Why is jp tokoto announcing at ten at night?

[Fullodds]

He picked 10 pm because Bo Ryan never stays up that late

[Tugg Speedman]

I don't think there is going to be much of a hostile crowd on a Thursday night at a Dave & Busters if he chooses UNC.  I think it is fairly obvious at this point that he is going to UNC, going to celebrate that fact with his friends and family, and will be transferring out of state for his senior year.

Completely disagree ... With all the publicity this announcement is getting on these message boards, I would not be surprised if D&B is packed to overflowing.  What do you think D&B wants out of this?  A packed Thursday night!  They are probably even advertising this event and encouraging people to show up (I would if I owned that D&B).  If a local TV station is sending a satellite truck and sports reporter, they will damn well hype it to get a big crowd.  Sports talk radio will hype it the next two days.

It's the perfect thing for a single 20-something MU or UW fan to do on a Thursday night.  It's the perfect thing for a MF basketball fan to do.  Drive over to D&B in MF, have some wings and beers and watch Tokoto make his announcement live on TV.  Expect hundreds of partisan basketball fans.

And when he says UNC and transferring to Oak Hill the booing will be deafening along with the shower of popcorn thrown at him.  You think locals are going to welcome this news?  Why make it in such a public place?  Unless it's news the locals will like.

And then the live local new broadcast will use words like "disappointing to UW and MU fans" and talk about it in the negative tones.  Local news casts are suppose to talk positive about the viewing area, not highlight some kid from MF that makes people that live in Wisconsin feel like losers.  Then Friday at school he will be treated like a traitor.

If he was going to UNC and Oak Hill, make the announcement in June after school is over QUIETLY and get out of town in 24 hours.  He makes this announcement Thursday and he's the host hated person in Eastern Wisconsin Friday morning.

Trimble and Tokoto have handled this so well then must know this and do not want to put themselves through this.  This is why I think this bodes well for MU and UW.

[GGGG]

I don't think he will be making any announcement about high school next year.  My guess is that comes out later.  If he chooses UNC, no one will boo...I promise you that.  There will be cheers from his friends and family, and the next day will be treated just fine at his high school - I don't think his classmates would blame him one bit for choosing North Carolina.

Navin is right.  You need to get some perspective here.  Most sports fans want him to go local, but aren't so emotionally invested in the decision that they will be hostile if he chooses a "blue blood" school over the local school.

[NavinRJohnson]

Completely disagree ... With all the publicity this announcement is getting on these message boards, I would not be surprised if D&B is packed to overflowing.  What do you think D&B wants out of this?  A packed Thursday night!  They are probably even advertising this event and encouraging people to show up (I would if I owned that D&B).

It's the perfect thing for a single 20-something MU or UW fan to do on a Thursday night.  It's the perfect thing for a MF basketball fan to do.  Drive over to D&B in MF, have some wings and beers and watch Tokoto make his announcement live on TV.

And when he says UNC and transferring to Oak Hill the booing will be deafening along with the shower of popcorn thrown at him.  You think locals are going to welcome this news?  Why make it in such a public place?  Unless it's news the locals will like.

Because its the way its done. He is not the first to do this. With all due respect, you're out of your mind.
He will be in one of the back rooms with his family and friends and the local TV cameras. There is not going to be some massive crowd hanging around next to the pop a shot machine.

There will be no boos (at least not sincere ones). There will be no popcorn throwing. he will not be treated like a traitor, and there will be no media frenzy. This is a 17 year old kid announcing his college choice. Why should he give a rip about some stranger MU or UW fan that disagrees with it? You are wayyy over thinking (or under thinking) this.

BTW, the job of the local news cast is to report the news, not to talk positively about the viewing area.

[Tugg Speedman]

I remember Joe Wolf in 1983.  I recall he got grief when he did exactly the same thing from partisan basketball fans.

You're giving MU, UW and supporters of Wisconsin too much credit.

[NavinRJohnson]

You're giving MU, UW and supporters of Wisconsin too much credit.

