I do agree with the linked article. At least the UC players displayed some contrition for what they did and bore the scrutiny and punishment.

Why did the part of the radio interview where Sean Kilpatrick praised Tu Holloway get no run and all that did was him not putting down his own teammates by saying a guy on the other team was better than them? Because anything you put in the media is subject to whatever spin said media feels will get more viewers, listeners and page views. What if Jeff Goodman or Andy Katz spins a Gates apology to Freese as insincere for any reason, and then this thing is producing more and more fuel on a raging fire. Both schools have handed down their punishments, and both have had press conferences. Put the thing out of the media cycle for a while now and let it cool off...

 

I am going to again disagree. It's videotaped - you don't have to worry about someone spinning your words when they have been recorded. It didn't have to be elaborate or even eloquent. A simple "I'd like to apologize for hitting Kenny Frease and injuring him. I sincerely hope he recovers quickly and I wish him the best." Come on. That's difficult? You can't do so because of the negative "spin" the media is going to put on that? As far as the need to get this "out of the media cycle" - well, gee, your team called this press conference and invited the media. You apologized to every faction imaginable during the press conference ..... except one: the other team who you engaged in a brawl on national TV. It just doesn't make sense. We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, as I think the rather intentional effort to NOT apologize only helps to perpetuate the uncomfortableness of the situation.

 

That all being said, I watched the whole thing and thought it was good. Yancy came off sincere and fairly articulate. I really liked a couple of comments by Mick:

 

1) Last year UC won and got to enjoy the spoils of their victory. This year XU won and was not afforded the same opportunity to do so.

2) All focus has been on the players who behaved inappropriately, but there are also quite a few players who showed impressive character and restraint. ( I agree that those players have tended to be forgotten in this affair).

3) His job is to help these kids become better people so they can become better husbands and fathers.

 

I'll give it a solid "B" grade overall. Obviously, you know what I felt it lacked to earn the "A" grade.

I think we all need to be careful about using the "thug" word so freely. A "thug" is someone who robs you, stabs you for money, attacks you for no reason, a bad human being.

 

No one involved in this melee falls into that category.

 

Have any of them ever been in trouble?

^ Personally, I think a lot of people use "thug" or "gangster" because they can't use another word that's become taboo.

I think we all need to be careful about using the "thug" word so freely. A "thug" is someone who robs you, stabs you for money, attacks you for no reason, a bad human being.

 

No one involved in this melee falls into that category.

 

Have any of them ever been in trouble?

 

I haven't looked up Webster's definition to know if it matches yours. One of MY personal definitions of "thug" is a "punk with a disrespectful, selfish, all-about-me, 'I don't care if I hurt anyone else' attitude."

 

And lest there be any confusion, as I'm not completely certain to what Habib was referring, it has nothing to do with race.

I haven't looked up Webster's definition to know if it matches yours. I equate "thug" to a "punk with a disrespectful, selfish, all-about-me attitude."

 

Will you find that in Webster's?

 

Per Urban Dictionary -

 

Thug: As Tupac defined it, a thug is someone who is going through struggles, has gone through struggles, and continues to live day by day with nothing for them. That person is a thug. and the life they are living is the thug life. A thug is NOT a gangster. Look up gangster and gangsta. Not even CLOSE, my friend.

 

Gangsta: A sociopathic member of the inner-city underclass, known primarily for being antisocial and uneducated. Also known for ready access to illegal drugs and weapons, and staggeringly poor marksmanship

Websters definition of thug: "A brutal ruffian or assassin"

Will you find that in Webster's?

 

Per Urban Dictionary -

 

Thug: As Tupac defined it, a thug is someone who is going through struggles, has gone through struggles, and continues to live day by day with nothing for them. That person is a thug. and the life they are living is the thug life. A thug is NOT a gangster. Look up gangster and gangsta. Not even CLOSE, my friend.

 

Gangsta: A sociopathic member of the inner-city underclass, known primarily for being antisocial and uneducated. Also known for ready access to illegal drugs and weapons, and staggeringly poor marksmanship

 

I am the first to admit I'm not particularly hip. I don't own an "urban dictionary." Barely even know who Tupac is (he's a rapper, right?).

I am the first to admit I'm not particularly hip. I don't own an "urban dictionary." Barely even know who Tupac is (he's a rapper, right?).

 

I don't own one either, there's an online version.

 

Don't know Tupac? You're dead to me.

I haven't looked up Webster's definition to know if it matches yours. One of MY personal definitions of "thug" is a "punk with a disrespectful, selfish, all-about-me, 'I don't care if I hurt anyone else' attitude."

 

And lest there be any confusion, as I'm not completely certain to what Habib was referring, it has nothing to do with race.

 

And just to be clear, I wasn't accusing anyone here of that, but I've seen/heard some responses elsewhere that make me wonder if "thug" isn't just a convenient proxy. As Clyde said, it's worth being aware of what we're saying and I thought that I might add another consideration.

I don't own one either, there's an online version.

 

Don't know Tupac? You're dead to me.

 

I just looked him up on Google. I was right, he is a rapper. Or apparently, was. Wasn't aware he died a while back. I still get some props, right?

I give UC props for allowing the players to speak and express their sincere apologies.

Clearly, it has affected Gates and hopefully he will learn from it.

UC has handled this well, I think that Gates may have gotten off light with the length of his suspension, but I think he knows he has no more chances and has certainly damaged his reputation.

 

UC seems pretty proactive in regards to this situation, but I think they also have the most to lose between the two schools.

 

I think they need to take a year off to allow things to cool and then resume at USBank for a few years and then resume home and home.

And just to be clear, I wasn't accusing anyone here of that, but I've seen/heard some responses elsewhere that make me wonder if "thug" isn't just a convenient proxy. As Clyde said, it's worth being aware of what we're saying and I thought that I might add another consideration.

 

Sadly in some instances it is.

Huh....by my interpretation, most of us are thugs....going by the Urban Dictionary definition.

Cronin may not let him play after just 6 games. I think the 6 is fair.