How long have you been posting or watching this site ?

During Norm's 3 rd year I think Jan or Feb of 2007. Just got back from Gtown game where we lost if memory serves 90 to 12.
After the game went to one of the Mustang bars and overheard someone mentioning how they were going to Kill Norm on the site when they got home. At that time I had no idea what a site was and just thought some random fan was going to murder Norm possibly at a Indian burial site or something.
When I got home my wife asked how the game was and I politely asked her to refrain from buying ST John's tickets for Christmas until the chowder head coach gets fired. However I told her some fan was plotting to murder Norm that very same day. So possibly next year's Christmas gift could be saved.

My wife then explained that said fan was probably talking about a ST John's forum. Again the only forums I was aware of at that time was the one the Lakers played at and Penthouse magazine one from back in the day. She then explained to me what a forum was. My reaction was why would anyone go on one of those. Well after a couple more horrible losses, I googled "Norm Roberts sucks" and lo and behold I found the BEB forum. From there I discovered this one and JJ and the rest is history.
 
It had to be sometime during my college years, which spans 2000-2004. Those were the only years that I was not going to games regularly (I went to a small school just outside of Boston), and this site helped me keep in touch with the team (though I got to watch more games starting junior year, when NESN got transferred over from premium to basic cable).

Said I was going to sign up once I graduated, but of course, signups were shut down the day of Jarvis's firing. As soon as signups were allowed again a few years later, I started posting (I was on Big East Boards starting around 2005, or so).
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=299595]Been around since near the start, and the old SJU board that was around before Paul’s site during the times of dial-up Internet. Made lots of good friends here. It’s like home to me. Very thankful for this place...[/quote]

Yes, .the old AOL message board. I'm sure I was on that for a few years before I moved to LA in '97. Someone find Cos and he might remember the date.
 
[quote="austour" post=299649][quote="MCNPA" post=299595]Been around since near the start, and the old SJU board that was around before Paul’s site during the times of dial-up Internet. Made lots of good friends here. It’s like home to me. Very thankful for this place...[/quote]

Yes, .the old AOL message board. I'm sure I was on that for a few years before I moved to LA in '97. Someone find Cos and he might remember the date.[/quote]

I would occasionally venture over to the AOL board during the winter and spring of '97. I came over to Redmen in February '98.
 
STARTED on the AoL message board came here '98 is my best recollection, posted for years as bmoran...
 
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.


I chose to attend St. John's because of its men's basketball team. When I left my admissions interview I asked the receptionist for directions to Alumni Hall and sat through one of Louie's practices, and I was sold on the school.

Fast forward to the pre- internet days when news moved much ... s- l- o- w- e- r ....... During the late 1980s, early '90s a newsletter "Big East Briefs” was published by a St. John's alum and was very good source of recruiting information within the Big East Conference. Through Big East Brief's I met an individual who formerly posted on this site under the name "Tom in Simsbury". Tom had made a connection with some guy named "Paul" on an A.O.L. sports site. Paul was in the process of starting a "message board" where St. John's fans could exchange their thoughts regarding the St. John's Red Storm basketball team. At that time the concept of what a "message board" was not as defined as it is today. I recall thinking that perhaps there would be "one or two" posts on the "message board" every day or so.

The "Paul" who Tom referred to was the "Paul" that owns this site. Paul created Redmen.com and it was an instant success. Hundreds of St. John's fans somehow found the site and began to post. Newspaper writers trolled the site for information.

Redmen.com was a pioneer in the field of sports message boards. Rivals and others courted Paul but Paul elected to keep his independence desiring to maintain the site free to users. I am not sure that anyone understands the money and time which Paul has invested in the Redmen.com Paul is very successful within his profession but purposely keeps a low profile.

Through the years Redmen.com has attracted passionate and informed posters. Unfortunately, we have lost a few valuable posters; "Alex of Woodside" comes to mind. In early years Alex was a big source of recruiting information. [NOTE: I would appreciate if posters could post the names of the former regular posters who have disappeared from the site to see if anyone can identify their whereabouts. Thanks.}

Because I do not live in the NYC metro area I have not personally met as many posters as I would like, but have made continuing telephone friendship with “The Honorable Panther2”, JSJ, JPM, Aubie, Monte, and others. I only make one or so games per year. If I lived in the NYC area I would be a season ticket holder.

