|
Post by gks on Apr 22, 2024 19:58:23 GMT -5
Yes what college football needs is more commerical breaks....stupid.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 20, 2024 15:58:24 GMT -5
Politicians are outraged at Caitlin Clark's low $76K starting salary in the WNBA. I don't feel any outrage as it's a collectively bargained union contract. Politicians are stupid and have no idea how actual business works.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 17, 2024 10:38:17 GMT -5
I don't know the point of threads like this?
Who cares what Georgetown, UConn, etc spend.
Does it justify HC being cheap and frugal in athletics?
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 16, 2024 8:17:44 GMT -5
Slightly off topic- John Sterling retired yesterday. Boston fans who were annoyed by his Yankee shtick will always have this* to remember him by. *have never heard Gorman's call of the event, not sure if it exists. Either way, the reactions of the Hawks' bench are priceless. Pretty sure this was televised on TBS. Probably wasn't a local telecast. Bird's best shot on this game was the three pointer that didn't count.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 16, 2024 7:53:40 GMT -5
This is great. Two teams that were in the 2024 NCAA tournament and UMass Lowell is a solid program.
Grab a couple of other western games on the way back.
Should be zero complaints on this one.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 12, 2024 11:25:31 GMT -5
Can we be honest about Fitton Field...take away the nostalgia for a minute. And before I catch holy heck...yes I enjoy going to games there. Yes, it has great sighlines.
That being said:
Accessibility is poor at best for those that need assistance. How long did it take them to put in something as simple as railings for the aisles??? Bathrooms are right out of the 1960s/70s. The locker rooms...enough said. Press box is an absolute joke. Hospitality suite fits about five people. No lights. Parking is only good on perfect weather days. The all metal look is high school at best.
It is in serious need of an upgrade. The campus' front door needs help.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 12, 2024 8:38:27 GMT -5
This is going to be a great final. BC has had a great year. Denver is arguably the most dominant program of the last 10-15 years.
Denver came East and beat BC early in the season.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 11, 2024 13:38:53 GMT -5
You can sit on any side of the stadium you want.
This is college, not high school.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 5, 2024 12:20:39 GMT -5
The PL isnt changing. If there's any league that will be insulated from this domino affect its us and the Ancient 8. The Patriot League has gone through many changes. Would anyone want to go back to the Patriot League as originally constructed? ? No scholarships to scholarships being the major one. Many of their self-imposed restrictions have proven to be foolish. Leagues have to change.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 5, 2024 12:12:39 GMT -5
Polar Park is cleared and ready for baseball. I have six inches of snow in my yard Northwest of Worcester.
Doesn't matter what the weather is in Pawtucket.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 3, 2024 9:57:14 GMT -5
A glowing tribute to Larry should be made at the EBW Classic at Fitton Field this fall. Are they calling one of the football games the EBW Classic? Pretty clear that Larry sensed the end coming and made it easier for his family by cashing in on the ballclub; especially if there were no Lucchino family members who wanted to run it. Pretty sure Larry's ownership share increased after the sale this past winter. Many of the part owners from the Pawtucket days cashed out. Went from something like 11 owners to four. Larry was slowing down up until his passing. He was still going to public events here and there but you could tell his health was getting the best of him.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Apr 2, 2024 11:29:24 GMT -5
In a sports world that desperately needs characters Larry was as big of one as they come.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 28, 2024 10:55:31 GMT -5
Foley: Like you, the NCAA statement is BS. If that is true, change the GD specs. The playoffs are for the student/athletes and their supporting fans. Talk to some of the 2006 players about the atmosphere and how that helped them. No way we beat Minnesota in a 2,500 capacity facility with no NoDak fans. I was there sitting next to the Minnesota AD. Never experienced anything like that at the college level. To the NCAA: You make tons of money off collegiate athletics. You can afford to cut back a bit on on revenue!! Here is an article from 2021, the NCAA Hockey tournament only draws 191k TV viewers. It isn't a big enough draw for the NCAA to care. medium.com/run-it-back-with-zach/how-much-could-each-sports-ncaa-tournament-command-on-the-open-market-1f5409a4e9e4It should be noted that North Dakota hosted last year and will host next year in Fargo in a 6k seat arena. TV viewership isn't even a part of this debate. What does that have to do with anything? Even more take into consideration the fan experience.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 28, 2024 8:47:40 GMT -5
A financial advisor once told the parents of my kids graduating class that you're better off being poor than saving every penny when it comes to college.
We all know very few pay sticker price for college. I'm convinced schools like BU, Tufts and Wellesley see these prices as a badge of honor.
