cpacmel

[dogsrus]

NICE try to get your buds on redbird all riled up regarding our/my opinion on your latest recruit......as I CLEARLY pointed out in the thread I was having fun with bbfan when I stated "BU didn't want him very badly".....regarding the statement that he choose ISU over BU.

Of course why let FACTS or the stories CONTENT ruin a good chance to put BU fans in a bad light. And don't try and say that wasn't your intent because I made it SO obvious in my post with a DETAILED explanantion.


2.5 years ago when BU landed Tony Bennet the story read that he choose BU over a number of schools INCLUDING ISU. That, apparently didn't sit to well with bb fan as he quickly pointed out "ISU didn't want him that badly "

As I pointed out...why in earth would Porter be recruiting ANYONE he didn't want badly

I realize not all is well in redbird land but why make up things about BU fans you know have NO merit or basis whatsoever...quite frankly I was surprised you would do that.

[cpacmel]

I have no idea what happened between you, bbfan and Tony Bennett a few years ago.

A few posters here told me that BU wasn't recruiting Johnson that hard. No reason to, with Ruffin and Franklin both back next season and Sam Maniscalco on the horizon.

I do apologize if I made the blanket statement when I said BU Fans, when I didn't mean ALL BU FANS. I should have said a FEW BU FANS have said BU isn't all that interested in Johnson.

You have now posted this story about me on 2 different threads at PJSTAR.com and now this thread here. But the only thread it has appeared at is at redbirdfan.com...... very interesting how you have tried to make this a war of words at this site (making a thread called CPACMEL) and at PJSTAR (bringing up the same thing on 2 different threads.)

But the only site it appears at, you have nothing to say.

It's done with, in my book, and there was no intent to RILE up ISU Fans. I think all this whole thing has done is RILE yourself up.

I am surprised Dominitrix Johnson has caused all this commotion. Now Osiris Eldridge is a different story.

[RedbirdWarrior]

Lets all sit down and have a nice cup of Sanka or something. This frivilous argument and bickering isn't worthy of a thread, much less the time it took to make it.

ISU did not recruit Tony Bennett hard enough and with out guard oriented system, he could have been extremely valuable, especially 2 seasons ago. A second fact is that ISU may have caught a pair of blessings in disguise with Khalif Ford and Mark Kruse both leaving to go back home. The truth is, Bradley WAS looking at Dominitrix Johnson to come to Peoria, but as was stated before, he would see limited playing time due to a pair of outstanding guards coming back in the fall. ISU does not have that luxury and thus the choice for Johnson was natural- Go where you will play. Osiris Eldrige is one of the best recruits coming to the Valley next season. Paired with Bobby Hill and Johnson, Eldrige will give the birds a new flavor to start the 06-07 season. Past that, I, as an obvious bird fan, thank Bradley for getting the Valley in the news. We still have two more scholarships to use and now we can attract the tallent simply using conference affiliation.

As for Bradley, what can you say? Great season, great players, good recruiting, and awesome potential yet to be unlocked. Bradley, IMO is the premier team in the Valley and one of the most up and coming in CBB. Patrick O'Bryant will easily be the best center in the country next season and the guards are nothing to sneeze at. Losing "Boogie" Wright, I think, is going to cause a bigger impact than expected, but some tallented recruiting will fix that right up.

Why all this run around? It is now the off season and no place for fans of either team to be talking crap. ISU is making massive improvements (lets hope that Porter can see that Hill might give him a second inside presense so we don't have to play that "5 guys around the arc till someone shoots a desperation 3" offense). Bradley, like the White Sox, is taking a champion quality team and making them even better. It is now 10 months and change untill the Braves (Squirrels? Hilltoppers? Rivermen?- no knock on the team, any news on the name change yet? Keep me informed) come to Normal for round 1 of the 06-07 War on 74. Lets give this multi-board sh*t talking a rest untill at least the start of the season.

Go Valley and, of course,

ISU GO

[tornado]

I am anxious to see how Osiris turns out in his freshman season.
I personally think it will be very hard for him to live up to the hype that's been delivered so far.
I am sure he is a fine young man and a fine player, but he wasn't exactly being recruited by Duke, UNC, and Tom Izzo.
He didn't even help his own HS team to an above .500 record, and when the chips were down in the Chicago Public League Tournament, and Phillips was in the (lower) Consolation bracket, they lost 3 consecutive games by almost 20 points each to finish dead last in the 66 team CPL.

