[Paint Touches] Buzz Hates Money: A Revisionist History

[cheese ball chaser]

Buzz brags a lot about how he's built that VPI program from essentially nothing. I would argue that what Wojo has done at Marquette since taking over is more impressive, given what Buzz left us with.

[mu03eng]

Thanks, and BTW my grandparents could not read or write, my parents never graduated from high school, why the elite snob flavor to the Buzz hate?   Wojo has nothing, nothing to do with Buzz and the path of his life.  I root for both to be successful, I still can't get myself to root for Duke.

What is the motivation behind the story?   Can't Marquette, Milwaukee, and Wisconsin get over their inferiority complex?

Wow, you think the hate for Buzz is related to snobbery? I'd love to hear your argument for that.

The hate for Buzz and his schtick is because it is a schtick. I'm sure Buzz has core beliefs, but what he says and what he actually does/acts is different. And his continued PR campaign against MU(maybe not directly but certainly indirectly) shows a lack of class and self-reflection. Lastly, I don't expect anyone to be humble in this profession, but to cloak yourself in the image of humility and be anything but is a level of hypocrisy I just can't stand.

[GoldenWarrior11]

How many schools did Buzz talk to while here at Marquette?  I can only think of SMU and Illinois for some reason.  Weren't OK State and TCU two others?  Oklahoma?  Auburn?  Anyone have a list?

By comparison, how many schools did Crean talk to?

[cheese ball chaser]

Wow, you think the hate for Buzz is related to snobbery? I'd love to hear your argument for that.

The hate for Buzz and his schtick is because it is a schtick. I'm sure Buzz has core beliefs, but what he says and what he actually does/acts is different. And his continued PR campaign against MU(maybe not directly but certainly indirectly) shows a lack of class and self-reflection. Lastly, I don't expect anyone to be humble in this profession, but to cloak yourself in the image of humility and be anything but is a level of hypocrisy I just can't stand.

I'll never forget when he showed up on TV, like the day after he left Marquette, wearing a Vtech pin on his shirt.

[brewcity77]

The hate for Buzz and his schtick is because it is a schtick.

For me, it's about what happened after he left. If you want to run out as soon as the door cracks open, whatever. I'm not even bothered so much by the "as long as they'll have me" quote because my guess is by the time Buzz left, Marquette wasn't really standing in his way at all.

But once he was gone, he took shots at the Big East. He complained about the league, the television contract, the exposure, as though only the ACC and ESPN could drive success. All the while, stealing recruits that he brought to Marquette on our dime. I'd be fine if they went elsewhere, but that's essentially stealing from your former employer.

Buzz went out of his way to denigrate our league and then stole from the school that put a paycheck in his pocket for 7 years. That's classless.

[Herman Cain]

If I'm a Va Tech fan, this article makes me nervous. If we see another op-ed on Buzz's Bunch, he's gone.

Buzz will be at Va Tech for quite a while. He likes to build things. First he took the VPI  program from dumpster fire status to tournament level. He still has to sustain the tournament level status and then he has a long hill to climb to be in top 25 status and then from their to top 15 status. ACC is the right conference platform for him at this juncture of his career. Once he does everything he needs to do at VPI he can get one last big money hit out of a desperate fallen blue blood.

[MuMark]

For me, it's about what happened after he left. If you want to run out as soon as the door cracks open, whatever. I'm not even bothered so much by the "as long as they'll have me" quote because my guess is by the time Buzz left, Marquette wasn't really standing in his way at all.

But once he was gone, he took shots at the Big East. He complained about the league, the television contract, the exposure, as though only the ACC and ESPN could drive success. All the while, stealing recruits that he brought to Marquette on our dime. I'd be fine if they went elsewhere, but that's essentially stealing from your former employer.

Buzz went out of his way to denigrate our league and then stole from the school that put a paycheck in his
pocket for 7 years. That's classless.

I agree with the taking shots at the Big East. That was in bad taste and totally unnecessary.

Taking Hill and Pierce when Wojo didn't even try to keep them doesn't bother me......don't think it would have mattered anyway.....Nieither had ties to the state....and weren't coming here after Buzz left....once they get released from the NLI they can go anywhere....school can't restrict ....at least that is my understanding.

[brewcity77]

Buzz will be at Va Tech for quite a while. He likes to build things.

Likes to destroy things too, based on the state he left our program in. If I were a betting man, I'd say Buzz will be at Va Tech for 1-3 years. If he gets a Sweet 16, watch out for that Buzz's Bunch redux or a similar puff piece.

He'll have built Marquette into a sustaining power and taken Va Tech from zero to something, which is more than anyone else has done in 50+ years. It'll be interesting to see where he heads next, but I certainly don't think Blacksburg is a long-term stop for him.

[vogue65]

Wow, you think the hate for Buzz is related to snobbery? I'd love to hear your argument for that.

