Game 1: Colgate University, Friday, Nov 13th, 7 PM, MASN

[TweederGMU]

We need to take a step back and realize these are fans posting on a message board, we are not DI Coaches. Many of us are used to seeing good players on our team over the years, we have been spoiled for so long. We need to man up and realize that we are not a good team. Our returning players are just not very good players. Sure they show flashes of greatness at points but for 3 years we just haven't had the great caliber of basketball players we are used to seeing. Don't know what else the coaches can do to help Shevon and Marko, it is on them to play with heart and passion and give 110% on every play. We, nor the coaches can do that on the court. It is what it is.

Add in a new coach and new system and add on more growing pains. We are all hoping for the best but time to face facts.... we are not a good team and probably will not be good until we get our next class in here and get this freshmen class along with the next in here to start learning from the ground up with Paulsens system and goals. Paulsen can coach, just will take some time.

All we can do is go to the games, cheer on the team, and keep pouring money in to our beloved program and school.

Whatever wins we get this year will just be nice but overall we are building for the future and people need to accept that.

 

[JimP]

We need to take a step back and realize these are fans posting on a message board, we are not DI Coaches. Many of us are used to seeing good players on our team over the years, we have been spoiled for so long. We need to man up and realize that we are not a good team. Our returning players are just not very good players. Sure they show flashes of greatness at points but for 3 years we just haven't had the great caliber of basketball players we are used to seeing. Don't know what else the coaches can do to help Shevon and Marko, it is on them to play with heart and passion and give 110% on every play. We, nor the coaches can do that on the court. It is what it is.

Add in a new coach and new system and add on more growing pains. We are all hoping for the best but time to face facts.... we are not a good team and probably will not be good until we get our next class in here and get this freshmen class along with the next in here to start learning from the ground up with Paulsens system and goals. Paulsen can coach, just will take some time.

All we can do is go to the games, cheer on the team, and keep pouring money in to our beloved program and school.

Whatever wins we get this year will just be nice but overall we are building for the future and people need to accept that.

I agree with most of this sentiment, though I think Shevon has proven he's a good player. He's shown us he can be dominant and wasn't named preseason A-10 second team for nothing. Hope and still expect this is a brief slump he's in.

A guy like Jalen too - who looked pretty good a couple years ago when playing inside. Hopefully w/ Paulsen here we can see that guy again this season.

 

[GSII]

My hope for a better offense......I hope to see more of Shevon getting the pass and going up quick for a shot or dunk. Especially on the right block. Why not beat the double team? Also, he and the other 4's can work a high low game or a quick reverse for a 3. But the 4's should start at the 3pt line. Marko and Royal can make this shot. Then slip into the high post. All depends if Shevon can make those passes.

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

One thing that hasn't been discussed is the new shot clock, which is supposed to pick up the pace of play. What wasn't factored in was the Mickey Mouse officiating crew that called 47 combined fouls and completely ruined the flow of the game.

If the goal is to make the game more exciting, somebody might want to tell the refs not to blow their whistles on almost every other possession.

Tom, I think it's pretty clearly a mandate this year that the refs are to protect "freedom of movement". It's going to be brutal early this year in all games as to the amount of fouls called.....

I think we'll see improved shooting as the year goes along. I saw a lot of good looks and outside of Marquis, guys seem capable.

 

[gmubrian]

I mean, this stuff happens every day on campus, some random group or another proselytizing something (usually anti-Muslim or anti-gay activists where I teach) so it wouldn't bother me much just part of campus life.

It wasn't some random group proselytizing, it was the president of the university taking advantage of a captive audience. Universities were supposed to be places of great debate, where we learn how to analyze and how to think. Instead, debate is squashed and self appointed few tell people what to think. As repugnant as racism is, it is free speech which is protected by both our US Constitution and more importantly in this case since it is a VA university, our VA Constitution. The right to free speech means that even stupid people have the right to free speech and to say stupid things.

The fact that he was "preaching to the choir" shows it was just grandstanding on the president's part. When people in places of authority take it upon themselves to chastise and lecture about it, it does not convince anyone new. It causes those on the opposite side to dig in. Public debate (instead of proselytizing) would be much more beneficial. These attempts to outlaw racism on drive the racists underground. I'd rather the racists be out in the open. Then I have the opportunity to debate them, or to boycott them and their organizations/businesses.

