Thrown Overboard - 90's Edition

[real chili 83]

I enjoyed his commentary on FS1 this year.

During the first MU game he worked, O'Neil commented on his time at MU and his relationship with Cords very favorably.  In hindsight, I think he now knows how good of a deal he had at MU, and if he could do it over, he might re-think his leaving MU so hastily.

[Avenue Commons]

He didn't think MU was a big time program, and pretty much mocked fans who did in his parting remarks as he left Milwaukee for Knoxville.  Pretty much simple as that.  That was pre Al McGuire Center, they were still practicing in the ancient Old Gym, so I think he just saw decrepid old facilities among other things, and was dying to leave town.  And he struck while the iron was hot, he had just taken MU to their deepest NCAA run since 1977.  He was a hot name, and was gone I think within about 1-2 days after they lost to Duke, ironically, in Knoxville TN. 

That was before Conference USA was put together too.  The Great Midwest Conference was OK, but small, and wasn't going anywhere.  So circa 1994, he may not have been completely off base in his assessment of the program, but it was his condescending attitude.  That and he never embraced the MU tradition.  He paid lip service to it, and that was it.  And he came off as begrudgingly giving it lip service even. 

Don't forget Deane said it was hard to recruit kids to Milwaukee and Marquette's goal should be to make the tournament.

[Wojo'sMojo]

Don't forget Deane said it was hard to recruit kids to Milwaukee and Marquette's goal should be to make the tournament.

Maybe it is going to be hard to recruit kids to Marquette? I hope not and I think we can. As much as I despise Brent right now, I won't deny the fact that he was a hell of a recruiter. I hope we have more to offer to land quality recruits than just that a$$hat!

[Avenue Commons]

I enjoyed his commentary on FS1 this year.

During the first MU game he worked, O'Neil commented on his time at MU and his relationship with Cords very favorably.  In hindsight, I think he now knows how good of a deal he had at MU, and if he could do it over, he might re-think his leaving MU so hastily.

There was a rumor that KO got cold feet about the Tennessee job but Marquette wouldn't have him back.

[MU82]

Maybe it is going to be hard to recruit kids to Marquette? I hope not and I think we can. As much as I despise Brent right now, I won't deny the fact that he was a hell of a recruiter. I hope we have more to offer to land quality recruits than just that a$$hat!

Williams had back-to-back top-15 classes and was closing in on a third. Al obviously recruited to Milwaukee well (in a different era). Majerus brought in Rivers and some other nice gets. And both O'Neill and Crean had some great classes.

It just takes the right recruiter. After what Williams did in that department, any coach from now on who whines about how tough it is to get kids to Milwaukee is just making excuses because he's not good enough to get it done.

[Lennys Tap]

Folks say KO was never much on thinking.
Spent most of his time chasing women and drinking.

KO was a rollin' stone
Wherever he laid his hat was his home
And when he died
All he left us was alone

[Lennys Tap]

Maybe it is going to be hard to recruit kids to Marquette? I hope not and I think we can. As much as I despise Brent right now, I won't deny the fact that he was a hell of a recruiter. I hope we have more to offer to land quality recruits than just that a$$hat!

That "a$$hat" was the reason those players came here - many of them signed without ever setting foot in Milwaukee. Hopefully Wojo has that kind of charisma but it's not all that common - long drought between Al and Buzz.

[ChicosBailBonds]

That "a$$hat" was the reason those players came here - many of them signed without ever setting foot in Milwaukee. Hopefully Wojo has that kind of charisma but it's not all that common - long drought between Al and Buzz.

I'm just curious who the 'many' are that signed without ever setting foot in Milwaukee? 

Seems we landed some other really good players in that long drought despite charisma, apparently.

[Golden Avalanche]

That "a$$hat" was the reason those players came here - many of them signed without ever setting foot in Milwaukee. Hopefully Wojo has that kind of charisma but it's not all that common - long drought between Al and Buzz.

Every coach has a certain charisma. And every coach is an as$hat in a certain way.

