Every year, same thing. Many of us are only happy with a National Championship because we are spoiled by the continued success. But that's reality for me. It is all that will ultimately make me happy. Without that, still an empty feeling. But I will enjoy the ride. We have a team (again) that can win it all. With our pud schedule, we'll have to collapse to not get a #1 seed.
HighEliteMajor
5416 posts
Garrett is hopefully that terrific four year player that starts by year three.
@jaybate-1-0 I think you are presuming his use of marijuana previously. Even with that, your premise presupposes that use, abuse and addiction can't progress and get worse. Folks that use more and more marijuana become detached and more interested in pot, than the balance of their life. Same with other substances. So no, I'm not using other drugs as the dot connector. I am saying that (as a possibility) his marijuana use, solely, could be the issue an that it got to a crisis or critical level.
@justanotherfan Right on there. Excellent points. There are folks with those personalities and they are much different that those that are not.
@jaybate-1-0 I would say pass -- easily. You? I compare a bit to the disjointed and forced play of an Anrio Adams. A reasonably comparable player.
@jaybate-1-0 Initially, I do not think that I am "able to recognize behaviors from televised athletic performances that signal one player is enhanced, or unaffected by pot, while another is adversely affected, or likes it too much." That appears to be a premise of your inquiry.
What I think I do sometimes relatively effectively is take evidence, and reach a reasonable conclusion. Admittedly when you do not have all of the information, there is always varying degrees of speculation. Even someone that sees a video of a person being shot by another speculates to a decree because they cannot actually see the bullet. We take our experiences, the info we have, and then the result, and we reach speculative conclusion. Much like when you theorize or postulate. Puzzle pieces match up.
And here, the puzzle pieces seem to fit. When I see what @FarmerJayhawk mentioned about pills, it's not surprising that something else could be in the mix. We don't know for sure if that's true, of course. But one thing we do know is that folks that abuse marijuana many times move to more significant and harmful drugs. Would not be a huge leap of faith.
When players step away, or someone takes a leave of absence, it could be many things. It could be cancer, it could be a dying grandma, etc. Many things.
But we do have some pieces fitting together -1) Bong in the room, 2) Decreased performance (meaning, the guy got worse), 3) Self not playing him, 4) the transfer, 5) the "chatter" about the affinity for weed (which I heard from have a kid attending KU, from a professional colleague who had some "insight" shall we say, and the normal social media stuff), 6) stepping away from the game (leave of absence), 7) no explanation given for the leave of absence, which signals a personal struggle (vs. "leaving to attend to a family matter", etc.).
And yes, it is certainly possible that substance abuse issues manifest themselves at some point other than the exact initial point of abuse (your reference as to why it might have become more impactful after his freshman season). In fact, as the abuse and reliance deepens, the likelihood of the collapse increases.
But I think we're all smart enough to know that "weed" might not be it. It could be something else that precipitated his leave of absence, or a combination of factors. We just have zero information on other possibilities, which permits the arrows to more reasonably point to weed (substance abuse).
@jaybate-1-0 Right, I think Bragg is one of those folks that is highly dependent on weed. Some stories/rumors out there about his enjoyment of the substance. A bit like Greene. Personally, I think pot is a scourge much like alcohol. Lots of carnage to families and lives due to these substances. But some (most) can handle it fine and use it in a reasonable fashion. Some though have addictive personalities. If it's something else with Bragg I'd be surprised.
If we get into politics, it's a lead pipe cinch that it will turn into a mess.
Garrett looks great. He'll earn his time. But the incredible fortune if you're Mitch Lightfoot. No additional post recruit, and Coleby, Maxwell, and Whitman depart. Unbelievable good luck.
@BShark Definitely the no malice part. Fiction ... ? I enjoy jabbing @jaybate-1-0 when I can.
@HawkChamp @mayjay Yea, but Billy's injury will linger. It will presumptively impact his play. And thus we won't be at full strength in March (we never are) and Self will just be amazing to keep it all together -- right @jaybate-1-0? Kidding a bit, of course ...
Remember, Self always minimizes injuries. Rarely does he concede the seriousness of anything.
@mayjay What do they have in common?
Yea, we're hitting the fertile recruiting grounds of Nebraska. Kidding of course. We go to Stanford, too. Nice trip. Of course, the recruiting trip thing is a complete red herring.