IMO it's time to either require colleges to keep costs down or lose federal funding and be prepared to pay taxes. They are no longer non-profits.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 28, 2024 8:43:37 GMT -5
I do agree, Cruskater31. I admit, I do not know the Maryland Heights facility, there are a bunch of other factors involved in the decision. Locker rooms, Media rooms, food venues, TV production rooms, suites, etc. are also important things to look at when picking a venue. I hope that the food is not a food truck out in the parking lot. I hope there was some type of inspection. I still would prefer a top top venue, if these things do not meet the requirements. But do not tell me, NCAA, there were no venues to bid. Back in the day, we had several venues to choose from. No venues is just BS!! Here is the quote that was in the Detroit News "The NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee evaluated all bids for the 2024 regional sites in the winter of 2020," the NCAA spokesman said in a statement to The News. "However, only a few venues in the western part of the country submitted bids for the four-year cycle. Given the limited number of sites in the geographical area, the committee chose the best options to enhance the experience of the student-athletes and coaches.” I note the word FANS missing from this quote. Maybe the NCAA needs to re-evaluate requirements on host cities.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 27, 2024 8:59:54 GMT -5
I do know the location is in Missouri. My point is that there are many other venues that were/are probably available. No magic line between east/west. I do know the process. I was on the NCAA Committee for 5 years, chairing it in 2010. The committee members need to for involved in the process. Every new venue needed a sight visit from a committee member and an NCAA rep when I was involved. No way that happened. When Tom Jacobs left the NCAA, college hockey lost a big advocate. He would also agree with what was best for college hockey, not the NCAA. Those days are long gone. Should have contacted the DCU, one of the best regional sites. Too bad these teams are going to a facility with 1/2 capacity they are used it. My opinion, if this continues, is to let the 4 top seeds host. If a school like Holy Cross (will never happen) is a host, make them use another facility. Will guarantee sellouts and great college hockey atmosphere. A little note to the NCAA: LET THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS RUN THE THE FROZEN FOUR AND MAKE THE DECISIONS!! There have been some coaches starting to advocate for the NCAA to go to home sites. I know University of Denver's coach, who I believe has some sway, has gone on the record for this. Word is that DCU got out bid by Springfield Civic Center for this year's regional. This would/should have been DCU's turn if the longtime rotation was maintained.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 26, 2024 12:48:33 GMT -5
The NCAA is greedy. They want more and more revenue from hosting facilities, ie parking, concessions, etc. That is why Washington will not bid for a frozen four. That was one of the best frozen fours. There are many, many facilities that can bid on these. Maryland, a western venue! Give me a break! get another eastern facility (Worcester, Manchester, etc) or something down south. The regional attendance numbers mostly come from the teams and then from hockey fans. Any facility that host would get more from a regional than 2,500. Maryland Heights, the arena in question, is in Missouri outside of St. Louis. It would be like if the New England Sports Center in Marlborough hosted an NCAA Regional. If no one bids too bad for the West. Find a third venue out East.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 26, 2024 10:57:49 GMT -5
Can I replace 'bizarre' with 'stupid' or 'ridiculous'?
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 26, 2024 8:48:02 GMT -5
Here's the thing about transfers. Want to treat athletes like regular students? Well they can come and go as they please between schools. Should Johnny the math major not be allowed to change schools if he doesn't like the situation he's in? Want athletes to stay their four years? First win. Then you have to make letters of intent a binding, exclusive contract for four years. Now I don't know labor laws from in-laws but this sounds like you'd be making them employees/professionals with four year, long-term deals. You seem to omit a big difference. Most students pay to attend a school and have the right to stop if they wish. Many athletes are being paid (whether or not it is a scholarship worth hundreds of thousands of dollars or NIL money that can be even more). Don't they owe something more than the average student? So should a regular student on an full academic scholarship not be able to transfer from a school if he or she is unhappy?
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 26, 2024 8:14:00 GMT -5
Here's the thing about transfers.
Want to treat athletes like regular students? Well they can come and go as they please between schools. Should Johnny the math major not be allowed to change schools if he doesn't like the situation he's in?
Want athletes to stay their four years? First win. Then you have to make letters of intent a binding, exclusive contract for four years. Now I don't know labor laws from in-laws but this sounds like you'd be making them employees/professionals with four year, long-term deals.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 25, 2024 19:41:09 GMT -5
College basketball has become less user friendly due to the high number of portal transfers. Don't like it. My interest is ebbing. How can one cheer for a bunch of hired guns without any true tie to their school? They want to enter the portal. Then, go. You don't belong at Holy Cross. Get the hell out. Don't let the door hit you from the rear on your way out. I'm sick of the whole damn thing. It's supposed to be college not some damn NBA light. Hopefully you're not part of the college's welcoming committee to new students. Yikes.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 25, 2024 9:31:17 GMT -5
Caitlin Clark's counterpart in music for the past year or so is Taylor Swift. I admire the way Swift built her business and has kept her fans and how much joy they get from following her. I'll give Clark a couple of years to see if young girls are lining up at the turnstyles when her WNBA team comes to their region. Maybe it's not a fair comparison. The WNBA plays 40 games a year and Swift only tours once every few years. The idea of legions of young girl fans (and their families) jamming the turnstiles to watch women’s hoops has been the WNBA’s dream since it began. Somehow, despite some very popular college players, it hadn’t consistently materialized. Some poor choices and poor messaging by the WNBA accounts for a part of that. They need an appealing star and, with any luck, the leading pros in the WNBA can appreciate that they themselves will benefit from CC’s success - but I’m not so sure. Always thought WNBA playing in the spring/summer hurt their reach. I understand arena availability, tv windows, etc. There's something to be said that sports should be played in their seasons. It'll probably never happen but would like to see how the WNBA would do if they played during traditional basketball season.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 24, 2024 15:58:19 GMT -5
People can continue with excuses or HC could just figure it out.
It's too bad. College hockey is really exciting.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 24, 2024 9:26:32 GMT -5
A logical worry. Coach LaChapelle was extended on the women's side I believe. It would be a shame if there is not enough left to reward and extend Coach Riga. Change the budget😇✝️ We have the dollars they just need to make the right investments Success costs money. Winning costs money. From what I see and know it HC is more than happy with a MDC-style rink and a twenty win season here and there. Success has many definitions and standards. Just have to select which form of success you want.
|
|
|
Post by gks on Mar 24, 2024 9:17:21 GMT -5
Why would she leave HC? I thought the women were selecting a school not a sports franchise as seemingly do some of the men. She's a senior. Some would say it's been four years, time for her to go....
|
|