I would like to announce my.......

Retirement from BEB. I know Dave will probably move this, but just wanted to officially announce the end of my illustrious career of posting there. The place really hasn't been the same, but I have tried out of loyalty to keep posting there, but now every other day I get a message saying I am banned? Not worth the effort anymore. It was a good run, but all things end. On the bright side the Jungle now will have my undivided attention. I hope you all appreciate how very fortunate you are!

hahahaha-i have been banned as well and i do not even post!

keep up the good work teen wolf!

lol-  see post in off-topic

That place has been a graveyard since they banned Baldi for no reason.

This actually put a smile on my face that you felt the need to post this. haha. We'll see how long that lasts but I'm glad you'll be posting here more often (perhaps even exclusively).

I think we have a great core of posters as well as a great vibe and tone to the board. We get meaningful, thoughtful, and civil discussion and debate here. I think anyone who reads here leaves more informed.

I try and keep things organized so its easy to find and navigate in case you haven't checked in for a few days.

We also have a great group of level headed moderators who keep things running smoothly.

We're still a baby only 2.5 years old. I have a lot in store for the future.

Glad to hear that we have a signed LOI from "we are sju" lol.

I'd also like to announce my resignation from BEB.  I've been banned for the second time.  Not worth hastle.

Unfortunately, I'm pretty much announcing my resignation for this board as well until a new coach is hired.  It's not worth following this program the way it is.  It's too disappointing.  I'll just jump on the UK bandwagon.

I'll post here and there, but not often.   Norm Roberts is a nightmare, and I just cannot believe we are still bring up his name six years later in the present tense.  He has ruined this program.

I had many discussions w dave about the importance of the forum to his website and how it would be really tough to take posters from the other sites.  While it started a little slow, all that dave has put into this site has really made it the premier site and forum for st johns bball. 

It targeted the college/hs contingent, and then the tolerance of both "factions" really went a long way.  There isn't as much nonsense and there are great features.  Good job dave.

Marillac,

Norm has not ruined the program. He may be a below avg coach, but the next coach is in a far better position to succeed than norm was when he came in.  Ties and relationships to the nyc aau community have been repaired, and we have some talent with which a new coach could win.  You can say the admin is destroying the program by continually retaining norm with no results, but norm is not responsible for any program destruction. A new coach could pick up just fine, IMO.

Marillac,

Norm has not ruined the program. He may be a below avg coach, but the next coach is in a far better position to succeed than norm was when he came in.  Ties and relationships to the nyc aau community have been repaired, and we have some talent with which a new coach could win.  You can say the admin is destroying the program by continually retaining norm with no results, but norm is not responsible for any program destruction. A new coach could pick up just fine, IMO.

Tha Kid,

It's just a matter of placing blame.  Should it go on the adminsitration for making a bad hire and continuing to employ  a coach that is so clearly out of his league or to the coach for doing his best but failing?  If a teacher is horrible and kids don't learn do you blame the principal?  I guess after a certain point.

Certainly Roberts should share blame with Monasch and others in this situation.  The sad part is that some how--even after missing on EVERY SINGLE big name from the NY area over the last six years--we have a talented roster.  It's being wasted wth Norm as coach. 

It's too frustrating to continue supporting this team as much as I do.  I get nothing out of it. 

IMO, Norm Roberts has done more bad for this program than anyone...including Jarvis.  People can get over problems in a program, but nobody can get over becoming obscure. 

Good point, Kid.

Actually - and I try not to shout "I want a new coach" very much, I have no in with the administration and it's pissing into the wind, IMO - one thing that gets on my nerves is how the program has wasted some decent talents while losing out on a chance to bring in great talent in 2011.  I agree with you, Marillac.  But still, we'd miss your posting - you've got a good analytical mind for the ball, even if we disagree at times.

IMO, Norm Roberts has done more bad for this program than anyone...including Jarvis.

Absurd. If Norm quit tomorrow he'd leave behind a pretty good roster, a restored relationship with the HS BB community, a couple good incoming recruits, a good reputation, and especially he'd leave behind a coaching gig that I hear over and over again any big name coach would be happy to have. Whereas Jarhead left behind a humiliated university and a dirty program, in shambles, and on probation. This is especially damning because the Jarvae were handed a program that while perhaps a little long in the tooth was in pretty good condition and came complete with an elite 8 roster - all of which he reduced to rubble in less time than fans gave Norm to rebuild before calling for his scalp. There's no question that Norm's an incompetent and a nice person, but that doesn't make Jarvis any less reprehensible.

