Mick the Righteous

[xucub]

So he has presented himself as all knowing re. the likelihood of ugliness in the Shootout. But what is really interesting, as always, are his actions. Look at any of the tapes of the brawl from the ESPN mid court cameras (i.e., ESPN replay.) Watch Mick thru the entire tape. He does, as he said, try to call timeout. But once he sees the brawl break out, he doesn't jump into the middle to bring peace. He doesn't fight to pull his players back. No, he simply walks down the sideline, afraid to get involved, AFRAID TO GET TOUGH. At the very end, he grabs 2 of his own players, above the 3 point line, 30 feet from the action.

St. Mick, what about doing the right thing?? What about being one of the adults??

[LadyMuskie]

And yet people were willing to believe that he was physically removing some of his players' jerseys. Complete and utter nonsense.

In his defense though, he's so tiny, he would have been trampled in no time. I mean you can lose him in a crowd of 4th graders as it is, so in a fight like that, he would have been squashed like a bug. If there's one thing Mick knows it's self-preservation. You just have to listen to him speak to know that.

[THRILLHOUSE]

Bomani Jones calls him out for the same things you are talking about http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/2011/12/12/2629332/cincinnati-xavier-brawl-matt-cronin-press-conference-2011

[RealDeal]

Bomani Jones calls him out for the same things you are talking about http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/2011/12/12/2629332/cincinnati-xavier-brawl-matt-cronin-press-conference-2011

How long until Dan Cronin challenges Bomani Jones to a fight?

[Snipe]

Mick can't control his players. It was a flash mob of animals that couldn't take the beat down they were getting on the court. Mick probably would have gotten punched by Gates. I would have walked away from that zoo too.

[Ledgewood]

Gates isn't violent. That's just not who he is.

[SM#24]

he's so tiny, he would have been trampled in no time

I'm guessing he feared being Van Gundy'd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slGmTABZtZ8

[xubball1993]

Gates isn't violent. That's just not who he is.

I know you're being sarcastic but it begs the question: hasn't Yates always been a head case? I seem to recall that he lost his marbles (and the game) when he played for Withrow in a game against St. X. Didn't he miss two free throws with time expired to lose the game? I think he stripped off his jersey and ran off the court, refusing to shake hands.

[Ledgewood]

I know you're being sarcastic but it begs the question: hasn't Yates always been a head case? I seem to recall that he lost his marbles (and the game) when he played for Withrow in a game against St. X. Didn't he miss two free throws with time expired to lose the game? I think he stripped off his jersey and ran off the court, refusing to shake hands.

Saturday was all I need to know he is a violent human being. He skipped shoving and posturing and went right for the punches. He threw more punches than in an average pro boxing round. If he wasn't a violent person like he claims, then he would not have resorted to such violent behavior in a tense situation without being attacked. One could say that well it was because of the crazy circumstance, but that's life. Life gives you circumstances, you react, and that's who you are. He is a violent person with a serious anger issue.

[Ledgewood]

I also don't buy that remorseful act of his one bit.

[joe titan]

'1993: your description of Gates' conduct at the Withrow v. St X tournament game is generally correct, but really involved no violence or other overt physical act on Gates' part.

He did run off the court as the game ended after missing 2 FTs with only a few seconds remaining. Frankly it was the Bomber coaches who followed him to the locker room and helped a very distraught player gather his emotions. There were separate congratulatory handshakes/well wishes from Gates a bit later.

That incident was not so much lack of sportsmanship as a high schooler being unable to control his emotions publicly after costing his team the game. If the St X coaches believed at all that Gates' lacked sportsmanship, they would not have followed him to the locker area.

Saying Gates has been a head case...well preferably it can be stated Gates has a history of not responding to competitive situations in a mature, unemotional way.

[klark]

I am actually getting tired of hearing about Mick and all of his holiness in how he handled things. He talked one way Saturday and acted another on Sunday. I do not believe X players were innocent in any of this but I have had all I can take of Mick the saint. I found this from one of the so called "experts" who said about Mick's upbringing: Cronin's words seem to have hit home with his players. Cronin is from the tough side of the tracks in Cincinnati

No he isn't, guy is the son of a HS basketball coach and was given an education at St. Ann's and LaSalle high school, hardly comparable to any of his players. I have even less respect for UC and for the people who continue to prop him up. Worry about your own team Mick.

