Can't say I'm surprised that the opening minutes of the federal college basketball corruption trial included the airing of dirty laundry. Oregon -- Nike's most closely aligned university -- was dragged into the fray by the defense attorney for Adidas executive, Jim Gatto.
It's always been a sneaker war, and it is again here.
The defense isn't arguing that Gatto is innocent of NCAA violations. They're even admitting that he agreed to send $100,000 to the family of a top recruit in exchange for him attending Louisville. But the defense strategy here is clearly one bent on demonstrating that: A) college hoops is dirty all over; and B) an NCAA violation isn't the same as a federal crime.