The hate for Buzz and his schtick is because it is a schtick. I'm sure Buzz has core beliefs, but what he says and what he actually does/acts is different. And his continued PR campaign against MU(maybe not directly but certainly indirectly) shows a lack of class and self-reflection. Lastly, I don't expect anyone to be humble in this profession, but to cloak yourself in the image of humility and be anything but is a level of hypocrisy I just can't stand.

Unfortunately, yes I  do.  The constant referral to him as a hillbilly is condescending, insulting, elitist, and to use your term snobbish.

The fact that he can negotiate his contracts without lawyers or agents is great, more power to him.  It takes humility to leave the lawyers out of the negotiations.  Lawyers are highly overrated in contract formation or administration.

His take on using percentages and ambiguities versus dollars shows a rather sophisticated understanding of contracting, negotiations and business.  He is what he is and where he is from is where he is from, we don't need to name call.

I suggest the recent book Hillbilly Elegy for further understanding hillbillies and snobery.

I don't see the indirect slurring of MU.  He said he would stay as long as MU wanted him, MU hired a high priced lawyer to get rid of Buzz,  now Buzz is the bad guy,  that's how I  see it.

PT could do an expose on the BOT or on Mr. Williams the super lawyer from ND, and then we might see the rest of the picture. Looks to me that the sports lawyer lost the battle and the war.

Interesting that my takeaway from the storty was positive of Buzz.  Some see the story as a deserved hit job, but I  see Buzz as a hero, amazing, same story, same facts, different conclusion.

[MuMark]

He is neither a hero or a villain... ....he is a coach who made a business decision.

He should have left without taking shots at the Big East.........but his time here was done and both sides were ready to move on.

It's about time for fans to do the same.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Interesting that my takeaway from the storty was positive of Buzz.  Some see the story as a deserved hit job, but I  see Buzz as a hero, amazing, same story, same facts, different conclusion.

It is interesting. That's why I think Andrei wrote the article.  There is so much misinformation, misleading language,  and alternative facts that it makes Buzz out to be a selfless  hero.... When really he's a very intelligent man who understands contracts very well and is as greedy as the rest of us.  He has the Hokies  by the nuts... Which bully for him... But it's dishonest at best to sell his contract as proof of him being done sort of hero.

Now I don't have the same level of beef with buzz as others do.  I would like to see him succeed after MU.  I don't really care if buzz arranges a bunch of puff pieces about himself. He's someone elses problem now.

[mu03eng]

It is interesting. That's why I think Andrei wrote the article.  There is so much misinformation, misleading language,  and alternative facts that it makes Buzz out to be a selfless  hero.... When really he's a very intelligent man who understands contracts very well and is as greedy as the rest of us.  He has the Hokies  by the nuts... Which bully for him... But it's dishonest at best to sell his contract as proof of him being done sort of hero.

Now I don't have the same level of beef with buzz as others do.  I would like to see him succeed after MU.  I don't really care if buzz arranges a bunch of puff pieces about himself. He's someone elses problem now.

I have zero issues with his behavior around contracts or looking out for himself or even finding a better pasture in VPI than he had at Marquette that he had at the end. What I have issue with is doing all that, then using the media to pretend you aren't AND repeatedly defaming the school/conference that gave you the chance with half truths and inaccuracies.

As I said on the podcast, I think it's fun to pick on Crean and I hated the way he left the program, I have no animosity towards him and wish him well. Buzz on the other hand, I have a lot of animosity towards, not because he left or the manner in which he left, but because he continues to make trouble.

[Billy Hoyle]

I'll never forget when he showed up on TV, like the day after he left Marquette, wearing a Vtech pin on his shirt.

His Twitter page was changed to VT colors before it was publicly announced that he was taking the VT job.

The guy is a media whore, plain and simple. He didn't care about MU and the alumni. I was at Circles event where he wouldn't talk to any of us there before hand, did his little "aw shucks" shtick and then ran out before the end of the event. Never mind 400 people were there just to meet him. Glad he's gone and every remnant of his time here is now gone too.

[Billy Hoyle]

How many schools did Buzz talk to while here at Marquette?  I can only think of SMU and Illinois for some reason.  Weren't OK State and TCU two others?  Oklahoma?  Auburn?  Anyone have a list?

Arkansas and Oregon are two others.  He'd have people post on message boards that he was a candidate to use it to get more money from MU.

[vogue65]

I have zero issues with his behavior around contracts or looking out for himself or even finding a better pasture in VPI than he had at Marquette that he had at the end. What I have issue with is doing all that, then using the media to pretend you aren't AND repeatedly defaming the school/conference that gave you the chance with half truths and inaccuracies.

As I said on the podcast, I think it's fun to pick on Crean and I hated the way he left the program, I have no animosity towards him and wish him well. Buzz on the other hand, I have a lot of animosity towards, not because he left or the manner in which he left, but because he continues to make trouble.

Yes, it's time to bury the hatchet.  Could be that old Buzz reads some of the vitriol spewed on MUScoop and is just pushing back a little.   

On the subject of the long term strategic staying power of the Big East and Fox Sports, I  have my concerns.  In the mean time we can have fun.

