Kevin O'Neill hired at USC

[BrewCity83]

My question is...are there any "attractive" options at Marquette? 

Yes.

Not as plentiful as at, say, UWM (where the "MRS Degree" is featured), but the cute ones at MU are smart.

[StillAWarrior]

But, I'd like to see the track records of all the posters that claim there aren't hot chicks at MU.  Those dudes must be pulling in some boy-band tail...

I'd always assumed that your screen name referred to Lance Armstrong.  Your last post made me realize that it might be referring to Lance Bass.  (I refuse to use smileys)

[THEGYMBAR]

Good luck KO. This MU fan remembers him fondly, from drinks on the bus to late nights recapping the game in a hotel room. Wish I still had the MU sweatshirt KO autographed as TN head coach the night we lost to Duke in Knoxville.


I will hoist one for KO tonight.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So what I'm hearing is that KO got fired from multiple universities for hooking up with 19 year old hotties?           (Silently gives KO an imaginary high five in my head)

No, you're not hearing that nor did anyone say he was fired at multiple universities.  You're hearing that he's burned many bridges where he's been, he doesn't get along with his players, and he's done some things that he shouldn't have at MU considering the position he was in.

And no, you should not be giving him a high five for that.  Sorry, but he's the public face of the university.  Just as you don't give Elliott Spitzer high fives for what he was doing.  Just as you don't give high fives to Eustachy for what he did, etc, etc.  Public figures are expected to act accordingly in the real world.  Their actions and their words affect can affect the integrity, image and reputation of the university.  Let's get real here, sure it's funny and great as a guy.  But as graduates, fans of the program, etc, think about for a second.

[Marquette84]

My examples come from people who have had the "pleasure" of dealing with TC over the years. They include, but are not limited to, high school coaches, MU alumni, staff and a doctor or two. They paint the picture of an arrogant user of people whose first, second and third concern is Tom Crean.

Again, no actual examples--just more vague accusations of wrongdoing.

Accusations from the staff staff I'm going to dismiss out of hand. Why accept the word of some disgruntled employee.  It would be one thing if if every employee left under a cloud of hatred--but Buckley was with Crean since he was hired at MU, came back after leaving Ball State, and followed Crean to IU.  Brian Barone played for Crean, came to work form him at MU, and followed him to IU.  Seltzer followed Crean to IU as well.  Jayd Grossman left MU for Indiana. 

The fact that four members of his staff followed him is evidence your claim is half-baked at best.  I don't think judgment is absolute simply because Kyle Green or Jean Priloux didn't get along with Crean.

Alumni are also all over the place.  For everyone who thinks Crean was arrogant, there is another story of how they ran into Crean on campus, or while travelling with the team, or somehwere else in the community, and Crean was extremely gracious. 

For doctors to be calling Crean arrogant is a little like the pot calling the kettle black. If you disagree, go check with a nurse.

So that leaves the HS coaches--since they've public figures you should have no problem providing details on who specifically was wronged and what are the details of the specific accusation? 

 

[WellsstreetWanderer]

ESPN in LA dubious about his hiring but KO says on radio interviews that he is going to run and gun. Good luck to him and I hope he succeeds

[IAmMarquette]

No, you're not hearing that nor did anyone say he was fired at multiple universities.  You're hearing that he's burned many bridges where he's been, he doesn't get along with his players, and he's done some things that he shouldn't have at MU considering the position he was in.

And no, you should not be giving him a high five for that.  Sorry, but he's the public face of the university.  Just as you don't give Elliott Spitzer high fives for what he was doing.  Just as you don't give high fives to Eustachy for what he did, etc, etc.  Public figures are expected to act accordingly in the real world.  Their actions and their words affect can affect the integrity, image and reputation of the university.  Let's get real here, sure it's funny and great as a guy.  But as graduates, fans of the program, etc, think about for a second.

Point made, but Elliott Spitzer was a bad analogy. Prostitution is illegal. Sleeping with 19-year-old-coeds (as alleged in this thread) is perfectly legal, though, in most circles, frowned upon.

Aside from that: Debbie Downer.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I think Kevin, himself, says it best in today's LA Times.  As I've said previously, I hope he's tempered things.



"Contrary to popular belief, I am not Darth Vader," O'Neill said, smiling. "People think I was slaying people every time I turned around. . . . Players don't always like the coach. Guess what, coaches don't always like all the players sometimes either."

O'Neill said that he has mellowed since the days when he was a head coach at "31 and Irish Catholic and prone to be wild on occasions." That was evident to Van Gundy, who had O'Neill as an assistant with the New York Knicks.

