MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Mr. Ypsi]

He'll at least start his college at EMU. (I suspect a large part of the reason is that he is very much in love, and she'll still be at Ypsi Hi!)

Mr. Ypsi:

Might his decision not also have something to do with dad's ties to the Big "E"?   Anyway, and seriously, congratulations on your son's graduation - all best wishes to him in the future.  A wonderful milestone for him, you and family.  I hope you all have a great graduation day. 

Thanks!  Their prom is tonight, and his gf does truly look lovely (in a tux, he ain't so shabby himself)!

Yeah, the EMU ties were certainly a major factor, since my family members would get 50% off tuition.  Alas, once they accepted him, they 'downsized' me (whether the two are linked, I can't say).  The 'silver lining' is that my union contract says they can terminate without cause at any time, but owe 135% of salary for the remainder of one's appointment - evidently no one noticed that I had only finished the first year of a two year appointment!  Unlike at MIAA schools, perhaps, at EMU that $51,112 they owe me will buy a LOT of tuition.

Rather than 'terminated', I prefer to think of it as an early retirement buyout!

[Joe-Man]

Nice thinking. Do they really owe you that much?

[Mr. Ypsi]

Nice thinking. Do they really owe you that much?

Yep.  But note that that is 135% of a full year's salary - do the math and you'll see I was not exactly making the big bucks!

[Joe-Man]

Uh-Oh. I see what you mean. 135% is big.

[Joe-Man]

Hmmm. . . Hope has a 28-3 season, and the coach plots a defense that forces Wittenberg turnover after turnover and shuts down their two post players.  Alas, the players miss free throws and open 3's and have several shots rim out.   Even so, they play one of the nation's top teams to virtual draw on their home court.  And after all this (not to mention having coached two previous teams that made it to the national championship game in a division that has almost 400 teams competing) there is a fairweather, short-memoried Hope fan that wants to trash the coach? 

Well, at least no one is complaining about the refereeing!

Imagine Derek VS's last 3-point shot attempt that went in-and-out had stayed down, giving Hope the lead.  That would be a credit to Derek (who looks to be a terrific key player on next year's team, btw) not the coach.  But there would also be kudos for the coaching that brought them back.  Or imagine that Veldhouse winning shot hadn't happened and that this sectional game had been played at the friendlier DeVos . . . .

But those things do happen.  It's a game that involves luck and bounces and near misses and narrow escapes.  When the ball drops, it's not the coach that made it.  And when it's down and out, or when the free throws that would have made the difference don't fall, it's not the coach that misses them.  Coaches assemble the team and can help get you to a certain point.  (And every team's fans are impressed with the prowress of their own players, which individually may seem better in their eyes than the opposition's.  I'll wager that Tiger Fan wouldn't trade Russ, Borchers, and Brady for any of Hope's talent.)

All said, if we're going to judge a coach and team, let's look at the big picture, which for Hope this year is 28-3, a 17-point average victory margin, no losses at home, winning their league's tournament on the opposition's home floor, and a run in a tournament in which 58 of 59 teams will end up on the losing side.  All in all, I'm with Sac . . . a great year.  I tip my hat to the players, first, and also to the coaches.  And to some super fans, including those contributing to this board, as well!

I think the argument is that given all the talent he had, he should have gone all the way.  I know, I know, the ball bounces this way and that, and you have to have alot of luck to win a National Championship (or two ), but player for player, Hope was too well stocked not to make it further.  WWKVSD? We don't know, because he did not have all that talent.  Since KVS came to Calvin, he has been consistently out-recruited by GVW for local players.  Luckily, he can recruit effectively from other areas in North America (for instance, North Dakota), and does slip in some recruiting successes for local guys, too.  Although we do know what KVS did with the players he inherited from Douma.

Should GVW leave?  By no means.  You have to look at the whole package:  He gets the players onto the team, he just has not capitalized completely on what he has recruited.  And even if he went 0-fer-06/07, he should still stay because Hope (like Calvin) is more than the wins, but developing kid players into Christian men.

Rats, there goes my karma...

northb,

Thanks for the point at the end of your message.  Since both Calvin and Hope are Christian colleges, their goals are not only about wins and losses.  Along those lines, for those of you who enjoy reading, I highly recommend the book "Season of Life" by Jeffrey Marx.  The book is based on Joe Ehrmann, who is a former NFL player, and currently a high school football coach.  Excellent book to challenge the "win at all costs" mentality we too often have in our culture.

