Gary Parrish had an interesting story today about an incoming Tennessee recruit named Renaldo Woolridge, a 6’8 top 100 power forward from Southern California who has an impressive bloodline – his dad happens to be former Notre Dame All-American (1981) and longtime NBA journeyman, Orlando Woolridge.
(photo credit: MySpace)
The story goes into considerable detail as to the younger Woolridge’s burgeoning rap career, replete with the obligatory MySpace page and stage-friendly moniker, The Answer aka Swiperboy. And yeah, we agree with Parrish when he says that it’s obvious after listening to the tracks that this kid has a little more talent than your average hoopster/rapper wannabe.
What really piqued our interest, though, was when we listened to the song, “Baller Vol,” which quite clearly pays homage to Woolridge’s new school and teammates (listen below). We may not have caught them all, but we heard players Scotty Hopson, Wayne Chism, Tyler Smith, JP Prince and coach Bruce Pearl mentioned.
Not to be a total wet blanket here, because this seems like just a kid having some fun – Woolridge even mentioned that UT may use his track for player introductions this year – but how is this not an NCAA violation? Wouldn’t Wooldridge’s production company, Swiperboyz Entertainment, be considered a commercial enterprise? And if so, aren’t there fairly explicit rules as to the limitations or usage of the university’s logo and likeness? For example, look at Rule 12.5.1.3(c) from the NCAA Rules & Regulations:
But on Woolridge’s MySpace site, it’s obvious that he’s a Vol and even includes a conspicuous image of him flexing while wearing a UT jersey.
(ed. note – this picture has since been removed from Woolridge’s MySpace page. Coincidence? photo credit: MySpace)
And what about the shout-outs to all of his current teammates on the song? Per Rule 12.5.2.2, did Woolridge get express permission to use their names on his product, and if not, does it matter that UT probably hasn’t taken steps to remediate that likely omission?
Given what we wrote last week about the NCAA’s worthless investigative arm, none of this probably matters because there are bigger fish for the brass to fry at Prairie View and UC Davis, but coming from someone who remembers how Indiana’s Steve Alford found himself in hot water for simply doing a charity calendar photo two decades ago, we have to wonder how all of Woolridge’s UT-centric rapping reconciles with the NCAA’s rulebook.
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1 2 3 Next »Last year, Ramel Bradley of Kentucky was forced to cancel a planned rap performance due to concerns that his status as a UK basketball player was being used to draw attention to his music and would constitute a NCAA violation.
Seems like Compliance is a little less important in Tennessee
Biff, maybe someone from UK's basketball program can let UT know just how important NCAA compliance is. And how not adhering to NCAA rules can land your program on probation for three years, banned from post-season for two years, and banned from live TV for a year.
Is Eddie Sutton available anytime soon?
Nah! UT knows that it is allowed to cheat (see Tee Martin's free truck with no response from the NCAA) just like USC and Reggie Bush's free home for his parents and again no NCAA violation.
Nevermind.
Woolridge is not being paid for any of this and there are no ties to him being a vol on his page. Its simply him rapping for fun. You can check the page and see. Give him a break.
Give me a break...
The kid's multi-talented - what is the NCAA to tell him what talents he can/can't use? Bobby Maze has a rap video too, is that illegal??
please, I would even argue if the NCAA does anything it's violating his freedom of speech...
Don't you guys know.....It's not WHAT you know but WHO you know. And as long as you are a media darling and garnering mass cash for the NCAA you can go right ahead and do yo thang!!! Yeah boyyyzzzzz!!!!!
haters love living in the past. i can live in the past too. it's called countless national and conference championships and the dominance of a conference you or your team will never know.
Matthew - did you miss the photo of Woolridge on his MySpace page standing in a UT jersey?
Wow someone seriously needs to get a life. Did you really spend this much time over a kid rapping??? Wow so sad.
lmao