RE: My take on the Ohio State situation

[Mayer, Rob (OEC)]

Very serious, we were at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday and it proved
to be true.  My son would catch them, I'd pull the front legs and sure
enough, the head comes right off.  The Carp in the 18th fairway stream
loved their snack we provided.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael W Pickens [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 10:27 AM
To: address@hidden
Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] My take on the Ohio State situation



Shut up - I know I am about to be made fun of but are you serious?
 



"Mayer, Rob (OEC)" <address@hidden> 


06/09/2004 10:15 AM 


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RE: [UC Basketball] My take on the Ohio State situation

	





On the  cicada front, if you pull both front legs at once, the head will
pop  off. 
-----Original Message----- 
From: Michael W  Pickens [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004  10:08 AM 
To: address@hidden 
Subject: Re: [UC  Basketball] My take on the Ohio State situation 



Do you really think what he said was that harsh?   We are talking about
a high-school kid here.  Kids say stupid  things all of the time.  My
daughter came home the other day and said  that if I pull both wings off
a cicada that its head will pop off.  After  trying it dozens of times
we proved that she was wrong.  Just kidding we  don't get cicadas up in
my neck of the woods.  Of course she is just now  out of kindergarten
but I'm just trying to make a point.     

Jamar put himself in a bad position and  needed to give himself an out.
He had to cover his back so to speak.   I'm not sold that another JC
player is the answer to our point guard  situation and would love for
Jamar to come back to UC.  After he puts on  a Bearcat Uniform he
becomes part of the family and all will be forgiven.   We were all hurt
by what he said but I'm willing to give him a second  chance and I think
it would be a good fit for him as well.  We don't have  to have him but
it would be nice to have him.  I'm just not sure how we  could fit him
or Twig on our team. 
[IMAGE] 



"Keith Wedinger"  <address@hidden>   

06/09/2004 09:27 AM   


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[UC Basketball] My  take on the Ohio State situation

	





Yesterday, I took my family to Kings Island and I was away from any  and
all 
news all day long.  So, imagine my surprise when I open this  morning's 
Columbus Dispatch to see the headline, "O'Brien  Fired". 

Before I comment on this situation  and its possible effect on UC, let
me 
state that over the years, there is  an important lesson I have learned.
Try 
to take the high road.   The temptation to "slam" OSU's program to
anyone 
who'll listen is  certainly there especially when you consider the moral
high 
road OSU tries  to take over UC.  But, in the end, what would  that 
accomplish? 

Now, my thought on  this. 

Did O'Brien deserve to get  fired? 

That's a tough one to answer.   I do not believe that the $6,000 payment
is 
the only thing in play  here.  The past two seasons especially the last
one 
were not very  good.  You can say that last season was quite bad.  Also,
I 
think  there may be other violations.  Apparently, the lawsuit that
triggered 
all of this had to do with the lack of payment for services  rendered
with 
regards to a player staying at a booster's house and that the  $6,000
payment 
was simply evidence in this lawsuit.  So, we actually  have improper
payments 
related to two players. 

How will the NCAA respond? 

It  is my belief that if the NCAA looks hard enough and long enough at
any 
major college program in the country, they will find something.   The
key is 
to not give the NCAA a reason to look.  Unfortunately  for OSU, the NCAA
now 
has reason to look.  And OSU is about to find  out how long and hard the
NCAA 
can look.  When you break rule #1 (you  cannot pay players), the NCAA
gets 
VERY interested.  This could get  very ugly for OSU. 

Who also should take  the fall for this? 

I think there will be  some serious heat on the OSU AD, Andy Geiger.
The 
football program  has had several off the field problems since Tressel
took 
over (Clarett,  arrests).  And now, the basketball program has violated
NCAA 
rule #1.   Tressel and O'Brien were Geiger hires and both were
advertised  as 
hires that restore the honor and good name of OSU  athletics. 

How will this affect  UC? 

Well, question #1 is what happens to  Jamar Butler.  Jamar is hinting
that he 
may not go to OSU now.   Unfortunately for Jamar, the NCAA rarely
releases a 
player from his  National Letter of Intent because of a coaching change.

But, it will  release a player if NCAA rules violations result in
probation. 
Regardless,  Jamar burned some bridges with his comments about UC and he
may 
have burned  his relationship with Huggins.  I think Jamar may be better

served by  going elsewhere if he leaves OSU.  Question #2 is, will OSU
pursue 
Bob  Huggins?  I am 99% certain that they won't.  OSU with it's
comments 
about UC and the implications about how Huggins runs the program  have
pretty 
much eliminated that possibility.  Question #3, will OSU  now schedule
UC in 
basketball?  That really depends on who OSU hires  as its coach and how
hard 
the NCAA comes down on OSU.  UC will not  schedule OSU if OSU is unable
to 
play on TV. 

Keith  Wedinger 
Bearcatnews.com 
Sciotofootball.com 

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