Xavier's Matt Stainbrook Is An Uber Driver In Cincinnati

[Tugg Speedman]

If you're going to use Uber in and around Cincinnati, take a good look at the driver. It might just be Xavier's 6-foot-10, admittedly quirky second-leading scorer, Matt Stainbrook. We decided to go along for the ride.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12014028

CINCINNATI -- She came out of the office building just as people do in the movies after they've been fired -- toting a cardboard box stuffed with her possessions.

And the thing is, Matt Stainbrook knew what had happened. When he arrived for the pickup, some superior came out and told him, "OK, we're terminating her right now."

So she slides into the backseat of his 2004 Buick Rendezvous -- the pictures, mugs and doodads spilling out of the box -- and he panics.

"I'm going to play it off like I don't know she just got fired,'' Stainbrook says. "That's my good idea. My bad idea is, I don't know what to say. So I fumble and I say, 'Hey, how's your day going?' Yeah. She goes, 'Good' ... and it was silence for the whole ride.''

There are "Taxicab Confessions," there is "Cash Cab," and then there is Stainbrook's gig, the true reality show that happens when an inexperienced, 22-year-old basketball player turns his car into an Uber taxi.

It is well-intentioned, entertaining and awkward, and sometimes all three at the same time.

Kind of like the driver himself. The fifth-year senior center is ... "quirky is the right word -- very, very quirky,'' says his coach at Xavier, Chris Mack. "Weird. You know, I think Matt's originally maybe from Portland, Oregon, where they always talk about the theme being 'Keep Portland Weird.'''

But beneath it all -- the curly hair, the retro Rec Specs, the kneepads and the vast set of interests that range from the Cleveland Browns to cooking -- is a good soul.

Stainbrook's daily downshift, from mastering the pick-and-roll as the Musketeers' second-leading scorer, to rolling down the highways and through the side streets of Cincinnati as an Uber driver, wasn't made to up his quirky quotient.

He did it to help his younger brother.

Tim Stainbrook walked onto the Xavier team a year ago, carrying with him the school's $40,000-plus tuition bill. Matt, meantime, earned his undergrad degree in May, but the onetime Western Michigan transfer still had a year of eligibility left, and decided he'd pursue his MBA.

His graduate-school bill comes to about $14,000. The finance grad quickly did the math and realized that if his brother was on scholarship for his sophomore season, the family could save $26,000. So Matt went first to Mario Mercurio, his director of basketball operations, and then to his compliance director to see if they could make the switch and give his full scholarship to Tim.

Short of a little paperwork -- and an OK asked for and quickly granted from Mack -- it was simple.

"My brother works his tail off, and I know the struggles of working hard,'' Matt says. "In high school, I wasn't anybody. I wasn't highly recruited. So I know what it is to go through that grind.''

Student loans will cover the bulk of Matt's education, but there's still the matter of his apartment, utilities, food and daily living. Getting a normal job with any sort of predictable schedule is downright impossible for an athlete who has to juggle practice, games and travel.

Matt started to think where he is most comfortable -- outside the box.

Having used Uber himself, he did a little research. He met the requirements -- he was the right age, had a license, proper insurance and a car (though it just barely made the 10-year cutoff). If he got through a background check, he'd be in.

"I remember he was waiting by the mailbox for days,'' Tim says. "He was so excited for [the paperwork] to come and start making money.''

The way it works is simple. Matt has an app on his phone, and when he activates it, he's available to pick up passengers. When a call comes in, Uber pings the nearest driver. If that's Matt, he and his sweet-riding, gold Rendezvous are off.

The flexibility is perfect. There are no set hours; he essentially turns on the app whenever he wants to work. If a call comes in and he's not interested, he ignores it. In 15 seconds, Uber will contact the next nearest driver. Everything is done electronically -- passengers link a credit card -- so there's no need for him to bring cash, and he's paid weekly via direct deposit.

He merely has to pay for his gas and keep his car clean -- he even has two water bottles tucked into the backseat console cup holders, not that anyone ever drinks them -- and he's off.

Since he started in September, Matt has chauffeured students in the wee hours leaving bars, and older couples heading out to a quiet dinner. Some know who he is -- "The best comment I ever got was, 'Good driver, better hook shot'" -- and some do and pretend they don't, surreptitiously trying to take pictures from the backseat; some have no idea; and some ask because he's 6-foot-10 and 270 pounds.

