USA TODAY reports that 5-time 2012 Olympic medalist and swimming star, Missy Franklin, could’ve jeopardized her NCAA eligibility by receiving a carepackage from pop superstar, Justin Bieber.
Franklin going down because of Bieber Fever? Never!
Franklin, a Bieber fan through and through, was thrilled when Bieber tweeted her a recorded video message of appreciation for her stunning performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. A massive carepackage followed.
“(Bieber) sent me a huge care package, which was so awesome,” Missy explained on NBC’s Today in August. “I walk home and my mom is so cute; she took everything out and set it out on the table. I had T-shirts and CDs and posters and all that stuff.”
Sadly, perhaps even ridiculously, the NCAA views carepackages from pop stars, like Bieber, something only a pro athlete would receive.
“It was really sweet of him,” Franklin told ESPN’s Wayne Drehs. “But it was considered a form of special treatment that could have jeopardized my amateur status. I’ve given up way too much and sacrificed too much to keep a Justin Bieber T-shirt and lose it all. So I sent it back.”
Franklin has maintained for nearly a year that she will attend and compete at the college level. She has committed to the University of California at Berkely and will continue her powerhouse swimming career under Coach Teri McKeever, the 2012 US Olympic Swimming Team Head Coach.
UPDATED 5:o5pm: On Wednesday USA Today reported that Missy Franklin gave back her Bieber carepackage to preserve her NCAA eligibility. Now (40 minutes ago) they’re reporting that the NCAA is okay with it.
Apparently Bieber gives gifts to fans routinely, thus Franklin wasn’t given special treatment. That’s how USA Today explained it.
So, Bieber Fever is just fine by the NCAA…but I wonder if they’re “fine” because USA Today reported the story, calling them out?
Pretty sure this would have ruined Missy’s Christmas…
http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/63743/horrifying-plot-to-kill-and-castrate-justin-bieber-foiled-by-the-magnetic-pull-of-canada
http://www.swimbrief.net/2012/12/missy-franklin-gives-up-ncaa-eligibility.html
this topic deserves some satire.
Wait, that wasn’t a really story?! ;-/
Sort of a difficult double standard going on. Matt Forte just recently gave a gift of free laptops to an entire football or basketball team. Granted it was an entire team, but it wasn’t every high school ball player in the country, so it is sort of the same. I’m sure some of those players are planning on playing in college. Does that mean they have to decline the gift?
So if I give any potential NCAA athlete a present while he or she is in high school, Ihe kid is committing a NCAA violation?
If Missy’s aunt or uncle or grandparent gives her a gift, Missy is in danger of losing her NCAA eligibility?
THIS IS CLOSE TO THE MOST IDIOTIC THING I HAVE HEARD IN A LONG WHILE.
Good grief!
No, read the article update.
The fact that something as trivial as this is made into a big deal is ridiculous. Knowing that division 1 football players receive thousands of dollars under the table and get degrees that they aren’t intelligent enough to get is a much bigger problem.
You know, who? The NCAA would like to know who is receiving $ under the table. All football players don’t deserve the degrees they receive? CLEARLY you are holding information that is valuable in the fight against the rule breakers…
Thank you JUSTANOPINION for added brilliance to the news.
Well Justin now worst than liking David Cassidy in my day.
I knew she wasn’t perfect, this a big sense of relief knowing that she is not without faults.