Leading off today: The whining has begun in the aftermath of significant NCAA rules changes aimed at prep-school basketball factories.

   The Washington Post wrote about the issue this week and found plenty of players and coaches who think that the new rules are too tough and/or poorly publicized.

   My take on it: Get your high school diploma in four years like the vast majority of high school graduates do it and you won't have to worry about rules that crack down on prep schools.

   If that isn't possible, at least come close enough to graduating so that some minor catch-up work at a prep school makes you eligible to play at a four-year school. And if that isn't possible, then I've got two words for you: junior college.

   But, no matter which path you take, ease up on the whining. The tone and volume of complaints makes it sound as though critics think school is getting in the way of basketball when in fact the more likely problem is that basketball has been interfering with school work for too many semesters.

   The new NCAA rules give athletes beginning ninth grade four years to meet the core academic course standards if they want to be eligible to play in college. After that, they may take only one additional core course at any high school or prep school recognized by the NCAA. Beginning in 2008, recruits will need to pass 16 core courses instead of 14.

   The changes were in part inspired by newspaper investigations into "diploma mills," shady schools operating with little or no genuine academic structure. Players were using those "schools" to boost transcripts, turning failing grades into A's and B's. As a result, the NCAA decided it would not accept transcripts from at least 15 schools because of irregularities.

   The problem, the article says, is that many high school

players are unaware of the changes and assume that they still have what amounts to a fifth year to beef up their transcripts. Beginning Aug. 1, players who need more than four years to fulfill their core-course requirements must apply for a waiver to be eligible to play college athletics.

   "They will understand in a year or two when one of their friends get messed over because the rule affected them," Clark Francis, editor of Hoop Scoop, told the newspaper.

   Mike Chrystie update: Yes, I know we're down to the last few days of the school year. But I'm dishing out some mandatory homework to our loyal readers:

   Take a moment to drop a line to Mike Chrystie and his wife to show them some support.

   Chrystie was an oustanding football player for Oxford (Section 4) from 1997 to 2000, and his name still dots the state record book. He was the NYSSWA's Class D co-player of the year as a senior running back/kicker, then went on to a career at Colgate.

   A little more than three months ago, Chrystie, a teacher in the Windsor school district, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease (Lymphoma). He quickly began undergoing chemotheraphy (seven treatments thus far) but has managed to spend some time in the classroom this spring and even got out to some Oxford sporting events recently.

   Chrystie and his fiancee Missy moved up their wedding to the middle of last month, and his medical prognosis is encouraging.

   That's where you come in. Missy has set up a blog on CarePages.com to help friends keep updated on what's going on.

   I'm sure it would be a big boost to the family if you went to the site (after a brief registration process, use "MikeChrystie" when you're asked for the Carepage name) and left a few words of support.

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