Whenever I get annoyed at a poster I stop and think that there is not one regular poster on this site that does not have a sincere passion of St. John's basketball and who does not want our beloved team to succeed.

Thank you to Paul and my fellow posters for making Redmen.com the success it is.

Regards.
Otis.
 
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Found and joined the site around mid-1998 and was around for those great '98-99 and '99-00 seasons and then the Norm debacle years. I remember SJU trying to lure Billy Donovan from Florida before hiring Steve Lavin. Hoping this year's team and the new AD will bring relevance back to the program.
 
My favorite site since i found it 2004, im legitimately on it multiple times EVERY day! Thanks to Paul and crew!
 
[quote="mjmaherjr" post=299588][quote="firestorm" post=299587]Woof. This goes back so long I can't even stick a date on it. I certainly recall many threads about Fraschilla's coaching reign, which means going back to 96-97-ish.
The interwebs made is possible to follow St. John's hoops from afar and this site has been a lifeline. I think back to some of the old posters over the years – newsman, northshore, golden leaf, maven...the list could go on.
As always with a thread like this, much gratitude to Paul for making tis possible.[/quote] Those guys luckily I know them all. Golden Leaf still lurks. Actually they are all great guys. Met Newsie at our first party even though we argued politically and his love of Jarvis he is fantastic guy. Unfortunately as you know because you so graciously donated but North Shore past away which was a real loss to just humanity[/quote]

Northshore was a great guy. Before he moved, I would always meet up with him before games to chat about hoops and anything else. Him and his wife went through some very tragic stuff, stuff that I wouldn't wish on anybody, yet remained just great people. I do miss him. RIP.
 
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[quote="otis" post=299658].


I chose to attend St. John's because of its men's basketball team. When I left my admissions interview I asked the receptionist for directions to Alumni Hall and sat through one of Louie's practices, and I was sold on the school.

Fast forward to the pre- internet days when news moved much ... s- l- o- w- e- r ....... During the late 1980s, early '90s a newsletter "Big East Briefs” was published by a St. John's alum and was very good source of recruiting information within the Big East Conference. Through Big East Brief's I met an individual who formerly posted on this site under the name "Tom in Simsbury". Tom had made a connection with some guy named "Paul" on an A.O.L. sports site. Paul was in the process of starting a "message board" where St. John's fans could exchange their thoughts regarding the St. John's Red Storm basketball team. At that time the concept of what a "message board" was not as defined as it is today. I recall thinking that perhaps there would be "one or two" posts on the "message board" every day or so.

The "Paul" who Tom referred to was the "Paul" that owns this site. Paul created Redmen.com and it was an instant success. Hundreds of St. John's fans somehow found the site and began to post. Newspaper writers trolled the site for information.

Redmen.com was a pioneer in the field of sports message boards. Rivals and others courted Paul but Paul elected to keep his independence desiring to maintain the site free to users. I am not sure that anyone understands the money and time which Paul has invested in the Redmen.com Paul is very successful within his profession but purposely keeps a low profile.

Through the years Redmen.com has attracted passionate and informed posters. Unfortunately, we have lost a few valuable posters; "Alex of Woodside" comes to mind. In early years Alex was a big source of recruiting information. [NOTE: I would appreciate if posters could post the names of the former regular posters who have disappeared from the site to see if anyone can identify their whereabouts. Thanks.}

Because I do not live in the NYC metro area I have not personally met as many posters as I would like, but have made continuing telephone friendship with “The Honorable Panther2”, JSJ, JPM, Aubie, Monte, and others. I only make one or so games per year. If I lived in the NYC area I would be a season ticket holder.

Whenever I get annoyed at a poster I stop and think that there is not one regular poster on this site that does not have a sincere passion of St. John's basketball and who does not want our beloved team to succeed.

Thank you to Paul and my fellow posters for making Redmen.com the success it is.