Matt is more than happy to chat. He is naturally inquisitive -- in one evening driving around town, Matt discussed how to doctor quinoa to make it taste good, whether college athletes ought to be paid, what the restaurant he hopes to one day run will serve, and whether the Cleveland Browns should start Johnny Manziel (yes, he argued) -- and is honestly interested in what people have to say.

When a couple recently took a ride from their apartment to a holiday party, Matt started with the usual -- where they were from, what they do for a living, if they've used Uber much. Once they realized who he was, the man asked what position he played at Xavier.

Matt explained that he is a center, offering up his height and weight, which caused the man to remark that he thought Matt's knees were up pretty close to the steering wheel.

"I've been asked to step outside the car to show that I'm really 6-10,'' Matt said.

Rather than a cab ride, it seemed more as if he was an old buddy giving some friends a lift.

"I feel people out,'' Matt says. "I'll ask a couple of questions and I can usually get the vibe of ... I can read people and if they're not really wanting to talk or they really want to have a conversation.''

Except, of course, that one time, when he opened his mouth to talk to the recently fired woman, and instead inserted the entirety of his size 17 sneakers.

"She lived about 30 minutes away, too'' he says. "So it was a long ride.''

[Texas Western]

If you're going to use Uber in and around Cincinnati, take a good look at the driver. It might just be Xavier's 6-foot-10, admittedly quirky second-leading scorer, Matt Stainbrook. We decided to go along for the ride.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12014028

CINCINNATI -- She came out of the office building just as people do in the movies after they've been fired -- toting a cardboard box stuffed with her possessions.

And the thing is, Matt Stainbrook knew what had happened. When he arrived for the pickup, some superior came out and told him, "OK, we're terminating her right now."

So she slides into the backseat of his 2004 Buick Rendezvous -- the pictures, mugs and doodads spilling out of the box -- and he panics.

"I'm going to play it off like I don't know she just got fired,'' Stainbrook says. "That's my good idea. My bad idea is, I don't know what to say. So I fumble and I say, 'Hey, how's your day going?' Yeah. She goes, 'Good' ... and it was silence for the whole ride.''

There are "Taxicab Confessions," there is "Cash Cab," and then there is Stainbrook's gig, the true reality show that happens when an inexperienced, 22-year-old basketball player turns his car into an Uber taxi.

It is well-intentioned, entertaining and awkward, and sometimes all three at the same time.

Kind of like the driver himself. The fifth-year senior center is ... "quirky is the right word -- very, very quirky,'' says his coach at Xavier, Chris Mack. "Weird. You know, I think Matt's originally maybe from Portland, Oregon, where they always talk about the theme being 'Keep Portland Weird.'''

But beneath it all -- the curly hair, the retro Rec Specs, the kneepads and the vast set of interests that range from the Cleveland Browns to cooking -- is a good soul.

Stainbrook's daily downshift, from mastering the pick-and-roll as the Musketeers' second-leading scorer, to rolling down the highways and through the side streets of Cincinnati as an Uber driver, wasn't made to up his quirky quotient.

He did it to help his younger brother.

Tim Stainbrook walked onto the Xavier team a year ago, carrying with him the school's $40,000-plus tuition bill. Matt, meantime, earned his undergrad degree in May, but the onetime Western Michigan transfer still had a year of eligibility left, and decided he'd pursue his MBA.

His graduate-school bill comes to about $14,000. The finance grad quickly did the math and realized that if his brother was on scholarship for his sophomore season, the family could save $26,000. So Matt went first to Mario Mercurio, his director of basketball operations, and then to his compliance director to see if they could make the switch and give his full scholarship to Tim.

Short of a little paperwork -- and an OK asked for and quickly granted from Mack -- it was simple.

"My brother works his tail off, and I know the struggles of working hard,'' Matt says. "In high school, I wasn't anybody. I wasn't highly recruited. So I know what it is to go through that grind.''

Student loans will cover the bulk of Matt's education, but there's still the matter of his apartment, utilities, food and daily living. Getting a normal job with any sort of predictable schedule is downright impossible for an athlete who has to juggle practice, games and travel.

Matt started to think where he is most comfortable -- outside the box.

Having used Uber himself, he did a little research. He met the requirements -- he was the right age, had a license, proper insurance and a car (though it just barely made the 10-year cutoff). If he got through a background check, he'd be in.