I read that. It's so inspiring. You can get it at Calvin's bookstore.

[ziggy]

I'm sure many of you are aware of the identity mix up of two Taylor University students in a van accident a few weeks ago.  Laura Van Ryn was mistaken to be Whitney Cerak until Whitney emerged from her coma to find herself surrounded by Laura's family while the Cerak's had buried who they thought to be their daughter.  Now the VanRyn family must now deal with the loss of their daughter that they had believed survived the crash.  The reason I bring this up is that I remember that Kenny Van Ryn played basketball for Grace Bible I'm sure he and the rest of the family could really use your prayers.  I remember Kenny as a solid player and a classy guy.  Such a tragic story.

[Joe-Man]

So that was Kenny Van Ryn's sister? My dad knew him, and thought he was a good role model. He was.

[sac]

Another off-season update on the mighty Homer Trojan baseball team.


Last night was a grand night for the little village south of Albion.  The Trojans knocked off division 1 Okemos in the semfinal of the Lansing Diamond Classic 9-4.  Okemos is 3 divisions above Homer.

Heck of a ballgame too.......Okemos played tough from the start and had Homer on the ropes but a wild 3 run rally in the 5th and a 4 run smothering in 6th put it away.

The 4 runs given up last night was the most they'd allowed all season.........think about that.

I am convinced the game was close because of the minor league ballpark.........on a High School field Homer would have hit 5 homeruns in the first 2 innnings......simple fly balls at Olds Park.

Seriously if you get a chance in the next 2 weeks catch the Trojans traveling show.......from the high tempo intensity of their pre-game infield practice, the constant involvement of all on the bench,  and the huge throng of orange clad locals.......you won't be disapointed.  Keep your eyes on the baserunners because the Trojans will pull off a couple trick plays every game.  Pretty slick stuff.

Homer is 33-0 with 26 wins by the mercy rule.

So the Homer faithfull piled into the pickups and headed back to their little village on the Kzoo River with a nice scalp to add to ther collection of four year exploits.

.......as someone who grew up in a small town in the shadow of the exploits of Okemos athletics......its always nice to see the the little guy send the BMW, Mercedes group headed home with their tails between their legs.

Wednesday they get a shot at another D1 team with Grand Ledge in the final of the Diamond Classic.  Grand Ledge won the same league Okemos is in,  3:45 at Olds Park.   They'll also be in action Saturday in Homer in the Division 4 regional.

.....and their SS is headed to Albion.

[Civic Minded]

Another off-season update on the mighty Homer Trojan baseball team.


Last night was a grand night for the little village south of Albion.  The Trojans knocked off division 1 Okemos in the semfinal of the Lansing Diamond Classic 9-4.  Okemos is 3 divisions above Homer.

...

Seriously if you get a chance in the next 2 weeks catch the Trojans traveling show.......from the high tempo intensity of their pre-game infield practice, the constant involvement of all on the bench,  and the huge throng of orange clad locals.......you won't be disapointed. 

Orange?!?  Did someone say orange?!?        

Once again they sound amazing -- and fun to watch.  Keep us posted Sac!

[sac]

Here's what it takes to beat Homer

http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060608/SPORTS02/606080359/1021/PREPSPORTS

Didn't go to the game myself but it was surely a classic.

108-2 in four years and they aren't done yet.  Amazing.

[sac]

I got a look at Hope's schedule for next winter........its still a work in progress so I'll wait for it to be posted on their website.

Dates to circle  8)

Jan. 13 Hope at Calvin 3pm

Feb 7  Calvin at Hope 8pm


....and for our Albion readers

Jan 10 Albion at Hope 730 pm

Feb 3. Hope at Albion 3 pm

As for the rest of the schedule.......Pat should be amused 

[Pat Coleman]

As for the rest of the schedule.......Pat should be amused 

That's too bad. 

[hopefan]

Interesting, the "Karma Krook" has taken 5 points off my Karma in the last week when all I did was congradulate Mr Ypsi on his son's HS graduation!!!   I wonder what he has against Mr Ypsi??

[Pat Coleman]

Mr Ypsi  -  I hope said graduating son is planning on attending one of the fine MIAA schools and not one of those "BIG" Michigan schools!!!!   congrats

Perhaps there are some fans of the big Michigan schools on the MIAA board? Dunno.

[formerd3db]

Oh yes, Pat.  My dad is a U of Mich alum.   Certainly, there are others on our board from those "other" big schools!