Two things........
1. Not a single "shoe" team I know has "earned" that distinction.........it has come by pure politics, the origin being Shelbyville years ago. The reason that the shoe teams have gotten to be so far reaching..(Wash DC, NY, etc.) is because more and more parents are seeing through the BS that these guys shovel. Look at what Memphis Elite have done in the last few years in AAU, they have won back to back National Championships without a shoe deal and with almost entirely TN kids.
2. Money is what is ruining AAU pure and simple........the folks in the AAU National office are doing their best to ruin AAU period. Bobby (the Swoosh) Dodd, Eddie (the Boo Williams whippin boy) Clinton and folks don't give a flip nickel about the kids anymore, all they want to do is cater to these folks who think they are the only ones that need to be fielding teams. They are in it for a paycheck. I wintessed that first hand this summer.
Peanut is one of the best in the business and hopefully he will be able to make some changes to enhance Tennessee AAU in the future.