"I remember he was waiting by the mailbox for days,'' Tim says. "He was so excited for [the paperwork] to come and start making money.''

The way it works is simple. Matt has an app on his phone, and when he activates it, he's available to pick up passengers. When a call comes in, Uber pings the nearest driver. If that's Matt, he and his sweet-riding, gold Rendezvous are off.

The flexibility is perfect. There are no set hours; he essentially turns on the app whenever he wants to work. If a call comes in and he's not interested, he ignores it. In 15 seconds, Uber will contact the next nearest driver. Everything is done electronically -- passengers link a credit card -- so there's no need for him to bring cash, and he's paid weekly via direct deposit.

He merely has to pay for his gas and keep his car clean -- he even has two water bottles tucked into the backseat console cup holders, not that anyone ever drinks them -- and he's off.

Since he started in September, Matt has chauffeured students in the wee hours leaving bars, and older couples heading out to a quiet dinner. Some know who he is -- "The best comment I ever got was, 'Good driver, better hook shot'" -- and some do and pretend they don't, surreptitiously trying to take pictures from the backseat; some have no idea; and some ask because he's 6-foot-10 and 270 pounds.

Matt is more than happy to chat. He is naturally inquisitive -- in one evening driving around town, Matt discussed how to doctor quinoa to make it taste good, whether college athletes ought to be paid, what the restaurant he hopes to one day run will serve, and whether the Cleveland Browns should start Johnny Manziel (yes, he argued) -- and is honestly interested in what people have to say.

When a couple recently took a ride from their apartment to a holiday party, Matt started with the usual -- where they were from, what they do for a living, if they've used Uber much. Once they realized who he was, the man asked what position he played at Xavier.

Matt explained that he is a center, offering up his height and weight, which caused the man to remark that he thought Matt's knees were up pretty close to the steering wheel.

"I've been asked to step outside the car to show that I'm really 6-10,'' Matt said.

Rather than a cab ride, it seemed more as if he was an old buddy giving some friends a lift.

"I feel people out,'' Matt says. "I'll ask a couple of questions and I can usually get the vibe of ... I can read people and if they're not really wanting to talk or they really want to have a conversation.''

Except, of course, that one time, when he opened his mouth to talk to the recently fired woman, and instead inserted the entirety of his size 17 sneakers.

"She lived about 30 minutes away, too'' he says. "So it was a long ride.''

I am a Stainbrook fan now.

[WarriorInNYC]

I dont really know a whole lot about NCAA rules and what not.  But reading this I got the impression of a couple things that seemed risky in terms of violations.

1)  Is he really able to be an Uber driver?  I was under the impression that basketball athletes could not be employed.
2)  Would him requesting a scholarship for his brother be considered a violation?  I know his brother is on the team, but it seems that he is receiving a scholarship for Matt's performance.

Again, I may be an idiot when it comes to these things and the above may be way off base, but these flags shot up in my mind.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I dont really know a whole lot about NCAA rules and what not.  But reading this I got the impression of a couple things that seemed risky in terms of violations.

1)  Is he really able to be an Uber driver?  I was under the impression that basketball athletes could not be employed.
2)  Would him requesting a scholarship for his brother be considered a violation?  I know his brother is on the team, but it seems that he is receiving a scholarship for Matt's performance.

Again, I may be an idiot when it comes to these things and the above may be way off base, but these flags shot up in my mind.

Don't know about number 1 but McDermott gave up his scholarship last year and was technically a walk on.

[WarriorInNYC]

Don't know about number 1 but McDermott gave up his scholarship last year and was technically a walk on.

Yes he did, but he didnt give it up so a family member of his who wasnt originally going to get one could have one.

[warriorchick]

If Matt Stainbrook is 270 pounds, I am a size 00.

Around our house, we call him "White Davante".


The old-school, pudgier Davante.

[Galway Eagle]

I dont really know a whole lot about NCAA rules and what not.  But reading this I got the impression of a couple things that seemed risky in terms of violations.

1)  Is he really able to be an Uber driver?  I was under the impression that basketball athletes could not be employed.
2)  Would him requesting a scholarship for his brother be considered a violation?  I know his brother is on the team, but it seems that he is receiving a scholarship for Matt's performance.

Again, I may be an idiot when it comes to these things and the above may be way off base, but these flags shot up in my mind.

