Chris Obekpa

[LINY89]

Are you kidding with the DC argument?

No. You'll know when I'm kidding by the gales of laughter.

Washington is our capital, yes...but globally I would guarantee New York is the more well-known city. DC is very, very small and handles the government...nothing else. It's a one trick pony.

Certainly your guarantees mean a great deal and should forstall all further discussion. And yet I persevere. Because the government isn't a pony. It's a giant maw suckling at the teat of commerce and sucking the air out of nearly every other facet of human life. Among other things it micro manages the largest ecomony in the world, of which NY is but a part. It has the power to tax, the power to coerce behavior, the power to deprive you of your liberty, and the power to blow you to smithereens. Essentially all NY has the power to do is stop you from buying big glasses of soda pop.

Finance DC? Last I checked New York had Wall Street the NYSE, millions of corporations, big banks, and other big wigs living there such as Trump. DC may print the money, but it flows through New York and that isn't even debatable.

By that logic I am the most important distillery in the world because while Johnnie Walker may have made the whiskey, it flows through my veins.

Does the term "FINANCIAL district" ring a bell?

As a matter of fact I have. Have you heard of Chinatown? Does that make NY the capital of Hong Kong?

If New York somehow got wiped off the map overnight, our country would be in ruins. If Cincy got wiped off the map overnight, the world would still go around. That's not being cruel, that's being real. Some cities mean MUCH more to the country and the globe than others.

Thanks for capitalizing MUCH. Otherwise your point might have SLIPPED by me. Or is that slipped by ME? Anyway, we have reached some small agreement. Some cities do mean much more, sorry MUCH more to the country than others. For example Schenectady is the punchline of many jokes that would less risible if say Boise or Dayton were substituted in its place.

The only thing LA has on NY is the better weather, and Hollywood with the actors and crap.

\What do you think it is that drives the popular culture? Broadway? That would explain all those zany kids dressing up like cats and newsboys. The Met? Crappy performance art pieces and bongo loft poetry readings? Movies and TV and recording drive the popular culture, or if you prefer, Hollywood with the actors and crap.

New York is the art capital, the transportation capital,

In what sense is NY the transportation capital of anywhere?

the skyscraper capital,

Also the wtf capital evidently. The skyscraper capital? Why not the sidewalk pretzel vendor capital? The diseased transvestite hooker capital?

the fashion capital, the financial capital, etc. etc. of the country. We were not named "The Empire State" for nothing.

I don't know how official any of this is, but Georgia is also called the empire state. Maybe we should arm wrestle them for it then we could be the Over The Top capital as well.

 

Though we disagree, I can appreciate your wittiness and the fact that your username is so aptly adopted.

 

[LINY89]

 By the way, I think it's comical that Cincy thinks they have the rights to Obepka. He is a local kid on Long Island...I live right near Centereach...it's only 35-40 miles or so from SJU in Queens. I would think it makes the most sense for him to attend SJU in the first place. His friend and teammate is already here, and his family must be urging him to stay home so they can make the easy 45 minute or so drive to see him play at Carnesseca or the 1 hour train ride to see him play at MSG. He must know he would also get maximum exposure in the NYC market and he knows he could be a huge part of the major upswing of the entire SJU program that was recently brought back to life. Yes Cincy is coming off a sweet 16 year, but I highly doubt they make it back for a long time. They were a good, not great team and even we beat them with freshman.

I just really hope Obekpa puts all the speculation to rest and makes a decision already...hopefully here at SJU . With him here I really think we have a legitimate chance to win against ANY team in the country barring any major injuries to key players.

 

[boo haarvey]

 DJ Kennedy is in the NBA a year after coming of knee surgery. And Moe Harkless, who after one year under Lavin/Dunlap went from a top 40 recruit to a late 1st round draft pick.

 

I'm all for crediting the staff, but do you really believe that the staff is responsible for Kennedy being in the NBA. If anything, the staff's use of Kennedy, while clearly helping the team, hurt Kennedy's individual prospects.

 

Who is responsible then?

 

Not sure -- Roberts likely deserves some credit -- DJ himself deserves the most.

I didn't see Kennedy's game develop under Lavin -- if aynthing quite the contrary. I don't falut Lavin for this, as I mentioned, I think DJ's decreased role was for the bettermnent of the team.

