dentistry

Two things happened yesterday because Izzo screamed at Henry – he became a better player, and he became a better man.

Izzo reminded Henry that he has a responsibility to his teammates, coaches, and university to bust his ass at all times. He did it in a way that has a chance at sticking.

And the best part of the whole deal is that Cassius Winston backed up his coach by taking Izzo’s loud and emotional message, and repeated it in a calm tone so Henry understand both Izzo’s passion and the message.

College students are in a constant state of trying to figure out who they are and how they fit. Yesterday, Henry learned a good deal about both.

Was it difficult in the moment? Of course. Was it hard for Henry’s family to watch? You bet. But last night, Henry went to bed a more mature young man than when he woke up that morning.

That’s Izzo’s job, and he does it as well as anyone in coaching in any sports at any level.

When asked about the incident, Izzo asked his own question, “What’s wrong with challenging a kid that makes some mistakes?”

Damn right.

Breakfast with Kent – Purdue wins; Pacers hammered; IU ready? Izzo does Aaron Henry big favor; Ind HS Finals tomorrow

Sports, Nothing But Sports – Why do we love the NCAA Tournament – I came up with six reasons

Last night, Butler Basketball lost a game and the NIT – not its “Way”

LaVall Jordan is the right guy as coach, the roster will improve, and Butler was very close to very good this year. Three big reasons to believe.

Butler lost to Nebraska last night in the opening round of a tournament the Bulldogs never wanted to play in.

Expectations are higher than that at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler is one of just a few teams to play in and win at least one game during the past four NCAA Tournaments, so a trip to the NIT is seen as a stark step backwards.

Fans are worried this rare losing season is the beginning of slippage they have always worried might happen – as though the Bulldogs success has been little more than a 20 year long run of great luck whose eventual end is certain.

Click here for a $1 comprehensive dental exam done by the best dentist in Indiana – Dr. Mike O’Neil at Today’s Dentistry

Don’t sweat it. Heaters like this don’t happen at the craps table or basketball court. Programs win consistently because of a cultural discipline at its core, and “The Butler Way” is one of the best known – and most successful – in college basketball.

The Bulldogs will be back – and quickly. LaVall Jordan has deep Butler roots, spent four years playing for very successful Butler teams (with three trips to the NCAA Tournament), served as an assistant at Butler and Iowa before joining John Beilein’s staff at Michigan for six years. He’s an effective leader, and a great developer of guards.

Paul Jorgensen and Nate Fowler will graduate, and while they will be missed, fans should be very confident as Kamar Baldwin, Jordan Tucker, Joey Brunk, Aaron Thompson, Sean McDermott, Joey Brunk, Henry Baddley, and others return. Add Khalif Battle and John-Michael Mulloy to the returnees, and that’s a very solid Big East roster.

While finishing in the cellar of the Big East is never good, Butler was only two games out of a tie for third. If the Bulldogs scored just one more point in regulation in what became OT losses to St. John’s and Providence, Butler gets to third. If they hold on to the 10-point lead they choked on during the final four minutes against Xavier, Butler finishes in 3rd by themselves.

The point is that while the results this season were comparatively putrid, the road back to those destinations fans have become accustomed can be short and sweet.

The pieces are in place for Butler to take a step up, and they’ll do that next season.