MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[David Collinge]

Wow.  Nice.  Thank you for sharing your journey, my friend. 

[goodknight]

He treked through forests, ancient and dark.  Stood high, buffeted by winds fierce from the East at Brockaway.  Gazed at the harbor of far away longings.  Watched the sun set in a timeless manner over timeless waters.  Felt the howling winds high on a Porcupines' back where lakes and clouds seem to meld into one.  Awed by the palet of lifes rich colors, ....to real to be real he thought

Walked the ancient canyon, almost an island, indeed.  Almost forgotten, but never changing.  Felt the same emotions as first time the eyes gazed....this, this can't be here.  ....to real to be real he thought

Saw the past through others eyes, of forests long gone that helped build the land.  Mesmerized by the falling water, a Bond never broken, never disappointing.  Of loved ones lost, so short, yet so long ago.  ....to real to be real he thought.

Seeked his own refuge at a port of refuge, safety from Giche Gumme's rath.  What a nice village, and a Grand summer escape.....wished he could be one of the lucky ones.  Touched the walls, a fine Memorial, what happiness this place brings to travelers, amazed at what water can do.  Stood within reach of his favorite, this one sings he swears.  Gently cascadeing down endless stairs, the outside world remains outside here.     ......to real to be real he thought.

The fallen castle, still draws its deserved attention.  A lonely sentinel in crystal blue water, how long till you follow your mates fate.  Lamented the closing of a favorite passage, wondering if improving was really an improvement.  Back on the road of familiar flight, naming the rivers to come before they were crossed.  Was this all becoming this familiar.  .....to real to be real he thought.

The road's as easy as 123, it should be renamed the cathedral of trees.  Is it the destination or the journey that pleases.  Does it really matter he concluded.  Through the gate, and down the trail the familiar rumble that awakens the soul.  Longfellows inspiration, so true, so true.  Only the eyes can tell the mind what it sees, words simply do not suffice.......to real to be real he thought

Down roads untraveled through new, and far.  Past ships locks, and fields of hay, taking a detour to a DeTour at the detours end.  Along the shores to the mighty sentinel.  A gaurdian of straits, a means of passage, thank you seems appropriate.  Thank you old friend, thank you are you really 50, what a different journey this would be without you. .....to real to be real he thought.

Disecting the top of the mitten, could this really be the green land of 5 days before.  The woods on fire, in all its glory.  So bold, so dareing, colors that don't exist but here it seems. From shore to shore, from the present to the past, a childhood memory of years long past.  Oh the changes, they are a plenty, but the eyes cannot change memories burned forever.  The M is still there, like a soldier on guard, protecting Walloon from threats to far.   ...to real to be real he thought


To the home thats not a home, a refuge of familiarity.  Only an hour he thought, already longing to be there.  A modern escape without a net, no news, no weather just woods and waters.  The news couldn't be real could it.  The day would come, but this was too soon.   ....to real to be real he thought.  To real to be real.



May you all travel the roads I have driven, and may you enjoy them as much as I have.  Hopefully in a less corny way.

Sac, you've traversed the bridge to nowhere many times...but I see you've happily landed.  Ahhh, Northern Michigan in autumn's glorious cloak.

[oldknight]

Nice article by Howie Beardsley on Coach Turner's retirement.

http://www.mlive.com/smallcolleges/grandrapids/index.ssf/2008/10/albions_turner_leaving_miaa_co.html

[hope1]

yes that was a really nice write up in the press another thing hope plays calvin friday in the devoss they are trying to break the attentance  record for volleyball friday at  6.30  so fans please show up

[northb]

From the useless information department:

For the past 27 years, the party in power has retained the White House except in the years when Calvin wins a National Championship.

McCain may pull this one out yet!

[Mr. Ypsi]

From the useless information department:

For the past 27 years, the party in power has retained the White House except in the years when Calvin wins a National Championship.

McCain may pull this one out yet!

Nice bit of trivia - but this is the men's basketball board, and Calvin did not win that national championship!  McCain is toast!

[sac]

From the useless information department:

For the past 27 years, the party in power has retained the White House except in the years when Calvin wins a National Championship.

McCain may pull this one out yet!

Nice bit of trivia - but this is the men's basketball board, and Calvin did not win that national championship!  McCain is toast!

read again

[sac]

You follow this league long enough and certain things just become so familiar.  When watching Albion, it was the coach on the sideline with the rolled up program barking instructions, arguing with officials.........usually 10 feet outside the coaches box or on the floor. 

