The cops are crashing the Fiesta.

April 1, 2011 12:42 AM

A long investigation into the Fiesta Bowl has produced a long and damning report (link goes to long PDF) detailing a culture of corruption under CEO John Junker. The report details gifts given to lawmakers, college administrators and others to help boost the bowl's stature in college football.

Among the most egregious violations concerns the practice of the bowl directing employees to make political contributions, and then reimbursing the employees, a blatant violation of campaign finance laws and regulations regarding non-profit organizations. The political fallout is spreading fast and may end up rivaling the upheaval from the AzScam scandal.

Meanwhile, the Bowl Championship Series organization has announced that the Fiesta Bowl may be in jeopardy of losing its spot among the BCS bowls, but has softened its stance a little amid reports that top BCS officials were among the recipients of Fiesta Bowl gifts. BCS critics are arguing that this shows the systemic corruption present in the bowl system. Proponents of a playoff are likely going to use the report and ensuing investigations as ammunition in their battle to scrap the BCS.

The report is likely to unleash a chain reaction of investigations and indictments. The NCAA is feeling pressure to investigate the entire bowl system, and they suddenly have even bigger problems on their plate. State governments will probably probe individual bowls, and Congress may decide to insert itself into the fray. With possible felonies committed, criminal cases linked to the scandal could keep this in the news for quite some time.

posted by azpenguin (18 comments total)

Tostitos brand corn chips, however, being Holy creatures, are blameless and had nothing to do with any of these shenanigans.
posted by inturnaround at 12:45 AM on April 1, 2011

Corruption in college football, you say? Reaching into the highest ranks of the BCS, you say? I'm shocked. Shocked. This is me, being shocked. Displaying my shocked face. At this shocking turn of events.

PLAYOFFS NOW OR GTFO.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 1:02 AM on April 1, 2011 [9 favorites]

While we're being shocked, I'm shocked--shocked to find gambling going on in this establishment.

If we can't trust the purity and the sanctity of the NCAA, what is left to us?
posted by Earthtopus at 2:05 AM on April 1, 2011

What's next, paying athletes to play? Et tu, Cameron?
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 2:41 AM on April 1, 2011

The NCAA is feeling pressure to investigate the entire bowl system...
Heh.
Hehehehe...heee....Ha...HA...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!! *gasp* HAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA...Ha...hehehe...heeeee....

Whew!

Heh. Tell another one.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:16 AM on April 1, 2011

I hope the investigation identifies whoever thought putting uranium in the red glaze on the Fiesta bowl was a good idea!
posted by kcds at 4:20 AM on April 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

"The NCAA is feeling pressure to investigate the entire bowl system"

*checks date*

Oh you had me goin for a sec!
posted by Cyclopsis Raptor at 5:13 AM on April 1, 2011 [2 favorites]

No matter what happens, the 1987 Fiesta Bowl is still the best college football game ever.
posted by octothorpe at 5:54 AM on April 1, 2011 [2 favorites]

April Fools!!!
posted by spicynuts at 6:49 AM on April 1, 2011

So it's fraud all the way from the top, just like everyone already knew? Right, so why can't the kids get a cut of the fruits of their labor, and why do we still pretend to care about violations of the NCAA's absurd and selfserving rules?
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:05 AM on April 1, 2011

Like the guys at espn's page 2 podcast say, If the BSC is after you for corruption you have truly done something to the bar in some direction.
posted by Trochanter at 9:00 AM on April 1, 2011

Or as they also said, regarding doing business at strip clubs:

"Excuse me, miss. You're getting body glitter on my prospectus."
posted by Trochanter at 9:02 AM on April 1, 2011

Corruption and malfeasance happening someplace in the Phoenix metroplex?

I can't even summon up a surprised face for that.
posted by hippybear at 9:33 AM on April 1, 2011

Haha... we've been in the news waaaay too much lately.
posted by ph00dz at 9:35 AM on April 1, 2011

Oh god oh please don't let this effect the Apple Bowl.
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 10:01 AM on April 1, 2011

No matter what happens, the 1987 Fiesta Bowl is still the best college football game ever.

I dunno, 2007 was a good year too
posted by bodaciousllama at 11:54 AM on April 1, 2011

azpenguin: "With possible felonies committed, criminal cases linked to the scandal could keep this in the news for quite some time."

I don't believe that for a microsecond. This will all be shoved under the rug in no time.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:10 PM on April 8, 2011

Chrysostom, perhaps the football part of this may end up getting swept under the rug, but there's also a political side to this. Arizona was due for another major scandal at the state legislature (we have one every ten years or so, and it's time) and then this comes along, right on cue. There's at least a few political careers that are going to be toast because of this. It's just how this screwed up state of ours rolls.
posted by azpenguin at 10:10 PM on April 9, 2011