5th Annual FFC Day

[Dr. Blackheart]

As Blackheart would say...puppies and unicorns.

Chico's World

[MU82]

I agree with your sentiment, but I think your post is a whole lot of confirmation bias. Nobody remembers the no-names who don't work out. Pitino, Calipari, Crean, Self, Roy Williams, and Ben Howland (3 FF Howland, not unemployed Howland) are all "names" who have had success at their new school. On top of that, I don't think there were as many big name coaches around when Duke, Cuse, and Georgetown hired their future legends.

Either way can be good or bad. Going with a no name carries a risk of looking small time. Going with a name carries a risk of publicly flaming out.

Regardless, we came out ahead in this one.

Agreed on everything you say.

My point is to the knee-jerk element who thinks that if a guy is a big name he must be good and if a guy is a relative no-name he must be bad. It's silly.

[Avenue Commons]

That brings us back to Fr Wild.  Remember, these quotes are a week after Crean left.  He had full and complete knowledge of exactly how Crean left, and yet Wild is not just making cordial public statments, but still saying they liked Crean and would have tried to keep him.  

Doesn't make sense for Fr. Wild to say this if he didn't mean it, don't you think?  

Frankly, I can't see Fr. Wild telling lies to cover for a guy he liked.  So I have a really hard time understanding why he would serially lie to cover for a guy who supposedly was "mud."

I have had numerous conversations with fellow MU boosters who were very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself. I have had conversations with MU administrators and athletic dept. personnel who were very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself. I have had conversations with former players who were disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself.

I have heard from many direct sources that Fr. Wild was none too pleased. You are taking one reported interview with Fr. Wild and extrapolating it to fit your narrative. People at MU were very happy with Tom Crean, until he left, and left in the manner he did. The general sentiment is Tom Crean embarrassed Marquette and treated us with a lack of respect. Since that day is he is not very welcome around Marquette. His name is mud.

Don't believe me? I don't really know what else to say or what you want to hear. I was very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself, and you should be too. He is a fraud in my book.

[Avenue Commons]

If Fr. Wild couldn't stand Crean and wanted him gone, I would NOT expect him to lie about it and say "We were very happy with him." 

If he didn't want him back, I would NOT expect him to lie about it and say "We would have tried to keep him."

If he thought that his departure was typical behavior, I wouldn't expect him to lie and say its "not characteristic of the man as I dealt with"

In short, if Wild actually couldn't stand Crean, wanted him gone, and is happy to be rid of him, the classy response would NOT  have been to lie three times--it would have been to simply say "We thank him for his past service and look forward to continued success with our new coach."

Fr. Wild is an honorable man, and shouldn't have to put up with your accusations that he's a liar, just so you can pretend that he shares your hatred of Crean.

I'm 99% sure that "The Equalizer" is Chicos Bail Bonds using one of his "aliases."

[forgetful]

Maybe its time to change it to TGFB day.

Thank God for Buzz day.

[VegasWarrior77]

I'm at truck stop on my way to the Colorado river next few days for jet skiing, enjoying friends, etc.

Laughlin?

[77ncaachamps]

I thank Crean for Wade, Diener, Novak, Jackson, the FF (but not the result), and most importantly, Buzz.

I also thank him for leaving MU as a coward, not telling his players - er, his "family" -before the beans spilled.

Character revealed, indeed.

[The Equalizer]

I have had numerous conversations with fellow MU boosters who were very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself. I have had conversations with MU administrators and athletic dept. personnel who were very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself. I have had conversations with former players who were disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself.

I have heard from many direct sources that Fr. Wild was none too pleased. You are taking one reported interview with Fr. Wild and extrapolating it to fit your narrative. People at MU were very happy with Tom Crean, until he left, and left in the manner he did. The general sentiment is Tom Crean embarrassed Marquette and treated us with a lack of respect. Since that day is he is not very welcome around Marquette. His name is mud.

Don't believe me? I don't really know what else to say or what you want to hear. I was very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself, and you should be too. He is a fraud in my book.

This is hardly news.  Fr. Wild was quoted saying this in the article I linked:  "But the how of it, how he basically didn't talk to anybody, that was a problem," Wild added. "And I said that clearly. The end game was definitely not the way to do things."  Nobody disputes that.  Not me.  Not Fr. Wild.  Nobody.

What you seem to have a problem with is his follow up: "And I must say, it was not characteristic of the man as I dealt with him over the years."

What I'm trying to reconcile is the oft-cited implication on this board that the way Crean left was a reflection of his character when Fr. Wild stated exactly the opposite--it was not characteristic.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I'm 99% sure that "The Equalizer" is Chicos Bail Bonds using one of his "aliases."

Nah. But there was a reason that his former identity marquette84/sjs was also known as Joanie.

[ChicosBailBonds]

He wanted to tell his team.  The news got out ahead of him.  Partly as a result of his bro in law. 

Unfortunate.  Could have been handled a lot better.  No one denies this, including Crean.

Something tells me even if he did tell his team before it hit the news, people would still bitch about something.  They just need a reason to bitch, nothing more.  It is what it is for some and nothing is going to change it.  He left for a better job.

[keefe]

I'm at truck stop on my way to the Colorado river next few days for jet skiing, enjoying friends, etc.

