Scooch and Go Fund Me
 

There was an article in the paper about this the other day, and in a pre-game interview a few months back Scooch hinted at this venture, but didn't elaborate to much (it sounded like he wanted/needed to stay as mum as possible to avoid potential NCAA sanctions). Anyhoo, Scooch has started a Go Fund Me page... https://www.gofundme.com/my-online-clothing-store in hopes of getting his online clothing retailer going.

Support him if you like, or don't I'm not really posting this to advertise it (I don't plan to donate, not only to him but to any go fund me page), but just the general thoughts on this. For those unaware, LeVar Ball, father of the famous Ball kids has his own online clothing retailer, selling their 3B brand... https://bigballerbrand.com/pages/about-us and I can envision this growing into a huge problem for the NCAA. What is to stop a kid being recruited by Kentucky, Duke and UNC from doing the same as a HS junior, selling one shirt that says simply "Cat Attack", another that says "The Devil made me do it" and a 3rd that says "you're such a Heel" or whatever form of identification you want to use to distinguish b/s multiple schools. In the social media world, it wouldn't take long for word to spread, then the general idea is that the kid is going to pick which ever school's fans buy the most shirts? Or just on the Go Fund Me side, a player spends his 4 years, opens a go fund me, an alum donates $15k to the go fund me and the kid cashes the money but never sets up any type of real business (I'm not exactly sure how Go Fund me works and the money collected is spent)

It just seems like there is a potential avalanche of trouble the NCAA is going to have to investigate, and I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

For the record, I'm not saying Scooch is doing anything shady, nor LaVar Ball, and I wish Scooch nothing but the best in this venture, I just see the potential downside that lays ahead and potential abuse things like this could create. I'm not even sure how you police it, what is to stop the mother and father of a promising 14 year old athlete from setting up the infrastructure for something like this, then using it to cash in on their kids growing fame over the next 4-8+ years of their life? There is nothing illegal to what LaVar Ball has done, in many ways its genius, and he sure does pimp his Big Baller Brand a bunch.

Medford - After reading your post 3 or 4 times....I'm trying to figure out where this is going. I'm baffled.

I'm not trying to take a shot at you or embarrass you but why are you prematurely posting a subject like this? It has the flavor of juicy gossip.

I doubt there are many people on this board (including you and I) who understand the intent of this type of business endeavor and might be mislead...we are potentially the blind-judging-the blind.

He's a bright young guy who we all love who us trying to start some sort of business...let's either support him (assume that he has thought this out and wish him luck),,,rather than potentially embarrass him or offering some ominous warning.

Again...I'm not trying to embarrass you...I just would encourage others from piling onto this subject. IMHO... He is one of the greatest Flyers of All-Time...let's give him the benefit of the doubt. If this is a great opportunity then let's support him.................

I have seen and donated to a few legitimate Go Fund Me Accounts. Examples, both good and bad, donating to cover funeral expenses for a family who lost a couple family members, similar situation establishing a college fund for a very young man who lost his father way too early in life, or recently to help a soldier buy a $2400 plane ticket to fly home from Jordan for a long weekend to hopefully be home for the birth of his first child.

Medford brings up a few great points about the potential train wreck coming as Go Fund Me gains in popularity and its potential impact on college sports and NCAA sanctions. I do believe the Schoochy account, since his playing days are over, should not be scrutinized by the NCAA though, as he was done before the account was set up.

Go Fund Me Accounts for anyone trying to start up or obtain working capital for a business, to me just seems like a bad idea in general, no matter who it is setting up said account. Then again, I could use a new $62K company truck so maybe I should set up one! :)

I understand, Medford, what you are saying. This can be an ugly can of worms for the NCAA Anne recruiting.
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recruits and current student athletes can't profit off a go fund me. After your final season is over it doesn't matter. Kostas couldn't start selling Greek Freak 2 shirts

Lavar Ball if you're interested this is a pretty good article about his situation

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sports...322-story.html

Embarrass me? How? If you can further educate me, I'm all for that, not really sure how you embarrass me. As I said in my original post, I'm not saying that Scooch is doing anything wrong, and I personally wish him a ton of success in this venture. Same thing for LaVar Ball. However, if not for the fame of his 3 kids, I seriously doubt anyone is going to be paying $50 for a mediocre at best (my opinion) looking t-shirt. They're not ugly, but they are nothing special either (again my opinion).

