Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Tuesday 13 augusT 2019

In this April 25, 2018, file photo, NCAA headquarters in India-
napolis is viewed. In this Aug. 25, 2012, file photo, driver Tony Stewart throws his helmet at Matt Kenseth's car after
Associated Press the two collided during a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol,
Tenn.
NCAA amends agent Bristol needs "cage rattling"

rules to no longer

require college degree to spark playoff push

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The developing our process, CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — It there needs to be a whole has certainly harmed at-
NCAA has backtracked on we respect the NBPA's de- was 20 years ago when lot more cage rattling at tendance for the former
new certification standards termination of qualification Dale Earnhardt Sr. spun this stage of the season. bucket list sporting event at
and will no longer require and have amended our Terry Labonte to win a Sat- Bristol, particularly its August a track that marketed itself
a bachelor's degree for a certification criteria." The urday night race at Bristol race around the 0.533-mile as the site of a raging tem-
sports agent to represent NCAA rule permitting play- Motor Speedway. concrete, gladiator-style pest where drivers could
Division I men's basketball ers to obtain an agent yet Earnhardt was chasing oval, was always one of lose their cool and explode
players who declare for the still return to school after the trophy — the playoffs the toughest tickets in NAS- in anger. Jeff Gordon once
NBA draft while maintain- withdrawing from the draft didn't exist, no stages, no CAR and boasted 55 con- shoved Matt Kenseth, Tony
ing college eligibility. was part of recommenda- bonus points — and The secutive sellouts from 1982 Stewart threw a helmet,
The requirement drew criti- tions from the Condoleezza Intimidator simply wanted through 2010. The track ac- middle fingers are the com-
cism last week when the Rice-led Commission on the victory. Labonte had commodated 30,000 fans mon form of communica-
certification standards College Basketball, which squeezed past Earnhardt at the start of the streak, tion and tempers are typi-
were revealed, including was formed in response to to momentarily take the but expanded as most cally at the boiling point.
a social media blast by a federal corruption investi- lead and Earnhardt imme- NASCAR promoters did dur- Of course, fans can ar-
NBA star LeBron James. The gation into the sport. diately spun him out of his ing the 1990s to an obese gue the racing just isn't the
requirement was quickly The change took place last way. 161,000 seats because fans same as it was in 1999 when
dubbed the "Rich Paul August, and the first play- The crowd at the packed were pouring through the Earnhardt used his bumper
Rule" in reference to James' ers to take advantage of Bristol bullring jeered Earn- gates in record numbers at to win a race. First came al-
agent, who does not have the rule did so in the spring. hardt's aggressive move, venues across the country. terations to the Bristol track
a college degree. They were permitted to sign and the seven-time cham- When the 2008 econom- surface. Then drivers be-
The NCAA announced with an agent certified by pion dismissed the criticism. ic crisis began, and fans came scared of upsetting
Monday it would amend the NBPA — which was the "Didn't mean to really turn were no longer willing to a sponsor with bad behav-
the standards so bach- stopgap standard until the him around, meant to rattle pay inflated prices for ho- ior. NASCAR's rules pack-
elor's degrees would not NCAA put together its own his cage, though," said an tels along the Tennessee/ age has since eliminated
be required for agents cur- certification requirements unapologetic Earnhardt. Virginia line, the crowd be- many of the opportunities
rently certified and in good — though they had to ter- Two decades later, there is gan to dwindle. The sellout for the bumping and bang-
standing with the NBA play- minate the deal if they de- so much more on the line streak ended two years ing that made the sport so
ers union. The NCAA had cided to withdraw from the as NASCAR returns to Bris- later, Bristol's great Colise- popular.
said last week it modeled draft and return to school. tol on the anniversary of um has removed roughly Drivers also don't want the
its rules after those of the The amended policy still one of the most famous fin- 20,000 seats since and the drama that comes with a
National Basketball Players requires the agent to be ishes in series history. There track didn't even bother feud. Johnson and Ryan
Association. certified by the NBPA for are only three races left to selling tickets in the turns for Blaney found themselves
"We have been made at least three consecutive make the playoffs and only the spring race in April. In a embroiled in a weeklong
aware of several current years, as well as taking an nine drivers have locked in cruel twist, the Darrell Wal- saga after the two made
agents who have appro- in-person examination, their slots. Jimmie Johnson trip grandstand was closed contact two races ago,
priately represented former going through a back- is on the outside of the top on the same weekend the Johnson felt Blaney showed
student-athletes in their pro- ground check and paying 16, desperately trying to 12-time Bristol winner an- a lack of respect, and
fessional quest and whom required fees. In its release work his way into a chance nounced his retirement as Blaney didn't back down
the (NBPA) has granted last week, the NCAA said to race for a record eighth Fox Sports' longtime ana- from his position. It took a
waivers of its bachelor's agents would pay a $250 championship. lyst. The cost of a weekend conversation over beers to
degree requirement," the application fee and an an- As NASCAR looks back — at Bristol — the get-in price smooth things out between
NCAA said in a statement. nual $1,250 certification fee fondly, no doubt — on that on the track website Mon- the two, but it was a head-
"While specific individuals separate from NBPA certifi- hot summer night show- day was $80 and lodging is ache neither wanted as
were not considered when cation requirements.q down between a pair of typically $300 or more per they jockey for berths in the
Hall of Famers, perhaps night at nearby motels — 16-driver playoff field. q