LSU denies asking rap star to stay off campus
LSU officials have denied a report that they have asked rap music artist Master P and representatives from No Limit Sports stay away from the campus and its athletes.
LSU sports information director Herb Vincent said Thursday that such a request would be inappropriate because LSU is a public institution.
In a story in Thursday's edition of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, LSU attornet was quoted as saying: "I asked them to stay off campus because they're coming out there and playing basketball in the rec center, and it's just too convenient for our athletes."
Pharis told the Advocate he "was quoted totally out of context" in the story.
Vincent said, "We have not requested that he (Master P) stay off campus. It's a public university."
On Jan. 20, The Advocate oublished a story on meeting between Pharis and representatives of Master P and No Limit Records.
Pharis told The Advocate at that time, "we came to an understanding," in regards to agents making contacts with LSU athletes.
Master P has a paid membership to the LSU Alumni Association (though he is not an LSU alumnus), which gives him the right to pay for a membership to the LSU Student Recreation Center, Vincent said. LSU athleted often play pick-up basketball games there.
The subject of Master P and his associates being on campus became an issue because of the rap music artist's affiliation with No Limit Sports, which represents professional athletes.
NCAA rules prohibit student athletes from accepting anything of value from agents and restrict the relationships between the two.
Master P has said his only relationship with No Limit Sports is that it represents him as he pursues his own pro basketball career.
Pharis met with attorneys representing Master P (whose real name is Percy Miller) on Jan. 19.
"From the very beginning, No Limit Sports said they were not going to violate any NCAA rules," Vincent said. "Mike Pharis met with them, they assured him again and we're satisifed that there is a good relationship."
Access to some parts of the campus is restricted to the public, such as the athletic locker rooms, Pharis said he has no objection to Master P or his associates attending LSU athletic events.
Pharis went on to say in the article that LSU "will stay ever-vigilant to make sure that we won't have a problem."
Vincent said LSU will monitor the relationship of No Limit Sports with its student-athletes as it does all agents.