Steve Novak did valet at mos and I heard Jim Boylan was a bartender at hags.  I think they're allowed to but between the basketball schedule and school most just don't get jobs

[Benny B]

I dont really know a whole lot about NCAA rules and what not.  But reading this I got the impression of a couple things that seemed risky in terms of violations.

1)  Is he really able to be an Uber driver?  I was under the impression that basketball athletes could not be employed.
2)  Would him requesting a scholarship for his brother be considered a violation?  I know his brother is on the team, but it seems that he is receiving a scholarship for Matt's performance.

Again, I may be an idiot when it comes to these things and the above may be way off base, but these flags shot up in my mind.

1) There are NCAA rules in place that would prevent a student-athlete from being paid $5,000/hr to wash cars at a booster's dealership, but provided the employment is legitimate, there is no blanket prohibition on a student-athlete being employed.  That aside, he is not an employee of Uber... Uber drivers are independent contractors.
2) Mack can give a scholarship to whomever he wants.  What's the difference between Mack telling Matt "hey, you can play next year, but you'll have to walk on" (then giving Tim a scholarship) and Matt saying to Mack "I'll walk on next year, but I'd like you to consider giving that scholarship to my brother."

[Tugg Speedman]

1) There are NCAA rules in place that would prevent a student-athlete from being paid $5,000/hr to wash cars at a booster's dealership, but provided the employment is legitimate, there is no blanket prohibition on a student-athlete being employed.  That aside, he is not an employee of Uber... Uber drivers are independent contractors.
2) Mack can give a scholarship to whomever he wants.  What's the difference between Mack telling Matt "hey, you can play next year, but you'll have to walk on" (then giving Tim a scholarship) and Matt saying to Mack "I'll walk on next year, but I'd like you to consider giving that scholarship to my brother."

questions/thoughts ...

So what if a booster specifically requested Matt (you can do that on Uber).  Would that violate NCAA rules?  I'm guessing not as I'll bet he already has picked up X alum and they qualify under the booster definition.

If the "booster" wanted to give him a tip of say 20% the cost of the ride, would that violate NCAA rules?  Probably not.  40%? 100%? 1,000%?  A blanket $5,000?  How does the NCAA draw the line?  Does the NCAA really want to be in the business of drawing this line?

[WarriorInNYC]

2) Mack can give a scholarship to whomever he wants.  What's the difference between Mack telling Matt "hey, you can play next year, but you'll have to walk on" (then giving Tim a scholarship) and Matt saying to Mack "I'll walk on next year, but I'd like you to consider giving that scholarship to my brother."

I see your point, but thats not how this story paints the picture.  The story here looks like Matt was trying to get a scholarship for his brother as a favor.  I understand what Matt is doing, and I personally do not have any problem with this, but I could see this potentially being an issue with the NCAA.

Lets make a different hypothetical example using an incoming recruit.  Lets say Henry Ellenson was willing to take a bet on his basketball abilities and thought for sure he would make the NBA, and thus could afford to pay for a year's worth of school.  So he asks Wojo (in this example Wally has not transferred yet) if he could give Wally a scholarship instead of to Henry.  Couldnt the NCAA see this as a potential problem?

[Benny B]

questions/thoughts ...

So what if a booster specifically requested Matt (you can do that on Uber).  Would that violate NCAA rules?  I'm guessing not as I'll bet he already has picked up X alum and they qualify under the booster definition.

If the "booster" wanted to give him a tip of say 20% the cost of the ride, would that violate NCAA rules?  Probably not.  40%? 100%? 1,000%?  A blanket $5,000?  How does the NCAA draw the line?  Does the NCAA really want to be in the business of drawing this line?

The NCAA is already in the business of drawing lines.  They just don't do it very consistently.

I don't know the exact criteria that the NCAA uses to draw the line between what is and isn't appropriate compensation for a job, but if you look at the spectrum of recent NCAA money violations, most of them involve cash... if a booster or a coach is going to violate NCAA amateur rules, they aren't going to do so in a fashion that involves employment or anything with a clear paper trail.

I see your point, but thats not how this story paints the picture.  The story here looks like Matt was trying to get a scholarship for his brother as a favor.  I understand what Matt is doing, and I personally do not have any problem with this, but I could see this potentially being an issue with the NCAA.