[dgies9156]

Unfortunately, yes I  do.  The constant referral to him as a hillbilly is condescending, insulting, elitist, and to use your term snobbish.

I probably started the Hillbilly monicker on this board. And I Make no apology for it. I grew up in arguably the Bubba or Hillbilly capital of the world and the only one on this board who probably knows Hillbillies as well as I do is Chick.

Buzz has good qualities. I don't doubt it. And there are some fine hillbillies too. But my experience with hill people is they are myopic and outright fearful of culture and ideas not their own. Sounds to me like why Buzz left.

That said, I despise Buzz because of the way he went out. It was a divorce and in a divorce case, a classy litigant does not call his ex-wife a f**king whore on the way out the door. I know the Good book tells me I should the turn the other cheek, but here, when you mess with my Warriors, God will understand, I hope!

[vogue65]

It is interesting. That's why I think Andrei wrote the article.  There is so much misinformation, misleading language,  and alternative facts that it makes Buzz out to be a selfless  hero.... When really he's a very intelligent man who understands contracts very well and is as greedy as the rest of us.  He has the Hokies  by the nuts... Which bully for him... But it's dishonest at best to sell his contract as proof of him being done sort of hero.

Now I don't have the same level of beef with buzz as others do.  I would like to see him succeed after MU.  I don't really care if buzz arranges a bunch of puff pieces about himself. He's someone elses problem now.

His contract acumen goes against a characterization that he is a hillbilly.  He is a very high energy character, over the top, outside of the box, unique, whatever, very unlike most of us.  That does not make him a bad person.   He marches to a different drummer, so be it.

[vogue65]

Buzz will be at Va Tech for quite a while. He likes to build things. First he took the VPI  program from dumpster fire status to tournament level. He still has to sustain the tournament level status and then he has a long hill to climb to be in top 25 status and then from their to top 15 status. ACC is the right conference platform for him at this juncture of his career. Once he does everything he needs to do at VPI he can get one last big money hit out of a desperate fallen blue blood.

Not to mention that he likes to take underprivileged kids and act as a father figure for them.  He likes high risk challenges, my hats off to him.  O.K., he has his faults, in sum, he is more of a man than I.

[Dr. Blackheart]

So, maybe he never flushed because he grew up without running water?

[vogue65]

I probably started the Hillbilly monicker on this board. And I Make no apology for it. I grew up in arguably the Bubba or Hillbilly capital of the world and the only one on this board who probably knows Hillbillies as well as I do is Chick.

Buzz has good qualities. I don't doubt it. And there are some fine hillbillies too. But my experience with hill people is they are myopic and outright fearful of culture and ideas not their own. Sounds to me like why Buzz left.

That said, I despise Buzz because of the way he went out. It was a divorce and in a divorce case, a classy litigant does not call his ex-wife a f**king whore on the way out the door. I know the Good book tells me I should the turn the other cheek, but here, when you mess with my Warriors, God will understand, I hope!

I thought I knew the hillbilly culture, that is until I  read Hillbilly Elegy.   Hay, maybe she is a whore. 
Seriously, without the rest of the story, BOT, Williams, the university president, the unproven allegations, I side with Buzz.
Why not take a shot at a gang of thugs who just fired you?  I  suppose I lack "class".

[vogue65]

So, maybe he never flushed because he grew up without running water?

Was that a joke?  Yes, some people still grow up without running water, even in cities like Mikwaukee.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

His contract acumen goes against a characterization that he is a hillbilly.  He is a very high energy character, over the top, outside of the box, unique, whatever, very unlike most of us.  That does not make him a bad person.   He marches to a different drummer, so be it.

At what point did I or the PT article refer to Buzz as a Hillbilly? If you are going to get angry and defensive about random fans on the internet being bitter that their coach left, you might not want to internet.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I thought I knew the hillbilly culture, that is until I  read Hillbilly Elegy.   Hay, maybe she is a whore. 
Seriously, without the rest of the story, BOT, Williams, the university president, the unproven allegations, I side with Buzz.
Why not take a shot at a gang of thugs who just fired you?  I  suppose I lack "class".

You've been given the rest of the story. You just choose not to believe it. The university is not a bunch of thugs. I don't know what unproven allegations you are referring to. Buzz was not fired. He was welcome to return for another year. He choose not to. The university did not stop him. Ultimately, best for both parties.

[GGGG]

His contract acumen goes against a characterization that he is a hillbilly.  He is a very high energy character, over the top, outside of the box, unique, whatever, very unlike most of us.  That does not make him a bad person.   He marches to a different drummer, so be it.

The PT article was less a criticism of Buzz and more a criticism of how the media portrays him.

[vogue65]

Here we go again, that is why I  have had you on ignore for a very long time.   I  suggest you reread your serenity prayer and try and discern it's inner meaning. 

I'll go even further, I  love Buzz, if you prefer I call the former university administration a circus of clowns to a gang of thugs, fine.  With that I'll cut you off, again, and say good night from Italy, buono sera.