How misplaced are the NCAA’s priorities? They’re so bad that UCLA actually “investigated” star player Shabazz Muhammad on Friday after it was pointed out that he wears a Gucci backpack. Seriously.
Muhammad, who is a freshman and one of the top players in the country, had 23 points in the Bruins’ 84-73 win over Arizona in Tucson on Thursday. Yahoo! Sports’ Pat Forde wrote a column about Muhammad leading the win and made the Gucci backpack a central focus of his writing. He spent a few paragraphs pointing out how Gucci backpacks generally cost at least $1,000, which is quite a sum for a college student.
Forde’s column resulted in UCLA actually looking into the backpack, which, for all anyone knows, could have been a $20 knockoff.
“The UCLA Athletics Compliance Office has confirmed that men’s basketball players Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson (who also had a designer model backpack) received items in question as gifts from their respective families, and the matter is closed,” UCLA’s athletic department said in a statement.
Muhammad’s sister, Asia, took particular offense to Forde’s column. She tweeted directly at Forde several times to express her displeasure with him making that the focus of his column.
“I read your condescending remark about [Shabazz] leaving with a Gucci backpack after beating Arizona. That was a birthday gift from myself (his sister) and his mother. I have the original receipt if you need to verify that. [Shabazz] doesn’t need anything from anyone except his family. I understand you’re a very distinguished writer, congrats on that, but you’re barking up the wrong tree on this one.”
You can see her tweets below:
@yahooforde I read your condescending remark about @phenom15balla leaving with a Gucci backpack after beating Arizona. That was a birthday..
— Asia Muhammad (@asiamuhammad) January 25, 2013
@yahooforde gift from myself (his sister) and his mother. I have the original receipt if you need to verify that. @phenom15balla doesn’t
— Asia Muhammad (@asiamuhammad) January 25, 2013
@yahooforde need anything from anyone except his family. I understand you’re a very distinguished writer, congrats on that.
— Asia Muhammad (@asiamuhammad) January 25, 2013
@yahooforde but you’re barking up the wrong tree on this one.
— Asia Muhammad (@asiamuhammad) January 25, 2013
Asia, 21, is actually a professional tennis player, though she is only ranked No. 408 in singles and No. 186 in doubles.
Shabazz was suspended the first three games of the season and repaid $1,600 in impermissible benefits he allegedly accepted prior to attending UCLA.
