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General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events Topic
Topic: Basketball Practice Facility?
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giacomo
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Posted: 4/18/2022 12:06 PM
Jeff, you make some good points. But at what cost and how do we pay for it? Another aspect is that we don't always get what we want. Maybe it's good for a student athlete to see that we sometimes have to make do with what we have and figure it out. All of us had to do that, likely many times in our lives. That is a valuable lesson that will help them down the road.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 4/18/2022 1:01 PM
Maybe we should do away with scholarships Giacamo? That way the players could feel what being a real student is like? Make them pay fees for when they want to play at Ping?
giacomo
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Posted: 4/18/2022 3:08 PM
If you and some others want to make it happen, make your checks payable to Ohio University.

Here are a few examples:

We switched from semesters to quarters due to the energy crisis in 1977. They closed the dorms down from thanksgiving until after new year’s. We had no place to stay or to eat. We had to bunk with players who had apartments. I bunked with Steve Skaggs at Lakeview. They gave us some food money and gift certificates to McDonalds, which was owned by a booster.

We had no training table and often got out of practice barely in time to get to the cafeteria to wolf down a meal. I had to go introduce myself to the manager at Boyd Hall Cafeteria and explain our predicament. He was sympathetic and we worked out an arrangement so we could eat.

Somehow I survived those horrors and many more. In looking back it made me stronger and better able to navigate life.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 4/18/2022 4:26 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
If you and some others want to make it happen, make your checks payable to Ohio University.

Here are a few examples:

We switched from semesters to quarters due to the energy crisis in 1977. They closed the dorms down from thanksgiving until after new year’s. We had no place to stay or to eat. We had to bunk with players who had apartments. I bunked with Steve Skaggs at Lakeview. They gave us some food money and gift certificates to McDonalds, which was owned by a booster.

We had no training table and often got out of practice barely in time to get to the cafeteria to wolf down a meal. I had to go introduce myself to the manager at Boyd Hall Cafeteria and explain our predicament. He was sympathetic and we worked out an arrangement so we could eat.

Somehow I survived those horrors and many more. In looking back it made me stronger and better able to navigate life.
Actually, we switched from semesters to quarters in the 1967-68 because the Board of Regents made it almost mandatory with their funding formula. In 1977 is when we switched to the stupid quarter system with the long winter break which actually cost the university in heating bills because January is typically a colder month in SEO than December. You can thank Provost Buckalew for this brilliant piece of strategic thinking.
The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

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BillyTheCat
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Posted: 4/18/2022 8:19 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
If you and some others want to make it happen, make your checks payable to Ohio University.

Here are a few examples:

We switched from semesters to quarters due to the energy crisis in 1977. They closed the dorms down from thanksgiving until after new year’s. We had no place to stay or to eat. We had to bunk with players who had apartments. I bunked with Steve Skaggs at Lakeview. They gave us some food money and gift certificates to McDonalds, which was owned by a booster.

We had no training table and often got out of practice barely in time to get to the cafeteria to wolf down a meal. I had to go introduce myself to the manager at Boyd Hall Cafeteria and explain our predicament. He was sympathetic and we worked out an arrangement so we could eat.