Quote from: Marillac on January 04, 2010, 10:12:35 AM

IMO, Norm Roberts has done more bad for this program than anyone...including Jarvis.

Absurd. If Norm quit tomorrow he'd leave behind a pretty good roster, a restored relationship with the HS BB community, a couple good incoming recruits, a good reputation, and especially he'd leave behind a coaching gig that I hear over and over again any big name coach would be happy to have. Whereas Jarhead left behind a humiliated university and a dirty program, in shambles, and on probation. This is especially damning because the Jarvae were handed a program that while perhaps a little long in the tooth was in pretty good condition and came complete with an elite 8 roster - all of which he reduced to rubble in less time than fans gave Norm to rebuild before calling for his scalp. There's no question that Norm's an incompetent and a nice person, but that doesn't make Jarvis any less reprehensible.

There is no question that Norm is leaving behind a better immediate situation for the next coach (if there ever is one), but he wasn't hired to be an interim coach...he was hired to win.  He hasn't. 

Teams recover from bad reps from cheating (see UK winning it all shortly after the death penalty, Indiana by next year, and Ohio St. and Baylor from the same period as us), but falling into basketball obscurity and becoming a joke is much harder to overcome.

If Norm is fired after this season, a good coach can certainly lead this group to the NCAA's, but the year after is scarier than when Norm took over.  We'll only have Q, Stith (appears  now to be a backup caliber PG), Lawrence (could be solid), and whatever recruits would come.  I'd certainly rather have a soph Lamont and a soph Hill and the memories of Lavor, Artest, Barkley, Bootsy and the NCAA tournament fresh in the minds of area kids and coaches. 

I can't believe I fell for it this year.  I really thought they could win in spite of Norm's coaching coaching shortcomings.  The talent looked so much beter, the team looked deeper, kids looked stronger, they can actually take the ball to the rim....

There is no question that Norm is leaving behind a better immediate situation for the next coach (if there ever is one), but he wasn't hired to be an interim coach...he was hired to win.  He hasn't.

Well sure, but whether he hasn't won wasn't the argument I was addressing. Clearly he's a loser.

Teams recover from bad reps from cheating (see UK winning it all shortly after the death penalty, Indiana by next year, and Ohio St.

This is apples and oranges. With the possible excception of UNLV, Kentucky is arguably the most corrupt sports program in history. They were dirty back then and they're absolutely filthy now. Ohio State football is a cesspool and there's no reason to believe the BB team is any different. So what you're comparing is teams that on the one hand are trying to not get caught cheating and on the other a team that is trying to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Which is to say that even Norm would be a much better coach if he had the same salary cap as does Calamari.

and Baylor from the same period as us), but falling into basketball obscurity and becoming a joke is much harder to overcome.

Disagree that it's harder to overcome murder than obscurity. Isiah Thomas, an awful coach, a sex offender, and a grade A buffoon, brought FIU out of obscurity merely by agreeing to coach there. Whereas if half your players are in prison for murdering the other half its hard to field a team.

If Norm is fired after this season, a good coach can certainly lead this group to the NCAA's, but the year after is scarier than when Norm took over.  We'll only have Q, Stith (appears  now to be a backup caliber PG), Lawrence (could be solid), and whatever recruits would come.  I'd certainly rather have a soph Lamont and a soph Hill and the memories of Lavor, Artest, Barkley, Bootsy and the NCAA tournament fresh in the minds of area kids and coaches.

Revisionist history. What was fresh in the minds of area kids and coaches when Jarvae was canned was an arrogant bald headed prick coming into their gyms and telling them he wasn't going to offer them scholarships anymore because they didn't deserve them. At least one prominent recruit "hated" SJU back then. Whereas now everybody loves Norm, even if they're not willing to entrust their futures to him.

I can't believe I fell for it this year.  I really thought they could win in spite of Norm's coaching coaching shortcomings.  The talent looked so much beter, the team looked deeper, kids looked stronger, they can actually take the ball to the rim....

Admittedly I tend to take the long and optimistic view, but I'm pretty sure that at some point this season the switch will come on for some players in the same way it already has for Kennedy. They still have a lot of potential - which they will not live up to this year. In the long run this team would be better off making a bit of a run in the NIT this year instead of an NCAA (or CBI)  one and done, with an eye to making a senior laden run in the NCAA next year. Which they'll have to do, as you say, in spite of their coach, who is a bonehead's bonehead.

No doubt the most deserving 2009 Poster of the Year- Marillac and POY runner up Wasju will be sorely missed at BEB's.