This topic contains 3 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by Why 14 years, 3 months ago.
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- Posted on: Thu, 12/10/2009 - 7:16am #10952
Forte IVParticipantHow come he hasn’t played a single game yet?
0 - Posted on: Thu, 12/10/2009 - 7:48am #237121
lalailaParticipantyeah what’s new with Sidney? Can’t wait to see him
0 - Posted on: Thu, 12/10/2009 - 8:14am #237145
Eric_GuilleminaultParticipantSidney waits as NCAA continues to investigate
Monday, November 23, 2009
By Andy Katz
EDITOR’S NOTE: On Sunday, Outside the Lines aired a segment on the Renardo Sidney situation. That can viewed by clicking here.
Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury is understandably worried this
week about Renardo Sidney’s capacity to handle the unknown.Every
day, Stansbury said, Sidney comes to practice and asks the same
question: Any word? The answer has been no for quite some time. No word
on his eligibility — and even though it was changed recently to being
"under review" — there is no guarantee that a decision about his
eligibility is forthcoming.Earlier this year, the L.A.
Times reported that there were questions about how the Sidneys, who
moved from Jackson, Miss., to the Los Angeles area, could afford
housing in the area for the two years they lived there. The story
detailed the connections between sneaker sponsorship and Sidney’s
odyssey to Southern California.Sidney’s attorney,
Montgomery, Ala.-based Don Jackson, said the lack of a decision is in
essence a suspension. Mississippi State leaves later in the week for
South Padre Island, Texas. Sidney won’t be able to attend if he’s not
cleared to compete.[+] EnlargeChris WIlliams/Icon SMI
Will Renardo Sidney ever suit up for Mississippi State in a real game? That’s still a mystery.
Sidney’s attitude apparently fluctuates. He isn’t in great shape yet,
because it’s hard for him to push himself to the maximum without
knowing whether he’ll play. The coaching staff has similar feelings
since they can’t count on using him at this juncture. Through a variety
of sources, the school is under the impression that the NCAA hasn’t
found a violation yet to hang the case on. The school is hoping to hear
more early this week, but with the Thanksgiving holiday, this could
drag on into December.Stansbury
said it’s hard to ignore the cloud that is over the program because no
one has an answer. The Bulldogs have been dealing with other issues
recently. Stansbury suspended forward Kodi Augustus
for two games after Augustus publicly questioned Stansbury’s
playing-time decisions after the loss to Rider. The schedule also
starts to get tougher when the Bulldogs play Richmond in South Padre on
Friday.Meanwhile, from a variety of sources with
knowledge of the situation, if no decision occurs then Sidney is
essentially ineligible. The NCAA knows that Mississippi State isn’t
going to run the risk of playing Sidney, even if Jackson were to get a
court injunction. Why? Because if he’s ultimately ruled ineligible, the
Bulldogs would have to vacate games — and it’s not worth doing that.Sources
said that the NCAA legal counsel has been in the loop and it would defy
logic from the NCAA’s standpoint if the organization purposely used
this as a stall tactic to help a legal case that could be forthcoming.
If Sidney were to sue to force an injunction, then the NCAA could use
that lawsuit as a way to use discovery to get some of the information
that it still covets. The case has been completely tossed upside down
with it moving from the enforcement wing to the eligibility center,
which the head of that operation, Bill Saum, has been removed from his
post. This has slowed the case down by forcing others to get involved
who haven’t worked on the case from the outset. The NCAA won’t say
anything about Saum’s departure except that it was a personnel matter.As
for Jackson, he said he continues to provide information. This is the
latest missive of what he has provided (in his own words):1. NCAA Eligibility Center staffer Alex Hammond personally reviewed
deposit records for every family bank account since the family’s move
to California. Notably, bank deposits matched information previously
provided to the NCAA regarding payments from boarders, loans from
family members, payments from Reebok and loan proceeds from a
FDIC-regulated financial institution. NCAA ELIGIBILITY CENTER STAFF ARE
NOW REQUESTING THAT THE SIDNEY FAMILY PROVIDE "RECORDS" TO ESTABLISH
THE SOURCE OF EACH OF THESE DEPOSITS. I was advised by an attorney for
the NCAA that the family should be able to get information from their
bank establishing the source of every check that was deposited into
their accounts. For example, if John Doe wrote Patricia Sidney a check
in 2007, the NCAA Eligiblity Center staff is under the mistaken belief
that the financial insitution should have records containing John Doe’s
name. This is an intentional effort to seek production of records that
are non-existent and is nothing more than an effort to establish a
foundational basis to deny his certification. Records of this nature do
not exist.2.
Canceled checks for every Reebok payroll check and team sponsorship
payment to Renardo Sr. were provided to the NCAA Eligiblity Center
staff. These payments totalled in excess of $200K over a three year
period. Sidney Sr. had specific duties under the terms of his
agreements with Reebok.3. Deposit records for the Dream
Team Foundation and the predecessor foundation (that sponsored the
summer league team) were provided to NCAA Eligibility Center Staff.4. Records documenting team travel expenses, including airline purchases, were provided to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
5. IRS and State of California filings for Dream Team Foundation and predecessor non-profit corporation.
6.
Sponsorship and supply agreement between Reebok and the Dream Team
Foundation. The Dream Team summer league team was coached by Renardo Sr.7.
Bank records outlining ALL payments for travel expenses for the Dream
Team Foundation were provided to the NCAA. This included numerous
airline tickets, hotel and restaurant payments for members of the Dream
Team. This also included identical information for the predecessor
non-profit corporation.8. Notwithstanding the fact that
cellular telephone records were previously produced to NCAA staff, a
demand was made that the Sidney family execute a records release
allowing the NCAA to access additional cellular telephone records for
the Sidney family. This request was made to seek access to EVERY
cellular telephone call that was made by the family over a period of
several years.9. Payment history documenting each
payment made to Renardo, Sr. under his consultant agreement and the
sponsorship and supply agreeement.10. Checkbook register
carbon copies and canceled checks from "boarders who resided in the
Sidney home and contributed to monthly rental payments."Demands have been made that the family provide tax records for Sidney’s
maternal grandmother, maternal grandfather and maternal
step-grandfather. The maternal grandfather is a retired automotive
industry employee who made in the mid-six-figure income range. The
maternal step-grandfather is a deputy sheriff and retired military
serviceman.Jackson said that the NCAA has put the burden of
proof on the Sidney family without giving them a violation to defend.
Why does he say that? Because he’s convinced there are no violations.
It will be interesting to see if the NCAA puts forth a violation or
simply doesn’t make a decision based on the circumstantial evidence.The
Bulldogs aren’t worried about Sidney leaving at the end of the semester
to go overseas since he’s not that marketable at this juncture without
any game competition.0 - Posted on: Thu, 12/10/2009 - 8:52am #237159
WhyParticipantThis guy is a nobody…Mark my words, he’s going to do nothing, especially in the pro’s. Worse attitude from a top recruit in awhile, or so I’ve read
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