[XU 87]

Mick Cronin is a blowhard. Even before UC announced the suspensions, I thought his performance Saturday at the press conference was a bunch of crap. Did anyone really think that Cronin was going to kick Gates off the team for the rest of the year? And then I listened to all that nonsense about him tearing the jerseys off his players. That's more BS. I'm sure 5'7" Cronin went and tore the jersey off 6'9 Gates.

I'm just surprised that he somehow didn't slip in how young his team is and how tough the Big East is.

[xavierj]

Do you think his players like him never having their backs in public in the heat of the moment. After every loss its the same thing. They don't do this, they can't do this, they are an embarrassment and on and on. He is always blowing smoke to the media and making himself look good and his players look bad. Maybe he should take some blame for never making Wright, Dixon or Gates better. Maybe if he supported them more he would have them work harder for him. Do you think recruits want to play for a coach who always makes excuses and always throws his players under the bus. Yesterday Artrelle Hawkins said he thought Mick's post game conference was a joke and that he threw his players under the bus. He is a former UC football player that didn't buy the smoke like the local media did when they cheered his plea for poor Mick.

Mick has no players signed for 2012. Good luck getting anyone worth a darn now.

[XULucho27]

Mick has no players signed for 2012. Good luck getting anyone worth a darn now.

That's because recruiting isn't about making a splash early on in the season. It's about recruiting the right guys when the time is right. I believe Mick has already addressed this. We need to get a life. Semaj was just a splash signing, Mick didn't really want him.

[XU 87]

Mack got criticized by the media but I thought his response was WAY better than Cronin's. Mack said that his players are good guys who made some bad decisions. Cronin threw his players under the bus, as xavierj notes.

I wonder which coach has the most respect from his players.

[RealDeal]

Mack got criticized by the media but I thought his response was WAY better than Cronin's. Mack said that his players are good guys who made some bad decisions. Cronin threw his players under the bus, as xavierj notes.

I wonder which coach has the most respect from his players.

Didn't R Bishop tell Mick to go F himself 2 years ago?

[LadyMuskie]

Saturday was all I need to know he is a violent human being. He skipped shoving and posturing and went right for the punches. He threw more punches than in an average pro boxing round. If he wasn't a violent person like he claims, then he would not have resorted to such violent behavior in a tense situation without being attacked. One could say that well it was because of the crazy circumstance, but that's life. Life gives you circumstances, you react, and that's who you are. He is a violent person with a serious anger issue.

I agree. It's like the people who say alcohol makes them act like an asshat but they're not normally like that when they're sober. No. You're always an asshat, alcohol just amplifies it for everyone to see.

[Kahns Krazy]

Saturday was all I need to know he is a violent human being. He skipped shoving and posturing and went right for the punches. He threw more punches than in an average pro boxing round. If he wasn't a violent person like he claims, then he would not have resorted to such violent behavior in a tense situation without being attacked. One could say that well it was because of the crazy circumstance, but that's life. Life gives you circumstances, you react, and that's who you are. He is a violent person with a serious anger issue.

Don't exaggerate. He got off a really good shot to Tu's head with the ball before he started throwing punches.

Yancy was looking for a fight. There is no other possible explanation for his actions. He wasn't even in earshot of the supposed incendiary taunting Tu delivered to the UC bench. He had to be looking for that fight for a while before something gave him an excuse.

[kyxu]

Don't exaggerate. He got off a really good shot to Tu's head with the ball before he started throwing punches.

Yeah, I'm amazed that little factoid has been overlooked when considering Gates' crocodile tears. Gates threw a basketball at Holloway and hit him in the face. Daugherty, Forde, no one talked about this, but Holloway is the bad guy.

[coasterville95]

But didn't you hear, Mick is sending Gates and the other three to anger management counseling.

[Snipe]

I agree. It's like the people who say alcohol makes them act like an asshat but they're not normally like that when they're sober. No. You're always an asshat, alcohol just amplifies it for everyone to see.

You could have just sent me a PM and we could have handled this privately.

[LadyMuskie]

You could have just sent me a PM and we could have handled this privately.

