Class act
So, I was reading Mark Tupper's blog about the Big Ten Basketball Media Day in Chicago, Tupper was mainly talking about how Bruce Weber was fielding questions. As is the rule in college basketball, he was unable to specifically comment on Eric Gordon, but he commented on losing a recruit or whatever. Tupper didn't go into detail as to how Weber fielded the questions, but he gave the gist of what Weber said. Essentially, Weber would have appreciated a call as to why conversations were going on behind his back with a player who had already committed (I realize a verbal is not binding, but if it means nothing, then what's the point?).
So Weber took the high road, obviously, as he's one of the classiest coaches in the Big 10 if not the nation. And I say that as only a partly biased fan. Interestingly, the Big 10 Commissioner said the same thing about the topic, that he would expect a coach would at least offer an explanation as to why he would pursue a player who had already verbally committed to a conference rival. See, they're trying to keep things classy in the Big 10.
Enter Kelvin Sampson. He refused to touch the Gordon topic. Ok, that's kind of fair, since you can't explicitly talk about a recruit until he signs a Letter of Intent. But, the commissioner commented on it, the coach who's player de-committed commented on it. Even Tom Izzo, who I would consider a prick, said he would call in-state rival coach Tommy Amaker if he was pursuing a player who had verballed to Michigan. Also, wouldn't you think Sampson would have made mention of being excited to get a verbal from Gordon or something? But, nope, nothing. That doesn't make him look guilty at all.
Also, I would like to mention that Tupper says he overheard Sampson say he likes to 'do things the right way' when talking about how he runs his program. Got that right.
I'm not saying Sampson did anything illegal to get Gordon. It doesn't matter if he did or not, since, you know, he's still dragging down the Big 10 reputation just by his presence. But, given his history, you wonder if maybe Sampson doesn't want to say anything that would get magnified by the NCAA, you know, since he's under probation as it is.
So he's a liar, and he starts off in a new conference on the right foot by swooping in, recruiting a committed player, and not even explaining his actions. Not that I would be happier about it, but he could have at least let Weber know that since Gordon was in-state that he would contact him as a new hire.
Now, I hate a lot of schools in the Big 10. Michigan, MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, The Stupid Fucking Ohio State University (I think Thad Matta should be reviewed by the NCAA for his recruiting practices). But this just gives me even more reason to revel in the failure that is Hoosier sports. So, that's what I'll be doing when January rolls around. Or, before that, like when basketball starts. Or, now.
So Weber took the high road, obviously, as he's one of the classiest coaches in the Big 10 if not the nation. And I say that as only a partly biased fan. Interestingly, the Big 10 Commissioner said the same thing about the topic, that he would expect a coach would at least offer an explanation as to why he would pursue a player who had already verbally committed to a conference rival. See, they're trying to keep things classy in the Big 10.
Enter Kelvin Sampson. He refused to touch the Gordon topic. Ok, that's kind of fair, since you can't explicitly talk about a recruit until he signs a Letter of Intent. But, the commissioner commented on it, the coach who's player de-committed commented on it. Even Tom Izzo, who I would consider a prick, said he would call in-state rival coach Tommy Amaker if he was pursuing a player who had verballed to Michigan. Also, wouldn't you think Sampson would have made mention of being excited to get a verbal from Gordon or something? But, nope, nothing. That doesn't make him look guilty at all.
Also, I would like to mention that Tupper says he overheard Sampson say he likes to 'do things the right way' when talking about how he runs his program. Got that right.
I'm not saying Sampson did anything illegal to get Gordon. It doesn't matter if he did or not, since, you know, he's still dragging down the Big 10 reputation just by his presence. But, given his history, you wonder if maybe Sampson doesn't want to say anything that would get magnified by the NCAA, you know, since he's under probation as it is.
So he's a liar, and he starts off in a new conference on the right foot by swooping in, recruiting a committed player, and not even explaining his actions. Not that I would be happier about it, but he could have at least let Weber know that since Gordon was in-state that he would contact him as a new hire.
Now, I hate a lot of schools in the Big 10. Michigan, MSU, Iowa, Wisconsin, The Stupid Fucking Ohio State University (I think Thad Matta should be reviewed by the NCAA for his recruiting practices). But this just gives me even more reason to revel in the failure that is Hoosier sports. So, that's what I'll be doing when January rolls around. Or, before that, like when basketball starts. Or, now.
posted by Jtrouble at 2:55 PM
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