In Scooch's case, his funds have roughly doubled since I posted hits from around $300 up to $530 (ok, so less than doubled). If this post helped, good for him, if that's just the natural flow of a go fund me page that just opened on Monday, then so be it. I didn't post to either advocate for nor against this venture. As I said, he kind of mentioned it on a pregame interview with Nancy Wilson, about a month before the season ended, and it was likely tapped well before then, so this is clearly something he's been thinking/working behind the scenes for a while. To me, it has the feel of complete legitimacy, however there is a post on his go fund me page that says "this is the least I can do for 4 years of entertainment" and another that says "good luck man, its been fun watching you for 4 years". I see huge potential for NCAA issues cropping up as crowd sourcing grows ever more present.

Reading the article that OSU flyer posted, I find myself agreeing with a lot of what LaVar Ball says. I also find myself seeing that NCAA is going to have to deal with this, or something like this or its going to get out of hand. He has 2 high school age kids that are more or less advertising the brand, what is to stop the next HS phenom from doing the same thing, or his mother/father from doing the same thing? Frankly, why should it be illegal? In my mind, this is clearly an issue for the NCAA; I don't know how big, but I don't see it stopping w/ the Ball family. I doubt Scooch is the first, nor the last graduate of college to start a go fund me page that will raise at least a portion of their funds for their startup b/c they played football or basketball somewhere. I don't personally have a problem with that, but I clearly see why the NCAA needs to think about this kind of thing and what kind of impact it will have as we move forward.

In the old days, to start a business you either spent your own money, took out a second mortgage, borrowed from a bank or gathered some investors. Since when has a business model been based on begging?

Genius! or embarrassing?

Or you asked Family and Friends. If you consider Schooch part of your family or a friend, then perhaps help him if you can. Just like people did in the old days to their family and friends. If you do not consider him either, then perhaps check out his line of clothing and consider being a customer.

...to lend you money or invest in your business.

I'll gladly become a Scoochie customer...but first he's supposed to offer me something I want. He's got the whole business model thing bassackwards.

https://www.gofundme.com/my-online-clothing-store

FWIW, he's raised $530 of the $10k he wants.

http://www.thequotepedia.com/images/...fool-quote.jpg

God bless Scoochie for all he did for UD basketball, but IMRO, a couple years in Europe playing basketball should earn him more than enough to start his own business free and clear of anyone else.

Crowd funding is an emerging funding option. The most successful go fund me accounts are for causes that pull at your heart strings. Big Steve's was one of those. There are military and ill children examples as well as others that have greatly helped during crisis. All very worth while.

I doubt Scoochies will be that successful. But that's part of the learning process. Most successful business executives that start companies usually have several failures before they hit it out of the park. Scoochie needs to research the crowd funding sites that offer up investment opportunities. He needs to research offering investors ownership for their investments. He needs to do more research on how to do just that. So maybe he raises $1,000 thru go fund me. He should take that and spend it to talk to a lawyer that knows how to set a company up that has investors who own stock.

I admire his initiative. America needs as many people who put their ideas out there. That takes guts. He can get this done, but he has to understand that he has to stay with it even after a couple false starts.

Good luck and help him out if you are so inclined.

Too many people think they can start a business because they stayed at a Holiday Inn last night. It is not easy, however I admire anyone who tries.

I agree with BeckysTXA points. A good business plan helps attract the proper funding whether GoFundMe or other sources.

I hope Scoochie does well in the next phase of his life.

I think most of those sites you only get the money if you actually reach the goal that you set. Anyone know if this is indeed the case?

LOL. The first time I'd heard of GoFundMe, a guy shorted a penny stock and it cost him $130,000. He wanted help paying it off. Seriously was looking for sympathy from people who are usually hurt by stock shorters.

This is a charity and not a business. Show a plan, a proforma and maybe raise debt and/or equity. Being a great pg and a successful entrepreneur are not automatically linked. Hope he's successful but so far it's a bit uncomfortable.
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I think Scoochie could have raised more money by having autograph signings around town and charging $10 or $20 per autograph. That way people feel like they're getting something.