Are there idiots out there who think this kid owes them something? You bet. Are they an extreme minority among MU or UW fans? Absolutely. The overwhelming majority of people, the ones that matter, will wish him well and move on, no matter what he decides.

[4everwarriors]

Nobody really gives a stink about this nonsense except the fans of the respective schools. With price of gas approaching $4.00, people bitching for and against Walker, and the otherwise f*cked state of the world, I refuse to get my Speedos all knotted up over some 18 yr old and who's free education the dude is grabbin'.

[Tugg Speedman]

Because its the way its done. He is not the first to do this. With all due respect, you're out of your mind.
He will be in one of the back rooms with his family and friends and the local TV cameras. There is not going to be some massive crowd hanging around next to the pop a shot machine.

There will be no boos (at least not sincere ones). There will be no popcorn throwing. he will not be treated like a traitor, and there will be no media frenzy. This is a 17 year old kid announcing his college choice. Why should he give a rip about some stranger MU or UW fan that disagrees with it? You are wayyy over thinking (or under thinking) this.

BTW, the job of the local news cast is to report the news, not to talk positively about the viewing area.

We're guessing here so let's see how it'd done.  

D&B is in the business of making money.  If I was doing this (that is owned D&B as was approached about this event), I would charge the family hundreds of dollars to reserve a backroom for the evening (when you consider the set-up time and food).  If they want it for free, than I'm setting up an elevated table next to the bar that everyone in the restaurant can see and out a giant spotlight on him.  I want the place packed with partisan fans spending money in my restaurant.

[brewcity77]

Are there idiots out there who think this kid owes them something? You bet. Are they an extreme minority among MU or UW fans? Absolutely. The overwhelming majority of people, the ones that matter, will wish him well and move on, no matter what he decides.

You're right. But I also think it's the idiots that are most likely to make the travel to D&B to watch the event, and either cheer like idiots or boo like idiots when he makes his decision. One thing that can't be forgotten is the immense negative feedback LBJ got when he snubbed his hometown in the most public way he possibly could. Going to a local hangout, timing the event for maximum media coverage, and putting it in a central location (D&B is by Mayfair, not in MF) is basically going for the most public announcement he can get.

I realize that JPT is not LBJ. What James did made him somewhat of a national pariah for a time and exposed him as a bumbling idiot when it comes to handling public relations. That's public knowledge. And while JPT isn't LBJ, he's probably the closest to him the Milwaukee area has had when you factor the media coverage these kids get today. There are some parallels, and it's not inconceivable that if they really are factoring in potential negative feedback, the location was chosen because he's going to shock us all and stay local.

[GGGG]

And while JPT isn't LBJ, he's probably the closest to him the Milwaukee area has had when you factor the media coverage these kids get today.

Oh please.  JPT is the closest thing Milwaukee has to LBJ?  I bet 90% of the people of Milwaukee have no idea who Tokoto is...and I might be generous by saying that.

Let's get some perspective here.

[Tugg Speedman]

This venue is huge! ....


http://www.wauwatosanow.com/news/84605752.html

D&B in Mayfair by the numbers

34,000
Square feet of the Tosa's Dave & Busters

24
Number of flat-screen TVs

210
Number of employees

900
Number of customers expected on a typical Friday or Saturday night

AT A GLANCE
WHAT: Dave & Buster's, bar, restaurant and arcade for adults
WHERE: 2201 N. Mayfair Road
WHEN: The doors open March 1. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

---

You don't pick this place to have it secluded in the back room.  Do that in your house or high school gym.  

You pick this place to be in front of 900 drunk partisan fans and you better tell them what they want to hear.  They don't give a rip about him or UNC.  They only care about their team and they want him on their team.

So, unless this venue changes again (remember yesterday it was suppose to be Friday), this seems like good news for the local schools (MU and UW).

[brewcity77]

Oh please.  JPT is the closest thing Milwaukee has to LBJ?  I bet 90% of the people of Milwaukee have no idea who Tokoto is...and I might be generous by saying that.

Let's get some perspective here.

