Who we should be contacting
- Thread starter thakid
- Start date
boo haarvey
Active member
Dear Messrs. Gempesaw & Oliva,
I am a passionate lifelong fan of Saint John’s basketball. While I did not attend the university myself, I proudly count my Mother, two Uncles, and Grandfather as alumni. My ties to SJU are stronger than mere college affiliation, they run through my bloodline.
I’ve been a season ticket holder with my Dad for the past 15 years and have been an avid fan of the program for 33 years. My wife teases me that I am too obsessed with the basketball program as I plan my entire schedule (including a high pressure job) so that I can watch every single game (both home and away). In the past, I’ve donated money to SJU ahead of my own school, notwithstanding the fact that I did not go there.
I provide you with this background not to suggest I am some “super fan” entitled to special treatment, but instead to provide you with insight into how much I love the school and the program. I have never previously thought it appropriate to write directly to the University but feel myself compelled to do so now.
I admit that I do not know all the facts about what has transpired with the basketball program over the past twenty years. Of course there has been a fair amount of innuendo on social media recently concerning, what can only be characterized as debacle of a coaching search. Perhaps there is another side to the story than what I have heard. I am not here to cast aspersions.
What I would like to express is my extreme disappointment in the state of the program. The dysfunction within the university is well-publicized. For 20 years, I’ve watched the program suffer a steady decline from its tradition-rich history. I thought the decline had reached its nadir with the Abe Keita and Pittsburgh scandals. Yet, over the past week, this once proud school has inexplicably suffered an additional series of deep humiliations. First, the school’s icon, who by all accounts was ill prepared and ill-suited for the job, resigned. Then, the administration was very publicly scorned in its efforts to entice Bobby Hurley to fill the coaching vacancy. What followed can only be described as a surreal process in which the school made overtures to unqualified coaches with no connections to the university or city only to be successively rejected by these same coaches. All the while the school has refused to hire the one person who truly wanted the job, and by all accounts, was the most qualified to take it. This fiasco culminated in one of the school’s wealthiest and most prominent boosters making an appearance on national radio to bash the administration.
It is time to step up! The basketball program and the university are at a crossroads. You stand in real danger of losing passionate supporters like myself who can no longer bear to watch the complete and utter mismanagement of this program. While the program certainly faces its challenges, SJU has the good fortune of being located in the greatest city on earth where it plays many of its home games in the most famous arena on the planet. I truly believe this program is a sleeping giant with unlimited potential. You simply need to make the correct hire and invest in the program. And while I am sure you are both intelligent men, you need to exercise your intelligence by deferring to the Athletic Director whom you recently hired. Allow him to make the choice in hiring the next coach and provide the resources that will not only attract a successful coach, but enable him to succeed.
Time is running out. For my part, if the University does not quickly reverse course, and act with responsibility and professionalism moving forward, I will sadly have no choice but to cancel my season tickets.
Best,
Will
I am a passionate lifelong fan of Saint John’s basketball. While I did not attend the university myself, I proudly count my Mother, two Uncles, and Grandfather as alumni. My ties to SJU are stronger than mere college affiliation, they run through my bloodline.
I’ve been a season ticket holder with my Dad for the past 15 years and have been an avid fan of the program for 33 years. My wife teases me that I am too obsessed with the basketball program as I plan my entire schedule (including a high pressure job) so that I can watch every single game (both home and away). In the past, I’ve donated money to SJU ahead of my own school, notwithstanding the fact that I did not go there.
I provide you with this background not to suggest I am some “super fan” entitled to special treatment, but instead to provide you with insight into how much I love the school and the program. I have never previously thought it appropriate to write directly to the University but feel myself compelled to do so now.
I admit that I do not know all the facts about what has transpired with the basketball program over the past twenty years. Of course there has been a fair amount of innuendo on social media recently concerning, what can only be characterized as debacle of a coaching search. Perhaps there is another side to the story than what I have heard. I am not here to cast aspersions.
