S04.E08: The Devil You Know

[sjankis630]

This episode opens with Quincy calling Spencer because the NCAA has sent over some lawyer types to his house to question him and his mother. He is worried but Spence says that they are in it together and to tell them to leave and he will fly out.

When Spence lands in Indianapolis to the headquarters of the NCAA he is called by Julian Anderson – his partner - who says that USC threatens to pull the deal that he has cut. He is pissed and tells Spence to get his shit together.

This all sets up this meeting where Spence has to meet the head of the NCAA over these allegations that have been stirred up by Ohio State. (we saw that last week)

Spence walks up and the receptionist guy says they are ready for you Spencer. Spencer says “naw, I actually don’t think they are’”

Spence sits in front of the “team” of NCAA executives.

The NCAA executives offer to engage in some small talk if that would make him more comfortable but Spencer says no because they would be out of his league by becoming very rich men saying a bunch of bullshit that they didn’t mean. They ask him about his relationship with Quincy. He says he is Quincy’s mom’s friend who offers him advice from time to time.

They counter that Spence has broken rules about recruiting out of highschool and he may have broken other laws. They accuse him of playing the race card thinking they are calling his bluff. Spencer goes all in. (sorry about the poker references I don’t even know how to play lol) He finds it funny that the only sports which they are held to these standards are mostly made up of people of color (football and basketball)

The NCAA guys counter with the fact that the Anderson brothers – Spencer’s boys – have a current deal with USC. They accuse Spence of using the kid to make money (being his agent) and even seem to hint that it breaches his financial professional rules.

Spence is not hearing it. He calls them a corrupt organization which has rotted from the inside out and the public is finally starting to catch up but they don’t know half the truth. He accuses them of chewing through 1000s of students a year and promise them an education before passing them on to the pros or discard them if they get injured or don’t fill their financial need.

Spencer tells them that if they don’t stay the fuck away from him and the people he cares about he will drag all of the shit the NCAA has been doing out in front of the cameras for the whole world to see.

 

Charles’ boss is pissed about Ricky’s latest kerfluffle and his racist tweet about hating the “whites”. Charles – in a suit for a change – tells him that he understands but that the team needs Ricky and if he would just give him two days he will get it worked out. His boss reluctantly agrees but wants Ricky gone.

Charles goes to see Ricky at his new house. Ricky gives him the whole look at this view story and how he grew up with nothing. His mother used to cover the windows with trashbags to convince the landlord that they weren’t there to run out on the rent. It was stifling but that is what he knew growing up. He resents the fact that as a man who has worked and accomplished much that he is not allowed to express his true feelings. He earned it. It wasn’t given to him. He is not allowed to complain about injustice. He finally tells Charles that his tweet was about his neighbors the Whites. He tells Charles to do what he has to do, but ask yourself the question, “what are we doing out here?”

 

Joe tries to smooth over the vomit meeting with the Nike guy. The Nike guy says that they are just a group of skate boarders and “nothing special” so he passes on them. (maybe in a couple of years they may have something but no) Joe convinces him to prove him wrong.

Joe invites his two investors – Vernon and Terrell -to put the fear of God into Illegal Civilization. (kind of a way to become more than silent partners)

They roust up the boarders and take them upstairs to the light of day to tell them that Nike is ready to pass because they didn’t impress them. They are fucking off and they – Joe – are going to give them the chance to show everyone what they are made of.

 

Charles calls his wife telling her that he couldn’t tell Ricky he was out because he believes in Ricky’s cause. His wife tells him to do what he needs to do.

 

Joe calls Spencer to tell him that Quincy has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA (they are playing hardball) Joe says “please don’t tell me you took on one of the most corrupt and powerful organizations in all of sports.” He did. Joe tells him to fuck off and Spence tells him he is going to fix it with Quincy and Sports X. Joe asks Spence if he thought of anyone but himself when he decided to get on this personal crusade?

 

When he goes by Quincy’s house Jayna is out front pissed and throws a piece of pie on his front windshield (LOL) Spence has messed up her son’s NCAA future. She says that Quincy told her everything. (I wonder if he told her about the benz?) She thinks all Spence cared out was himself and to stay away from her family and her son. (Oh yeah, and enjoy your slice, you earned it)

 

Joe and the boys show the Nike reps their new video showing them falling, getting busted up trying to do stunts but then overcoming them and persevering. It just looks like the same old skateboarding to me (including the same stunt done by some black dude in a half pipe that the show uses in the opening credits) but it impresses the Nike guys and they clap.

 

Charles goes back to his boss to tell him that he didn’t cut Ricky. His boss in incredulous but Charles tells him it is about more. The new stadium is in Inglewood (always up to no good) and Black people live there. This team has an opportunity to show the city of LA (who represented equal rights since the 1960s) that the team is more than about money. (yeah right)

There is a tide happening in the country and he wants them to be part of if and not swept over by it.

He wants to setup a team sponsored fund which fights inequality in LA and Ricky will be the face of it and fuck the football fans. We need to do what is right. His boss reluctantly agrees and congratulates him for his impressive commitment and passion, but if this blows up then Charles will be the one who takes the fall.

 

The final scene is dual. It shows Ricky shooting up what must be steroids in the bathroom – in his side – I thought that was done in the butt?

Also Spencer goes to see Quincy working out at the high school. Quincy is angry because they trusted him. He heard from Ohio State of what Spencer said and because of that he can’t play for a comunnity college. Spencer tells him it was about his brother who killed himself because he lost eligibility and he is sorry that he fucked up by letting his personal issues cloud his judgement and Quincy’s career.

Spence is going to leave him and his mother alone. Before he leaves Quincy tells him he almost had them though and throws the football to Spence and asks him what he is going to do.

Spence says : fuck them, I am going to take the NCAA down bit by bit.

Edited October 1, 2018 by sjankis630

[lampwick]

Great, thorough recap.  Sadly, it seems that no one is here to read it?  I appreciate your efforts!

[TV Diva Queen]

I read it, and I concur....good job.  

[cork dork]

Chiming in late with props for the thorough recaps. You’re doing a great job with them. 

Having spent several years working in the administration office of an NFL team and then the football division of a national sports agency immediately thereafter, the speed with which I was sucked in to this show was immediate. 

It’s continuing to show things that are typically kept behind closed doors and/or among those involved, including private parties where athletes are brought in to schmooze and pose for pictures. 

The notion of high school athletes being paid “discreetly” was whispered about, but no one would do it wink wink because that’s silly. 

Similarly, there are teams of people working with an agent and/or lawyer to craft wildly creative deals to maintain eligibility of some collegiate athletes as part of the recruitment process that’s basically persuading an athlete to sign on as your client.

I’m really curious to see where they take the storyline of college athletes being paid legitimately and how it’ll all play out.

Time will tell if there’s an agenda to get life to imitate art or if it’s art simply paving the way for real life acceptance of a change in the process of being negotiated.