You are not your Khakis
March 9, 2010 Tom Blackburn 
Boo awayI wasn't going to throw my two cents in on this whole "booing" issue (or non-issue, depending on your point of view), but then the Ice Trucker had to go and write an article about it.
Archdeacon's overriding concern? "Is it wrong for UD Arena fans to boo the Flyers?"
In a word, no. Absolutely not. The University of Dayton men's basketball program is a for-profit business. UD basketball is a product -- nothing more, nothing less. There is a budget, there are financial records, and there are contractual obligations associated with running a high-level D1 college basketball program. Those 13,000 people cramming into UD Arena for every game? Those are customers, they are there for entertainment purposes. UD basketball is a respite from their everyday doldrums. If you think college sports in general is anything but a money grab, I'm not sure what to tell you. College sports are simply another vehicle through which to sell advertising and overpriced soft drinks. College basketball is simply another entity that gamblers can spend billions wagering on.
Then, there is this outdated notion -- quoting the Arch: "One camp says you don’t boo 18 to 22 year olds. They aren’t pros, they don’t get paid and they are trying their best."
True, UD's basketball players are not technically professionals. However, they are not amateurs either. Perhaps "semi-professional" is the most appropriate manner in which to label them. There is a bargained for exchange between each scholarship athlete and the University of Dayton. In exchange for signing a contract (that's not very amateurish, now is it?) with UD, scholarship athletes are given free tuition, room and board, books, etc. (approximate value is probably in the neighborhood of $50,000.00) That's not even considering the extra perks that come with being an athlete: the offseason "jobs" paid in cash, scattered undergrad ass, papers written edited by tutors, and "loans" given to uncles of recruits.
Age is certainly not a concern, as no one would argue that it's wrong to boo a 20 year-old "kid" that plays for the Knicks:
20-year old financially compensated to play for the New York Knicks: boo-able!
20-year old financially compensated to play for the University of Dayton: not boo-able!
So, that argument goes right out the window -- which means it basically comes down to the corporation that is padding its pockets with the talents of predominantly young black men. Why people draw a distinction between Knicks basketball and UD basketball is beyond me. Both are economic machines focused on their bottom lines, concerned with profits. Why would it be okay to boo John Wall the 20 year old guard for the Clippers, but not John Wall the 19 year old guard for the University of Kentucky? Because he is better compensated? Someone help me out here.
Reader Comments (58)
Amen. People that still view D-1 college sports in the bubble of innocence and virtue are nothing more than this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvTNyKIGXiI
ENJOY KURT STARTING TONIGHT.
WHITE STARTERS COULD BE OUT THE NEXT THREE YEARS!
@adam,
as a former Flyer athlete, its pretty much only mens basketball that i see as "professional." volleyball and soccer would be next in line.
UD doesn't give many full rides to other sports. at least for my sport, no plane rides, shitty motels, very low per diems, no "tutoring", etc. there were definitely some small perks, but we weren't pampered. the trainers and facities are great, nothing but respect for those people.
power conference football schools like ohio state are definitely a different story, though
they have been showing Fight Club on cable a lot lately.
You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake
This was freedom. Losing all hope was freedom.
could there be a more telling quote?
I'm going to practice, tell me when its all over.
I think people who booed were in the right, UD should not be losing to SLU (regaurdless of them actually being decent) at home by as much as they did....EXP ON SENIOR NIGHT.....WTF...but here we go tonight flyers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Flyers look inspired out there...to go home for the spring.
Ladies & Gentleman you have just witnessed something tonight that will NEVER (and I can say this with absolute certainty) EVER happen again in college basketball...playing a team three straight times and each time have the other team get called for a Technical Foul for having six guys on the floor.
This happens on average maybe once or twice a season in all of college basketball...hell at any level of basketball!! Karl Hobbs are you f'ing kidding me? Doesn't this get cleared up when it happens the first time and it costs you the game? I mean you really have to try and slide this one by the refs too! Does anyone else just think this is unbelievably insane? I mean aren't there 5 assistant coaches on the bench for a reason...not one of em can catch this? Or better yet does this speak to the intelligence of the players on the team to not realize who is in and who is out after the timeout.