It's not a matter of sacrificing a trip like that, of course. It's a matter of sacrificing one home game vs. the likes of Siena, UAB (or IUPUI), UC Ashecrap, Texas Southern (or eastern, or western, or northern), South Dakota St. (or north), Long Bum State, et. al. once every two seasons (home and home). I'm quite sure KU fans would rather see that parade of stiffs instead of lacing it up against a real opponent. I'm sure our tourney resume looks better with games against those puds.
Just does nothing for us. Heard that before, haven't we?
Holy crap, I just won that argument too.
Dang, for whatever reason when I clicked I thought it was Kansas instead of Kentucky. We are the ones with three post players.
All I read was why don't we schedule WSU in basketball. I skipped the comments.
Clucking ... like ... a ... chicken. When a little fella is pokin' at you, you can ignore it, and ignore it more. Sometimes, the little fella learns more by being squished like a bug. Pokin' ain't as fun anymore. That is all I have to contribute.
@JayHawkFanToo Thanks. I didn't see where there was a statement that KU didn't get compensated, though.
@KUSTEVE Thanks, I'm your brother too. Your humility in accepting the flaws in your border war argument has been impressive. It takes a big person to admit they are wrong. I think everyone could learn from your example.
One of Self's weaknesses is coaching the press break. Passive and weak. He's admitted that they don't practice it sufficiently, citing limited practice time. Best medicine is a PG you can give the ball to and say "go." Second best medicine is getting the ball in quickly and attacking down the floor.
@JayHawkFanToo Thanks for the info. Your first link didn't work, fyi. Could you double check that? I'd seen that second one and it didn't mention the money part. I am really shocked that KU didn't get money out of this. Did not know that. So we get black outs for no compensation? Yikes.
@KUSTEVE Definitely couldn't have been possible without posters such as yourself. I appreciate it.
The Big 12 sounds awesome.
@JayHawkFanToo Didn't Time Warner pay KU for the right to be exclusive on some of this? The whole Tier 3 rights? You said they are "not even getting any money in return"? I assume you mean KU isn't getting paid, which I guess I'm not following.
One thing that is completely out of the players' control is the officiating. If an official decides a certain guy is a fouler, he'll get fouls called on him. Even if he does the same thing another guys does. Or if situationally there needs to be a foul called because the balance of fouls is out of whack. With another season, comes more horrible officiating.
@jaybate-1-0 Given what went on with Bragg last season, pot reliance is the one item that connects the dots. This seems to further that theory. Either way, I wish he was still here and working toward being the player he obviously could have been. Self clearly showed him the door.
Your bi-line there has me intrigued. I have long believed that it was Lyndon Johnson that was somehow behind Kennedy's death, in concert with the CIA. The only true motive that made sense. I have never for one second believed that there was not a conspiracy, and have never once believed Oswald acted alone. It is even more intriguing that after 25 years where all of these agencies could prepare for the lawful release of the documents, all of a sudden, at the last minute, now supposedly we can't. They obviously planned what just happened.
This may be a de-weedification process. Bong is bad.
Good thing Traylor isn't here or Preston wouldn't play at all.
@JayHawkFanToo I've had all of them .. ATT, Consolidated (whatever it was before), and Comcast. Don't like any of them. I've stuck with Comcast because in large part Metro Sports (which is now the Spectrum Sports Channel) as it had great high school coverage and KU. Now they've cut their HS coverage, so I may bail. All the boys I know and have coached are seniors this season in high schools around town (my youngest is a senior), so after that I won't care as much. But the alternative suck too. Comcast has really been ok.
@KUSTEVE It's a KC station -- Metro Sports. Now Spectrum Sports. It carries the KU stuff here. Other providers don't have it. Only Comcast in Johnson County (Time Warner in KC).
I am incredibly excited about Garrett. Vick's my top guy this season, but seeing how the players see him as the top defender, he's got four year stud written all over him.
Channel 913 on Comcast in JOCO. It was replayed that evening, too. It is a clear picture, better than the kind of rough signal during the game.
Also, make sure you extend time. It ran over the 2 hour window on my recording.
