snp
12/6/2006, 10:57 PM
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16171626.htm
A Lakeland High School football player is under investigation for allegedly accepting gifts that could violate rules of amateurism, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Chris Rainey, Lakeland's star senior running back, told The Miami Herald he received sports jerseys and jewelry from a Lakeland clothing vendor in exchange for an autograph. He also said he received cash from an unknown elderly woman.
''I didn't even count it,'' Rainey said in a story published Tuesday. ``When I walk around, people are buying me food, giving me money. I'm like, damn, I'm glad I'm Chris Rainey. It's real nice to be me.''
Efforts to reach Rainey for additional comment later Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Bylaw 11.9.1 of the FHSAA rules handbook states that ``a student may not participate in an athletic activity of the Association unless he/she is an amateur. A student who has accepted remuneration, gift or donation for participation in a sport is . . . thereafter disqualified for further participation in that sport in high school for a period of one year.''
Lakeland (14-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation in some polls, plays Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1) on Friday at Dolphin Stadium in the FHSAA's Class 5A state championship. Lakeland is a two-time defending Class 5A state champion.
FHSAA Commissioner John Stewart contacted Miami Herald Executive Sports Editor Jorge Rojas on Tuesday morning to verify the authenticity of the quote attributed to Rainey.
''We stand by the reporting in the story,'' Rojas said. ``It's all on tape.''
In a letter sent to The Miami Herald, Stewart said, `This office is notifying Lakeland High School that the FHSAA is beginning a formal investigation into this matter.''
He later said, ``We're looking at it and talking to Lakeland people to see what is going on. . . . We have to prove that [Rainey] accepted gifts. It's going to be his word against the reporter's.''
Lakeland Athletic Director Sid Kimbrell confirmed Tuesday that the FHSAA contacted Lakeland about possible rules violations.
''We're looking into it and that's all the comment I want to make on it,'' Kimbrell said.
The audio is on the page. I kinda feel bad for the kid since it seems like he didn't even realize what he was doing illegal. I'm not sure how his coaches haven't warned him about this, but that reporter just kept egging him on.
It'll be kinda sad if he loses his eligibility over this.
A Lakeland High School football player is under investigation for allegedly accepting gifts that could violate rules of amateurism, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association.
Chris Rainey, Lakeland's star senior running back, told The Miami Herald he received sports jerseys and jewelry from a Lakeland clothing vendor in exchange for an autograph. He also said he received cash from an unknown elderly woman.
''I didn't even count it,'' Rainey said in a story published Tuesday. ``When I walk around, people are buying me food, giving me money. I'm like, damn, I'm glad I'm Chris Rainey. It's real nice to be me.''
Efforts to reach Rainey for additional comment later Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Bylaw 11.9.1 of the FHSAA rules handbook states that ``a student may not participate in an athletic activity of the Association unless he/she is an amateur. A student who has accepted remuneration, gift or donation for participation in a sport is . . . thereafter disqualified for further participation in that sport in high school for a period of one year.''
Lakeland (14-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation in some polls, plays Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1) on Friday at Dolphin Stadium in the FHSAA's Class 5A state championship. Lakeland is a two-time defending Class 5A state champion.
FHSAA Commissioner John Stewart contacted Miami Herald Executive Sports Editor Jorge Rojas on Tuesday morning to verify the authenticity of the quote attributed to Rainey.
''We stand by the reporting in the story,'' Rojas said. ``It's all on tape.''
In a letter sent to The Miami Herald, Stewart said, `This office is notifying Lakeland High School that the FHSAA is beginning a formal investigation into this matter.''
He later said, ``We're looking at it and talking to Lakeland people to see what is going on. . . . We have to prove that [Rainey] accepted gifts. It's going to be his word against the reporter's.''
Lakeland Athletic Director Sid Kimbrell confirmed Tuesday that the FHSAA contacted Lakeland about possible rules violations.
''We're looking into it and that's all the comment I want to make on it,'' Kimbrell said.
The audio is on the page. I kinda feel bad for the kid since it seems like he didn't even realize what he was doing illegal. I'm not sure how his coaches haven't warned him about this, but that reporter just kept egging him on.
It'll be kinda sad if he loses his eligibility over this.