"I think every coach evolves and changes, continues to get better," Van Gundy said. "Kevin will probably be the first to say he is different now than when he first took over at Marquette."

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I think Kevin, himself, says it best in today's LA Times.  As I've said previously, I hope he's tempered things.



"Contrary to popular belief, I am not Darth Vader," O'Neill said, smiling. "People think I was slaying people every time I turned around. . . . Players don't always like the coach. Guess what, coaches don't always like all the players sometimes either."

O'Neill said that he has mellowed since the days when he was a head coach at "31 and Irish Catholic and prone to be wild on occasions." That was evident to Van Gundy, who had O'Neill as an assistant with the New York Knicks.

"I think every coach evolves and changes, continues to get better," Van Gundy said. "Kevin will probably be the first to say he is different now than when he first took over at Marquette."

Yes, but at least kevin was a d*ck to everybody, so that makes it ok.

Truth be told, I don't really care that much if the coach is a d*ck. As long as he wins, graduates players and represents the university well, I'm happy. You could argue that last point with O'Neil... but I've never met him, so I can't really comment.

Again, I'm still surprised at how much value people put on the coach being a "good guy". Why do you f-ing care? There are millions of "good guys" out there... go be friends with one of them. Leave the coaching to the guys who can get it done.

[LON]

I'd always assumed that your screen name referred to Lance Armstrong.  Your last post made me realize that it might be referring to Lance Bass.  (I refuse to use smileys)

You're correct on Lance Armstrong and couldn't be more off with Lance Bass (although it was pretty funny).

[StillAWarrior]

For doctors to be calling Crean arrogant is a little like the pot calling the kettle black. If you disagree, go check with a nurse.

For the most part, I'm on your side on this debate.  But you can't blast him for vague generalities and then throw this one out there.  If I understand this correctly, you're countering the claim that the team doctors thought Crean is arrogant by arguing that all doctors are arrogant and all nurses would agree.  I think your argument was fairly well stated up to here, but you lost on this point.  (No, I'm not a doctor.)

[BrewCity83]

Sleeping with 19-year-old-coeds (as alleged in this thread) is perfectly legal, though, in most circles, frowned upon.

Actually, when married, this is called adultery and is illegal.

[lurch91]

Actually, when married, this is called adultery and is illegal.

Not condoning what KO did, but polygamy is illegal, never heard that adultery was.  Adultry is immoral, a sin, and grounds for divorce, but not illegal.  Otherwise, there'd be ALOT more people in jail.

[BrewCity83]

Yeah, in fact it's been talked about this week in light of the Milwaukee Police Chief.  The law is definitely on the books, but hasn't been enforced here since the early '80's.

[GGGG]

Yeah, in fact it's been talked about this week in light of the Milwaukee Police Chief.  The law is definitely on the books, but hasn't been enforced here since the early '80's.

1880s???

An adultery law would never stand a Constitutional test these days anyway.

[lurch91]

Wow, I stand corrected.  I looked it up, adultery is a Class 1 Felony in Wisconsin.

Question is, has it ever been enforced???????

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wow, I stand corrected.  I looked it up, adultery is a Class 1 Felony in Wisconsin.

Question is, has it ever been enforced???????

Probably not in ages. 

Marriages fail all the time to good people.  There are good people on this board that have gone through divorce, been involved in affairs, separations, etc.  We're all human beings and often there are circumstances that lead to those things happening which are often very complex.   Where this gets much more sticky is that the head basketball coach isn't just a normal guy, but a representative of the university.  Furthermore, a lot of times (fair or unfair) who you're choosing to mess around is a critical part of the equation. 

[tower912]

Just listened to KON on the Dan Patrick show.   He claims his job interview lasted about a minute, that salary wasn't discussed, that the possible sanctions coming down the pipeline weren't discussed.   He said that he talked wtih Tim Floyd for 1/2 hour and never asked what he could expect.   He said that possible impending sanctions will have no impact on how he tries to recruit.    So.....coach speak or naivete?    BTW, Dan Patrick was not impressed.   Said he likes it when his guests actually answere questions.

[BrewCity83]

Translation:  KO was gonna take whatever job he could get, and USC was gonna hire anyone who would take the job.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Just listened to KON on the Dan Patrick show.   He claims his job interview lasted about a minute, that salary wasn't discussed, that the possible sanctions coming down the pipeline weren't discussed.   He said that he talked wtih Tim Floyd for 1/2 hour and never asked what he could expect.   He said that possible impending sanctions will have no impact on how he tries to recruit.    So.....coach speak or naivete?    BTW, Dan Patrick was not impressed.   Said he likes it when his guests actually answere questions.

