Bumblin' B's

[David Collinge]

interesting press release, especially the part where they mention the coaching staff.

Yes, very.  I wonder if there was any action taken in that regard, other than "reiteration?"

Thanks for posting that, Pat.

[patcummings]

Anyone see Yuille on Cold Pizza on ESPN2 this morning?

He mentioned some things I hadn't seen discussed before on this topic.  

1.  Discussions he had with OSU-M's coach after the first night of the tournament indicated that they were going to go home and forfeit the second game.

2.  Lincoln showed up at the gym the next day and were warming up in traditional 30 minutes before the game and OSU-M still wasn't there.  They apparently showed up at the gym 15 minutes before scheduled tip...again, this is all said by Yuille on ESPN2 this morning.

3.  After the first half, Yuille sent one of his coaches to talk to OSU-M and see if they wanted to continue the game.

4.  This is a tournament and Lincoln did not get to pick who they played.  They certainly did not lose purposely the night before to face OSU-M the next day...but in a tourney, you don't set the schedule.  

5.  They played the game.  End of story.  They didn't play it the way some people wanted to, and that's just too bad for those people.  It isn't the first time its happened and it won't be the last.  

6.  The game has no impact on Lincoln's status in D3 or the Top 25.  Will it matter to their record in the long run, no.  If they win by 10, 40, 80, or over 100, it's a win and they played who the tournament told them to play.

7.  For those bothered by the fact Wylie was in the game late...the guy's playing the game.  When and under what circumstances, I don't think it matters.

Those are my thoughts.

Anyone else see Cold Pizza this morning?

[Pat Coleman]

Well, I might wonder about the coach's judgment and change my ballot appropriately.

[sac]

Ohio Northern 113 College of the Bahamas 45

This score doesn't bother me as much as the fact that my High School guidance counselor never let me know about The College of The Bahamas.

Sun glasses anyone? 8)

[Mr. Ypsi]

patcummings,

Two of your points I think DO need response.

(And this will incorporate some points in the second article wilburt posted, which I assume he thought exonerated Lincoln.)

#5. "It isn't the first time its happened, and it won't be the last".  In terms of mismatches, true.  In terms of 123 point stompings, with an AA candidate scoring 36 of the last 56 points, it sure as h*** is a first, and it sure as h*** better be the last!

#7. I hardly even know how to respond to this one!  What a slap in the face to former teammate Kyle Myrick, to erase him from this part of the Lincoln record book by taking advantage of what was basically an intramural team (wilburt's 2nd article: OSU-M didn't even have a real coach - their sixth man WAS the coach [5 freshmen and Sisler], and they were a club team until this year!); if I recall correctly Kyle got HIS 62 on a night when they needed every one of them!  Somehow I don't think Kyle is celebrating his former coach and former teammate conspiring to diss him that way!

Is Coach Yuille scheduling a junior high team so that next year his star (whoever it may be) can score 64?!

[AndOne]

THIS IS JUST TO ANDONE.  I'LL GET TO THE REST OF YOU LATER (IF I HAVE TIME).

AndOne look at the strong use of your choice of words here.  You have used "despicable", "crucify", "ass" "gangsta ball" and other choice words to describe the behavior of a basketball team and its coach.  And you have described me as a neanderthal.   

YES, your comments specifically have a underlying racist tone to it.  It is one thing to say that the Lincoln Basketball team behavior was unsportsmanlike (that is fair criticism that I may or may not agree with) BUT it is quite another to say they need to be "crucified" and refer to student-athletes as "gangstas" (would you call the Grinnell team a bunch of gangstas if they did the same thing ).  In short, that is over the TOP and to paraphrase the use of one of your favorite words -  perhaps unsportsmanlike (or uncivil) on your part.   

But it (your comments and maybe one or two others) perhaps is a reflection of an undercurrent of racism in basketball and I cited an article to indicate that maybe I am not alone in that belief racism in basketball still exists in the minds of many!

DHF hit the nail on the head with his comments and I pretty much agree with him!   

Wilburt-----

Yes, I did use strong words for 2 reasons. First, the totally classless acts of the Lincoln coach and team called for a strong response. Secondly, strong words seemed like the only ones that had any possibility of getting through to someone like you who actually defended Lincoln's actions. Alas, I failed even when using strong words. 

Sorry if you don't like it, but gangsters (I specifically DID NOT use the word gangstas (as YOU did) because some people could possibly find this race based & offensive) is EXACTLY how the Lincoln team played---they not only got the other team down, but kicked and stomped them afterward. Grinnell never did anything like that as far as I'm aware.