But, to to suggest that Lavin and his staff deserve the credit for DJ making the league seems pretty silly.

 

[REB]

 DJ Kennedy is in the NBA a year after coming of knee surgery. And Moe Harkless, who after one year under Lavin/Dunlap went from a top 40 recruit to a late 1st round draft pick.

 

I'm all for crediting the staff, but do you really believe that the staff is responsible for Kennedy being in the NBA. If anything, the staff's use of Kennedy, while clearly helping the team, hurt Kennedy's individual prospects.

 

Who is responsible then?

 

Not sure -- Roberts likely deserves some credit -- DJ himself deserves the most.

I didn't see Kennedy's game develop under Lavin -- if aynthing quite the contrary. I don't falut Lavin for this, as I mentioned, I think DJ's decreased role was for the bettermnent of the team.

But, to to suggest that Lavin and his staff deserve the credit for DJ making the league seems pretty silly.

 

OMG I finally found something that I agree with BooH about! The first and probably the last..

 

[Happy]

 DJ Kennedy is in the NBA a year after coming of knee surgery. And Moe Harkless, who after one year under Lavin/Dunlap went from a top 40 recruit to a late 1st round draft pick.

 

I'm all for crediting the staff, but do you really believe that the staff is responsible for Kennedy being in the NBA. If anything, the staff's use of Kennedy, while clearly helping the team, hurt Kennedy's individual prospects.

 

Who is responsible then?

 

Not sure -- Roberts likely deserves some credit -- DJ himself deserves the most.

I didn't see Kennedy's game develop under Lavin -- if aynthing quite the contrary. I don't falut Lavin for this, as I mentioned, I think DJ's decreased role was for the bettermnent of the team.

But, to to suggest that Lavin and his staff deserve the credit for DJ making the league seems pretty silly.

 

If you aren't sure who to credit.. How can you be so quick to discredit Lavin and his staff?

 

[austour]

 By the way, I think it's comical that Cincy thinks they have the rights to Obepka. He is a local kid on Long Island...I live right near Centereach...it's only 35-40 miles or so from SJU in Queens. I would think it makes the most sense for him to attend SJU in the first place. His friend and teammate is already here, and his family must be urging him to stay home so they can make the easy 45 minute or so drive to see him play at Carnesseca or the 1 hour train ride to see him play at MSG. He must know he would also get maximum exposure in the NYC market and he knows he could be a huge part of the major upswing of the entire SJU program that was recently brought back to life. Yes Cincy is coming off a sweet 16 year, but I highly doubt they make it back for a long time. They were a good, not great team and even we beat them with freshman.

I just really hope Obekpa puts all the speculation to rest and makes a decision already...hopefully here at SJU . With him here I really think we have a legitimate chance to win against ANY team in the country barring any major injuries to key players.

 

Does Chris' family even live in the US?

 

[Deac2099]

​

 1. Is Cincy really being compared with NYC? That's not even comparable. NYC is a tier one GLOBALLY known city that is the center of American culture, finance, fashion, etc. Cincy is more like a tier three city. Other tier ones are such as: LA and Chicago. I consider tier two's to be more like Houston, St. Louis, New Orleans, etc. So please don't attempt to compare apples and oranges.

Neither should you compare big apples and government cheese. The city at the center of US and world culture is Washington DC. It's not even arguable. All other cities are second. That said you'd be hard pressed to name a facet of US culture that takes its cue from NYC. Maybe once, but no longer. Finance, DC. The arts, LA. Couture, maybe NY, but who cares. OTOH the tallest building in Cincy is 8 stories high. Paris it ain't.

2. Cincy won in 61 and 62. You are talking half a century ago...my mother wasn't even born yet and it was 25 years before I was even a cell. So enough...Cincy is not anywhere near a powerhouse...Georgetown, Nova, Notre Dame, Pitt, Cuse, etc. were almost always much better than Cincy...you are a middle of the pack team in the Big East until last year really. We also beat you...remember?

Bad argument. SJ has won never anything and has been awful for 20 years. Pretty soon you'll be bringing up the NIT and the wonder five. Long time SJ fans should be cautiously optimistic about the future. But we are a relapse away from renewed obsolescence.

3. You will never be able to attract recruits like us with Lavin and the NYC/MSG package we can offer along with proven preparation for the NBA. We are already attracting better recruits and we aren't even good yet. Just imagine once we start being ranked again how many more recruits we will get. Just fall on your sword already.