Somehow I survived those horrors and many more. In looking back it made me stronger and better able to navigate life.
Yeah, and how good of team did you field? How many championships and Post season tournaments did you make?
giacomo
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Posted: 4/19/2022 8:39 AM
During my time we were average for two years and then sucked for two years. I did not go to school to win championships, although I tried my best and worked as hard as I could. I went to get a degree and learn about life. I had a great experience. I do have nightmares about having to practice at the Convo and being cheated out of a players lounge.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 4/19/2022 9:55 AM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
During my time we were average for two years and then sucked for two years. I did not go to school to win championships, although I tried my best and worked as hard as I could. I went to get a degree and learn about life. I had a great experience. I do have nightmares about having to practice at the Convo and being cheated out of a players lounge.
Just what I want, basketball players who do not want to win championships! Which is evident on your views today.
IceCat76
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Posted: 4/19/2022 9:59 AM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
We had no training table and often got out of practice barely in time to get to the cafeteria to wolf down a meal. I had to go introduce myself to the manager at Boyd Hall Cafeteria and explain our predicament. He was sympathetic and we worked out an arrangement so we could eat.
Funny that I could have written the exact same statement. Many nights I hit the door of Boyd cafe on a dead run coming from Bird Arena. It was a pain in the ass, but looking back it was just part of playing for the Cats.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 4/19/2022 10:20 AM
IceCat76 wrote:expand_more
We had no training table and often got out of practice barely in time to get to the cafeteria to wolf down a meal. I had to go introduce myself to the manager at Boyd Hall Cafeteria and explain our predicament. He was sympathetic and we worked out an arrangement so we could eat.
Funny that I could have written the exact same statement. Many nights I hit the door of Boyd cafe on a dead run coming from Bird Arena. It was a pain in the ass, but looking back it was just part of playing for the Cats.
It was a part of playing for the Cats. Just like in 1989 when during the final football game, Cleve had to take a timout and every player who had a 2:00 Saturday Final had to leave the game. Just because that is how we operated, does not mean it was right! Remember many times missing dinner at a dining hall because practice went late. Again, just because that's what we experienced, does not make it right.
giacomo
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Posted: 4/19/2022 12:05 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
During my time we were average for two years and then sucked for two years. I did not go to school to win championships, although I tried my best and worked as hard as I could. I went to get a degree and learn about life. I had a great experience. I do have nightmares about having to practice at the Convo and being cheated out of a players lounge.
Just what I want, basketball players who do not want to win championships! Which is evident on your views today.
Pretty funny! Of course I wanted to win, just like everyone who laces up their sneakers. Your comment reminds me of fan(atic)s who say, when their team loses, that "we just didn't want it bad enough".
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 4/19/2022 12:41 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
During my time we were average for two years and then sucked for two years. I did not go to school to win championships, although I tried my best and worked as hard as I could. I went to get a degree and learn about life. I had a great experience. I do have nightmares about having to practice at the Convo and being cheated out of a players lounge.
Just what I want, basketball players who do not want to win championships! Which is evident on your views today.
Pretty funny! Of course I wanted to win, just like everyone who laces up their sneakers. Your comment reminds me of fan(atic)s who say, when their team loses, that "we just didn't want it bad enough".
" I did not go to school to win championships" that is your quote NOT mine.
Cellis033
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Posted: 4/19/2022 2:45 PM
During my time here and having the opportunity to interview several athletes, it's a difficult time being a student athlete and I can't imagine being a student athlete and trying to negotiate labs and other things I have to do as an engineering major. They deserve a ton of credit and praise for being a student-athlete. I understand I'm not involved in the budget or how the university is run, but it would be cool to build a practice facility. The guys deserve it but not discounting other sports as well.
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SBH
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Posted: 4/19/2022 2:49 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
During my time we were average for two years and then sucked for two years. I did not go to school to win championships, although I tried my best and worked as hard as I could. I went to get a degree and learn about life. I had a great experience. I do have nightmares about having to practice at the Convo and being cheated out of a players lounge.
Just what I want, basketball players who do not want to win championships! Which is evident on your views today.
Pretty funny! Of course I wanted to win, just like everyone who laces up their sneakers. Your comment reminds me of fan(atic)s who say, when their team loses, that "we just didn't want it bad enough".
" I did not go to school to win championships" that is your quote NOT mine.
Give Mr. Zelinka credit -- he reached his objective: zero championships.
giacomo
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Posted: 4/19/2022 4:43 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
During my time we were average for two years and then sucked for two years. I did not go to school to win championships, although I tried my best and worked as hard as I could. I went to get a degree and learn about life. I had a great experience. I do have nightmares about having to practice at the Convo and being cheated out of a players lounge.
Just what I want, basketball players who do not want to win championships! Which is evident on your views today.
Pretty funny! Of course I wanted to win, just like everyone who laces up their sneakers. Your comment reminds me of fan(atic)s who say, when their team loses, that "we just didn't want it bad enough".
" I did not go to school to win championships" that is your quote NOT mine.
If that’s how you want to frame it, go ahead. I went to school to get an education, a degree and mature. I also happened to play basketball. I got one more that you can misquote me on. I don’t care if we ever win a championship. We should be competitive and kids should graduate and we should not have scandals. That doesn’t mean I don’t like to or want to win. Everyone that plays wants to win.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 4/19/2022 5:06 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
During my time we were average for two years and then sucked for two years. I did not go to school to win championships, although I tried my best and worked as hard as I could. I went to get a degree and learn about life. I had a great experience. I do have nightmares about having to practice at the Convo and being cheated out of a players lounge.
Just what I want, basketball players who do not want to win championships! Which is evident on your views today.
Pretty funny! Of course I wanted to win, just like everyone who laces up their sneakers. Your comment reminds me of fan(atic)s who say, when their team loses, that "we just didn't want it bad enough".
" I did not go to school to win championships" that is your quote NOT mine.
If that’s how you want to frame it, go ahead. I went to school to get an education, a degree and mature. I also happened to play basketball. I got one more that you can misquote me on. I don’t care if we ever win a championship. We should be competitive and kids should graduate and we should not have scandals. That doesn’t mean I don’t like to or want to win. Everyone that plays wants to win.
News flash! You can get an education and win championships! And any coach worth their salt is recruiting players who want to do both and will work hard to do both.