@BeddieKU23 And gotta get Preston those big minutes -- experience. He needs to be the "sophomore" folks speak of by the end of the season. Minutes won't be the issue I'm sure. Very excited to Garrett develop too. Really like what I see there, but on that not so great scrimmage feed, I kept confusing him with Vick (and that silly hair).
@jaybate-1-0 Well, he can't wrap them in bubble wrap. You think he's really going to try to protect guys by limiting minutes? No real historical precedence for that with Self -- he's beaten guys in to submission with minutes.
Udoka got hurt in practice last year. In 2012, we had basically Withey and TRob and an injury to one of them pretty much doomed any FF chances. You know Self wants to be more conventional. Personally, I think the only thing that holds that back is Self's belief as to Preston's readiness.
I think he's looking to that short-benched team and really enjoying the idea that he doesn't have to worry about playing anybody. And 8 man rotation is perfect. And given the fact that we're now experience in the 4 guard deal, we can use our flexibility to exploit weaknesses --- that is why I'm not totally concerned about our lack of depth. I have confidence we could play with Lightfoot on the court in the middle, and with four guards, and we could still outscore teams. And that's all that matters. Scoring more than the opponent. That would not have been the case before his very wise adaptation to his talent.
We've kind of seen this stuff before -- I say Preston starts no later than Nov. 28 game vs. Toledo, and accompanying that change Self says how terrific a player Svi is, that he's an NBA player, that KU is just much better with Svi coming of the bench, providing a spark and a change of pace, and providing 3 point shooting. If it's Vick that doesn't start, then it's more likely helping Svi since he's a senior and has the draft right in front of him. Just my thought.
@JayHawkFanToo I was kidding around too my friend. I understood you were kidding. Just throwing some back to you. I always enjoy giving you a hard time about your unabashed Self loyalty -- and noting that the loyalty might help me get off the hook on Shepherd seemed a reasonable time to point it out. But I may point it out at unreasonable times too ...
@mayjay Ah, yes, my favorite post guys are not always complete failures. Thanks for the recall.
@JayHawkFanToo You're just not a nice person with a memory like that ... I was also very high on Bragg. Perhaps the best thing to do is IGNORE my favorite recruit.
I do hold to the position that Shepherd would have been much better here vs. TCU (and, you know, I say that knowing you can't disagree given your proximity to Bill Self's back side...)
I was excited to see Mr. Lightfoot break out last season, as well. Hmmm.
Maybe too dramatic, but if Bolden picks KU, do we win the national championship last season? I'm quite sure his PT here would have been extensive after Doke's injury. Obviously getting both he and Doke (guys like that) in the same class doesn't happen much in CBB. Heck, both those guys could be starting right now for us. I think Bolden is the real deal, and the "real" has not been exposed yet. But I could be way off there ...
Thanks for the comments and for @DoubleDD for his strong opposition. Im kind of in the mood to move on to how great our team looks this season. Maybe we'll see MU in March.
Doke is no joke. Looks like he could be an All-American to be honest.
Ok, i'm not a fan of Gregorian as a whole. But very good points.
I'm not sure if anyone listened to Fescoe this morning. He was against playing. They talked unanimously about how their opinion has now changed. How Bill Self is wrong on this issue. How much fun the whole experience was. That the environment was electric. Everything we already know.
They pointed out Self's quotes about the players dealing with the environment, etc, and making the point that a game like this can only help the team deal with real, tourney like pressure.
Deniers are losing. Just give it a few months. Self will ok the game, and then all of a sudden, because he says it's ok, it will magically be ok.
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article180343846.html ↗
You can draw your own conclusions, from an outsider, someone who has nothing to do with Kansas City, KU, or MU.
Ah, the rivalry deniers. A grim group.
Just enjoy.
My wife made me promise not to gloat. This has nothing to do with gloating. This is about all KU fans.
Some things in life are too easy. As humans, we find a way to make things difficult. Most of the time when we over think things that are really quite easy, and not complex.
Sometimes in life you just need to do what feels good -- or more precisely, what makes you feel alive.
Guys, seriously, that was fun. If you did not enjoy that experience as a KU fan, I need to check to see if you have a pulse.
The thing about topics like this is folks get entrenched. They feel like they don't want to lose an argument. They can't step back and just see what happened. Open their minds, recalculate, and reconsider.