Anyways cheers to Karl Hobbs for the four free points tonight! Not surprised we actually needed them too...
Gregory's awful, but he can count to 5. Unreal.
Xavier's gonna beat that ass on Friday. UD is done. A decent team beats them by 15 tonight.
I pulled a DiSab and stopped reading for a week. I never post as much, but missed a whole lot. I need to start the Gus Johnson bedate. I feel like I have some gay love for John and Tweeds. I agree with everything they say. Gus is the single greatest announcer ever. Strike that, he is the greatest person ever. He could make a St. Louis/Miami vs Dayton game sound like it is the best game ever.
By the way, raise your hand if you knew Gus was a young black guy. Only my two favorite people just raised their hands. I love you John and Tweeds.
The problem with Gus is that everything that happens in the game is OMG (!!!) no matter the time and score. His calls of big moments are awesome. The other 38 minutes or so is just a chore to hear.
Gus's excitement probably comes partially from the fact that he is happy to be away from calling Knicks games. There's not much to get excited about when the team is constantly down.
Dare I say that the next game is a.............
MUST WIN GAME!!!!!!!11!1!!1!!!1!!!!
It's going to be a fun 3 days in Atlantic City!!!!
Charlotte lost to UMass in the first round. If we've been dropping like a lead balloon, then the 49ers have been the fucking Hindenburg. Could this collapse take the bust mustache of the A10 to the unemployment line?
I can only assume "bust mustache" is the greatest Freudian slip in the history of ever. Charlotte was a trainwreck all season, just so happened that their best play happened at the beginning of the A10 season. No defense, no scheming, no discipline Chuck and duck, baby.. May as well put Monta Ellis, Allen Iverson, Lance Stephenson, Gilbert Arenas and Jesse Berry in the same lineup.
I'd almost (almost) say Charlotte still overachieved this season. They beat Louisville and Richmond on the road, and finished 5th in a good league. That is not a good team, and they are very poorly coached.
Gregory just called out the fans for booing the team, my favorite part is when in three weeks, he makes a statement saying this is why we have the best fans in the country.
honestly
Ghetto Shopper ... the love/respect is mutual!
Long live Gus!
By the way ...
... I never thought Paul Williams 16 trillion would ever be close to matched ... but tonight Mickey Perry made a great effort ... he is now known as "Uncle Mickey the 12 trillion man"
@ THE GAME
GW didn't get called for 6 men on the floor last night, they got called for an illegal substitution cause a guy didn't check in before coming into the game. Still fucking hilarious though...can't wait to see what they fuck up next year.
Anyone else disappointed that Big Dog didn't take advantage of Kurt's early (like 21 sec in early) foul trouble and play like he should be starting? I expected more...
I know everyone will start acting gay, but I am going to ask the question that is on everyone's minds.
Let's say South Florida and Seton Hall lose today ... throw in a team like Illinois losing to Wisconsin tomorrow ... that would make the bubble weaker than Ali in a boxing fight today ... does that mean IF IF IF IF Dayton beats X they are prime to get in? Or do they have to win one more to get to 22 wins?
It is just a question, I still think they will probably lose to X (but this is the matchup I wanted early in the tournament, we match up best with them) ... thoughts?
Oh John, I love you for your optimism. I think they need to beat Xavier then beat Richmond to get a sniff (not necessarily in) at the at large spot. I guess it could happen, but we all know that Xavier plays its best basketball down the stretch, unlike....UD. Saying that though, these games are about as neutral as neutral can get. Boardwalk Hall will have about as many people in it as the CJ vs. Alter girls game in Springfield...seriously. UD almost topped both of those teams on the road, so factor in 6 points for home court advantage and boom, they are right there.
Problem is, their play has been soooo bad down the stretch that seeing them pull out a late game win is almost unthinkable. Their confidence must be shot right now and I doubt they have that killer instinct down the stretch against either of those teams. Will I watch? Yes. Will I be surprised if they go down by 22? Not at all.
