Excellent article and very well said Bob! I think it captures how a lot of fans feel. I have never understood why you can't criticize 18 to 24 year old men. I promise you, and after 30 years in the military, these young adults are very capable of coping with hardship either mental or physical. Embrace the "suck" because life can "suck" at times. At least they were paid way better for less sacrifice.
Can't just focus on the end of the season's performance. There's a reason you play the ENTIRE SEASON. And whether you lose by a possession or 20, it's still a loss. Last I checked, wins were what teams touted for their success, not close losses.
Bingo on getting paid and getting off the social media. As philosopher Peter Parker said, "with great power comes great responsibility". You want the money, there's more that comes with that. And there's a reason depression and loneliness is skyrocketing statistically these days. Folks choose to live in the prison cells of their screens. Shut it off, and as the kids say "touch grass".
Bob--Here in Southern Ohio we're heading into a college basketball playoff season like no other.The bus full of Xavier fans leaves for Dayton shortly...Tons of Louisville and UK fans stand
ready to travel, and University of Cincinnati fans will be heading to Las Vegas...and with NIT finals
just up the road at Hinkle fieldhouse it will be a wonderful next few weeks!!!
Gavin Clavio gives a thoughtful commentary about the horrible posts on social media on his podcast Crimson Cast. If only it were as simple as getting off social media or toughening up then the problems would be solved.
Clavio is a professor in the School of Communications at IU. He has credibility in this area. One thing that would help is if the highly paid administration in athletic departments help the athletes establish a professional online presence and how to navigate it. Instead these young adults are left to learn by trial and error. If a school is going to invest that much money in an athlete then they should help them develop healthy skills.
Maybe one of your best pieces Bob, bravo! And thank you for pointing out that IU fans are not unique in the college sports landscape. I’ve lived in the South for 27 years now, and for those who think Hoosier fans are the worst, well as we say in the South, “bless your heart”. The first year was in AL in the late 90s….let’s just say Bama football season is quite an experience (and I don’t mean that as a compliment). Same for my adopted home of NC, where Tar Heel basketball is going through its own version of the Woodson experience with Hubert Davis. The fans are all over the top and more than slightly insane. I’m certainly not saying it’s justified, but it is what it is and it’s not changing anytime soon. The sooner the players realize that and adjust their social media habits as you suggest, the better off they’re going to be.
This team has been just another of frustrating teams Coach Woody put on floor. Opted for a round of golf yesterday instead of pulling my hair out. The IU fan in me wants to see us make tournament, but I know it would likely be another frustrating loss by a group of talented individuals but can't play as a team.
Excellent article and very well said Bob! I think it captures how a lot of fans feel. I have never understood why you can't criticize 18 to 24 year old men. I promise you, and after 30 years in the military, these young adults are very capable of coping with hardship either mental or physical. Embrace the "suck" because life can "suck" at times. At least they were paid way better for less sacrifice.
Bravo! Nailed it on all accounts.
Can't just focus on the end of the season's performance. There's a reason you play the ENTIRE SEASON. And whether you lose by a possession or 20, it's still a loss. Last I checked, wins were what teams touted for their success, not close losses.
Bingo on getting paid and getting off the social media. As philosopher Peter Parker said, "with great power comes great responsibility". You want the money, there's more that comes with that. And there's a reason depression and loneliness is skyrocketing statistically these days. Folks choose to live in the prison cells of their screens. Shut it off, and as the kids say "touch grass".
Great story Bob; spot on about IU and the "pro" players. Look forward to your next story on who should be IU's next coach....
Bob--Here in Southern Ohio we're heading into a college basketball playoff season like no other.The bus full of Xavier fans leaves for Dayton shortly...Tons of Louisville and UK fans stand
ready to travel, and University of Cincinnati fans will be heading to Las Vegas...and with NIT finals
just up the road at Hinkle fieldhouse it will be a wonderful next few weeks!!!
Waiting for your post Selection Sunday take! 😀
Gavin Clavio gives a thoughtful commentary about the horrible posts on social media on his podcast Crimson Cast. If only it were as simple as getting off social media or toughening up then the problems would be solved.
Clavio is a professor in the School of Communications at IU. He has credibility in this area. One thing that would help is if the highly paid administration in athletic departments help the athletes establish a professional online presence and how to navigate it. Instead these young adults are left to learn by trial and error. If a school is going to invest that much money in an athlete then they should help them develop healthy skills.
Maybe one of your best pieces Bob, bravo! And thank you for pointing out that IU fans are not unique in the college sports landscape. I’ve lived in the South for 27 years now, and for those who think Hoosier fans are the worst, well as we say in the South, “bless your heart”. The first year was in AL in the late 90s….let’s just say Bama football season is quite an experience (and I don’t mean that as a compliment). Same for my adopted home of NC, where Tar Heel basketball is going through its own version of the Woodson experience with Hubert Davis. The fans are all over the top and more than slightly insane. I’m certainly not saying it’s justified, but it is what it is and it’s not changing anytime soon. The sooner the players realize that and adjust their social media habits as you suggest, the better off they’re going to be.
This team has been just another of frustrating teams Coach Woody put on floor. Opted for a round of golf yesterday instead of pulling my hair out. The IU fan in me wants to see us make tournament, but I know it would likely be another frustrating loss by a group of talented individuals but can't play as a team.