Any player worth their salt, want to do both. You sir obviously only cared about one of those.

Do you seriously listen to yourself?

Giamico the Coach: come here, it’s a great place, we don’t have any of the extras that the other schools do, sometimes we practice at local high schools and if practice goes long you miss dinner. But we’ve got a cool campus and you will meet new friends. Hopefully one of those friends will help you with your studies.

Giamico the player: cool coach, I think all that is over rated to begin with, who needs any of that. I see what my AAU friends are getting and I think it’s a waste. Let me play for you!
Last Edited: 4/19/2022 5:08:40 PM by BillyTheCat
mid70sbobcat
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Posted: 4/19/2022 10:27 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
During my time we were average for two years and then sucked for two years. I did not go to school to win championships, although I tried my best and worked as hard as I could. I went to get a degree and learn about life. I had a great experience. I do have nightmares about having to practice at the Convo and being cheated out of a players lounge.
Just what I want, basketball players who do not want to win championships! Which is evident on your views today.
Pretty funny! Of course I wanted to win, just like everyone who laces up their sneakers. Your comment reminds me of fan(atic)s who say, when their team loses, that "we just didn't want it bad enough".
Why do you even reply to him? Between his anger issues and him apparently thinking he knows everything about everything he's someone who desperately wants attention.
giacomo
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Posted: 4/20/2022 4:38 PM
You're right. I thought we were having a discussion about what is important and what's not. What we should spend money on or not. But it's all about me. I'm selfish.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 4/21/2022 10:25 AM
The fact that some people do not feel we need to upgrade facilities, is telling of what world some of our fan base lives in.
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 4/21/2022 11:26 AM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
The fact that some people do not feel we need to upgrade facilities, is telling of what world some of our fan base lives in.
True enough. But some of us not feeling the upgrade as intently as others likely possess different perspectives born of differing experiences.
http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 4/21/2022 12:17 PM
Mike Johnson wrote:expand_more
The fact that some people do not feel we need to upgrade facilities, is telling of what world some of our fan base lives in.
True enough. But some of us not feeling the upgrade as intently as others likely possess different perspectives born of differing experiences.
I get that Mike, but as Dylan once stated: "The Times they Are a Changing"....
Mike Johnson
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Posted: 4/21/2022 12:21 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
The fact that some people do not feel we need to upgrade facilities, is telling of what world some of our fan base lives in.
True enough. But some of us not feeling the upgrade as intently as others likely possess different perspectives born of differing experiences.
I get that Mike, but as Dylan once stated: "The Times they Are a Changing"....
Yes, and for me in ways that are eroding my fondness for college sports.
http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author
roger
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Posted: 4/21/2022 7:16 PM
Well stated Mike! I have found my passion falling as well just as it did for professional sports several years ago. The argument as I see it is wants vs needs. Many want a practice facility although I don’t see a huge need for it when you prioritize what we need. We need a new ice rink not just want it.

Roger
mid70sbobcat
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Posted: 4/21/2022 9:50 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
You're right. I thought we were having a discussion about what is important and what's not. What we should spend money on or not. But it's all about me. I'm selfish.
When one comprehends that 99.9 percent of college athletes at Ohio go on to careers other than professional sports it makes total sense as to why academics should be first. Any athlete wants to win, but intelligent ones realize the tradeoffs and thus, the priorities.
giacomo
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Posted: 4/22/2022 4:47 PM
Cellis033
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Posted: 4/23/2022 4:33 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
+1. Arsenio Hall where you at?!
Chase
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Kant read, Kant write
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