Regards.
Otis.[/quote]

Fascinating to hear the history. Never would have known there was an AOL chat board back in the modem days. Alex in Woodside wouldn't have happened to have been Alex Evans that was let go after the Pittsburgh incident?
 
I’ve been a fan of the program since the McCoy, Rencher, Carter days. In 1980,I was a junior in high school (Cardozo) and attended a Pre-College Summer Program at Syracuse. My heart was set on going there after my senior year, however my wallet said no. So, I ended up at St. John’s, graduating in 1985.
I lurked on this site for a few years, and began posting during the Norm years. I made one trip, with my son to UCLA during the Lavin years. I met a few of you then. (Sat with MJMaher and his fiancé. Nice folks).
Here’s to a great season!
 
[quote="Andrew" post=299687][quote="otis" post=299658].


I chose to attend St. John's because of its men's basketball team. When I left my admissions interview I asked the receptionist for directions to Alumni Hall and sat through one of Louie's practices, and I was sold on the school.

Fast forward to the pre- internet days when news moved much ... s- l- o- w- e- r ....... During the late 1980s, early '90s a newsletter "Big East Briefs” was published by a St. John's alum and was very good source of recruiting information within the Big East Conference. Through Big East Brief's I met an individual who formerly posted on this site under the name "Tom in Simsbury". Tom had made a connection with some guy named "Paul" on an A.O.L. sports site. Paul was in the process of starting a "message board" where St. John's fans could exchange their thoughts regarding the St. John's Red Storm basketball team. At that time the concept of what a "message board" was not as defined as it is today. I recall thinking that perhaps there would be "one or two" posts on the "message board" every day or so.

The "Paul" who Tom referred to was the "Paul" that owns this site. Paul created Redmen.com and it was an instant success. Hundreds of St. John's fans somehow found the site and began to post. Newspaper writers trolled the site for information.

Redmen.com was a pioneer in the field of sports message boards. Rivals and others courted Paul but Paul elected to keep his independence desiring to maintain the site free to users. I am not sure that anyone understands the money and time which Paul has invested in the Redmen.com Paul is very successful within his profession but purposely keeps a low profile.

Through the years Redmen.com has attracted passionate and informed posters. Unfortunately, we have lost a few valuable posters; "Alex of Woodside" comes to mind. In early years Alex was a big source of recruiting information. [NOTE: I would appreciate if posters could post the names of the former regular posters who have disappeared from the site to see if anyone can identify their whereabouts. Thanks.}

Because I do not live in the NYC metro area I have not personally met as many posters as I would like, but have made continuing telephone friendship with “The Honorable Panther2”, JSJ, JPM, Aubie, Monte, and others. I only make one or so games per year. If I lived in the NYC area I would be a season ticket holder.

Whenever I get annoyed at a poster I stop and think that there is not one regular poster on this site that does not have a sincere passion of St. John's basketball and who does not want our beloved team to succeed.

Thank you to Paul and my fellow posters for making Redmen.com the success it is.

Regards.
Otis.[/quote]

Fascinating to hear the history. Never would have known there was an AOL chat board back in the modem days. Alex in Woodside wouldn't have happened to have been Alex Evans that was let go after the Pittsburgh incident?[/quote]

Not him
 
[quote="otis" post=299658].


I chose to attend St. John's because of its men's basketball team. When I left my admissions interview I asked the receptionist for directions to Alumni Hall and sat through one of Louie's practices, and I was sold on the school.

Fast forward to the pre- internet days when news moved much ... s- l- o- w- e- r ....... During the late 1980s, early '90s a newsletter "Big East Briefs” was published by a St. John's alum and was very good source of recruiting information within the Big East Conference. Through Big East Brief's I met an individual who formerly posted on this site under the name "Tom in Simsbury". Tom had made a connection with some guy named "Paul" on an A.O.L. sports site. Paul was in the process of starting a "message board" where St. John's fans could exchange their thoughts regarding the St. John's Red Storm basketball team. At that time the concept of what a "message board" was not as defined as it is today. I recall thinking that perhaps there would be "one or two" posts on the "message board" every day or so.