Exactly, I agree. They could win close or lose by 20, who knows.
I still believe UD would be a lock with 22 wins (which would mean two more), I am watching South Florida drop 10 points in the first 17 minutes of the half right now, saying to myself UD is just as mediocre as them ... why can't they get in with 22 wins?
A-10 Finals and UD dances ... I guess we will see if my theory of Dayton being better than X will come true, I got my wish, X on a neutral court.
Can someone tell me what blue beer day is and why wasn't I invited?
Also doesn't this quote scream D-Bag from a guy getting paid by the tuition dollars and ticket prices?
“Unfortunately, some of our faithful have put some conditions on their faithfulness, and that’s disappointing. ... It’s not right.”
-The Guy who will leave for the first big ten school who looks in his direction
@ O'Brien ... you never did Blue Beer Day?
Every year that UD has St. Patty's Day on Springbreak ... the week before the actual day Milano's and Bw's do a blue beer day.
I did it the past five years, usually Dayton is playing in the A-10 tournament which makes it a better day. I remember my fifth year I was taking a freshman class that still had an attendance policy, I could not miss one more day ... but I couldn't miss Blue Beer Day so I got hammered, watched Dayton beat Slu and showed up to class drunk with blue lips, blue tongue and no bookbag.
She was an asian lady, very hard to understand so I was laughing a lot of the class and all these freshman were staring at me like I was a retard, it was a great moment. I am pretty sure she hated me after that day!
@john,
was it a Sociology 101 class?? god that class sucked. everything was rich white man's fault--i.e. inventing religion, war, racism, sexism, power in general. i'm not saying thats entirely false, you just get tired of hearing it 5 times a class. always with the f'in upside down triangles (authority is bad)
Most ridiculous item of the day: Went to Taco Bell for lunch, and they now have a breakfast menu.
@OB: "Unfortunately, some of our faithful have put some conditions on their faithfulness, and that’s disappointing. ... It’s not right.”
Is it just me or does BG have extrememly thin skin? I guess he figured he could go 8-8 in the A10 and people would continue to verbally fellate him? It's bad enough that the "press" doesn't hold him accountable for questionable decisions, but now we have to be lectured by a guy who clearly underachieved about our "faithfulness?" Gregory has no problem taking the money of those who boo him, why attack?
@Blackburn-The fact that they are making this such a big issue is a perfect example of why we are probably in the situation we are in (20-11, 8-8 in Conf.). Rather than focusing solely at halftime on how to score a basket in the 2nd half against SLU (since we had none in the last 12 mins of the 1st half) BG is addressing the booing with the team at halftime that it was "just a few fans" I think this is absurd. Also, Uh, BG, a lot of those were probably directed at you big guy. While I prefer to only boo officials and not my own team, I don't care that ppl did, its their right. Talk to them about scoring a basket and not leaving Kyle Cassity open from 3 then the boos wouldn't have needed to be addressed b/c we would be winning.
@Ghetto Shopper-Love is mutual. GuJo forever!
Fans shouldn't boo. I would like it if they all chanted "Almost, almost" or even "Last year was awesome, last year was awesome", something like that.
- Bob Knight
Maybe this is indicative of a larger problem...what if BG applies the same logic to the team. He expects the fans to support the team whether their playing well or not...as i'm sure he supports the individual players whether they're playing well or not. We call it sticking to his system but really it's sticking with poor performing players because he has faith that they will eventually perform better. This is shitty motivation.
If the fans cheer just as loud when the team lays down a Majerus sized turd of a half there's no motivation to do better next time. Just like if BG doesn't bench PW after his first 8 trillion or RL when he's 0-6 from 3 what's to motivate them to do anything other than continue on to 16 tirllion and 0-11? This aversion to negative reactions for negative performances is a load of shit.
If BG were to leave for some reason (which on the record I am not in favor of despite this seasons struggles), maybe we could secure Nick Nolte (aka Pete Bell from Blue Chips), he's had time to think about the recruiting violations he had at Western University and maybe he would have thicker skin.