Good argument. Lavin is something of a bimbo but he's a great recruiter. And good players can win no matter how befuddled the coach, see also Syracuse. Although tortured dwarf Mick Cronin will always be able to attract recruits because he will always be under UC's generous salary cap, the good news is that he's an atrocious coach and a repulsive human being who will never be successful.
 

 

Are you kidding with the DC argument? Washington is our capital, yes...but globally I would guarantee New York is the more well-known city. DC is very, very small and handles the government...nothing else. It's a one trick pony. Finance DC? Last I checked New York had Wall Street the NYSE, millions of corporations, big banks, and other big wigs living there such as Trump. DC may print the money, but it flows through New York and that isn't even debatable. Does the term "FINANCIAL district" ring a bell? If New York somehow got wiped off the map overnight, our country would be in ruins. If Cincy got wiped off the map overnight, the world would still go around. That's not being cruel, that's being real. Some cities mean MUCH more to the country and the globe than others. The only thing LA has on NY is the better weather, and Hollywood with the actors and crap. New York is the art capital, the transportation capital, the skyscraper capital, the fashion capital, the financial capital, etc. etc. of the country. We were not named "The Empire State" for nothing.

 


That guy was really reaching w that DC argument. I guess hes trying to big-up DC because its closer to them and they could possibly use it as a recruiting tool? I dont know where he got that garbage he was talking from. NYC... is the biggest, baddest most influential city on the planet... end of story. Taking a recruit on a tour of NYC vs a tour of any campus or city anywhere else in the country is no contest.

Deac

 

[UC_Bearcats]

 Hahahaha - the bitterness is hilarious! His handlers didn't get a better deal from St. John's - the NCAA has been all over St. John's for a while now...His handlers realized what a piss poor job Cincinnati has done to prepare their players for the NBA....The job that staff did with Yancy Gates is downright criminal...There was a damning quote from an NBA scout about how poor of a job they did developing Gates and it's pretty obvious that the entire NBA knows how terrible they are

Contrast that with the NBA level staff that St. John's has with Lavin, Dunlap, Rico Hines and throw in Gene Keady and it's really a no brainer when it comes to deciding between the two schools...And that's without even considering NYC vs. Cincinnati and the publicity these kids get here vs. there, playing your homes games at MSG, etc.

 

Obviously this is a St. Johns board so I am not going to get into a huge argument here, but seriously? if St. Johns is so great why has the school been irrelevant nationally since what, Chris Mullen era late 80's-early 90's? Bottom line is one school is coming off a Sweet 16 appearance and is expected to be a top 25 team next year and the other, well isn't.

 

We are rebuilding. UC is built to win NOW. Big, big difference. We only started to get back on the scene a few years ago with Lavin coming on board. We are starting to get BIG recruits instead of second tier. Cincy is not a dominant team...we beat you with a freshman team and you guys went to the sweet 16. That says something. Cincy will never be a powerhouse...just a solid not great team. I think SJ's future is much greater than Cincy's. SJ is KNOWN for basketball...Cincy isn't really known.

 

Tom Thacker, Tony Yates, Paul Hogue, Ron Bonham, and some insignificant point guard named Oscar Robertson don't count for much and two national championships really don't count either I guess because beating Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, Bobby Knight, Mel Nowell, and Joe Roberts of Ohio State probably wasn't much of an achievement.

I guess being a fan of STJ disconnects the edit function in select people's brains and allows stuff to get typed that discredits the rest of STJ fans who are just as Redmen crazed but also respect the history of the game. 

On the other hand is it still true that the best place to have fun in Cincinnati is called Frankfurt, Kentucky?

When you are still bragging about an NBA player you can google and find black and white photos of, that means you haven't turned out any big names in a long time. SJ: Artest, Mullins, Davis, Jackson, etc. all big names, all recent.

 

Kenyon Martin was the #1 pick in the draft, more recently then any St. Johns player you've mentioned.

