FIFA Fraud- Will This Change Things?

          As any fan of the movie The Untouchables can tell you, the way Eliot Ness finally brought Al Capone down was on a tax fraud and evasion charge.  While it wasn't the most illegal thing that Capone had done wrong, it was a surefire way to put him behind bars, thus ending his reign as the king of Chicago crime.  Now, almost a century later, the same tactics are being used by the United States government.  However, Chicago is no longer the venue.  Instead, it is Switzerland, and playing the role of organized crime is FIFA.

          The United States Department of Justice has decided to press racketeering, bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering charges on a number of FIFA officials for, as US Attorney General Loretta Lynch says, over two decades.  Lynch specifically singled out officials from FIFA, CONCACAF (the governing body of North American, Central American, and Caribbean soccer, including the United States), and CONMEBOL (the governing body of South America) in this sting, and said that over $150 million a piece had been made by some of these corrupt individuals through their illegal activities.  One even requested a knighthood in exchange for his vote.  It is a case that could shake the very foundations of FIFA and international soccer to its core.  The question, however, is this- Will it have enough of an impact to make any real difference?

          While Eliot Ness went after the head of crime, the USDOJ has gone after some in high ranking positions, but not the main guy.  This is probably because the DOJ's jurisdiction is limited.  It may also be because FIFA head Sepp Blatter, widely rumored to be the most corrupt official in an extremely corrupt organization, cannot be directly tied to anything.  He even went as far as to say that today he welcomed the investigation and says misconduct has no place in his sport.  If Blatter cannot be linked to the widespread fraud involved in FIFA, then surely it happening on his watch would be enough to make sure he isn't re-elected in a vote currently scheduled for next week, right?  Even that may not be the case.  Chicago Tribune columnist Phillip Hersh believes that the only way to make any kind of real change and take out Blatter is to have major international sponsors pull their support and their money.  Hersh's view is probably the correct one, and since a major sports outfitter is currently tied in with these charges, having used bribery to gain exclusive rights to dress the Brazilian national team (hi, Nike), that money could dry up quick.

          If the money goes away, and if Blatter is ousted, the first question I would have is about the 2022 World Cup.  FIFA insists that it will go on as planned in Qatar, despite allegations of bribery and corruption by officials to bring the tournament to such a ludicrously inhospitable environment for the sport. Furthermore, why give the massive international event to a country whose team has never qualified for the tournament in the first place?  Even these nonsensical actions cannot be considered the worst part.  My main concern is how Blatter and FIFA continues to support a country that is relying on slave labor and heinous working conditions in order to construct its stadiums.  Numerous workers have already died, and one report suggests that the death toll could reach over 4,000 by 2022.  

          FIFA is actively supporting a country that condones slavery.  They are actively supporting a country that endorses antisemitism, racism, and homophobia on a massive level, all while launching a campaign that calls for the end of discrimination within the sport.  It is a hypocritical position, and only makes sense when you hear these chargers of corruption and bribery.  The Qatar World Cup goes against everything that FIFA says they represent, but goes along with everything this DOJ case shows they truly are.  I hope that this case will change things.  I hope that the beautiful game won't be veiled by ugly corruption for another decade.  I hope that this case is just the first in many dominos that will clean up FIFA top to bottom.  

Fraud charges brought down Al Capone.  Is it enough to bring down Blatter?

The Legend of 44: Did Syracuse Make a Mistake?

       Yesterday, my Alma Mater, Syracuse University, announced that it would be un-retiring the football jersey number 44.  44 has been retired for a decade, and represents the greatest of Syracuse football history.  Jim Brown, the greatest football player of all time, wore it.  Floyd Little, a NCAA and NFL Hall of Famer wore it.  Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner, wore it.  It is the number that defines excellence in central New York.  Hell, it is even part of the school's official zip code, 13244.  So the question is, then, why are they bringing it back?

       Well, Floyd Little thinks it is a great idea.  He has been on board with this idea for a while.  He even thinks that his grandson Blaze Jones (a perfect running back name) will attend Syracuse in a couple of years and earn the chance to wear the famed number.  Many fans think bringing the number back is exactly what the team and the program needs.  Let's face it: Cuse has been mediocre at best for most of the past decade.  When I arrived on campus in 2004, I expected some big things from the football team.  We went 6-6, lost our bowl game 51-14, fired our coach, hired Greg Robinson.  Robinson then went 5-37 over the next four seasons, including the only two double-digit loss seasons in the school's history.  We sucked.  Doug Marrone and Scott Shafer have allowed to (mostly) recover from that dark period, but we still max out at 6 or 7 wins.  The pro-restore feeling is that bringing 44 back will remind the players what an excellent program this once was, and motivate them to bring it back.
       There are some former players, however, that don't agree with that sentiment.  Donovan McNabb is the leader of that group.  He called the move disrespectful, and thinks it is a mistake.  Syracuse.com writer Bud Poliquin tends to agree, saying that making the number a perk instead of honoring its legacy is a mistake.  So what do I think?
       I don't have an issue with bringing such a hallowed number back into play for the team.  It is entirely possible that Syracuse will regain some of its former greatness on the football field in the future.  Added revenue from the ACC, upgrades to the practice facilities, and stronger recruiting could bring a forlorn program back to prominence.  We may have even found the first player worthy of wearing it in 2016 RB commit Robert Washington, a 4-star recruit who (unfathomably) chose Syracuse over the likes of Alabama, Michigan, and Florida.  He even understands and appreciates what the number means to the entire Syracuse community.  So I say let Washington wear it... if he earns it.
       Look, there is no bigger supporter of Syracuse then I am, but right now we are not a program worthy of having that number.  We do not have a single player worthy of that number.  Last year, we went 3-9 and didn't have a player drafted for just the 2nd time in 50 years.  That isn't a high point.  Could this be the jolt the program needs?  I think it could be.  Yet it is still way too early to tell.  If Washington comes in, runs for 1,000 yards, and gets us to a bowl game, then he is worthy.  Until then, let's make sure 44 isn't just given away because it can be.  There is a legacy there greater than anything this program has seen in 20 years.  We can't tarnish that.
       And hey, we always have the number 39 to give out.  If it was good enough for Walter Reyes and Larry Csonka, it should be good enough for a freshman.