Tom Crean Is Such An Ass

[Golden Avalanche]

Link dump here: http://eye-on-college-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/31815930

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Nice story, but gee whiz you wonder how Dave Kaplan heard about it. I have a pretty good idea. Crean is a jackass in every sense of the term and using a down on his luck kid for PR is par for the course.

[Clam Crowder]

I think someone from inside definitely relayed this story. If Buzz talked to me and asked me how I was doing freshman year, and gave me advice I wouldn't go tell the national media...It was a very nice gesture by Crean, but come on now...no reason for this to be in the national media.

[lurch91]

The "Crean Machine" at work, generating press on his behalf.

[TomW1365]

Here we go again... more anti-Crean hate mongers.  Who gives a sh*t anymore!  There are individuals at each institution that relay feel good PR stories for their school's benefit.  I think it's very doubtful that Crean would take any time relaying this story to the press.  We have had many feel good PR stories come out about our players and coaches too!

[forgetful]

I'm not exactly a big Crean supporter, but in this case I don't see how he did anything wrong or even ill-conceived.  I find it really hard to believe anyone would see a person struggling and think, hey if I help this kid out I can plant a feel good story about this and pretend like I never planned anything by refusing to comment on the story.

To me it looks like Crean did what anyone should when they work in education.  If someone looks like they are struggling stop them for 5 minutes of your day and lend them an ear.

Kudos to Crean for doing so.

[BrewCity83]

I'm not exactly a big Crean supporter, but in this case I don't see how he did anything wrong or even ill-conceived.  I find it really hard to believe anyone would see a person struggling and think, hey if I help this kid out I can plant a feel good story about this and pretend like I never planned anything by refusing to comment on the story.

To me it looks like Crean did what anyone should when they work in education.  If someone looks like they are struggling stop them for 5 minutes of your day and lend them an ear.

Kudos to Crean for doing so.

My thoughts exactly.

Thanks for chiming in, Joanie.

[Hards Alumni]

My thoughts exactly.

Thanks for chiming in, Joanie.

I by no means like Crean, but if the same story leaked about Buzz, this place would collectively jizz its pants.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I find it really hard to believe anyone would see a person struggling and think, hey if I help this kid out I can plant a feel good story about this and pretend like I never planned anything by refusing to comment on the story.

I don't find it hard to believe because that's exactly what happened. Did anybody ask this kid if he wanted his issues aired in the media? Of course not

[Dawson Rental]

I'm not exactly a big Crean supporter, but in this case I don't see how he did anything wrong or even ill-conceived.  I find it really hard to believe anyone would see a person struggling and think, hey if I help this kid out I can plant a feel good story about this and pretend like I never planned anything by refusing to comment on the story.

To me it looks like Crean did what anyone should when they work in education.  If someone looks like they are struggling stop them for 5 minutes of your day and lend them an ear.

Kudos to Crean for doing so.

And those who posted the first four comments in this thread can believe that Crean would do such a thing.  That's what all the Crean debates come down to: the way someone views Crean's character.  Either you see him as an arrogant opportunist capable of doing almost anything to further his ambitions, an attitude brought on by his perceived arrogance his last few years at MU coupled with how he left and his absolute glee at getting the Indiana job, or you don't.  What he actually does doesn't really matter, its the prism through which he is viewed that can find a base motive for anything that he does. 

Incidentally, my leanings are with those who question his motives.

Actually, while we're talking about motives...  I find it kind of interesting that someone "upset" with having a hard time adjusting to college would just happen to spend his upset time sitting in the lobby of the Indiana practice facility.

[77ncaachamps]

Actually, while we're talking about motives...  I find it kind of interesting that someone "upset" with having a hard time adjusting to college would just happen to spend his upset time sitting in the lobby of the Indiana practice facility.

Because that place is used to seeing people endure hard times?

[Dawson Rental]

Because that place is used to seeing people endure hard times?

I think that you're thinking of Assembly Hall.

[tower912]

It's been 3 years.   I4 has stunk so bad that I have outgrown my schadenfreude.    We just beat the guy for Burton.    At this point, the poor guy needs all of the good press he can get.    And, BTW, a couple of years ago, didn't Buzz give out his phone number to parents at freshman orientation and offer to help if their kids needed it?     Let       It        Go.

[HoopsMalone]

That's why he went to IU.  More national media attention for random stuff.  The important thing is that a kid was helped.

[mu_hilltopper]

Wow, the smell of Spurned Lover Cologne is thick in here.  

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I by no means like Crean, but if the same story leaked about Buzz, this place would collectively jizz its pants.

+1000

TC could save a baby from a burning building and people would rip him for it.

Buzz could lend somebody a pencil and some MU fans would write 10 paragraphs about how down to earth he is.

Get some perspective, gents. Good God.

[MUMac]

I by no means like Crean, but if the same story leaked about Buzz, this place would collectively jizz its pants.

Agreed, but I think the reason why there is criticism is due to the "how did the story get out" question.  Rightly or wrongly, Crean can be the speculative source due to how he operates.  Further, the agenda of the original poster comes into play ... thus, the derision.

[marqfan22]

It would have been nice if Crean kept his word to his MU basketball managers by writing them letters of recommendation. He left town and never returned calls from them for recs even though they worked their tails off for him.

[reinko]

It would have been nice if Crean kept his word to his MU basketball managers by writing them letters of recommendation. He left town and never returned calls from them for recs even though they worked their tails off for him.

By them, you mean you?  #spurned

[4everwarriors]

Crean = Ass is an insult to asses everywhere.

[brewcity77]

+1000

TC could save a baby from a burning building and people would rip him for it.

Buzz could lend somebody a pencil and some MU fans would write 10 paragraphs about how down to earth he is.

Get some perspective, gents. Good God.

Hell yeah we'd rip him...you go into the building both to save the baby and to put the fire out. This ain't baseball, batting .500 isn't success. I'd also expect him to stick around for overhaul.

I think this is a double-edged sword. It doesn't seem that different from the JFB story. Sure, totally different circumstances, but a private matter regarding the player/student's situation, taken under the wing of a coach, things seem to look up. The only significant difference I see is that JFB's story came out when he was ready for it to come out, the Indiana kid's story came out after it'd been quiet for a bit around their basketball program. I'm not saying it was TC, but my guess is someone at I4 did deliberately leak this for positive press. And I also commend the person for the positive PR move...Marquette could use a few more of those.

But at the same time, I just hope that the kid is able to remain anonymous if he wants to and that he doesn't become a focal point. College sounds like it's hard enough for this kid without being discussed by Indiana's head coach and members of the media. It's a good story for TC, and honestly I just don't care enough to really bear him any ill will anymore.[/ramble]

Wish the kid the best. That's all that's really important here.

[NersEllenson]

At the end if the day...it was a nice gesture by TC. Yet to the recent poster who seems to have been a former MU manager under TC...not getting a letter of recommendation after many hours of service...unfortunate, but perhapsTC has at least turned over a new leaf.

[Jay Bee]

Probably a planted story by Crean.

Show me a homeless guy having a beer at a bball game, then maybe I'll be impressed. 

[🏀]

Probably a planted story by Crean.

Show me a homeless guy having a beer at a bball game, then maybe I'll be impressed. 

Right?

We didn't find out about him until when? Mid way through the BE?

Then there's this story, how long has IU been in session? A week? Didn't take long.

Also, who gets homesick and then hangs out at the basketball facility?

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Right?

We didn't find out about him until when? Mid way through the BE?

Then there's this story, how long has IU been in session? A week? Didn't take long.

Also, who gets homesick and then hangs out at the basketball facility?

jersey chaser.