Eliminating celibacy is a major start.

The basic law of economic supply and demand applies to the priesthood as well as just about every other human endeavor. You eliminate 90 percent-plus of the potential candidates in your job pool and you end up with shortages and accepting folks into the seminary that you would not otherwise even bat an eye at. Celibacy is a bad idea that was started in the middle ages largely because married priests of the era were sinning in ways they ought not be sinning.

The second step is to allow single and married women to be priests. Last time I checked, Godliness is not defined by the existence of a prostate. I suspect we'd be a lot closer to having a fully functional, adequately staffed priesthood if ordaining women was accepted. Having women celebrate Mass, lead parishes and directly influence ritual in our faith would have the effect of softening further some of the harshness and, maybe just maybe, begin to lead toward a better understanding of a woman's role in society. God knows, we might even change our mind as a faith on birth control (heck, most of the faithful has).

At days end, we're still going to have scandal. At the parish to which my wife and I belong, our late pastor and his administrative assistant absconded with at least $1.5 million just four short years ago. They capitalized on bad accounting and nonexistent audit controls as well as a Pastor who violated Canon Law by not creating financial and operational oversight through Parish councils and finance committees. That stuff won't be stopped simply by allowing the whole of the Catholic universe into the leadership of our parishes and dioceses. But it's a start toward having a functional, 21st century community of God.

Brother Jockey, I'm not arguing there shouldn't be reform and the perpetrators of sexual violence against our youth not be severely punished. Nor am I arguing the church shouldn't change. Quite the contrary. The most notable pedophile priest who preyed on my class and classmates was eventually caught and spent the rest of his life where he belonged -- in a cage at the Tennessee State Prison in Cockrill Bend. He came out in a box and if there's a just God, he's toasting with Satan right now.

Brother Forgetful, Organized religion is like a gigantic consulting firm. It's job is to advise you on the best way to attain oneness with God. It's not like the Middle Ages, where it rules everything. You can decide in your wisdom to have a personal relationship with God, free of any organized religion, or you can align yourself with the teachings and the community of one or multiple religious organizations. Ultimately, the Catholic Church won't be judged on my ability to follow the teachings of Jesus. I will. I'm responsible for my own actions, my own sins and my own acceptance of my faith into my daily life.

My children have gone down your route. They live a faith-filled life but are not involved in any organized religion. That's their right and no matter what I think, they have a free will and a right to choose what's best for them.  Despite the bumps in the road and the many contradictory behaviors of the Catholic Church, I remain a Catholic. Whatever the decision, I hope you find the spiritual comfort in your's.

But there are also other facts at play here, facts you want to ignore because they contradict your full cupboard narrative. Sorry, but in assessing what was left behind it’s legit to point out that Acker had never been any good at MU. And that he was dismissed from the team. And that he was only a member of the team because the guy coming in to replace him was hurt. It’s also germane to point out that Cubillan was awful his junior year (27fg%, less than 1 point and 1rebound per game.

The main reason they didn't play was because we had a loaded back court. James/McNeal/Matthews was one of the best groups in the country. Acker was adequate when he replaced James. Not great, clearly not as good as James, but roughly an average player (which felt like and was a big step down from an all-conference type PG).

But simply, you are either lying or misremembering reality here. Acker was a fine backup as a sophomore. His 109.6 ORtg and 42.6% 3PFG% made him a solid backup guard behind McNeal and James (and more efficient and a better shooter than either). As a junior, his efficiency dipped, but not horrendously (99.7/28.8%) and he did okay managing the ship when James went down. His biggest deficiency was his defense, but he was good enough to get minutes on that team before and after James' injury. And as Sultan pointed out, you are again either lying or misremembering when it comes to the timing of Acker's return.

Cubillan had a down junior year recovering from injury, but was a high efficiency player as a freshman (119.3 ORtg, 2nd on team) and sophomore (112.3, 2nd on team) indicating that when he was healthy, he was a plus contributor. Buzz tried to run him off, like Acker, because he liked bigger guards but failed to do so. Fortunately for him.

Your facts and my fact together form an accurate picture. Fair people will look at both and form their opinion. No matter how angry and unreasonable you want to be.

The problem here is that my facts are facts, and your fact about the timing of when Buzz begged Acker to come back is not true. Fair people will look and see that I am telling the truth and you are lying, because you have been reminded about this multiple times and continue to perpetuate the same lie.

Scoop’s two biggest blowhards (sultan and Heisy) are your wingmen here. Hmmm.

And Nukem, and Equalizer, and pretty much anyone not named Ners weighing in on the topic. You might want to consider the company you are keeping. Even Goose isn't jumping in on your side here.