Sounds like a real White Trash Weekend there Chico





Truck Stop Dinner



Truck Stop Dessert



The River



Nothing like a Jet Ski



Nothing like Friends...The guy standing in the second row wearing a wife beater has on his IU hat!



The Backyard Summit - Chico & Hoop discuss the State of Marquette Basketball



Lotsa Sun at the River



Hey! I switched to Camel Lights for my Pregnancy!

[keefe]

I have had numerous conversations with fellow MU boosters who were very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself. I have had conversations with MU administrators and athletic dept. personnel who were very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself. I have had conversations with former players who were disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself.

I have heard from many direct sources that Fr. Wild was none too pleased. You are taking one reported interview with Fr. Wild and extrapolating it to fit your narrative. People at MU were very happy with Tom Crean, until he left, and left in the manner he did. The general sentiment is Tom Crean embarrassed Marquette and treated us with a lack of respect. Since that day is he is not very welcome around Marquette. His name is mud.

Don't believe me? I don't really know what else to say or what you want to hear. I was very disappointed in how Tom Crean conducted himself, and you should be too. He is a fraud in my book.

Exceptional articulation of a "man's" cowardice.

[wadesworld]

Sounds like a real White Trash Weekend there Chico





Truck Stop Dinner



Truck Stop Dessert



The River



Nothing like a Jet Ski



And Friends...The guy standing in the second row wearing a wife beater has on his IU hat!



And PBR

It's gotta be Hoopaloop...

[keefe]

Any reports from the River Front on Chico's Magnificent Water Sport Adventure?

[NavinRJohnson]

Since success at places like I4, Kentucky, UNC, etc. is measured in Championship and final Four banners, could one draw the conclusion that after 5 years Crean has not been successful? Especially since it looks as if they could take a somewhat significant step back next year. Next five year plan started yesterday, I guess.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Any reports from the River Front on Chico's Magnificent Water Sport Adventure?

Colonel, we do these trips a lot.  Great fun with real folks.  Sure, we do the trips with the hotels and nines as well, but every year we rough it and camp on the lake shore or we do the Colorado River.  Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Lots of real military guys here as well.  I don't consider them white trash, but to each their own.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Laughlin?

No, Arizona border.  A few friends have a place near Blythe in a small village with about 20 homes on the river.  A lot of fun, beautiful weather, they have the toys, I pay for the beer and gas.  Kids have a ball. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm 99% sure that "The Equalizer" is Chicos Bail Bonds using one of his "aliases."

You're 100% wrong.  I don't have any aliases, number one.  And number two, Equalizer has been a contributor to Cracked Sidewalks for 5+ years.  You are simply dead wrong.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I thank Crean for Wade, Diener, Novak, Jackson, the FF (but not the result), and most importantly, Buzz.

I also thank him for leaving MU as a coward, not telling his players - er, his "family" -before the beans spilled.

Character revealed, indeed.

He tried, but the news got out ahead of his ability to tell them.  There were two meetings at TC's house on April 2nd in Thiensville \ Mequon area.  I know three people that were at the meetings...they included athletic department staff, players, etc.  A lot of tears, some anger, some tough moments.  But yes, he wanted to tell the staff, players, etc before an announcement but IU was unable to contain it, partially because one of the Harbaugh brothers let it out on the radio.  I would say that clearly is one of his regrets, it was handled poorly to say the least. 

I also thank him for Wade, Novak, Diener, Jackson, the Big East (people should read the comments from former Big East commissioner on TC's role of MU getting the invite to the Big East....it will make heads explode here, but he was a key cog), and of course hiring Buzz Williams.

No TC, no Buzz Williams at MU.  Period.   TC did tremendous good for MU, he also left in a poor manner.  He rubbed some people wrong...so did KO, so did Mike Deane, etc, etc.  He left MU exponentially better than what he found it.  NIGHT AND DAY different.  23 of 23 kids that used up their eligibility graduated.  Some will harp forever on the negative...some here that is ALL they do and can't even acknowledge the Final Four, etc...they literally are incapable of it.  Comical. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Since success at places like I4, Kentucky, UNC, etc. is measured in Championship and final Four banners, could one draw the conclusion that after 5 years Crean has not been successful? Especially since it looks as if they could take a somewhat significant step back next year. Next five year plan started yesterday, I guess.

They just won a Big Ten championship....doh

[4everwarriors]

Coach Tom Crean's crib was on Justin Dr. in The Quon. Neighborhood has steadily improved dating back 'bout 5 years ago now. Folks have taken off their window security bars and allow their kids to play out in their yards without adult supervision.

[Dish]

They just won a Big Ten championship....doh

Yeah, that worked out really well for them in the end...

[keefe]

Colonel, we do these trips a lot.  Great fun with real folks.  Sure, we do the trips with the hotels and nines as well, but every year we rough it and camp on the lake shore or we do the Colorado River.  Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Lots of real military guys here as well.  I don't consider them white trash, but to each their own.

Not my idea of a fun weekend. To each their own.

As for "Real" military guys here's what we did for a living:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlvedYbmvTM

I know a couple of those KIAs. Killed in an ambush in Anbar, Jun 05. A lot more real than the "real military guys" who supposedly went jet skiing with you.

[NavinRJohnson]

They just won a Big Ten championship....doh

I'm sorry, is that a Final Four or National Championship?

[swoopem]

I'm sorry, is that a Final Four or National Championship?

Dude they cut down the nets and had a big celebration so they sure as hell acted like it was one