Additionally, your attempt to characterize ANY of my comments as racial in any way, shape, or form is both pitiful and laughable. YOU are the one who interjected the racial question with the inclusion of your attachment of the article in your posts---suggesting the only reason so many people criticized Lincoln is because the team is African-American. Hogwash.

Finally, if you have ANY question Lincoln acted in a clueless, classless manner, see the post above which contains an apology from the Lincoln AD. Welcome to the real world.

[John Gleich]

This whole discussion is interesting on so many fronts, from Pat Cummings' comment about the interview on Cold Pizza, to the press release brought forth by Pat Coleman, to various other posters' arguments this past weekend against how the game was played, citing largely abstract ideas, of which I, too and "guilty" (and of which I, too, still stand by) backed up by interpretations of "facts" discovered in the press release, combatted by certain posters defending the actions tooth and nail, seemingly to the death.

This is, by far, the most controversial issue that I can remember dealing with DIII basketball in the 4+ years I have lurked/posted on this site.  It is something that seems to transcend simply the teams or conferences that were involved and has brought comment truly from across the country.  Part of it does show the differences we all have, but, as some have said, to focus on the wrongs of others could blind us of our own shortcomings.  Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, this game and situation occurred, and we can't go back and change the outcome.  We can only learn from what occurred (which it appears that Lincoln U, or at the very least the coaching staff has, or is currently) and hope to not repeat it.  I just fear, with the path our culture appears to be taking and some of the roll models out there for kids these days, especially athletically, that situations similar to this may be deemed as acceptable, or worse, encouraged.  I think that D-3 basketball needs to get back to we have been for so long... the purest of sport, played for the love of the game, with due respect for all.  Let's let these college athletes be roll models for the kids they play in front of each night, how to play your heart out without spitting in your opponent's face (or kicking him in the groin).

The nature of sport, as in life, is that there is a winner and a loser.  But, like I said before, winning with grace and humility carries so much farther and affects so much more positively than anything else that this should be what is strived for the most.

[Gregory Sager]

First of all, I want to say ...

[big snip]

And well, I really don't have time to type any more, so hopefully that makes things clear enough that people aren't annoyed any more. 

Looks like the dam burst. 

Great to have you back, April, if only for a cameo appearance (albeit, one of Sagerian length).

DHF hit the nail on the head with his comments and I pretty much agree with him!

Not true, Wilburt. DHF pretty much hit the nail on the head with her comments, and you pretty much agree with her. 

(would you call the Grinnell team a bunch of gangstas if they did the same thing ). 

Actually the Grinnell team is a bunch of gangstas, don't let the high SAT scores and the fact that they go to school in Iowa fool you.  I've been there.  I know.

rich, white Grinnell student-athletes + gangster behavior on the basketball court = future commodities traders 

They sent us a press release so I can post that:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rob Knox, Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Information Management,
(610) 932-8300 ext. 3384


Lincoln's official statement on this past weekend's men's basketball game

Lincoln University of Pennsylvania has a long and proud tradition of excellence in
athletic competition and firmly embraces the principle of good sportsmanship.
Accordingly, it is with much regret the demonstration in opposition to that
principle by the men's basketball coaching staff in Saturday's game against Ohio
State University-Marion. It was an anomaly.

We have reiterated to our coaching staff the university's expectations concerning
athletic competition from opening to final whistle. Like all institutions that play
on the field of athletic competition, Lincoln University's ultimate goal in a game
is to win, but for Lion teams winning must occur with fair play and good
sportsmanship in focus.

As our teams move forward to the remainder of this athletic season and into the
future, they will display the principle of good sportsmanship in all its
ramifications.

Sincerely,


Alfonso Scandrett Jr.
Director of Athletics

I still have some issues with Coach Yuille, but I have a lot of respect for his boss. The cynical amongst us might say that Alfonso Scandrett was merely performing institutional damage control in the face of a lot of negative national publicity, but I choose to see it as his taking control of the situation and being a stand-up guy by submitting that mea culpa press release -- especially since I know that ADs are very reluctant to criticize their coaches in public. And there was no institutional damage control involved in his repeating that mea culpa in a private e-mail to someone on the other side of the country (OxyBob) who has neither press credentials nor any link whatsoever to Lincoln or its opponents.

Well done, Mr. Scandrett!

[wilburt]

Wilburt-----

Yes, I did use strong words for 2 reasons. First, the totally classless acts of the Lincoln coach and team called for a strong response. Secondly, strong words seemed like the only ones that had any possibility of getting through to someone like you who actually defended Lincoln's actions. Alas, I failed even when using strong words. 

Sorry if you don't like it, but gangsters (I specifically DID NOT use the word gangstas (as YOU did) because some people could possibly find this race based & offensive) is EXACTLY how the Lincoln team played---they not only got the other team down, but kicked and stomped them afterward. Grinnell never did anything like that as far as I'm aware.

