Blue article from ESPN

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

How much money you think Vander made last year?

I'll say $80K, but honestly, I have no idea.

[BrewCity83]

Personally, I have eaten gator and beaver but never croc. Of the two I much prefer eating beaver as gator can be gamey.

Eating beaver is a Friday Lent tradition...

As for Turner Hall, after RC Schmidt closed the restaurant several years ago, it stood vacant for a year or two until the BMO Harris Bradley Center took over operating the restaurant, I think about a year and a half ago.  The fish fries and potato pancakes are as good as ever.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Well, most people in Africa would think that your truck is high end. So what?

You called his purchase "high end" and "extreme". Your exact words.

$600 for shoes is neither of those.

That's it.

PS This doesn't mean I think $600 for shoes is a good idea, but I think we can all save some of the middle-aged guy righteousness about where a young, PROFESSIONAL should spend $600.

I would think then, by your own example you just gave, that interpretation is entirely up to the person making it.  Be it the person in Africa about a pick up truck, or me thinking $600 for a pair of sneakers.  In your opinion it isn't, in my opinion it is.  Based on Mrs. Blue's comments and others here, I suspect that most people, in Africa or the USA, would think $600 for a pair of sneakers is on the higher end, but that's just a matter of opinion.

His money, he can do what he wants with it.  My hope is that he is smart about it.  You may or may not agree, but in my years in this industry I've seen 1 or 2 athletes not be very smart with money decisions...that is also a matter of opinion.

[MU82]

Seriously. Vander hasn't even turned 22 yet. I can think of a LOT dumber things I would have spent money on at that age if I had the money. But I didn't. Because I was a senior at MU, not a professional basketball player. Vander, by default, made WAY more than anyone else graduating this weekend. And he played for the Celtics for a stint. So he bought a $600 pair of sneakers with one of his checks. WHO CARES??

Well, his mom cares. And, on last inspection, she is not a middle-aged white dude.

But really, she's the only one not named Vander who should care. None of us on this fan site should care how Vander spends the money he earns, just as Vander should not care about how any of us spend the money we earn.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I would think then, by your own example you just gave, that interpretation is entirely up to the person making it.  Be it the person in Africa about a pick up truck, or me thinking $600 for a pair of sneakers.  In your opinion it isn't, in my opinion it is.  Based on Mrs. Blue's comments and others here, I suspect that most people, in Africa or the USA, would think $600 for a pair of sneakers is on the higher end, but that's just a matter of opinion.

His money, he can do what he wants with it.  My hope is that he is smart about it.  You may or may not agree, but in my years in this industry I've seen 1 or 2 athletes not be very smart with money decisions...that is also a matter of opinion.

You're not wrong, but I just think your words of "high end" and "extreme", and then using your pick-up truck as some sort of proof of your own logic was lame.

It's $600. It's not high end. It's not extreme. It's not a big deal.

[keefe]

Eating beaver is a Friday Lent tradition...

As for Turner Hall, after RC Schmidt closed the restaurant several years ago, it stood vacant for a year or two until the BMO Harris Bradley Center took over operating the restaurant, I think about a year and a half ago.  The fish fries and potato pancakes are as good as ever.

I wonder why the Church authorized the eating of beaver and gator for Fridays and during Lent. Perhaps it was when there was a French Pope at d'avignon? In any event, the first time I ate beaver was in Quebec. I subsequently ate beaver in Russia where it was prepared rather differently.

[GGGG]

Well, his mom cares. And, on last inspection, she is not a middle-aged white dude.

But really, she's the only one not named Vander who should care. None of us on this fan site should care how Vander spends the money he earns, just as Vander should not care about how any of us spend the money we earn.

Going on a little spending spree when you make your first big money is a time honored tradition.  Continuing to do so over and over again is dumb.

[keefe]

Going on a little spending spree when you make your first big money is a time honored tradition.  Continuing to do so over and over again is dumb.

I remember one year I got a particularly nice bonus but I blew it all in one lost weekend on hookers, Dom, blow, and roulette. My wife told me not ever to do that again.