The seniors(and players who are leaving early) at Kentucky usually travel around the state for autograph sessions after their season is over to make a little extra cash. I realize the UK fan base is much larger, but I think Scoochie and this years seniors could have made some money doing that.

Honestly if Scoochie had started a GoFundMe and just outright said he that he needed some money to get by until he gets a contract overseas I would have given him $50.

10 to 20 for a regional amateur basketball hero's autograph? Maybe if he brought a friend with him. Is he friends with Lebron James?

You aren't getting anything signed by Lebron James for $20! Maybe bring the whole senior class and charge $20. I'm just throwing out ideas that might be better than a GoFundMe to help start a clothing business. I don't collect signed memorabilia but people who do I'm sure they would have paid that. Heck if we want to be a big time program shouldn't UD fans figure out a way to pay the players after they graduate. That's basically what UK fans do. Derek Willis and Dominique Hawkins have been traveling around Kentucky for two weeks doing it.

Like I said I think people would have been more likely to give him money if he had just asked for it directly rather than floating some business idea.

Not this one. You get the money automatically transacted into your bank account minus their fees, which are reasonable. But if you have friends and family that would contribute it's better for them to hand you the money so you get 100% of their gift. We set one up a couple years ago for a high school music booster fund raising event so alums that had moved out of the area could contribute. Local people just sent in the money. And there is an option to list these other revenues on the site without paying GoFundMe so people know how close you are to your goal.

Big difference between GoFundMe and Kickstarter. If you want to start a legitimate business but want outsiders help, Kickstarter is the way to go as there is some invested capital for a return by the donors. Typically something small like discounted items, etc...GoFundMe is strictly a give, with nothing in return except the fact that you donated money.

Many successful start up companies got their way with crowd funding...but the plan is laid out and the reason why certain ones are successful and others aren't.

I'm starting my own business, too. I'll call it the Royal Lawn and Landscaping Org (RoLLO). All I need is $100,000 to buy an edger, rake and lawnmower as well as join Moraine CC which will 100% be as a tool to recruit more business...I promise.

So if everyone here could donate like $500-$1000 to my Royal GoFundMe account, I can tee off on Monday and start making money. I'll even have Frederick mow your lawn while I entertain future clients. But it'll cost you $75/qtr acre of lawn...plus a 15% gratuity.

Thanks!

King Rollo the Entrepreneur...OUT!

Why does the King need a GoFundMe account? Doesn't he just royally decree everyone must donate?

[QUOTE=rollo;505592]I'm starting my own business, too. I'll call it the Royal Lawn and Landscaping Org (RoLLO). All I need is $100,000 to buy an edger, rake and lawnmower as well as join Moraine CC which will 100% be as a tool to recruit more business...I promise.

So if everyone here could donate like $500-$1000 to my Royal GoFundMe account, I can tee off on Monday and start making money. I'll even have Frederick mow your lawn while I entertain future clients. But it'll cost you $75/qtr acre of lawn...plus a 15% gratuity.

Thanks!

Check is in the mail ( not Svoboda) !
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UD
 

needs to hire Scoochie for the Development office. He's a natural at asking for a hand out.

It's good P.R. Makes me seem normal.

#perception

A lot of musicians do this when they want to record a new album but the difference is they give you things in return depending on your level of donation. A low level is the CD itself and another higher level is the CD and perhaps tickets to one of their shows. So in essence you are just pre-buying the CD before it is recorded. What are you getting if you donate to Scoochie?

Is there anyway for me to short your stock?

Starting a business is difficult. I've seen lots of young people attempt to start businesses and make mistake of inexperience. I am fairly certain that Scoochie's basketball career has prevented him from getting hands on business experience while in high school and college. Scoochie is not the first person to try to use GoFundMe to start the business funding instead of better methods.

It is very easy to sit on a message board and criticize and pick apart his inexperience. Why not help and guide him instead?

I reached out to Scoochie and offered to help him with his business plan. I gave him some things to think about. He said he already thought about some of them. I offered to read his business plan and help him with ideas when he is ready. Personally, I hope he is successful.