Ahhhhh recruiting

We aren't aware we've been living in a cave or bunker (not that some readers here don't think we do or wish we did) but this line in a Dayton Morinaga/Honolulu Advertiser article about Hawaii's Hiram Thompson just astounded us.

"...While Thompson was on his mission, several other basketball programs — including Brigham Young — inquired about his services..."

Whoa! Thompson wasn't necessarily property of Hawaii but certainly was still considered a signed and sealed member of Bob Nash's team and had an agreement/understanding that he would return upon the completion of his religious mission and pick his athletic scholarship right back up.

So why were other schools talking with him? Why did they call? Did they have permission from Hawaii/Bob Nash to do so? Isn't what took place part of poaching -- at the very least a prelude to such?

Granted there were other D-1 coaches involved in checking out Thompson's commitment level (shame on them) but just what was Dave Rose and BYU doing in this mix? Sure, coaches face win-or-else outcomes and college basketball is dominated by big business elements but being in the employ of a school connected to a religion that mandates ethical behavior implies that it's employees live and act on the straight-and-narrow.

And 'feeling out' players on other teams is not doing so.

Now some will say PTW needs to wake up to the reality of college basketball and climb off our high horses.

Our response: we are well aware of the shady offers, the illegal actions and the wink-wink situations that occur throughout college sports. Such isn't news and shouldn't surprise anyone. We also want to point out there certainly are those college coaches who are role models -- who recruit right, teach right, coach right, etc. What bothers us is that there are certain lines that shouldn't be crossed and many of these situations don't require an enormous cord of moral fiber. Reaching out to an accounted-for student-athlete is one we have in mind -- how difficult a temptation is that to avoid? Is there no honor among these proverbial thieves? Apparently not with those college coaches who deem their behavior necessary for their survival even if they would not want their children to emulate them.

Abraham Maslow rules!

Anyone got a cave for rent? A bunker to share?