[barfolomew]

To be clear, we've moved all the way from endlessly debating the sagacity of Vander's decision to leave early, to endlessly debating the sagacity of his footwear purchases.

That's growth. I'm proud of us.

BTW, if I spent all day on my feet for my job, I might spring for some high end shoes too, whether I used them for work or not...

[keefe]

if I spent all day on my feet for my job, I might spring for some high end shoes too, whether I used them for work or not...

From the looks of things, Vander spent more time in the NBA on his ass than on his feet so perhaps he should get some of those padded biker shorts

[MU82]

Going on a little spending spree when you make your first big money is a time honored tradition.  Continuing to do so over and over again is dumb.

OK, but it's his dumb.

He isn't asking you or me or anybody else to contribute to his dumb purchases.

[slingkong]

I wonder why the Church authorized the eating of beaver and gator for Fridays and during Lent. Perhaps it was when there was a French Pope at d'avignon? In any event, the first time I ate beaver was in Quebec. I subsequently ate beaver in Russia where it was prepared rather differently.

Furrier in Russia than in Quebec?

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I wonder why the Church authorized the eating of beaver and gator for Fridays and during Lent. Perhaps it was when there was a French Pope at d'avignon? In any event, the first time I ate beaver was in Quebec. I subsequently ate beaver in Russia where it was prepared rather differently.

I have good photos of crocs at a Chinese restaurant in Tianjin.  One was sliced up on the cutting board already while the other sat in a cage waiting his turn at destiny.  That restaurant had an ample supply of unusual food.

[GGGG]

OK, but it's his dumb.

He isn't asking you or me or anybody else to contribute to his dumb purchases.

No I understand.  I actually agree with the premise that our outrage with his purchases is misplaced.  In the end its not what he does in the first year that matters all that much.  It matters what happens from here on out and from the sounds of it, his mom has put some things in place and Vander looks like he will follow them.

[keefe]

I have good photos of crocs at a Chinese restaurant in Tianjin.  One was sliced up on the cutting board already while the other sat in a cage waiting his turn at destiny.  That restaurant had an ample supply of unusual food.

I used to love to hit the Central Wet Market in Hong Kong on weekends. I grew up in Asia so these venues were old hat for me but my Nordic wife from Thiensville was rendered speechless and without appetite at first by the colors, smells, and sounds of the traditional Chinese marketplace.

The fish mongers and butchers all have chopping blocks and hatchets that clean or dress animal flesh to order right in front of the customer. I'll never forget the look on her face when an eeler took out a 6 footer and sliced it up while still alive. The various parts were still writhing and thrashing in the plastic bags as Cantonese housewives scurried home to prepare the evening's feast.

I have had snake curry and fish head curry in Singapore and India, raccoon and bear in China, fried cockroaches in Thailand, and dog in Korea.

[keefe]

Furrier in Russia than in Quebec?

Actually, there must be some genetic modification going on because today's beaver has very little if any pelt.

[JakeBarnes]

To be clear, we've moved all the way from endlessly debating the sagacity of Vander's decision to leave early, to endlessly debating the sagacity of his footwear purchases.

That's growth. I'm proud of us.

BTW, if I spent all day on my feet for my job, I might spring for some high end shoes too, whether I used them for work or not...

Piety and poverty vow measuring contests are the new Crean threads.

[Coleman]

I wonder why the Church authorized the eating of beaver and gator for Fridays and during Lent. Perhaps it was when there was a French Pope at d'avignon? In any event, the first time I ate beaver was in Quebec. I subsequently ate beaver in Russia where it was prepared rather differently.

A lot of the time these dispensations were based on local custom or culture. It was generally from the local bishop, not from Rome (or Avignon). For example, bishops in dioceses with a large Irish-American population are known to grant dispensations from Lenten fasts on St. Patrick's Day. Beaver has been allowed as a "fish" (as have frogs, crocodiles, etc.). Dispensations were often given on an individual level for a few ducats. Read the history of the Rouen Cathedral in France, it has a tower that was built with funds from fasting dispensations (the "Butter Tower"). Sometimes the motivations could have been as a sort of subsidy to a local industry (beaver trapping for example). It was one more way for the local bishop to flex his secular power.

