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Day Two Of The Adidas Trials

In order to win acquittal, the defense is going to have to burn a lot of people in the college basketball world

Defendants Appear In Court Amid Charges Of NCAA Basketball Fraud And Corruption
Former Clemson basketball player Merl Code is a key figure in the federal trial that alleges fraud in NCAA basketball recruiting.
Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Day Two of the first Adidas scandal trials saw a continuation of the first day’s strategy, which is to argue that James Gatto and associates broke NCAA rules but defrauded no institution since the coaches were in league with them.

There weren’t as many bombshells, but the testimony of one Munish Sood proved interesting.

Sood, a financial adviser, also acted as a bag man for cash payments to players and/or families. A recording showed him uncomfortable making a large cash transaction in a parking lot. Well duh. That’s risky.

We also learned that if a player - say Silvio DeSousa to pick a name that’s in play - took money from one shoe company then took more from another, that the losing company would just have to take it.

Somewhere the mafia is shaking its collective head.

When we read about Sood’s testimony, the immediate question we had was not just about Sood but all parties who were moving money around and making large cash payments...did they keep honest books? The Feds obviously have the answer already. We’re just wondering.

Coming up soon: Brian Bowen’s father, who was given immunity, will take the stand.