Last Spring, Louisville’s Kevin Ware was America’s poster boy after suffering a gruesome leg injury in the NCAA Tournament. Ware gained notoriety after the injury and even did a guest appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Basketball fans could not watch one minute of action in Louisville’s two Final Four games without the camera panning over to facial expressions of Kevin Ware’s face. Louisville went on to win their first national championship since 1986 and everything seemed to wrap up a Hollywood-type ending as Ware went through a long recovery before returning to the Cardinals just last week.
Well, that dream story seems to have a new twist.
On Oct. 26, Kevin Ware was cited for reckless driving in Barren County when the 2013 Dodge Challenger he was driving was pulled over for doing 95 mph in a 55 mph zone. No media sources captured the story until Ware was cited for not appearing for his court date. When WHAS11 out of Louisville asked Louisville Head Coach, Rick Pitino about the situation, Pitino said “I was not aware and that is his business. That has nothing to do with basketball. Parking tickets, speeding tickets, I don’t encourage getting either one and I’ll talk to him about it. It’s the first of my knowledge of it. Why he missed the date I have no idea. I’m not concerned”
Not concerned? Really? The dangers of the situation are obvious. It should be a major concern for a coach and not appearing for a court appearance isn’t some ‘small deal.’ Such an act has legal repercussions and has a lot to do with someone’s character. But the major question is, whose car was Kevin Ware driving?
The plates on the police report (which CBSSports published here) came back as being co-owned by Matt Case and his mother. According to sources, Case is a co-owner of Eventris and the J Wagner Group, marketing companies — who, according to their website — specialize in full service event planning, marketing, and promotions.
On their list of clients is the University of Louisville Alumni Association, which can be seen here. Case has since deleted his twitter but you can still see an image of a search for his twitter page where he identifies himself as co-owner here.
According to the NCAA’s website and their Rules Compliance page, the role of a booster is anyone that
• Participated in or has been a member of an organization promoting the university’s athletics programs.
• Been involved otherwise in promoting university athletics.
The page goes on to list specific examples of impermissible extra benefits for enrolled student athletes. Here is this little gem.
• Transportation, payment of expense or loan of any automobile.
That seems pretty clear. The NCAA is currently caught up in the investigation of North Carolina’s P.J. Hairston, regarding transportation after being charged with reckless driving last summer while driving a rental car, rented out by convicted felon, Haydn ‘Fats’ Thomas. Will that investigation effect this Ware situation? Who knows. But this definitely doesn’t pass the ‘smell test.’
The NCAA, who has faced public scrutiny as of late, is definitely going to be watched closely with how this is handled. There seems to be no consistency with how violations and punishments are viewed. If Ware’s situation isn’t even investigated, it will be even further proof of how broken the system has become.
Joshua Caudill is a writer for CraveOnline Sports, a college basketball guru, a surfing enthusiast, and an expert on all things Patrick Swayze. You can follow him @JoshuaCaudill85 or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
