A Solid Explanation Of What Happened In The Adidas Scandal

The Oregonian has a long and interesting piece up about TJ Gassnola and how, despite multiple red flags, he managed to get Adidas to fund him as he wheeled and dealed to get high school talent to Adidas schools.

It’s worth remembering that the Oregonian is in Portland which is basically Ground Zero for Nike. We’re not suggesting anything but Nike is a huge presence there.

Meanwhile, in Lawrence, Kansas, The Jayhawks are still furious about the Silvio DeSousa resolution - he’s been banned for two years - and vow to fight on.

Bill Self says it’s now about fairness so how’s this for fairness? The grownups, including Gassnola, former Adidas exec Jim Gatto, the Kansas staff and possibly DeSousa’s guardian who knew it was against NCAA rules to take money even though he says it all went to a church (apparently $20,000 more was on the way when arrests started to happen), pay the price and let the kid, who apparently was unaware of all the ways he was being manipulated, transfer somewhere else and have three years left.

As far as we can tell DeSousa, whose talent has been bought and sold, is entirely innocent. Punish Kansas if you must by letting him leave with no restrictions. That’s the most fair outcome.