Remember, Ray Brown was runnerup for Mr. Basketball in his state last year and still was NOT an impact player in the MVC in his first season.

I look forward to seeing Osiris' athleticism and talent, but we also heard plenty from a few ISU fans how talented and how much impact Najeeb Echols would have in the Valley, and the same goes for Nick Brooks over at Butler, and DeAaron Williams at Wisconsin, and Justin Cerasoli in the Big East, and Ben Rand at Iowa, etc. Eldridge has certainly not been too dominant yet in high school, and he gets a whole lot of his points off the dribble drive/slashing to the hoop, which just don't happen much against decent college defenses and 7-footers. And you can discount all those eye-popping dunks Osiris gets in the all Star games and AAU showcases, as they play no defense (on purpose) and even the best dunkers like Boogie & Ray Brown don't get those at the D-I level.

[DannyCooksey]

He didn't even help his own HS team to an above .500 record, and when the chips were down in the Chicago Public League Tournament, and Phillips was in the (lower) Consolation bracket, they lost 3 consecutive games by almost 20 points each to finish dead last in the 66 team CPL

curious to know if you ever saw Osiris play or his Phillips team play this past season????

If you did, there is no way you'd judge his ability based on how his team finished their season. With apologies to the other players on the Phillips team, without Eldridge they would have won 2-4 games all year. That would be before 3 other key players were dismissed from the team for disciplinary/grade reasons. Osiris was all they had and the fact that they were a .500 team speaks to his ability and leadership. I saw them play and believe me they had nothing besides him and the other team knew it.

I am sure he is a fine young man and a fine player, but he wasn't exactly being recruited by Duke, UNC, and Tom Izzo.

so............if a player isn't recruited by these schools, he isn't good??? umm ok.

Remember, Ray Brown was runnerup for Mr. Basketball in his state last year and still was NOT an impact player in the MVC in his first season.

no offense to Ray Brown intended because I think he is going to be a good player in the Valley, but comparing these two is silly for one simple reason: Comparing the basketball landscape of suburban Minneapolis vs the Chicago Public League Red Northwest is ignorant. I am fairly certain that Ray Brown did not compete against the likes Of Marshall, Whitney Young, Lincoln Park, Simeon, Westinghouse et. al. in the rugged "Mall of America" conference. Phillips was in the same league and played some of these teams 2 and three times. He made 1st Team All-Public League which is quite an honor. Translation: Eldridge is far more college ready based on the competition he played against than Brown ever was. I can't see how that can be disputed.

Eldridge has certainly not been too dominant yet in high school, and he gets a whole lot of his points off the dribble drive/slashing to the hoop,

this is laughable. since when does 25ppg. 6reb 5ast 4stls per game not constitute dominance??? These were his combined averages his junior and senior year in a brutal league. In addition, he is regarded as the best SHOOTER in the city.

I agree that he does get points of the drive from drawing fouls and getting layups. Those will be harder to come by in the Valley, but he has 20 foot range easily. The kid can shoot the ball.

We will see what he does soon enough. Certainly Redbird fans are excited about the prospects of this young man. Just seems to me that you had only opinion and little to no facts to back up your thoughts. I am simply trying to tell you the real story. With facts.

[cpacmel]

I am sure he is a fine young man and a fine player, but he wasn't exactly being recruited by Duke, UNC, and Tom Izzo.

Florida, Marquette, and Cal were all in on him though.

http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=42723&Sport=2

Now someone will post that they guarnatee that Porter Moser didn't beat out the like of Donovan, Crean, and Braun to get him...

[dogsrus]

I guess my intentions were to "defend" BU fans. I haven't heard BU fans, in general, attacking or talking trash about any recent ISU recruits.

When I saw the thread (on redbird) it just seemed "unfair" to say BU fans were making these comments about Johnson...especially when it had the "whining" emoticon on the end.

I think many realize he wouldn't get alot of immediate playing time at BU but considering the guard situation at the two schools comments like that are not an attack on the guys ability....he just wouldn't get much time hear for 1-2 years.

[Da Coach]

I guess I find it strange that ISU fans would read everything Bradley fans say on a Bradley fan board, then become upset when they don't agree! Not just in this case on Dom Johnson, but in every case when someone here comments on past, present, or future ISU players, or on the team or coach in general, there are immediately ISU fans who feel the need to rebut.