The "Paul" who Tom referred to was the "Paul" that owns this site. Paul created Redmen.com and it was an instant success. Hundreds of St. John's fans somehow found the site and began to post. Newspaper writers trolled the site for information.

Redmen.com was a pioneer in the field of sports message boards. Rivals and others courted Paul but Paul elected to keep his independence desiring to maintain the site free to users. I am not sure that anyone understands the money and time which Paul has invested in the Redmen.com Paul is very successful within his profession but purposely keeps a low profile.

Through the years Redmen.com has attracted passionate and informed posters. Unfortunately, we have lost a few valuable posters; "Alex of Woodside" comes to mind. In early years Alex was a big source of recruiting information. [NOTE: I would appreciate if posters could post the names of the former regular posters who have disappeared from the site to see if anyone can identify their whereabouts. Thanks.}

Because I do not live in the NYC metro area I have not personally met as many posters as I would like, but have made continuing telephone friendship with “The Honorable Panther2”, JSJ, JPM, Aubie, Monte, and others. I only make one or so games per year. If I lived in the NYC area I would be a season ticket holder.

Whenever I get annoyed at a poster I stop and think that there is not one regular poster on this site that does not have a sincere passion of St. John's basketball and who does not want our beloved team to succeed.

Thank you to Paul and my fellow posters for making Redmen.com the success it is.

Regards.
Otis.[/quote] Great Story !!
 
[quote="Porgyman" post=299693]I’ve been a fan of the program since the McCoy, Rencher, Carter days. In 1980,I was a junior in high school (Cardozo) and attended a Pre-College Summer Program at Syracuse. My heart was set on going there after my senior year, however my wallet said no. So, I ended up at St. John’s, graduating in 1985.
I lurked on this site for a few years, and began posting during the Norm years. I made one trip, with my son to UCLA during the Lavin years. I met a few of you then. (Sat with MJMaher and his fiancé. Nice folks).
Here’s to a great season![/quote] I remember that !! You sat right to our left ! What are the odds. I dont think we knew before the game we would be sitting near each other if my memory serves me corect we just figured it out during the game
 
Honestly don't remember how I stumbled across this site, but I believe it was sometime right before Lavin's first season in 2010. Became a fan as a young kid in the late 90's and early 2000's. For some reason (probably for the better) I disconnected from the team for a few years during the early Norm years but started following again when the Kennedy/Horne/Burrell etc class came through. Looking back it's kind of amazing some of the things I have been able to experience, the people I have been able to meet and the places I have been able to go all due to college basketball.

I haven't posted here in about 4 years due to other obligations, but still have lurked on a daily basis. A big thanks to those who have contributed into making this a fantastic place to discuss hoops over the years.
 
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I started reading this site in 1999, when I wanted to register it was closed. I gravited to BEB which I enjoyed.
I went toe to toe for 15 rounds with Maven and his son. It was then how I came to understand why the board was closed.
Still miss it though, like I miss team not being called Redmen, whose name came from the uniform color.
The wooden Indian came later. I still go to BEB after games to read Keita’s review which I enjoy.
Still an avid fan as it’s in my blood.
 
Following the Redmen since the'59-'60 season before there was personal computers!
was on the old AOL board and have been here from the start. Season ticket holder since the start of Mullin's career. Gave them up when the drive from Brooklyn to the campus became unbearable. Since then have bought tickets to the MSG games for myself and my two sons. Reading the names ofsome of the old posters bring back memories. Remember the Maven being a great source for recruing info but also remember a lot of animosity between him and some other posters.
 
I've been around since the old AOL days, I also remember Maven that was a long time ago. Not living near New York, I have not had the pleasure of personally meeting many of the great posters on the board but I feel like I know you when I see you on the board. I have met a few of you, Otis, and O'Leary, Maven. I had the privilege of meeting Lou Carnesecca.
Now in the twilight of my days, I find it a wonderful place to spend time. I don't post as much as I used to, but I read everything on here. Paul has done a fantastic job putting this board together and all the posters on here give it life. I think something we can all do is to support Paul and the board whenever possible. I thank all of you.
 
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