 

[Pablo]

As repugnant as racism is, it is free speech which is protected by both our US Constitution and more importantly in this case since it is a VA university, our VA Constitution. The right to free speech means that even stupid people have the right to free speech and to say stupid things.

http://studentconduct.gmu.edu/university-policies/code-of-student-conduct/:

"The right to free speech and expression does not include unlawful activity or activity which endangers or threatens to endanger the safety or well-being of any member of the community. Further, it does not
include any activity which materially interferes with the education or well-being of other students or the
mission of the institution."

 

[GMUgemini]

It wasn't some random group proselytizing, it was the president of the university taking advantage of a captive audience. Universities were supposed to be places of great debate, where we learn how to analyze and how to think. Instead, debate is squashed and self appointed few tell people what to think. As repugnant as racism is, it is free speech which is protected by both our US Constitution and more importantly in this case since it is a VA university, our VA Constitution. The right to free speech means that even stupid people have the right to free speech and to say stupid things.

The fact that he was "preaching to the choir" shows it was just grandstanding on the president's part. When people in places of authority take it upon themselves to chastise and lecture about it, it does not convince anyone new. It causes those on the opposite side to dig in. Public debate (instead of proselytizing) would be much more beneficial. These attempts to outlaw racism on drive the racists underground. I'd rather the racists be out in the open. Then I have the opportunity to debate them, or to boycott them and their organizations/businesses.

Exactly what are you going to "debate" about a student drawing a depicting of a lynching in a dorm common area. There's really nothing to debate there (other than a question of if it's protected speech or not...most would probably come to the conclusion that it is not).

I wasn't at the game, so I'm not sure exactly how long the president spoke or what exactly he said, but if it was anything like the released statement of "we won't tolerate racism at our university," I don't see what's wrong with that.

I mean, do you have a problem when soccer players unfurl the banner of let's keep racism out of soccer before the games start?

 

[gmubrian]

That "grandstanding" from Cabrera was due to a drawing of a black person depicted as a monkey hanging from a noose that was found in a residence hall. It was a legit thing for him to speak out about, and I'm sorry that it was an inconvenience to some of us here. But trust me, it meant a lot to the students.

How do you jump to the conclusion that the picture is of a black person? Have you seen the picture? It looks like a Gorilla or some other animal to me . I don't equate Gorilla's with black people, do you? If you ask me, the people that are assuming the Gorilla is a black person are the racists.

Have you seen the video where the police report came from? In the video, it is a black person drawing the picture. If they didn't draw the original part, then they are now tampering with the evidence. What parts did they add? Did they add the ropes around the Gorilla and the banana? Did they want to make what was an innocent drawing of a Gorilla seem racist to make this a another made up incident like at Missou (where there is now video showing the protester that called for the presidents resignation for his car running into him instead he repeatedly stepped in front of the car is it tried do get away from the protests).

This is all a bunch of overacting over nothing. No-one was threatened and no-one was injured. So if somehow the the original "artist" intended some racist message, it is free speech.

 

[gmubrian]

http://studentconduct.gmu.edu/university-policies/code-of-student-conduct/:

"The right to free speech and expression does not include unlawful activity or activity which endangers or threatens to endanger the safety or well-being of any member of the community. Further, it does not
include any activity which materially interferes with the education or well-being of other students or the
mission of the institution."

Look at the video. Unless we have Gorilla's as students at Mason, there is nothing that interferes with or threatens the well being of students.

 

[JimP]

It wasn't some random group proselytizing, it was the president of the university taking advantage of a captive audience. Universities were supposed to be places of great debate, where we learn how to analyze and how to think. Instead, debate is squashed and self appointed few tell people what to think. As repugnant as racism is, it is free speech which is protected by both our US Constitution and more importantly in this case since it is a VA university, our VA Constitution. The right to free speech means that even stupid people have the right to free speech and to say stupid things.

The fact that he was "preaching to the choir" shows it was just grandstanding on the president's part. When people in places of authority take it upon themselves to chastise and lecture about it, it does not convince anyone new. It causes those on the opposite side to dig in. Public debate (instead of proselytizing) would be much more beneficial. These attempts to outlaw racism on drive the racists underground. I'd rather the racists be out in the open. Then I have the opportunity to debate them, or to boycott them and their organizations/businesses.