And fall for that again . . . I think not.

[BMoreX]

http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/2011/12/12/2629332/cincinnati-xavier-brawl-matt-cronin-press-conference-2011

Another great piece by Bomani Jones.

He must be a gangster.

[Masterofreality]

And here's a great column taking Mick to task.

I like it so much I'm posting it under the Jay Bilas thread too.

This guy just kills YTG.

Mick's penalties don't match talk (http://espn.go.com/espn/commentary/story/_/id/7348348/cincinnati-xavier-discipline-exposes-fraudulent-system)

[JAPER]

I still have yet to comprehend how that powers that be in Clifton decided to hire coach Cronin 5/6 years ago. Wasn't he there during the height of the Huggins years when the graduation rates were so low and the multiple run ins with law enforcement, etc? Wasn't he very likely involved with teaching moments then that clearly failed with so many members of those basketball teams?

I was very surprised with this hire at the time as I thought the next hire in Clifton would try to differentiate from that perception and reality of a corrupt program. Cronin was an apple on that tree.

Mick said some things that resonated well with many on Saturday and presented a potential teaching moment to his young men. The challenge moving forward for him is to live up to that standard of teaching. Time will tell if he succeeds.

[CinciX12]

That press conference Monday was a joke by everyone at the table.

Your parents and friends were completely proud of you Yancy boy. You acted exactly how you would act 99 out of 100 times. I wouldn't expect anything less out of a close friend you have or anyone who is unfortunate enough to call you family.

[American X]

Saturday was all I need to know he is a violent human being. He skipped shoving and posturing and went right for the punches. He threw more punches than in an average pro boxing round. If he wasn't a violent person like he claims, then he would not have resorted to such violent behavior in a tense situation without being attacked. One could say that well it was because of the crazy circumstance, but that's life. Life gives you circumstances, you react, and that's who you are. He is a violent person with a serious anger issue.


Don't exaggerate. He got off a really good shot to Tu's head with the ball before he started throwing punches.

Yancy was looking for a fight. There is no other possible explanation for his actions. He wasn't even in earshot of the supposed incendiary taunting Tu delivered to the UC bench. He had to be looking for that fight for a while before something gave him an excuse.


Yeah, I'm amazed that little factoid has been overlooked when considering Gates' crocodile tears. Gates threw a basketball at Holloway and hit him in the face. Daugherty, Forde, no one talked about this, but Holloway is the bad guy.


Yancy Gates is a psychopath. This will not be the last time he is the center of a swirl of violence. Just wait a few years for his basketball career to flame out due to his fist landing somewhere it should not. The NBA team who signs him is inviting disaster.

[Kahns Krazy]

That press conference Monday was a joke by everyone at the table.

Your parents and friends were completely proud of you Yancy boy. You acted exactly how you would act 99 out of 100 times. I wouldn't expect anything less out of a close friend you have or anyone who is unfortunate enough to call you family.

I hate Mick. There's probably a whole thread about that somewhere. I actually give him a bit of credit for how he handled the press conference. He still shifted the blame like Mick always does, and he said he'd end the shootout today, like he's somehow bigger than the rivalry, but overall, he did a good job of convincing his audience (UC supporters) that he was handling this whole situation.

He's still an assbeanie, but I thought this particular press conference was one of his better moments, from a UC perspective. I'm not interested in conducting a poll, but my guess is that you would find that many UC supporters had an improved perception of Mick after the press conference.

[Ledgewood]

Yancy Gates is a psychopath. This will not be the last time he is the center of a swirl of violence. Just wait a few years for his basketball career to flame out due to his fist landing somewhere it should not. The NBA team who signs him is inviting disaster.

Absotutely.

We should get one of those St. Patrick day countdown clocks from the bars and just change it to the countdown to Yancy's first domestic abuse case.

[nuts4xu]

Mick Cronin is a bigger pussy than his own players.

He is a big beef curtain, full bush, stank filled pussy....or a pussy of the worst kind.

[Ledgewood]

Mick is a horrible teacher of young men. His ultimate lesson and example is shifting blame. Thats ALL HE EVER DOES. He preached 'this is on us, we accept full responsibility', and then he says he thinks they should end the shootout which is placing blame on XU for UC's issues in this.