Lets make a different hypothetical example using an incoming recruit.  Lets say Henry Ellenson was willing to take a bet on his basketball abilities and thought for sure he would make the NBA, and thus could afford to pay for a year's worth of school.  So he asks Wojo (in this example Wally has not transferred yet) if he could give Wally a scholarship instead of to Henry.  Couldnt the NCAA see this as a potential problem?

Why would the NCAA care who gets a scholarship?  If a coach wants to give a scholarship to some kid who has no business in a D-I sport just because his brother is on the team, his grandfather is a major booster, he has the same last name as the coach, he has pictures of the coach's wife in compromising positions.... so what?  There's no "favor" involved here at all. If someone gives you something and you decide to unselfishly give it to someone else (except a warmness in your heart), who's the victim? 

Keep in mind that the NCAA doesn't limit roster size, only the number of scholarships.  If they give Matt's to Tim, X is still down a scholly either way. 

[Dunk The Ball Eric]

If the "booster" wanted to give him a tip of say 20% the cost of the ride, would that violate NCAA rules?  Probably not.  40%? 100%? 1,000%?  A blanket $5,000?  How does the NCAA draw the line?  Does the NCAA really want to be in the business of drawing this line?

You don't leave a tip on Uber, their competitor Lyft does allow you to leave a tip so guess it would be trickier if he drove for them.

Put me in the Stainbrook camp as well, loved the video and the article.

[JakeBarnes]

questions/thoughts ...

So what if a booster specifically requested Matt (you can do that on Uber).  Would that violate NCAA rules?  I'm guessing not as I'll bet he already has picked up X alum and they qualify under the booster definition.

If the "booster" wanted to give him a tip of say 20% the cost of the ride, would that violate NCAA rules?  Probably not.  40%? 100%? 1,000%?  A blanket $5,000?  How does the NCAA draw the line?  Does the NCAA really want to be in the business of drawing this line?

Because on Uber you can't leave a tip. It's simply a calculated number charged to your card for the ride. Honestly, it's a pretty good gig for him to get to avoid any NCAA concerns.

[KenoshaWarrior]

questions/thoughts ...

So what if a booster specifically requested Matt (you can do that on Uber).  Would that violate NCAA rules?  I'm guessing not as I'll bet he already has picked up X alum and they qualify under the booster definition.

If the "booster" wanted to give him a tip of say 20% the cost of the ride, would that violate NCAA rules?  Probably not.  40%? 100%? 1,000%?  A blanket $5,000?  How does the NCAA draw the line?  Does the NCAA really want to be in the business of drawing this line?

You can not specifically request a driver  As someone who partners with both lyft and Uber on the weekend you cannot do that.   You could call up a driver have him come to your location and than you can press the request button and because he is closest you can get him, but you can not pick a driver.

On sidecar you can however

[WarriorInNYC]

Why would the NCAA care who gets a scholarship?  If a coach wants to give a scholarship to some kid who has no business in a D-I sport just because his brother is on the team, his grandfather is a major booster, he has the same last name as the coach, he has pictures of the coach's wife in compromising positions.... so what?  There's no "favor" involved here at all. If someone gives you something and you decide to unselfishly give it to someone else (except a warmness in your heart), who's the victim? 

Keep in mind that the NCAA doesn't limit roster size, only the number of scholarships.  If they give Matt's to Tim, X is still down a scholly either way. 

Good point.  Though I'm not sure I would use, "who's the victim?" as part of the argument, mainly because I think most of the NCAA violations you see are "victimless".  But I do see your argument.

This just seemed like something that was a gray area and something that could potentially be a violation in the NCAA's eyes.  If giving a t-shirt and a ride home is a violation, having a scholarship transfer to someone else who was not going to receive one, and thus costing the school $26K more, seemed like it could also be a violation.

[spartan3186]

Good point.  Though I'm not sure I would use, "who's the victim?" as part of the argument, mainly because I think most of the NCAA violations you see are "victimless".  But I do see your argument.

This just seemed like something that was a gray area and something that could potentially be a violation in the NCAA's eyes.  If giving a t-shirt and a ride home is a violation, having a scholarship transfer to someone else who was not going to receive one, and thus costing the school $26K more, seemed like it could also be a violation.

I have to imagine Xavier's compliance department reviewed the aricle before it went to print. I agree, I thought there might be a violation as well, but I can't imagine them letting it run if there were violations there.

[Knight Commission]

I am pretty sure Liam McMorrow is also an UBER driver.....seriously.