re: Congress getting in on the basketball investigations

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As much as folks want to blame the NCAA, they don't want to give them the powers to actually police this on a scale that would have to happen and even if NCAA powers were expanded, they'd have no authority of the AAU circuit and the apparel makers that have corrupted basketball so much. If the Feds, congress, or anyone else want college basketball cleaned up to an acceptable level it starts by taking aim at AAU and the apparel makers and that's an area where the NCAA has zero authority.

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All true, though they can take aim at the universities as beneficiaries. The universities are vital stepping stones for any player who wants to maintain a public profile pending the draft, after all, at least as long the one-and-done rule exists. In essence, they can blackball the recruits and players themselves. Less cooperation from the recruits makes it more difficult for AAU and the apparel makers since these players are both the linchpin and the raison d'etre of the system itself. At least in theory. In practice, they'll all just start being more careful in how they operate.