And Yancy and whats his stupid name telling everyone that what we saw out of them wasn't them is the ultimate shifting of blame of what they did. They just told you they didn't even do it! It wasn't them! So don't blame me!!! What the heck is that!?! Lawyers be damned and all that shit, but you just blindsided someone live on television, and you tell me that wasn't you and then refuse to offer an apology.

UC will never own anything other than a win.

[XUOWNSUC]

Mick is such a turd:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7353532/cincinnati-bearcats-coach-mick-cronin-working-repair-image-brawl

"The first step was the apology," Cronin said of a Monday news conference in which the players apologized for their role in the melee. He then threw a veiled shot at Xavier to do the same. "Not everybody took that approach. It's something that I mandated. Everybody involved that threw punches hasn't stepped to the podium and apologized. Yancy Gates threw a punch but there were 50 punches thrown."

"Both schools took a black eye over it. Our school took ownership and we're moving forward."

[XULucho27]

He is such a piece of shit.

[Ledgewood]

Wow. I hope he NEVER leaves UC. I love hating him. He makes it so, so easy to do. What a piece of rotten shit.

[Ledgewood]

Something I REALLY hate about Cronin: He is always going out of his way to take shots at XU. Talks about our suspension lengths, says he wants apologies, etc. Mack makes sure to compliment UC and says he'll make no comment on UC suspensions at all because it's not his place even thought HIS player is the one that got hit.

[danaandvictory]

He's trash, utter trash. The only thing he cares about is naked self-interest, self-promotion, and self-preservation.

At least Gates had the balls to step up and take responsibility and bury the hatchet with Frease over the last few days. Not a shred of leadership or grace or class or balls from the Gnome.

[xubball1993]

Something I REALLY hate about Cronin: He is always going out of his way to take shots at XU. Talks about our suspension lengths, says he wants apologies, etc. Mack makes sure to compliment UC and says he'll make no comment on UC suspensions at all because it's not his place even thought HIS player is the one that got hit.

Mick is a toad, green with envy.

[coasterville95]

Do you think Yancy would have apologized if he didn't have the county prosecutor talking about assault charges.

I thought I heard Cronin trying to get a subtle jab in at XU trying to talk all high and mighty. My players - apologized - in front of a camera - without prepared notes! And some players didn't. Okay, maybe not so subtle.

He also made it clear he wouldn't accept apologies from our players even if they came to his office and personally apologized to him. I thought I heard he even told his pliers not to associate with out players. Doesnt want them to participate in a group community service project until his AD overruled him, right in front of him. He seems to be the only one who really thinks there is no way the series can go on. In short, he hates out guts, wants nothing to do with us, and is taking his ball and going home.

At least we only have to deal with his hysterics in the media. We don't have to live with him as a coach.

Snipe, how many more years can those UC fans enjoy Cronin as their coach? :).

[RealDeal]

I agree with Mick, Tu's apology was unnecessary.

[THRILLHOUSE]

It's official, I now hate Mick Cronin more than I ever hated Bob Huggins.

[LadyMuskie]

It's official, I now hate Mick Cronin more than I ever hated Bob Huggins.


Agree. Huggins was destructive to himself and his players, but in general I think he has a soft spot for X and its alumni. It was a mutual love/hate relationship. Cronin, on the other hand, brings everyone else around him down, while doing everything he can to make himself look good. If Bob Huggins thinks you're scum, you must be the kind of scum that feeds on regular scum.

Mick Cronin has no discernible good qualities.

[RealDeal]

What is it about that commuter college across town that they can't stop hiring bags of dogshit to coach their mens basketball team?

Hey Mick, scoreboard. Score f-ing board.

[danaandvictory]

That brawl is literally the best thing that ever happened to Cronin. He doesn't have to explain a 23-point beatdown in the Shootout to his alumni and he can now wring his hands and construct the world's highest horse about the incident without taking any heat. If the game gets canceled, so much the better for Gnomus - now he never has to lose to Xavier again. If their recruiting sucks (and it does) he can just say "well, how am I supposed to get kids to come here after they've seen that ugly incident that Xavier started." It's the Swiss Army Knife of excuses.

At the end of the day, it's all about what's good for Mick.