OHSAA Muscaro nears end of 48-year career

Clair Muscaro will leave a prosperous OHSAA and the LeBron James legacy.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Clair Muscaro had never been through such a firestorm in his 48 years as a high school coach and administrator.
Hours after Muscaro had suspended LeBron James 15 months ago for accepting improper benefits, the Ohio High School Athletic Association was besieged by hateful mail and angry callers.
"When I came to work that Monday I had 200 or 300 e-mails -- and probably 3-to-1 I was called everything in the book," Muscaro said with a low, rueful laugh.
A year later, James is the toast of the NBA and Muscaro is putting the finishing touches on a 15-year career as the OHSAA's commissioner. He's retiring on July 31, his replacement will be announced next Thursday and bygones will be bygones.
Lauds James
Truth be told, Muscaro didn't despise James. In fact, Muscaro, 71, gushes with praise for James.
"I would applaud him, not only for being the rookie of the year in the NBA but the way he's handled everything," Muscaro said recently. "I've heard nothing but positive comments about him. I think he has a chance to be a great role model. And, you know, he's from Ohio. He's a product of one of our schools. So I wish nothing but the best for him."
James was driving a new Hummer that he said was a gift from his mother, which first got the OHSAA's attention. Then he accepted throwback jerseys worth hundreds of dollars for shopping in a Cleveland-area sporting goods store.
Used one standard
Muscaro used one standard to render a decision on James' eligibility.
"Throughout my life the basic thing that I've always followed is, just do the right thing," he said. "On the basis of the information we had, when I looked at our bylaws as mandated by the vote of our member schools, there was a violation and I acted accordingly."
Muscaro grew up in Weirton, W.Va., graduated from Weir High School in 1950 and played basketball at West Virginia Institute of Technology. Yet he has been the figurehead of Ohio high school sports for more than a decade.
The OHSAA has grown in power and wealth under his direction. There have been problems but Muscaro will leave behind a thriving organization that has never been in better shape.
During his tenure, the OHSAA has been updated inside and out. Dramatic changes have taken place. The football playoffs have more than doubled in size, the tab for catastrophe insurance for athletes has been picked up by the association and more teams and players are participating in more sports than ever before.