Bottom line, most of these allowances were made at the discretion of the local bishop.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Piety and poverty vow measuring contests are the new Crean threads.

Can we get it into a play-in game for the Meme tournament?

[ChicosBailBonds]

You're not wrong, but I just think your words of "high end" and "extreme", and then using your pick-up truck as some sort of proof of your own logic was lame.

It's $600. It's not high end. It's not extreme. It's not a big deal.

To each their own.  To me, spending $80K on a car is high end and not needed....to others, it isn't "high end".  I'm more of a pick up truck guy...not a lame example, just what it is.  I'd rather use the money on the family, vacations, invest, education, etc.  To each their own, as you stated....Africa might view things differently just as I may, you may, or someone else may.  $600 for sneakers, I fail to see how that isn't high end for most Americans.  

The average price of men's sneakers in 2013 was $68.80.  Can you buy some for $600, $1000, $2000?  Yup.  To the average person, however, $600 is high end in my opinion.  You can argue it isn't, that is your right and your opinion, it just seems absurd and you're trying to make a point that doesn't stand up to every day scrutiny to the normal American, but whatever.

[jesmu84]

I'll keep this going, because I'm entertained.

How do we know he didn't buy 10 pairs at $60?

[Hards Alumni]

To each their own.  To me, spending $80K on a car is high end and not needed....to others, it isn't "high end".  I'm more of a pick up truck guy...not a lame example, just what it is.  I'd rather use the money on the family, vacations, invest, education, etc.  To each their own, as you stated....Africa might view things differently just as I may, you may, or someone else may.  $600 for sneakers, I fail to see how that isn't high end for most Americans.  

The average price of men's sneakers in 2013 was $68.80.  Can you buy some for $600, $1000, $2000?  Yup.  To the average person, however, $600 is high end in my opinion.  You can argue it isn't, that is your right and your opinion, it just seems absurd and you're trying to make a point that doesn't stand up to every day scrutiny to the normal American, but whatever.

The assumption being that he spent $600 on one pair.

If so, its a lot of money.  I doubt it was one pair though.

[GooooMarquette]

I used to love to hit the Central Wet Market in Hong Kong on weekends. I grew up in Asia so these venues were old hat for me but my Nordic wife from Thiensville was rendered speechless and without appetite at first by the colors, smells, and sounds of the traditional Chinese marketplace.

The fish mongers and butchers all have chopping blocks and hatchets that clean or dress animal flesh to order right in front of the customer. I'll never forget the look on her face when an eeler took out a 6 footer and sliced it up while still alive. The various parts were still writhing and thrashing in the plastic bags as Cantonese housewives scurried home to prepare the evening's feast.

I have had snake curry and fish head curry in Singapore and India, raccoon and bear in China, fried cockroaches in Thailand, and dog in Korea.

So what are your thoughts on Durian?  It's the one food I've ever tried that made me gag the moment I took a bite.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

To each their own.  To me, spending $80K on a car is high end and not needed....to others, it isn't "high end".  I'm more of a pick up truck guy...not a lame example, just what it is.  I'd rather use the money on the family, vacations, invest, education, etc.  To each their own, as you stated....Africa might view things differently just as I may, you may, or someone else may.  $600 for sneakers, I fail to see how that isn't high end for most Americans.  

The average price of men's sneakers in 2013 was $68.80.  Can you buy some for $600, $1000, $2000?  Yup.  To the average person, however, $600 is high end in my opinion.  You can argue it isn't, that is your right and your opinion, it just seems absurd and you're trying to make a point that doesn't stand up to every day scrutiny to the normal American, but whatever.

Fair enough. I'll just drop it.

I just thought it was an interesting choice to say "high end" or "extreme", because to me, that implies that you think it's "wrong".

For the record, I choose not to afford a 2006 truck.  , and I've never spent $600 on sneakers, or several pair of sneakers.

[chapman]

To be clear, we've moved all the way from endlessly debating the sagacity of Vander's decision to leave early, to endlessly debating the sagacity of his footwear purchases.

And moved on to discussing the eating of beaver.  Very unlike Scoop that not one immature joke has been cracked yet.