Yet there is and has always been far more Bradley bashing on the Redbird board than any ISU bashing you will see here (although I admit it has been less lately, and the ISU fans that post here-Danny and cpac- are not the "haters"). But I don't see any Bradley fans streaming over to the Redbird board to set the record straight when they make erroneous or ridiculous statements. Why does it matter to ISU fans what Bradley fans think? After looking into Dom Johnson, I personally think he will immediately be the best guard ISU has. But anyone is entitled to their opinions. If anyone can help me understand this phenomenon, let us know. Some people have said that ISU fans have an inferiority complex and are too touchy when it comes to criticism? If anyone wants examples of BU-bashing on the Redbird board, let me know

[cpacmel]

Da Coach, you bring up some good points. I haven't tried to change anyone's opioion when it comes to ISU related stuff here. But if I know something to be true, I will post it.

Are we a touchy bunch? I guess, it depends whom you ask.
I try and call a spade a spade. And I have never been one to hate all things Bradley, though I know plenty of people on redbirdfan.com that are that way.

To each is their own.

I rarely post here, I would imagine, I have less than 100 posts here. But when I do, it's usually about recruiting or Valley stuff, from information I have found online.

[Big Mike]

Personally all I care about is who the Braves are going to sign..............PERIOD!

Let the isu fans be happy about their get.......everyone knows they are due for some good news.......but I have no interest!

Please lets get on with the team people on this board want to hear about..........the BRADLEY BRAVES

[cpacmel]

When I saw the thread (on redbird) it just seemed "unfair" to say BU fans were making these comments about Johnson...especially when it had the "whining" emoticon on the end.

So basically your getting all bent out of shape over this--->

[DannyCooksey]

Yet there is and has always been far more Bradley bashing on the Redbird board than any ISU bashing you will see here (although I admit it has been less lately, and the ISU fans that post here-Danny and cpac- are not the "haters"). But I don't see any Bradley fans streaming over to the Redbird board to set the record straight when they make erroneous or ridiculous statements. Why does it matter to ISU fans what Bradley fans think? After looking into Dom Johnson, I personally think he will immediately be the best guard ISU has. But anyone is entitled to their opinions. If anyone can help me understand this phenomenon, let us know. Some people have said that ISU fans have an inferiority complex and are too touchy when it comes to criticism?

I am not proud of it, but I think you are correct with this. I live by the credo that you give credit where credit is due. I am not one to bash for the sake of bashing. I know some like to operate that way however.

There are those that do it, I just take a higher road. I am a basketball fan first and I believe in good sportsmanship. Always have and always will.

This is only a guess, but perhaps part of the reason of the perceived "inferiority complex" stems from the fact that a proud program with a long history of winning has recently fallen on hard times. Perhaps some fans are overly sensitive to the slightest criticism due to this losing trend of late. I know I have been guilty of such feelings in the past couple years. Folks in Redbird country, and contrary to what some may think, are good people with pride in their program despite the recent slide in attendance.

We are just starving for some success and winning to rally the fans and community and bring back ISU basketball to where it once was. The players brought in the last couple years have given us some optimism at least. Right now, at least it's a start.

[cpacmel]

If anyone wants examples of BU-bashing on the Redbird board, let me know

Here are also some comments from that thread. As you will see many posters wished BU well.

Way to go Bradley!


Congrats to the Braves on a great win.


What a game! BU Pretty much had that wrapped up the whole time

Congrats to Bradley! Kansas must be a mid-major.

I LOVE BRADLEY!!!!! JIM LESS>Porter Moser!!!

Bradley is an excellent team and they earned their win again today. I am very happy for them and their fans.

Bradley has done a tremendous job representing the Valley and what they've done is even more impressive than Wichita St. considering Bradley was the 2nd to last team in and had a poor seed.

Congrats to the Braves for proving to the Nation what a great team they are and joining Wichita St. in showing how strong our league really is.

[dogsrus]

OK...time to move on. Perhaps I was the one being too sensitive but, like I said, just felt BU fans needed to be defended for something I said in jest.

Mel and Cooksey are welcome anytime.....

Didn't mean to rattle feathers

[DannyCooksey]

Didn't mean to rattle feathers

us neither. we certainly aren't trying to disrespect anyone on your own board. that's not cool.

Personally, I hope we can get back near the top so both our teams can duke it out like the old days. I feel the Valley needs our rivalry to really mean something again. More than just bragging rights. I'd like to see us in the very near future have games against each other that decide Conference Championships.

We are the Bears vs. Packers of the Valley. That's how I see it.