Additionally, your attempt to characterize ANY of my comments as racial in any way, shape, or form is both pitiful and laughable. YOU are the one who interjected the racial question with the inclusion of your attachment of the article in your posts---suggesting the only reason so many people criticized Lincoln is because the team is African-American. Hogwash.

I questioned your use of words to criticize Lincoln as racist - you dumb@$$. (That seems to be the only type of language you understand).  NOT the fact that people criticized them because the team is African-American. (I may or may not agree with the criticism).  You must not have done very well in English comprehension because you failed to grasp the distinction I made.  Others seemed to have gotten it!

Given your tendency to use such strong language I hereby give you my Mike "Kramer" RICHARDS AWARD FOR OVEREACTING to hecklers or anyone else who may happen to disagree with you.

DHF - my apologizes!  I still AGREE WITH HER!

BTW, I still support the Lincoln Basketball team and wish them well the rest of the season.  I also wish the Ohio State University-Marion basketball team Good Luck the rest of the season as well!

[patcummings]

patcummings,

Two of your points I think DO need response.

(And this will incorporate some points in the second article wilburt posted, which I assume he thought exonerated Lincoln.)

#5. "It isn't the first time its happened, and it won't be the last".  In terms of mismatches, true.  In terms of 123 point stompings, with an AA candidate scoring 36 of the last 56 points, it sure as h*** is a first, and it sure as h*** better be the last!

#7. I hardly even know how to respond to this one!  What a slap in the face to former teammate Kyle Myrick, to erase him from this part of the Lincoln record book by taking advantage of what was basically an intramural team (wilburt's 2nd article: OSU-M didn't even have a real coach - their sixth man WAS the coach [5 freshmen and Sisler], and they were a club team until this year!); if I recall correctly Kyle got HIS 62 on a night when they needed every one of them!  Somehow I don't think Kyle is celebrating his former coach and former teammate conspiring to diss him that way!

Is Coach Yuille scheduling a junior high team so that next year his star (whoever it may be) can score 64?!

How completely ignorant are you?

This was a tournament AT Salem International.  Wayne State University was scheduled to play as the fourth team.  They backed out.  Salem Int'l got OSU-Marion to play.

Lincoln did not pick to play OSU.  They only knew that they could play Salem as they were the hosts. 

Lincoln is an independent and it makes scheduling difficult.  A tourney like this is a good place to get games...Their schedule this year is actually more palatable than it has been in recent years, with games spread out more than they had been.

Oh, and Kyle Myrick's 62 points came during the 115-83 win over Penn State-Abington.  His final six points came on three-pointers in the final 90 seconds of the blowout win.  Yeah, they really needed those.

I can just see Yuille and Wylie..."conspiring" in the locker room.  "Let's go screw Myrick."

It all makes sense now.

[wilburt]

Thank you Pat Cummings for your sense of rationality.  Mr. Ypsi when you assume you know what you do don't you?

Mr. Ypsi et al. I don't have a problem necessarily with the criticism of Lincoln per se, I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOW LINCOLN IS CRITICISED!

As Pat Cummings ably stated and I echo - How completely ignorant are you guys?

[njlincolnlion]

Touche Pat and Wilburt.......Touche

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Wow; this is getting to be totally nuts.


Obviously there are people who feel that having your starters in at the end of a 120 point win is very, very, very wrong.  There are also others who appear to say that there is no problem with this.  I'm pretty sure after the fiery rhetoric being bandied about, that neither side is really much into presuading the other or reconsidering their own positions.

Why don't we just hold our embroiled rage to ourselves and reserve virtual furtive, sideways glances at each other for the next several months?

If this pursists into the holiday break all we're going to do is waste Pat's valuable server space with repetitive insults and overreaction.

[Pat Coleman]

Obviously there are people who feel that having your starters in at the end of a 120 point win is very, very, very wrong.

Wow ... a week ago this is a statement I was sure I'd never hear.

[Ralph Turner]

Wow; this is getting to be totally nuts.


Obviously there are people who feel that having your starters in at the end of a 120 point win is very, very, very wrong.  There are also others who appear to say that there is no problem with this.  I'm pretty sure after the fiery rhetoric being bandied about, that neither side is really much into presuading the other or reconsidering their own positions.

Why don't we just hold our embroiled rage to ourselves and reserve virtual furtive, sideways glances at each other for the next several months?

If this pursists into the holiday break all we're going to do is waste Pat's valuable server space with repetitive insults and overreaction.

Having gotten in too late to the heart of this discussion on sportmanship, I was going to expand the concept to include those student bodies which snobbishly yell out, "Safety School"!