What I would like to express is my extreme disappointment in the state of the program. The dysfunction within the university is well-publicized. For 20 years, I’ve watched the program suffer a steady decline from its tradition-rich history. I thought the decline had reached its nadir with the Abe Keita and Pittsburgh scandals. Yet, over the past week, this once proud school has inexplicably suffered an additional series of deep humiliations. First, the school’s icon, who by all accounts was ill prepared and ill-suited for the job, resigned. Then, the administration was very publicly scorned in its efforts to entice Bobby Hurley to fill the coaching vacancy. What followed can only be described as a surreal process in which the school made overtures to unqualified coaches with no connections to the university or city only to be successively rejected by these same coaches. All the while the school has refused to hire the one person who truly wanted the job, and by all accounts, was the most qualified to take it. This fiasco culminated in one of the school’s wealthiest and most prominent boosters making an appearance on national radio to bash the administration.
It is time to step up! The basketball program and the university are at a crossroads. You stand in real danger of losing passionate supporters like myself who can no longer bear to watch the complete and utter mismanagement of this program. While the program certainly faces its challenges, SJU has the good fortune of being located in the greatest city on earth where it plays many of its home games in the most famous arena on the planet. I truly believe this program is a sleeping giant with unlimited potential. You simply need to make the correct hire and invest in the program. And while I am sure you are both intelligent men, you need to exercise your intelligence by deferring to the Athletic Director whom you recently hired. Allow him to make the choice in hiring the next coach and provide the resources that will not only attract a successful coach, but enable him to succeed.
Time is running out. For my part, if the University does not quickly reverse course, and act with responsibility and professionalism moving forward, I will sadly have no choice but to cancel my season tickets.
Best,
Will
My email sent last night................
President Gempshaw & Mr. Oliva,
I am a lifetime supporter of the St. John’s Men’s Basketball program. I attend every single home game (at both MSG and Carnesecca Arena) with my son. St. John’s basketball is also a family’s traditions and something we take great pride in.
I am reaching out to inform you that we will no longer attend games or support the program in any way, until your involvement with the program can be confirmed. Mr. Repole’s radio interview yesterday was not enlightening in any way. It only illuminated what die hard fans have know all along.
Your mismanagement of this program, starting with the hiring of Chris Mullin, has been unprecedented and embarrassing. Now, by diluting Mike Cragg’s autonomy, you have completely nullified your only solid decision.
Please know, along with an extremely frustrated and motivated fan base, I will be campaigning for your removal.
Looking forward to having contact with the Board of Trustees,
President Gempshaw & Mr. Oliva,
I am a lifetime supporter of the St. John’s Men’s Basketball program. I attend every single home game (at both MSG and Carnesecca Arena) with my son. St. John’s basketball is also a family’s traditions and something we take great pride in.
I am reaching out to inform you that we will no longer attend games or support the program in any way, until your involvement with the program can be confirmed. Mr. Repole’s radio interview yesterday was not enlightening in any way. It only illuminated what die hard fans have know all along.
Your mismanagement of this program, starting with the hiring of Chris Mullin, has been unprecedented and embarrassing. Now, by diluting Mike Cragg’s autonomy, you have completely nullified your only solid decision.
Please know, along with an extremely frustrated and motivated fan base, I will be campaigning for your removal.
Looking forward to having contact with the Board of Trustees,
Yes, we do need to get to the Board of Trustees.
Here they are: [URL]https://www.stjohns.edu/about/leadership-and-administration/board-trustees[/URL]
But, we need contact information.
Here they are: [URL]https://www.stjohns.edu/about/leadership-and-administration/board-trustees[/URL]
But, we need contact information.
Repole poured gasoline on the fire yesterday. I think a lot of it was un-necessary even if he had valid points. And using Francesa as a stool pigeon who knows jack sh** made it easier for him because who was going to challenge him on anything he said?
Right now most of the candidates would be uninspiring and the fan base would fracture.
As screwed up as it is the one guy who is the most accomplished coach available is actually still available.
Right now most of the candidates would be uninspiring and the fan base would fracture.
As screwed up as it is the one guy who is the most accomplished coach available is actually still available.
We've been given the Death Penalty without any violations.
ErickTheRed
Member
Tarik turner!
MarkRedman
Well-known member
Don't laugh too hard but given the other choices being mentioned, how about Frannie?
A second chance at redemption
A second chance at redemption