Article on Vander Blue

[GGGG]

Transitioning to PG and playing very well.

http://dleague.nba.com/news/vander-blue-point-guard/?cid=dleague_12_twitter_L

He was last year's PG.  Shame he didn't stick around.

[4everwarriors]

Gotta tell ya, I don't know how these cats do it. Watched some of Vander's game yesterday. They played in some chit hole gym with, what looked like 200 people, in the bleachers. Likely 150 were kin or posse members. The others got in for free. This joint makes St. Clarence's 8th grade gym look like MSG. There's essentially no teamwork. Every dude for himself. Probably makin' $35 bucks/game stayin' in bedbug infested Motel 6's after travellin' cross country in a busted down school bus. All for the chance of gettin' a 10 day contract in the Never Broke Again. I think I'd rather shove glass rods up the old Johnson and then strike it with a hammer, aina?

[We R Final Four]

I watched some of VBs game the other day. I don't know what that is, but it is not basketball. You only pass if double teamed and if you were lucky enough to receive the pass, you will drive and shoot or just shoot. The D-league isn't highlighting anything. 40 pnts 15 rbnds is not a great night. Shots are taken in the first 7 seconds. Vander looked uninterested in the game I watched.

[MerrittsMustache]

The D-League is adult AAU ball.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Gotta tell ya, I don't know how these cats do it. Watched some of Vander's game yesterday. They played in some chit hole gym with, what looked like 200 people, in the bleachers. Likely 150 were kin or posse members. The others got in for free. This joint makes St. Clarence's 8th grade gym look like MSG. There's essentially no teamwork. Every dude for himself. Probably makin' $35 bucks/game stayin' in bedbug infested Motel 6's after travellin' cross country in a busted down school bus. All for the chance of gettin' a 10 day contract in the Never Broke Again. I think I'd rather shove glass rods up the old Johnson and then strike it with a hammer, aina?

True, so what else are they supposed to do? They've spent their entire lives trained to do one thing: play basketball. They're not going to be able to apply for a lot of $50k entry level desk jobs after spending 7 days a week in the gym. It's a sad commentary on our entire culture.

[warriorchick]

True, so what else are they supposed to do? They've spent their entire lives trained to do one thing: play basketball. They're not going to be able to apply for a lot of $50k entry level desk jobs after spending 7 days a week in the gym. It's a sad commentary on our entire culture.

How is that a sad commentary on our culture?

There aren't too many college dropouts of any kind making $50K at 23 years old.  If he wanted to develop some other skills, he should have stayed in school.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

How is that a sad commentary on our culture?

There aren't too many college dropouts of any kind making $50K at 23 years old.  If he wanted to develop some other skills, he should have stayed in school.

I tend to agree -- it is not like there wasn't a choice...which is a positive commentary in my opinion.

[MerrittsMustache]

True, so what else are they supposed to do? They've spent their entire lives trained to do one thing: play basketball. They're not going to be able to apply for a lot of $50k entry level desk jobs after spending 7 days a week in the gym. It's a sad commentary on our entire culture.

D-League salaries are anywhere from $13,000 to $25,500 per season. There are plenty of men in their early 20s (and likely much older) who would happily take that salary to play basketball for a living as opposed to doing their current jobs.

My father is a retired HS teacher/admin and football coach. He has often said that college athletes shouldn't be pushed into being "general studies" major. They should be majoring in secondary education. Teaching history or gym class 9 months a year while coaching a couple sports is not a bad way to make a living.

[GooooMarquette]

True, so what else are they supposed to do? They've spent their entire lives trained to do one thing: play basketball. They're not going to be able to apply for a lot of $50k entry level desk jobs after spending 7 days a week in the gym. It's a sad commentary on our entire culture.

Travis et al made a lot more that that playing in Europe.  Less NBA visibility than the D-league, but a great living for a kid just out of college.

[warriorchick]

D-League salaries are anywhere from $13,000 to $25,500 per season. There are plenty of men in their early 20s (and likely much older) who would happily take that salary to play basketball for a living as opposed to doing their current jobs.

My father is a retired HS teacher/admin and football coach. He has often said that college athletes shouldn't be pushed into being "general studies" major. They should be majoring in secondary education. Teaching history or gym class 9 months a year while coaching a couple sports is not a bad way to make a living.