Albion has been my favorite Hope opponent for several years, mostly because you almost always knew what you were going to get.  A tough 40 minute defensive struggle.   Only twice in the last 26 matchups did both teams reach 70 points. I saw Albion do things to Hope  few other teams could do, most noteworthy and vividly was a 2002 game at Albion the Britons won 53-39.  It still might be the finest 40 minute defensive effort I've seen from two teams.

http://miaa.org/mbb/stats/0102/0216ABHO.HTM

Hope and Albion have met 167 times on the hardwood, 66 of them involved Mike Turner and Glenn Van Wieren coached teams going head to head.  Many of those ended in intense tactical chess matches in the last 10 minutes.   It seems a bit unbelievable that its 48-18 in favor of Hope during that time.  But the last 10 years have been pretty near even, both teams could be accused of upsetting the other and there is little doubt that at least one of the games a year changed the MIAA Championship picture.  Since 1998's MIAA Championship game its just 14-10 in Hope's favor.


In 2005 Albion's playoff appearance and hosting kind of reintroduced the NCAA tournament to me.  I hadn't been able to follow Hope in 02 or 03 because of work, and hadn't witnessed a playoff game in 7 years.  I hated the new selection process, and just generally felt contempt for the whole system.  But the 05 MIAA season and Albion team re-energized my affection for D3 basketball, it was Coach Turner and his family who went way out of their way to make sure I had a seat for those games and made me feel welcome.   It was a refreshing and heartbreaking way to see what the NCAA means to others.

I once saw a number of Albion players with obvious tears in their eyes after a Hope regular season game loss.  It takes a great deal of passion to stir those kinds of emotions in 20 year olds over a simple regular season game. 

There are many things I will miss, but for sure it will be the simple handshake after the game.  I can't recall when I started doing this, maybe 94 or 95 but it was always the same..... gracious in defeat, humble in victory.

I'll probably always crack up at his comments last year after Albion beat Hope 56-52 at Albion, "You guys really didn't want to go into the tournament on a long winning streak anyway."  This was with about 10 games to go in the season and Hope on a moddest 9 game winning streak.  That was classic Turner.  It seems almost appropriate that he would win his last Albion-Hope game.




Sorry for the ramble but I've had a difficult time figuring out what to say about this, it sort of came out of left field. 

[hoopdreams]

as tryouts and practices begin, does anyone have info to share? Anyone? Anyone? No freshman showing promise, 1 year player transformations, transfers, anything? Kalamazoo? Olivet? Anything?  Scrimmage dates or times?

[sac]

as tryouts and practices begin, does anyone have info to share? Anyone? Anyone? No freshman showing promise, 1 year player transformations, transfers, anything? Kalamazoo? Olivet? Anything?  Scrimmage dates or times?

Couple tidbits about Hope,  though admittedly weeks old now.

K. Carter is reportedly playing very well at the point in open gym, a position of weakness may be a strength this year.

Ross and King have been the most impressive Freshman thus far.

[SKOT]

Rumor has it Hope is picking up a 7-foot bigten transfer who sat out last year after micro-fracture surgery.  There are some draft and agent issues still floating, but Reggie Bush is making a "donation" to the NCAA scholarship program that is supposed to clear those up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3225

[hopehoopfan]

as tryouts and practices begin, does anyone have info to share? Anyone? Anyone? No freshman showing promise, 1 year player transformations, transfers, anything? Kalamazoo? Olivet? Anything?  Scrimmage dates or times?

K. Carter is reportedly playing very well at the point in open gym, a position of weakness may be a strength this year.

Pete Bunn has been very impressive, but hasn't attended too many open gyms. Will be interesting to see who comes out on top once the season gets underway!

[sac]

Rumor has it Hope is picking up a 7-foot bigten transfer who sat out last year after micro-fracture surgery.  There are some draft and agent issues still floating, but Reggie Bush is making a "donation" to the NCAA scholarship program that is supposed to clear those up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3225

I don't think he'd want to give up his beach house in Portland to attend Hope.

[devossed]

as tryouts and practices begin, does anyone have info to share? Anyone? Anyone? No freshman showing promise, 1 year player transformations, transfers, anything? Kalamazoo? Olivet? Anything?  Scrimmage dates or times?

K. Carter is reportedly playing very well at the point in open gym, a position of weakness may be a strength this year.

Pete Bunn has been very impressive, but hasn't attended too many open gyms. Will be interesting to see who comes out on top once the season gets underway!

kids, the word for the day is spelled S-H-A-R-E.

it works when you have a toy your sister really wants to play with and you have already finished playing with it.

it works when your brother lets you climb the ladder into the treehouse to spend time with his friends.

and it really seems to work out pretty well when it's 95-96 and you have 2 PGs named kevin and joel...

[NW Hope Fan]

Rumor has it Hope is picking up a 7-foot bigten transfer who sat out last year after micro-fracture surgery.  There are some draft and agent issues still floating, but Reggie Bush is making a "donation" to the NCAA scholarship program that is supposed to clear those up.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3225

I don't think he'd want to give up his beach house in Portland to attend Hope.

Ah... The beach... It is a about an hour and a half from here. No beaches per se in Portland.