 

[UC_Bearcats]

 By the way, I think it's comical that Cincy thinks they have the rights to Obepka. He is a local kid on Long Island...I live right near Centereach...it's only 35-40 miles or so from SJU in Queens. I would think it makes the most sense for him to attend SJU in the first place. His friend and teammate is already here, and his family must be urging him to stay home so they can make the easy 45 minute or so drive to see him play at Carnesseca or the 1 hour train ride to see him play at MSG. He must know he would also get maximum exposure in the NYC market and he knows he could be a huge part of the major upswing of the entire SJU program that was recently brought back to life. Yes Cincy is coming off a sweet 16 year, but I highly doubt they make it back for a long time. They were a good, not great team and even we beat them with freshman.

I just really hope Obekpa puts all the speculation to rest and makes a decision already...hopefully here at SJU . With him here I really think we have a legitimate chance to win against ANY team in the country barring any major injuries to key players.

 

Whoever said Cincinnati has a right to a 17 year old kid? The point was Cincinnati was rumored to be in the lead for a long time, signing period has come and gone and it this point it is pretty evident that handlers are running this recruitment more than Obekpa, himself. One assistant coach was quoted as saying something like "sometimes kids do not end up where they want to go", take that comment however you want. Both Cincinnati and St. Johns will be fine with or without this kid.

I do not post on Bearcat talk, it isn't exactly the best UC board out there so I apologize if people felt disrespected there. Whenever an opposing fan comes on a board all the E-peens come out (I am guilty of this as well), so thats why I responded to those comments. I never once belittled St. Johns as a program, in fact both Cincinnati and St. Johns are probably in the top 15-25 programs of all-time (UC is higher up due to titles, and well, the Big O). I respect St. Johns program, the point I initially made was supposed to be a joke, I do not have proof that Lavin is sleazy, but I am pretty sure the guys handling Obekpa are, regardless of where he goes to school.

 

[Moose]

UC-

I know our esteemed poster Fun will chime in but there was a time when the NIT was considered the more prestigious tournament. I'm far from a historian with my age but STJ did win I think 2 NIT's back when it was considered the more prestigious tournament. I think it was the first 15 years where it was considered better. You might very well know this but figured I would direct it to you.

 

[ras]

 My father went to SJU in the 40s. He would tell me how popular SJBB was then. Packed houses at MSG. Before 1950 the NIT winner was the national champion. With all the emphasis on the NCAA today, people forget or dont know. SJU has more wins than CINCY,I believe top 10, and more NCAA tourny appearances. But, they are both fine programs  SJU won NIT in 43 and 44.

 

[boo haarvey]

 DJ Kennedy is in the NBA a year after coming of knee surgery. And Moe Harkless, who after one year under Lavin/Dunlap went from a top 40 recruit to a late 1st round draft pick.

 

I'm all for crediting the staff, but do you really believe that the staff is responsible for Kennedy being in the NBA. If anything, the staff's use of Kennedy, while clearly helping the team, hurt Kennedy's individual prospects.

 

Who is responsible then?

 

Not sure -- Roberts likely deserves some credit -- DJ himself deserves the most.

I didn't see Kennedy's game develop under Lavin -- if aynthing quite the contrary. I don't falut Lavin for this, as I mentioned, I think DJ's decreased role was for the bettermnent of the team.

But, to to suggest that Lavin and his staff deserve the credit for DJ making the league seems pretty silly.

 

If you aren't sure who to credit.. How can you be so quick to discredit Lavin and his staff?

 

Your logic does not follow. I'll give you the old Perry Mason analogy. When trying to figure out who committed the crime, a good lawyer typically weeds out those suspects who have solid alibis. In so doing, the lawyer may be able to determine with certainty that a particular suspect could not possibly have committed the crime. However, just because the lawyer was able to rule out a particular suspect does not mean he knows the identity of the criminal. Conversely, just because the lawyer does not know the identity of the criminal does not mean he is incapable of determining that certain suspects could not have committed the crime.

Put simply, I don't need to know who deserves the credit for DJ's success in order to know that it isn't Lavin.

 

[Moose]

 DJ Kennedy is in the NBA a year after coming of knee surgery. And Moe Harkless, who after one year under Lavin/Dunlap went from a top 40 recruit to a late 1st round draft pick.

 

I'm all for crediting the staff, but do you really believe that the staff is responsible for Kennedy being in the NBA. If anything, the staff's use of Kennedy, while clearly helping the team, hurt Kennedy's individual prospects.

 

Who is responsible then?

 

Not sure -- Roberts likely deserves some credit -- DJ himself deserves the most.