Wasn't there but don't have a problem with it. Who knows to what extent it's preaching to the choir? Plenty of sports fans that root for teams that have minorities on them are racist. My relative the Dallas Cowboy fan who drops the n-word on a regular basis for instance.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

Or they're just aware of the historical context of equatting blacks with monkeys, apes, ect by racists.

 

[gmubrian]

I mean, do you have a problem when soccer players unfurl the banner of let's keep racism out of soccer before the games start?

I don't watch soccer, so I don't really care what soccer players do. But, when I watch any sport or a movie, I watch it for the their athletic or acting talents, not for the politics. If they think that because I watch them for their athletic or acting talents, that I care in the least about their political views, they are sorely mistaken. I am glad to ignore their misguided points of view on things, but when they make their political views part of the equation, then sadly, I will make that part of the equation of whether I watch them or not.

 

[gmubrian]

Or they're just aware of the historical context of equatting blacks with monkeys, apes, ect by racists.

So I can't ever draw an ape because a racist did it in the past?

Again, it seems to me that people have jumped to a huge conclusion here. There is nothing in the video to indicate it is racist other than the person taking the video saying it is racist to the black man that is drawing on the board at the time.

 

[GMUgemini]

I don't watch soccer, so I don't really care what soccer players do. But, when I watch any sport or a movie, I watch it for the their athletic or acting talents, not for the politics. If they think that because I watch them for their athletic or acting talents, that I care in the least about their political views, they are sorely mistaken. I am glad to ignore their misguided points of view on things, but when they make their political views part of the equation, then sadly, I will make that part of the equation of whether I watch them or not.

So, I suppose you are perfectly OK with fans making monkey noises and throwing bananas at opposing teams' black players (notice the metaphor being used by said fans).

And not to derail the thread too much, but I'm going to bring this back up on armed forces day so you can reiterate your position about political speech being injected into sporting events.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

If it's an ape with a noose around its neck, it should at least raise alarms, warrant a discussion.

It is all about the context of the image and its usage.

So no, drawing an ape isn't automatically off the table.

 

[GMU92]

I guess the question I would have is does every anonymous offensive isolated event like a cartoon drawing, and it was very offensive, deserve the attention of the university president?

No, but college/university presidents do hear of potentially embarrassing behavior on campus. What is new these days is making grandiose speeches in front of half empty basketball arenas to a bunch of people who had nothing to do with the incident. (he didn't even tell the crowd that there was something under investigation) My father told me that when he was at H-SC, a quiet assembly of students was called, the college president explained the issue at hand, those assembled were reminded of the Honor Code, and it was reinforced that if caught, you would pack your bags never to set foot on campus again. Ever. It worked remarkably well.

 

[GMUgemini]

No, but college/university presidents do hear of potentially embarrassing behavior on campus. What is new these days is making grandiose speeches in front of half empty basketball arenas to a bunch of people who had nothing to do with the incident. (he didn't even tell the crowd that there was something under investigation) My father told me that when he was at H-SC, a quiet assembly of students was called, the college president explained the issue at hand, those assembled were reminded of the Honor Code, and it was reinforced that if caught, you would pack your bags never to set foot on campus again. Ever. It worked remarkably well.

It is true that today's college student expects very public responses.

 

[gmujim92]

It is true that today's college student expects very public responses.

Many also expect "free" tuition, to graduate with a job making $100K and to go their entire lives without having somebody hurt their little feelings.

In other words, they're idiots. Why universities are giving in to their complaints/demands is beyond me.

 

[JimP]

Many also expect "free" tuition, to graduate with a job making $100K and to go their entire lives without having somebody hurt their little feelings.

In other words, they're idiots. Why universities are giving in to their complaints/demands is beyond me.

Free tuition may be pie in the sky, but can't blame today's college students for making tuition an issue. Reality is, many are leaving with crippling debt. Much more so than when I was in college in the '90's.

 

[gmubrian]

So, I suppose you are perfectly OK with fans making monkey noises and throwing bananas at opposing teams' black players (notice the metaphor being used by said fans).

And not to derail the thread too much, but I'm going to bring this back up on armed forces day so you can reiterate your position about political speech being injected into sporting events.

It is a little different, but I have no problems with eliminating it if you think honoring armed forces is somehow political. In similar vain, though, if you are going to eliminate that, you should eliminate honoring any group that isn't the basketball team.