In addition, there's no debating that Crean brought Acker and Cubillan in and Buzz deployed them as starters, and they did so to excellent effect. Acker was 3rd in the nation in 3PFG% at 49.5%, had an excellent ORtg (117.1, #124 nationally), and Marquette career-bests in assist rate and turnover rate. Cubillian was 3rd on the team in minutes, also shot excellent (41.2%) from three, and was second on the team in efficiency (119.1, 77th nationally). In addition, the team was more efficient (0.955 ppp) on an adjusted per possession basis than either the year before in 2009 (0.961) or the year after they left in 2011 (0.973).

Buzz did a phenomenal job adjusting to the talent on that team. He did very well slowing the pace, adapting his style, and really readjusting to the roster he had and maximizing what Acker and Cubillan were as players on the offensive end while minimizing the negatives of their size on the defensive end. But he did that with the players he had, which was a pair of players recruited by his predecessor.

You can say I'm being angry and unreasonable, but that doesn't make it so. The reality is I am right and you are simply wrong and having a very tough time accepting that. The only opinion I've offered here is that Buzz did a phenomenal job with the 2009-10 team. Everything else is black and white facts that you are trying to debate. If you want to debate takes, you can argue against my contention that Buzz coached 2009-10 in excellent fashion, none of the rest is up for argument.

First of all, Buzz didn’t recruit them and only coached them (decided playing time, for example) for TWO years. In year ONE (their junior years) he kept them as back ups and their minutes were way down from what they had been the previous year when TC was their coach. After the season he kicked Acker off the team, only to invite him back late that summer when Buzz accepted the fact that the backcourt was woefully inadequate. What followed (a 6 seed in spite of two backcourt starters with substantial liabilities and limited assists) was Buzz’s best coaching job ever, absolutely NCOY worthy.

Buzz coached them for THREE years--one as an assistant to Crean and two as head coach.

During his first year coaching them (as Crean's assistant), he had a front row seat witnessing them for 30 or so games and five+ months of practice.

If you want an honest and truthful argument, you have to start by agreeing with basic facts, and that starts with the fact that Buzz was on MU's coaching staff the year before he was promoted to head coach.  As such, he had first-hand experience working with everyone on the team.

If you disagree with that, then you're the one trying to pass of falsehoods.

Acker and Cubillan were leftovers from the Crean regime. They started in our backcourt in year 2 of the Buzz regime. I’ve acknowledged these facts all along, never denied them.

But there are also other facts at play here, facts you want to ignore because they contradict your full cupboard narrative. Sorry, but in assessing what was left behind it’s legit to point out that Acker had never been any good at MU. And that he was dismissed from the team. And that he was only a member of the team because the guy coming in to replace him was hurt. It’s also germane to point out that Cubillan was awful his junior year (27fg%, less than 1 point and 1rebound per game.

Your facts and my fact together form an accurate picture. Fair people will look at both and form their opinion. No matter how angry and unreasonable you want to be.

Scoop’s two biggest blowhards (sultan and Heisy) are your wingmen here. Hmmm.

The bolded is false.

Mo Acker rejoins the team in August 2009

https://marquettewire.org/3751423/tribune/tribune-sports/acker-to-rejoin-mens-basketball-team/

Junior Cadougan injured in September

https://marquettewire.org/3753116/tribune/tribune-sports/cadougan-out-four-to-six-months/

And if constantly pointing out your errors, mis-statements and exaggerations because you can't admit that your take was horrendous, makes me a "blowhard," it's a badge I will wear with honor.  And I will continue down this path the more you continue to double...triple...sextuple down on this nonsense.

Got anything else???

Oh, this is just ridiculous. It's not like Acker magically got a scholarship, backdooring the coach and sneaking through admissions, on to the team, and into the rotation without Crean's knowledge.

Again, you aren't debating against takes. These are undisputed facts that you are trying to say didn't happen. I honestly don't know your intent here other than to embarrass yourself.

Acker and Cubillan were leftovers from the Crean regime. They started in our backcourt in year 2 of the Buzz regime. I’ve acknowledged these facts all along, never denied them.

But there are also other facts at play here, facts you want to ignore because they contradict your full cupboard narrative. Sorry, but in assessing what was left behind it’s legit to point out that Acker had never been any good at MU. And that he was dismissed from the team. And that he was only a member of the team because the guy coming in to replace him was hurt. It’s also germane to point out that Cubillan was awful his junior year (27fg%, less than 1 point and 1rebound per game.

Your facts and my fact together form an accurate picture. Fair people will look at both and form their opinion. No matter how angry and unreasonable you want to be.

Scoop’s two biggest blowhards (sultan and Heisy) are your wingmen here. Hmmm.