Hmmm... sounds like Kevin was using a lot of coach speak. Just like almost every coach out there.

What happened to KO is an ass, but at least he's genuine? Where are the posters that told me that?

Like it has been previously said, ALL coaches are putting on an act at least some of the time. People should not be surprised or disappointed by this. It's the nature of the business.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Just listened to KON on the Dan Patrick show.   He claims his job interview lasted about a minute, that salary wasn't discussed, that the possible sanctions coming down the pipeline weren't discussed.   He said that he talked wtih Tim Floyd for 1/2 hour and never asked what he could expect.   He said that possible impending sanctions will have no impact on how he tries to recruit.    So.....coach speak or naivete?    BTW, Dan Patrick was not impressed.   Said he likes it when his guests actually answere questions.

Pretty much what the LA Times reported as well.  He was like choice 10 (USC will say choice #4....don't believe it) and he said he was going to take it no matter what.  Desperate program seeks coach = KO, nomad of many programs and a 171-180 record.  Let's put it this way, UCLA fans are having a great time here bashing the USC folks.  For the most part, the USC folks here are in the mode of "we're a football school, we don't care who we hired".

[Lennys Tap]

Again, no actual examples--just more vague accusations of wrongdoing.

Accusations from the staff staff I'm going to dismiss out of hand. Why accept the word of some disgruntled employee.  It would be one thing if if every employee left under a cloud of hatred--but Buckley was with Crean since he was hired at MU, came back after leaving Ball State, and followed Crean to IU.  Brian Barone played for Crean, came to work form him at MU, and followed him to IU.  Seltzer followed Crean to IU as well.  Jayd Grossman left MU for Indiana. 

The fact that four members of his staff followed him is evidence your claim is half-baked at best.  I don't think judgment is absolute simply because Kyle Green or Jean Priloux didn't get along with Crean.

Alumni are also all over the place.  For everyone who thinks Crean was arrogant, there is another story of how they ran into Crean on campus, or while travelling with the team, or somehwere else in the community, and Crean was extremely gracious. 

For doctors to be calling Crean arrogant is a little like the pot calling the kettle black. If you disagree, go check with a nurse.

So that leaves the HS coaches--since they've public figures you should have no problem providing details on who specifically was wronged and what are the details of the specific accusation? 

 

You wouldn't accept it if his Mom said he was a phony. You'd say his Dad thought he was OK and anyway what could a women possibly know about someone who coaches basketball. Look, you can't "prove" someone is  disingenuous, egotistical or arrogant. But it's not very hard to spot. Except, of course, by those with similar traits. They tend to not see what the big deal is.

[IAmMarquette]

For doctors to be calling Crean arrogant is a little like the pot calling the kettle black. If you disagree, go check with a nurse.

Wow...
1. Have you ever worked in a clinical setting?
2. Do you happen to have RN/LPN behind your name?

Full disclosure: First-year med student come August.


/Thread hijack

[IAmMarquette]

You wouldn't accept it if his Mom said he was a phony. You'd say his Dad thought he was OK and anyway what could a women possibly know about someone who coaches basketball. Look, you can't "prove" someone is  disingenuous, egotistical or arrogant. But it's not very hard to spot. Except, of course, by those with similar traits. They tend to not see what the big deal is.

"I know it when I see it" - Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, 1964

[The Lens]

Hmmm... sounds like Kevin was using a lot of coach speak. Just like almost every coach out there.

What happened to KO is an ass, but at least he's genuine? Where are the posters that told me that?

Like it has been previously said, ALL coaches are putting on an act at least some of the time. People should not be surprised or disappointed by this. It's the nature of the business.

KO was on Homer today... Homer said:  "you have no players" 

KO replied:  "No we have really good players"  "We only need a PG"

Unlike TC at IU, KO has talked about winning from Day 1 and not making excuses.

And Homer was great to point out that in the past 25+ years MU has been to two Sweet 16s...one was Kevin's.

And while TC leaves Buzz in year two with Lazar, Cubby, Fulce and Otoule, KO in year 2 left Deane with:

Eford, McCaskill, Pieper, Crawford, Hutchins, Fai & more.  2 NBAers plus 3 really good college players.  Too bad TC couldn't leave MU in as good of shape as KO left it.