The guy before Buzz, whom you consider the most despicable human being in the world slightly ahead of Kim Jong-un, landed very talented basketball players. Just because it was a long drought for your giblets to be tickled doesn't make that the case for the people who actually matter in this discussion -- recruits.

[MU82]

That "a$$hat" was the reason those players came here - many of them signed without ever setting foot in Milwaukee. Hopefully Wojo has that kind of charisma but it's not all that common - long drought between Al and Buzz.

A$$hats recruit kids everywhere.

You think kids dream of the wonders of Lawrence, Bloomington, Syracuse, Spokane, Storrs, Ames, Champaign, Manhattan (KS), etc., etc. A whole lotta towns with a whole lotta nothing going on.

One could argue quite nicely that Milwaukee -- with an NBA franchise and other pro sports, a large population, a decent music scene, great food, etc. -- is easily a more attractive place than those others.

But many of those others have "tradition"! True, but that didn't help Bobby Knight his last few years at IU, as recruits stayed away in droves from the A$$hat of all A$$hats. Tradition is built and fostered by coaches who know how to recruit. Al created a tradition out of almost nothing.

As for the drought between Al and Buzz, Crean brought in a future Hall of Famer, at least three other guys who will earn NBA pensions and several very talented contributors. And Crean was just an A$$hat assistant without a second of head-coaching experience and no playing career.

If Wojo leaves saying Marquette is too tough a place to recruit to, I'll be very disappointed because it will have meant we hired a coach who wasn't good enough.

[4everwarriors]

MKE's weather sucks ass

[ChicosBailBonds]

MKE's weather sucks ass

True, but so do many places.  Madison's weather isn't any better, or Minneapolis, New York, Chicago, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, etc.

[Lennys Tap]

I'm just curious who the 'many' are that signed without ever setting foot in Milwaukee? 

Seems we landed some other really good players in that long drought despite charisma, apparently.

JFB, Jae, DJO - do a search on Scoop and you'll find others.

Every coach between Al and Buzz had some charisma. Some, but not as much. And every coach between Al and Buzz signed some really good players (except for maybe Dukiet). Some, but not as many.

Nobody will displace Al as #1. Hopefully Wojo will replace Buzz as #2.

[WarriorFan]

Back to the original subject, I have it on good authority that KO's a scotch drinker, so it's simple, toss dean, enjoy a few F-bombs with KO, and drink all the beer myself!

NB:  anything heavy and sinkable gets tied to dean when he gets tossed.

[ChicosBailBonds]

JFB, Jae, DJO - do a search on Scoop and you'll find others.

Every coach between Al and Buzz had some charisma. Some, but not as much. And every coach between Al and Buzz signed some really good players (except for maybe Dukiet). Some, but not as many.

Nobody will displace Al as #1. Hopefully Wojo will replace Buzz as #2.

I'm of the opinion that charisma is in the eye of the beholder.  People make connections to other people all the time where others don't "get what that person sees in them".  This is human nature.  I find some politicians to be absolute frauds, while other people would lay their life down for them.  Same person, but one sees them differently than the other. This is no different for CEOs, coaches, managers, etc.

Yes, I'm aware of JFB and Jae, didn't think that was many.  Again, eye of the beholder.  TJ Taylor was another one, but he only lasted 8 weeks before leaving.

[Lennys Tap]

I'm of the opinion that charisma is in the eye of the beholder.  People make connections to other people all the time where others don't "get what that person sees in them".  This is human nature.  I find some politicians to be absolute frauds, while other people would lay their life down for them.  Same person, but one sees them differently than the other. This is no different for CEOs, coaches, managers, etc.

Yes, I'm aware of JFB and Jae, didn't think that was many.  Again, eye of the beholder.  TJ Taylor was another one, but he only lasted 8 weeks before leaving.

I think you're wrong. Charisma is found in both the genuine and the frauds. You don't have to like a guy to be able to see something as obvious as that. I don't like John Edwards, for example, but to say he's without charisma would be foolish.

JFB, Jae, DJO, Taylor and others. Certainly falls into the category as many, especially if you're a guy who thinks a guy who commits multiple murders commits two.