From an local athlete making an announcement about his future in basketball, yes. Do you have a better example? Hell, can you give me any examples of a Milwaukee-area basketball player making the announcement about his future in such a fashion?

[Goose]

Firstly, I am and my boys will be there. I stated in earlier post that I heard from reliable source that J.P. was MU bound. Again, my source is not super inside the program, but someone I trust a great deal.

[willie wampum]

If you're announcing in that place at that time of night when all the local fans have just gotten done watching the UW game...

You deserve to get booed in that setting if you announce UNC.  That would just be rubbing it in the fans faces.

Could it really be UW?

[Skatastrophy]

I like JP and his game.  I hope he's happy wherever he chooses to spend his college years

His quote about pace and not wanting to play somewhere that slows down the game solidly rules out UW-Madison.

[GGGG]

From an local athlete making an announcement about his future in basketball, yes. Do you have a better example? Hell, can you give me any examples of a Milwaukee-area basketball player making the announcement about his future in such a fashion?

None.  But that doesn't make him the closest thing Milwaukee has to LBJ.

[TallTitan34]

I think Tokoto would be more likely to get booed if he picks MU or UW over UNC.  If he picks UNC most people will just be happy he didn't go to their in-state rival.  If he picks MU or UW, that will anger half of the crowd.

For all the MU fans going please keep it classy whatever he decides.  

[Stretchdeltsig]

As a great athlete who loves to play fast, JP would be a great fit on Marquette's athletic team.  Hate to see him leave the state for NC.  Remember how Joe Wolf let Wisconsin and Marquette down for NC.   And, he never really stood out at NC.  JP would be a great Marquette player.

[brewcity77]

None.  But that doesn't make him the closest thing Milwaukee has to LBJ.

Then who is? If the answer is "no one", then the answer by default is JPT.

[Goose]

Joe Wolf broke Warrior hearts at 6pm news on a Saturday if memory serves me right. At that time it was a big deal. J.P.'s announcement is just a sign of the times. Wolf was far from a showboat but his announcement was big news. Just ask Coach Rick how big of news it was.

[TallTitan34]

I agree with BrewCity.  While not equal to LBJ he is the closest thing to it just because there is no one better.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Oh please.  JPT is the closest thing Milwaukee has to LBJ?  I bet 90% of the people of Milwaukee have no idea who Tokoto is...and I might be generous by saying that.

Let's get some perspective here.

Well said.

Another84....why would he wait until June?  Makes no sense at all. 

[GGGG]

Hey by the way, the idea that he will be choosing UNC, and then heading to Chapel Hill for the Duke game is a little unlikely.  The Falls plays Saturday afternoon at 1:30 in the WIAA playoffs in Waukesha.  Unless he is taking a private jet to North Carolina following that game, there is no way he gets there in time for a 7:00 (Central) tip.

[Ari Gold]

Dumb as it may seem, a commit to UNC and a decent senior season, especially at a higher-profile HS, could lead him to being a McDonald's All-American and re-upping his stock. If he commits to Marquette or Wisconsin and stays at MF, there's no reason he can't have as high an eventual ceiling, but he probably doesn't get the immediate national pub.

If you have to start a sentence with "dumb as it may seem" then likely what you're saying is Really stupid.
There is. No way. He Will. Leave MF.
Let me be clear: No way in hell.

[whodem]

My bet is that 4, 12, and 58 will all be there for him to announce it live. He won't get ESPN there live, but it'll be a major local event that will probably run on at least three networks and generate some discussion.

One interesting point...if he's focusing on the local media, might that indicate he's staying in-state? How much discussion is there from Dan Needles, Lance Allan, and Tom Pipines if he says "I'm going to North Carolina"? I guess the "local boy done good" angle, but it will pretty much be all disappointment. The timing may indicate he's staying in Wisconsin.

I still say UNC, but keep an eye out Wednesday night at the BC...

Don't keep an eye out on Wednesday, if I'm not mistaken he's going to Wisconsin that day to talk to Bo. Likely to tell him that he's going to UNC.