Rickyp

Unless you count Scott Co., which by the way signed the letter in the Herald Leader that appeared last Sunday, and Belfrey, who's star football players come from WV. Also, Cubster let me remind you that several schools from the 16th region came calling on Rose Hill kids three years ago when OJ left. By my last count, Greenup, Raceland, Ashland, and Russell all secured prominent players at Rose Hill's expense. I don't remember you crying foul then. Please tell me that your not one of those who believe that public schools are limited to the kids in their respective districts. Either way it appears to me that "the greatest day in the history of Kentucky high school sports" as the Ashland radio crew and it's distinguished guest referred to it last evening turned out to be the eve of the greatest day in Kentucky high school sports history.

I would be willing to bet that most kids are against it. This is just another case of adults trying to screw up a youth activity.

Ben Bates is from Ashland, OH not Ashland, KY. Just a minor correction. Doesn't change the fact that the list isn't loaded with kids form private schools.

I have to amend my inital post. The young man in the Ashland paper lives close to J&J restuarant I thought it said the Fly J. Still out of district but much closer to Ashland. My mistake and apologies for the misrepresentation.

Below is a link to a letter in the Herald Leader signed by some ADs and coaches from across the state concerning the impending vote on the public/private school issue. The part that I find interesting is the statement about private schools being able to draw kids from the entire county were as public schools are limited by geographical boundries. Then I pick up the Daily Independent and there is an article about one of the captians on Ashland's football team and low and behold he lives on the south side of I-64 over 9 miles from the city limits. Not only that his two siblings go to Boyd Co. Plus the ace of the baseball pitching staff lives in Catlettsburg also in the Boyd Co. district. There are several well know athletes in the 64th and 63rd districts that attend schools outside of their school districts and in some cases their countys. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/fans/12915447.htm

Davis, I see your points and some of them I agree with you on. But, there are some positive things about Rose Hill that you choose to ignore. Anyway, I respect your opinion and there are things that I too would like to see different but try and see both sides. I choose not to be as critical because I know a lot of the players and coaches personally.

Johnboy, I did not go to the game nor have I seen the stats so I cannot answer your first 3 questions. I will say I tried to listen and for the most part the broadcast was interrupted by a problem at the station. Even when they returned it was in and out at best. I did not listen to the last miniute or so and I never heard anyone say anything about the coaching decisions. Maybe it was said after I turned it off or maybe I just missed it. Davis, Davis, Davis, you wear me out, man. Are you always this negative or just when it comes to Rose Hill?

I see there is still no answer from the Saint. The funny thing is is that he called me a coward for mentioning Barnes' name and he mentioned Jeff Hall's name five times in his origional post. Looks like the pot calling the kettle black to me.

timber, I can't argue that but I feel safe in saying that it would have given Rose Hill a better chance to win. That is not ment to take anything away from St. Henry they are a deserving champion.

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah! Sorry it took me so long to respond to ASE's ramblings but I was out of town this weekend. Mr. Elsewhere continues to dance around the questions. The simple facts are this: Bill has lost the rest of this season, he is going to lose another year, and he is in his sixth school in 3 years because everyone associated with him is concerned about his academic progress. Once again Bill is the victim, plain and simple. He had his opprotunity to play in the class A state tournament taken away from him and was made to watch from the stands. Several girls in his class have told me that he said he did not want to leave Rose Hill. He is a kid and he deserves to be a kid and not leveraged as he has been in this case. Does anyone else wonder why this did not come up until the week before the class A state? Did everyone just then realize that he was in the 9th grade? Maybe it was because as Elsewhere stated Rose Hill had a better chance to win with him and the leverage Mr. Barnes had would never be greater. Holding back is not the issue that could have been done at the end of the school year. But once again that would not have solved the AAU problem, would it? The powers that be need him in the 8th grade now so he will be eligable for this summers tournament play. And by the way I have never taken a shot at any kid on these AAU teams or any other team on this board.

Colonel, shooterx3 is correct he did not enroll until after basketball started. I did not bother to argue this particular statement with the thread originator because I cannot say for sure what someone at the school said to Mrs. Walker nor do I know Bill's date of enrollment. I do know that the Walker's inquired about enrollment fairly early in the school year and were told that the 8th grade was full. My impression was that he decided latter to transfer some St. Joe where he was in the 9th grade and enroll at Rose Hill as a 9th grader. All of this brings up an interesting point. If he was in the 7th grade last year as St. Elsewhere claims how could he have enrolled in the 9th grade at St. Joe. Was he double promoted? I keep hearing academics as the reason for this move yet he was able to be double promoted the previous year. Somehow this doesn't hold water.