I have wondered why you never (or hardly ever) see an Education major among our basketball team members.  If I had to guess, it would be that A) our School of Education doesn't really have a Phys Ad focus as an option and B) education majors at Marquette are required to double major (in Education and something else -Math, History, etc.), which may be a little tough to pull off given the time commitment to basketball, and C)As a basketball player,  I would have to think it is close to impossible to get your student teaching in and still graduate on time.

[Eldon]

SUPERBAR

[MerrittsMustache]

I have wondered why you never (or hardly ever) see an Education major among our basketball team members.  If I had to guess, it would be that A) our School of Education doesn't really have a Phys Ad focus as an option and B) education majors at Marquette are required to double major (in Education and something else -Math, History, etc.), which may be a little tough to pull off given the time commitment to basketball, and C)As a basketball player,  I would have to think it is close to impossible to get your student teaching in and still graduate on time.

Yeah, the student teaching would definitely be an issue for basketball players as it's typically done during second semester of senior year. My father often spoke in terms of football, which is obviously a first semester sport and also includes a lot more redshirting, so I guess it's much more logical in those terms.

IIRC, MU has majors within education so I believe that instead of taking, for example, 4 classes within your major in a semester, you'd take 2 general Education classes and 2 classes within your Education Major.

[forgetful]

Yeah, the student teaching would definitely be an issue for basketball players as it's typically done during second semester of senior year. My father often spoke in terms of football, which is obviously a first semester sport and also includes a lot more redshirting, so I guess it's much more logical in those terms.

IIRC, MU has majors within education so I believe that instead of taking, for example, 4 classes within your major in a semester, you'd take 2 general Education classes and 2 classes within your Education Major.

I believe Luke is an education major.

[DienerTime34]

True, so what else are they supposed to do? They've spent their entire lives trained to do one thing: play basketball. They're not going to be able to apply for a lot of $50k entry level desk jobs after spending 7 days a week in the gym. It's a sad commentary on our entire culture.

What field are entry level desk jobs paying $50k? At least in Wisconsin?

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

What field are entry level desk jobs paying $50k? At least in Wisconsin?

Okay, use $35,000. It was a random number. The point being, lots of athletes like Vander Blue probably cannot get a good paying, stable job because they don't have the training or skills to do anything else except shoot hoops. And unlike a few people in this thread, apparently, I consider that a sad commentary on society, and particularly our education system.

[keefe]

What field are entry level desk jobs paying $50k? At least in Wisconsin?

The sausage stuffers at Usingers sit at a table of some kind, aina?

[MerrittsMustache]

Okay, use $35,000. It was a random number. The point being, lots of athletes like Vander Blue probably cannot get a good paying, stable job because they don't have the training or skills to do anything else except shoot hoops. And unlike a few people in this thread, apparently, I consider that a sad commentary on society, and particularly our education system.

If students are given access to a free education and don't take advantage of that, how is it a sad commentary on the education system? That comment reminded me of this cartoon from a few years ago...

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If students are given access to a free education and don't take advantage of that, how is it a sad commentary on the education system? That comment reminded me of this cartoon from a few years ago...

Love that cartoon. I've used it in the presentation I give at orientation many a time.

[keefe]

Ah, the good old days...

From the Rob and Laura Petrie of New Rochelle Files...

[Tugg Speedman]

True, so what else are they supposed to do? They've spent their entire lives trained to do one thing: play basketball. They're not going to be able to apply for a lot of $50k entry level desk jobs after spending 7 days a week in the gym. It's a sad commentary on our entire culture.

Europe ... See Dom James.  Go to Italy, learn a new language and find a hot wife.  (starting a company is optional)

[GGGG]

NBA mid-season call ups are much easier from the D-League.  That is likely the main reason he is playing there.

[Benny B]

I don't recall the details, but would the "Vander Orange" incident have prevented him from getting an overseas work visa, perhaps?

[warriorchick]

I don't recall the details, but would the "Vander Orange" incident have prevented him from getting an overseas work visa, perhaps?

I just think that Vander still believes he can make it in the NBA, and that is why he is hanging around.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I don't recall the details, but would the "Vander Orange" incident have prevented him from getting an overseas work visa, perhaps?

Doubt it

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I'm humming the Dick Van Dyke show theme song right now.