Luke Fab = Ricky Roe?
BG tried to have me removed from a press conference in Atlantic City 2 years ago. Tried to have me kicked out and my media credential revoked. I think we're well past "thin skin" at this point. Luckily for me, when BG pulled out the "Who is the guy? Where's he from?" stuff, the A10 media person just looked back at him like, "Who are you, dude? Just hurry up and answer so I can leave here and go to the casino..."
Wow Secaur and Blackburn are like long lost brothers. Blackburn also has a penchant for being asked to leave press row.
Secaur when and why ... and what did you ask?
@BRPride:
I think you are right on. A couple weeks ago I said that I was worried that BG could be a "player's coach", which I view as a death sentence in the long run. They make awesome, awesome assistants and up and down head men.
Like you said BRPride, BG needs to worry less about a couple of boo's on his way to 8-8 in conference, and worry a little more about shitty performance.
And now we know the truth behind Secaur's enmity toward the Little General.
@ vern lundquist-troyer
I took Soc 101 with the small Asian lady too, I think her name was Dr. Kim. The class sucked, I agree. The best part about the class was Brooks Hall was in my class and was never there even though the assistant basketball coach ( I think it was Pasterino...what ever his name was) always coming to check on Brooks to see if he was in class and he wasn't there. Good stuff.
@John: It was 2 years ago at the A10 tournament. It's a long (and not that interesting) story. If you really wanna hear it, let me know and I'll email you or something.
@Oliver: I make no bones about this. I can't even objectively analyze BG's merits as a head coach at this point. I just plain don't like the guy (and I think he's a lousy coach).
@ Brownsflyer - I also had Dr. Kim for the class. St. Pat's Day 2005 UD is finally on campus for the big day. Kim offers a grade boost to anyone who has perfect attendance for the semester. At the beginning of class, she passes around a sign in sheet. Half the class signs it then leaves throughout the class, me included. I later find out she passed out a 2nd attendance sheet at the end of class and counted everyone absent who had left. Needless to say, I didn't do well in that class.
Recently the nickname "Sticks" was talked about with Stanley Robinson. He rolls around UCONN in a crown vic with the license plate "sticks"...so that's valid. In speaking to my buddy who played baseball there, he also revealed to me that Stanley rocks one tall sock on many occasions, in which he keeps his pot. Same buddy also had to basically teach big Stan how to use a bong freshman year. Don't mean to drag the Stanley story out, but I'd say his nickname is official.
Chitwood, thanks. I guess that validates Gujo a little.
Watching espn tonight ... Lunardi was asked who can still get in safely that is out right now and he said,
"I can't believe I am saying this but if Dayton beats Xavier and either Umass or Richmond they will most likely be safe." ...
then the host said, "really an 8-8 Atlantic 10 team can still play their way in?"
and he responded ... "yes, that is how weak the bubble is, let's just be glad there are not 96 teams this year."
Interesting to say the least ...
I saw that too John....I feel dirty.
I do too. I don't want to get my hopes up at all ... because at the least this team will hold a lead on X till the final two minutes and then blow it ...
I'll watch and I'll cheer but I am expecting the worse.
@Sociology 101 Scholars-I too had Dr. Kim during my freshmen year (Fall '04). I echo the sentiments of how brutally painful that class was to sit there and listen. One of the few things I don't miss about College while sitting in my cubicle.
Its really put up or shut up time. There have been so many times that we thought UD was out of the tournament consideration for good and then 5 more bubble teams would lose and UD would have a new chance to play their way. We successfully ruined each and every opportunity. Miraculously, we have yet another chance. Its time we actually took advantage.
Is
Better way to make money Friday night? A $340 wpt poker tournament at Hollywood (Argosy) casino. or $340 on X to cover?
Dr. Kim made my ears bleed a little. I remember just looking at my friends going, is she serious right now?
And honestly, glad we drew X. We can run with them and compete (even win?).
I'm with you John, I'll watch and I'll cheer, hoping for the best, expecting the worst.