I have been critical that emotions have outweighed logic. The logic, in part, being the undeniable enjoyment that came from the rivalry throughout our history as a University. No one has denied that. Thus, it is fact. Now, we can take the emotions we felt today and compare that to the emotions related to whatever we perceive that MU did to us. The things that hurt our feelings.
Bars throughout the city packed with folks watching PPV. 18,000+ PPV buys. 18,000+ tickets sold out in record time. Countless others listening on the radios. It was the sole topic for KU and MU fans this past week.
Quote after quote from Bill Self, former players, and all the ships at sea. "Tremendous" was a word used. "Amazing" I heard on the radio after the game. "Most anticipated exhibition game in history", said Self. "Incredible atmosphere" I heard (and saw). "Raucus Border War" said KUsports. Just take the time to read and absorb over the next few days. Undeniable.
We should play MU because the game evokes passion like no other opponent.
We should play for US, irrespective of what it does or doesn't do for the enemy.
Bill Self will say that he will do what's best for Kansas. Today, there is no doubt. In fact, there never was. Bill Self, while a great coach and leader, is wrong on this topic about what's best for KU. He knows it.
As I have mentioned, sit back and wait for an announcement down the road. It will take a few months. But it will happen.
The phrase, cutting off your nose to spite your face is perhaps the most apt analogy. You can let whatever anger or resentment you have stop you from enjoying one of the greatest sports rivalries in the nation. Or you can just enjoy.
And instead of standing against the strong current of the river, you can hop on and ride down stream.
Life is good. And it is great to be a Jayhawk. We came out in the second half and dominated our rival -- and they are still our rival. And we are still better.
Today the debate concluded. Checkmate.
Rock Chalk!
@DoubleDD Gave me a good chuckle. You forgot to add "all fiction" at the end. You realize that tide is unstoppable now I assume. So where are you watching/listening? Or are you cutting off your nose to spite your face? Denying yourself the enjoyment of one of the best rivalries in all of sports?
Enjoy the game!
For those not wanting to pay for the game, a number of bars/restaurants are apparently showing it. At the P&L downtown, the Peanut, Coaches, Johnny's, Tanners -- those are what I've heard so far. You might check the location you plan to go to, to make sure. Added - Jefferson's and Free State brewery.
We the fans and alumni will be around a long time after Bill Self and his hurt feelings are gone. And we saw and enjoyed battling with MU long before Bill Self probably ever conceived of being a Jayhawks. I'm glad Self has partially conceded. We'll need to give him a bit of time after the game today to fully concede. But fully concede he will."
Bill Self already said of the game: “The most anticipated exhibition game in the history of exhibition games”
Just an FYI - Here is the announcement on the PPV, noting "tremendous interest."
"Our first objective was to sell out Sprint Center," Missouri and Kansas said in a joint statement. “Once we achieved the sellout so quickly, our fans who could not get tickets expressed tremendous interest in having the game televised. We wanted to make sure that the charities we've identified would be the only entities to derive revenue from this game. SIDEARM Sports has provided
the platform to allow us to create a second stream of revenue via this telecast."
Self said of the game: “The most anticipated exhibition game in the history of exhibition games”
But we can argue just to argue based on preconceived (or wishful) narratives.
@HawkChamp I think he wants to, yes. But l've also seen him in past years not start freshmen in early season match-ups.
I hope we start Graham, Newman, Vick, Preston, and Udoka.
I think we'll start Graham, Newman, Vick, Svi, and Udoka.
@JayHawkFan I guess that doesn't surprise me, though you have spent a lot of time talking about the game, telling everyone how much of a big deal it isn't:thinking: . I'm sure you will enjoy watching a cooking show, or the NFL, or taking a nice walk in the park. All reasonable alternatives. I'm convinced a very high percentage of KU nation will be tuned in -- by PPV, at the game, or on the radio. I was at a HS football game last night and every KU fan I talked with was figuring out some way to tune in, except one who had a couples baby shower (ugh).
I'm also sure a very scant few will actively boycott, still complaining about mean old MU going to a better conference. MU is just horrible.
All in fun.
Let's destroy them.
*Took me about 3 minutes to find that stupid emoji.
@JayHawkFanToo You can argue all you want, but you're just grasping at straws. Everyone is talking about this game. Even you.
@JayHawkFanToo It is an easy question. But I simply don't know what is high or low.