James Carlson, Topeka Capital-Journal: A free loan of an estimated $15,000 in exercise equipment is at the center of the investigation into the alleged blackmail of Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins. William Dent, who was dismissed in 2007 from his job as director of sports medicine at Kansas, acknowledged he was the person threatening his former boss. Dent, who arranged for Perkins to get the free equipment in 2005, said he viewed the transaction as unethical because Mark Glass, whose company provided the equipment to Perkins, was given a basketball ticket upgrade to premium seats by Perkins. Glass denied the claim and Perkins' attorney had no comment.
Bob Lowry, Huntsville Times: A Birmingham man who wants Alabama legislators to give their free Iron Bowl tickets to charity has taken his message to YouTube. In a nine-minute video clip, Jim Metrock, president of Obligation, Inc., said he plans to make the free tickets a campaign issue for incumbent lawmakers and their challengers.
George Schroeder, Eugene Register-Guard: In an effort to bring more visibility to the league, the Pacific 10 Conference plans to have its football coaches go on a barnstorming tour in late July. It will begin in New York, where coaches will meet with major media outlets. The next day the festivities will move to Bristol, Conn., home of ESPN, for more interviews and exposure. The coaches will then fly back to Los Angeles on a charter for the traditional Pac-10 media day.
Brad Rock, Deseret News: Inviting Boise State to join the Mountain West is the smart thing to do, but it won't help the league gain entrance into the Bowl Championship Series. That's going to take an act of Congress.
John Adams, Knoxville News Sentinel: If the Southeastern Conference aspires to super status, then its course is simple: Go after Oklahoma and Texas. With the Sooners and Longhorns in the SEC, the conference would have more elite football programs than any other two conferences combined.