I didn't see Kennedy's game develop under Lavin -- if aynthing quite the contrary. I don't falut Lavin for this, as I mentioned, I think DJ's decreased role was for the bettermnent of the team.

But, to to suggest that Lavin and his staff deserve the credit for DJ making the league seems pretty silly.

 

If you aren't sure who to credit.. How can you be so quick to discredit Lavin and his staff?

 

Your logic does not follow. I'll give you the old Perry Mason analogy. When trying to figure out who committed the crime, a good lawyer typically weeds out those suspects who have solid alibis. In so doing, the lawyer may be able to determine with certainty that a particular suspect could not possibly have committed the crime. However, just because the lawyer was able to rule out a particular suspect does not mean he knows the identity of the criminal. Conversely, just because the lawyer does not know the identity of the criminal does not mean he is incapable of determining that certain suspects could not have committed the crime.

Put simply, I don't need to know who deserves the credit for DJ's success in order to know that it isn't Lavin.

Did the team make the NCAA tournament under Lavin?
Did the team tie for 3rd in the BE conference?
Did the team knock off a bunch of ranked teams? on television?

It's pretty safe to say that wasn't happening under Norm. So while I can't say Norm wasn't partly responsible since he 'found' DJ, I can also say without a doubt Lavin helped just as much.

Why can't we give both credit 50/50 and move on already. It's getting old. Real old. Stop diminishing Norms role getting some high character kids who stabilized things. The 'normsies' then stop ignoring Norm couldn't coach a lick. Realize the impact Lavin did putting them over the top. And stop the bickering already. 

 

[Happy]

 DJ Kennedy is in the NBA a year after coming of knee surgery. And Moe Harkless, who after one year under Lavin/Dunlap went from a top 40 recruit to a late 1st round draft pick.

 

I'm all for crediting the staff, but do you really believe that the staff is responsible for Kennedy being in the NBA. If anything, the staff's use of Kennedy, while clearly helping the team, hurt Kennedy's individual prospects.

 

Who is responsible then?

 

Not sure -- Roberts likely deserves some credit -- DJ himself deserves the most.

I didn't see Kennedy's game develop under Lavin -- if aynthing quite the contrary. I don't falut Lavin for this, as I mentioned, I think DJ's decreased role was for the bettermnent of the team.

But, to to suggest that Lavin and his staff deserve the credit for DJ making the league seems pretty silly.

 

If you aren't sure who to credit.. How can you be so quick to discredit Lavin and his staff?

 

Your logic does not follow. I'll give you the old Perry Mason analogy. When trying to figure out who committed the crime, a good lawyer typically weeds out those suspects who have solid alibis. In so doing, the lawyer may be able to determine with certainty that a particular suspect could not possibly have committed the crime. However, just because the lawyer was able to rule out a particular suspect does not mean he knows the identity of the criminal. Conversely, just because the lawyer does not know the identity of the criminal does not mean he is incapable of determining that certain suspects could not have committed the crime.

Put simply, I don't need to know who deserves the credit for DJ's success in order to know that it isn't Lavin.

 

You see I never had a opinion on who deserves credit for a kid making the league. I am just not getting your logic as to why Lavin DOESN'T get the credit. It just seems that you are saying it just to say it. You are rolling out Perry Mason situations and I think the argument either way is just silly.

 

[LINY89]

 Moose- great post I actually totally forgot the NIT used to be THE only show in town and was considered the legit championship just as the NCAA's are today. So technically we have the same amount of titles. I knew that I just totally forgot lol.

 

[simplyred]

 No doubt, guys. We are the Chris Jericho of college basketball---the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time!

 

[Moose]

 No doubt, guys. We are the Chris Jericho of college basketball---the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time!

 

Hey
That white championship belt looks damn good.

 

[Ray Morgan]

 No doubt, guys. We are the Chris Jericho of college basketball---the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time!

 

Yes he is. But he was also the first undisputed WWF champion, and held WCW titles as well.

 

[simplyred]

 No doubt, guys. We are the Chris Jericho of college basketball---the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time!

 

Yes he is. But he was also the first undisputed WWF champion, and held WCW titles as well.

 

Damn! I knew I should have gone with The Honky Tonk Man.

 

[prjohnnies]

Excellent post, Moose. One need not look further than Hardy and Brownlee to see the impact the staff had on the 2010 squad.