Wisconsin Recruit Decommits Over Message Board Comments

[stxxu]

Gary Parrish wrote this (http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11776517) article about Wisconsin recruit Vander Blue, who decommitted earlier this week.


"These so-called Wisconsin fans, what they had to say on those [message boards], it really made me second-guess: Do people really want me here?" Blue told Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "Because I know if I was a fan and I heard about a recruit [who might be struggling academically], I'd be more like: 'What can we do to help him?' And not, 'Let's make him feel like the worst person in Madison right now.'"


"Forty year-old adults talking about somebody who don't got their license yet; I just felt it was so unnecessary," Blue added. "Picture yourself in my position. Rumors going around, you're just keeping quiet. And you read the article and 1,000 people [are] throwing you under the bus."

The article is a good reminder to keep in mind who could be reading some of the comments said on here.

[GuyFawkes38]

I'm rolling my eyes right now (is there an emoticon for that?).

It's more than lame to blame a message board for your change of decision. Just be honest: you didn't want to attend Wisconsin.

He has to take ownership of his decision instead of being a pitiful loser about it.

[Old Coach]

GuyFawkes,
I've surfed this board since it started... after MM became too slow and scrambled... and have never posted a darn thing. Never interested.
After reading your post I felt compelled to regisered and respond.

You are a complete idiot... not because I say so but because you say so. You clearly expressed exposed your intellect, experience and insight toward your fellow man simply in the way you expressed yourself. If you fail to see this, then read your post. If you still disagree, then read your post again. Should that fail show it to your parents. If that doesn't -or you're too old to have parents aronud - then show it to your kids.

Let them be your jury. As for me, you know what I think.

[GuyFawkes38]

GuyFawkes,
I've surfed this board since it started... after MM became too slow and scrambled... and have never posted a darn thing. Never interested.
After reading your post I felt compelled to regisered and respond.

You are a complete idiot... not because I say so but because you say so. You clearly expressed exposed your intellect, experience and insight toward your fellow man simply in the way you expressed yourself. If you fail to see this, then read your post. If you still disagree, then read your post again. Should that fail show it to your parents. If that doesn't -or you're too old to have parents aronud - then show it to your kids.

Let them be your jury. As for me, you know what I think.

Of course, I stand by my statement. But I'm thrilled to attract another voice on XH.

Obviously I don't buy the Wisconsin recruit's story,

And I bet my wonderful and incredible Mom and Dad would agree with me.

[AviatorX]

I'm rolling my eyes right now (is there an emoticon for that?).

It's more than lame to blame a message board for your change of decision. Just be honest: you didn't want to attend Wisconsin.

He has to take ownership of his decision instead of being a pitiful loser about it.

I actually agree with this for the most part.

[PMI]

Can't say I totally disagree with Weaksmack on this one, but having not read any of the Wiscy message board posts about the kid, I won't jump to conclusions. I remember their fans over here during the second round in March and they seemed like the most unreasonable people on the planet. It's one thing to say you'd prefer one recruit over another, but if they really got into ripping him I kind of get it. Either way, I love all of our recruits and wish them nothing but the best.

[LyonsIsFlyin]

It could just be because it's Guy who responded and my need to be different in every way, but I can definitely see where this kid is coming from.

To put it in Xavier terms, what if Walsh came here looking to see what the fans think of him and his teammates so he just searches himself here, have a good afternoon kid while you read 70% of the posts about you questioning you and your ability among other things.

Now should you choose not to go to any school because the fan base has idiots that are bound to be there? Obviously no, but there is something to seeing people who literally know nothing about you besides what sport you play in colloege, or the kid in the story high school, just doggin you.

[Stonebreaker]

If he can't take the heat off D1 sports, then he needs to play somewhere with fans who don't care if the team wins or loses. I agree about being careful, but hell...this is the internet. If the fans there question him, won't other fans do the same at the next school?

[West is Best]

"These so-called Wisconsin fans, what they had to say on those [message boards], it really made me second-guess: Do people really want me here?" Blue told Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "Because I know if I was a fan and I heard about a recruit [who might be struggling academically], I'd be more like: 'What can we do to help him?' And not, 'Let's make him feel like the worst person in Madison right now.'"

It seems like Blue's complaint has to do with off the court stuff... While the criticism is probably unwarranted, its his responsibility to stay eligible. I'm not sure Wisconsin fans could help him without triggering an NCAA violation.

More than anything, I think it shows the danger of speculating on a player's academics. The mods have done a good job keeping player topics on basketball, but I guess other message boards have different limits.

[kyxu]

I find it hard to believe that a recruit that is comfortable with a school, coaches, program, etc. would decide to leave because of what some idiots on a message board say. In his next four or so years in Madison, he would not be in contact with the message board mobs, but would mostly be with the people he's now leaving behind.

This kinda sounds like someone looking for a reason to leave guilt-free.

[kyxu]

GuyFawkes,
I've surfed this board since it started... after MM became too slow and scrambled... and have never posted a darn thing. Never interested.
After reading your post I felt compelled to regisered and respond.

You are a complete idiot... not because I say so but because you say so. You clearly expressed exposed your intellect, experience and insight toward your fellow man simply in the way you expressed yourself. If you fail to see this, then read your post. If you still disagree, then read your post again. Should that fail show it to your parents. If that doesn't -or you're too old to have parents aronud - then show it to your kids.

Let them be your jury. As for me, you know what I think.

A tad over-dramatic.

[AviatorX]

A tad over-dramatic.

I wonder if Guy has let his kids and relatives be his jury yet?

[GuyFawkes38]

I wonder if Guy has let his kids and relatives be his jury yet?

Ha. That was a great post. In his defense, judging by the time and day of the week, I bet he was drunk.

[DAllen15]

Even doing a cursory Net search on this will show that-

(1) Blue was having academic "issues" re getting into UW;

(2) both the Milw. Journal-Sentinel and the Wisc. Gazette are saying that Blue has NOT decommitted; and, possibly, most tellingly,

(3) Blue is being actively wooed by some, including former Marquette guard Wes Mathews to consider a school that has an offensive system more suitable to his game, i.e., Marquette.

So, there's more to this story than "those evil message boards made me do it".