Sportsguy, you and I are on the same page. Why not hold him back at the end of the year? We know the answer. I would like for someone, A Saint Elsewhere, or someone else to please tell me how this benefits this 15 year old kid. Like sportsguy said he is a pawn. I reread the initial post and one thing that I can't figure out is that if everything is being done for academic interest then why have they moved the kid to 5 different schools in 3 different states in the past 2 years.

CS, Jujuan, and I apologize for misspelling his name, left to go live with his mother in Mississippi which was the right thing for him to do. Bottom line is this: Bill Walker is benefitting none from this move. If he is enrolled in the 8th grade somewhere else he loses at least one year of eligablity. If this was academically driven then hold him back at the end of the year which Rose Hill would have considered but then Bill would not have been eligable for 8th grade AAU this summer, would he?

Well I don't have time to refute the entire first post however, I would like to make a couple of points. First of all there was a waiting list of 5 deep for the 8th grade at Rose Hill when Bill enrolled. His mother and Duane Barnes, his AAU coach, were aware of this. He was in the 9th grade at St. Joe, and was promoted from the 8th grade last year. Secondly, if anyone thinks this is about anything other than AAU basketball they are kidding themselves. Mr. Barnes pulled the same stunt 2 years ago with Juwan Brown. Rose Hill complied with the wishes of Brown's mother and Barnes then when they moved Juwan from the 8th grade to the 7th grade during the school year. It was a mistake then and I believe Rose Hill learned their lesson. If a dog bites you once shame on him if he bites you twice shame on you. So there is a pattern to Mr. Barnes and it all comes back to his pursuit of AAU glory. Period! No one can convience me that it is in Bill's best interest to be moved from school to school and from grade to grade all the while losing his eligability.

Patveep, I like Chaplain am confused by your post. I know you have no reason to believe me but what I have posted and what the Guru has posted is the absolute truth. Chaplain, I agree that I would like to see Bill come back to school. I think that it is a good fit for Bill academically, athletically, socially, and spiritually. However, I if were coach Hall I would not allow him to rejoin the basketball team this season. Next year is a different story. My concern for Bill is that at sometime he has to settle in somewhere or colleges will be reluctant to take him on schoolarship. He has major college ability and a college education could change Bill's life forever. Basketball will end someday for Bill as it does for everyone. At that time he will have to become a productive member of society and college would help prepare him for his life after basketball.

I have been in Richmond for 4 days and have not been able to post. I feel like that Davis has read more into my previous post than what was written. I am in no way criticizing Bill and my wishes for him are sincere. There are other posters on this board that know that I have been supportive of Bill while he was at Rose Hill and I hate to see him leave because I feel he was turning a corner in his life and getting his feet on solid ground. My agreeing with the decision made by Rose Hill's administrator is certainly not self serving. I am not the person who made the decision nor did I have any say in the decision. The simple facts are that Bill Walker was cheated out of an opprotunity to play in a great enviroment this weekend and why? So an adult could "get his" this summer. Bill is the victim not Rose Hill and for that I am truely saddened. Davis, you seem to very critical of everything that goes on at Rose Hill from Jeff Hall's coaching to this situation. Bill Walker's mother requested that Bill be enrolled at Rose Hill and she was aware that he was in the 9th grade. When interviewed by the administrator she voiced a concern about Bill and wanting him at Rose Hill for the smaller classrooms and discpline. Basketball was not her biggest concern. The administrator took her at her word. If you feel it is necessary to criticize them for believing her then that is your perogative. I am glad Rose Hill gave him a chance and I hope that given the opprotunity they give him another one because BILL deserves it! On the AAU front, players play in the grade that they are in school. Each team is allowed 3 "grade exceptions" for players who have be held back. Why doesn't Mayo just play up to the 9th grade? Pretty simple, the coach in question would not be guaranteed a national championship. Plain and simple! The bottom line is this. All Bill has learned in this situation is to try an minipulate and if you don't get your way you quit on your friends and teamates. That's unfair to Bill because he had little say in the matter. Once again, shame on the adults who are using this 15 year old "kid" as a pawn and best of luck to Bill Walker wherever he lands.

I can confirm the Guru's source. That is exactly what happened. My hat is off to the administration at Rose Hill for not being held hostage by an AAU coach. The facts are that Bill Walker is being used as a pawn by a group of adults. This is by far one of the most repulsive acts I have ever heard of. The real loser is Bill and he deserves better. Bill Walker's reputation continues to be tarnished because of an AAU coach's selfish pursuit of his own glory. Shame on his mother and the other individuals involve in this absolutely dispicable action. Good luck to Bill I hope he can eventually fine peace and happyness. This will be his 5th school in two years. What college coach will not see this as a red flag if it continues?