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Thoughts regarding Kevin Love's return to Oregon

I know, I'm on a break from the blog, but I read this terrible article today that made me want to comment on Kevin Love's return to Oregon.

I hold no disdain for Kevin Love.  I have never met him personally and, although I have heard that he is somewhat pompous, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.  He was under no obligation to come to Oregon, and, to me, the fact that he was an in state player makes it no different than losing any other recruit.  Is he a good player?  You bet.  Would it be nice if he were here?  Absolutely.  But do I spend any time 'yearning' for him, as the LA Times columnist suggests?  Absolutely not.  Once it became clear that he wasn't coming here, I just ceased to care.  I don't hate the guy because he didn't come here, and don't lament that he didn't come here.  You'll get some recruits, and you'll lose some recruits.  To me, this was no different than Marshawn Lynch wanting to go to Cal instead of Oregon.  You just move on to the next recruit.

However, I do have a problem with the way that the Love family handled the situation.  I know that some idiot Oregon fans got on the Love's, but there is no need to rip a program that you didn't commit to.  Simply say "my son chose the program that he thought was the best fit for him" and move on.  Nobody needs any other explanation.  And some of the complaints in particular really get me laughing:

Stan Love tells a story of how UCLA Coach Ben Howland and North Carolina Coach Roy Williams helped Kevin carry workout equipment into and out of a practice gym while Oregon Coach Ernie Kent "kept one eye on his BlackBerry and never lifted a finger."

I know that college recruiting is a world of "what are ya gonna give me, coach," but it is telling that they expected a 50+ year old guy to carry a high school kid's workout equipment.  You're 18.  Carry your own damn equipment.  I realize that this isn't exclusive to the Love family, and that most big time recruits feel a sense of entitlement, but come on.  Carry your own jock strap.

However, what really bothers me is this sentiment of the Love's:  

The biggest thing is, the fans thought Kevin could be the savior. And they are still in denial because they blame Stan for having animosity toward the Oregon staff," Cherry said.

Why do the Love's and their friends continue to belive that Oregon expected, or needed, a savior.  Oregon has won a Pac-10 championship, two tourney titles, has been to two elite eights, and has has four first round NBA draft picks this decade.  OSU is the kind of program that needs a savior.  Oregon is already a good program.  You play here, and you are just one in a line of talented players.  Oregon may not be UCLA, but it is much closer to that end of the spectrum than it is to OSU.

Bottom line, I don't really care that Kevin went to UCLA.  And I wish him the best both there and in the NBA.  But the animosity that I hold over this situation stems directly from the pompous attitudes of the Love family.  Just because you don't feel like the coaching staff jumped through enough hoops for you doesn't mean you need to get into a public war with the program.  Just make your choice and move on.  I'm sure Kevin will get an ear full at Mac Court tonight.  But the vast majority of that anger will in reality be directed at his old man.  Send your son wherever you want.  Just stay classy about it.

Because if the Pit Crew crosses any lines tonight, you can't say you didn't have it coming.

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Love
As I mentioned in the open thread, I didn't really have much of an opinion on Love prior to this week because I knew he wasn't coming here.  So, I didn't make an effort to follow his high school career at all.  But, he does come off as pretty arrogant in a lot of the articles I have seen this week.  

by ntrebon on Jan 24, 2008 12:11 PM PST   0 recs

Good post
I was thinking about writing something on this topic, but you covered it way better than I could have.  I honestly don't care about Love one way or the other.  I wish him the best, but his dad needs to grow up a lot.

by jtlight on Jan 24, 2008 12:29 PM PST   0 recs

EK
How many times last season did we see Ernie's shoulders go out of socket?  I can recall one time that he collapsed to the ground during a Pac-10 game because it popped out of it's socket when he was throwing his hands up in disbelief at a poor call by a Pac-10 ref.  Sounds like he shouldn't be lifting anything over the weight of a basketball to me.
Obviously, risking your physical health is no reason to skip out on moving excercise equipment around the Love household.

by hateDAfuskies on Jan 24, 2008 1:47 PM PST   0 recs

fully agreed
I thought the same thing when I read that article.  If Kevin Love and his Father came down to the decision based on an NCAA Division I coach carrying or not carrying his duffel bag after practice, I say he wasn't the right fit anyway.  I guess maybe they wipe the sweat off his brow when he comes to the sidelines as well.  Quite possibly the Oregon coaching staff didn't recruit as hard as these other schools based on the fact that his father was an Oregon star athlete and they felt they already had an inside edge.  It sounds like Stan is grasping for reasons why he couldn't talk his son into following his own legacy.  I wish Kevin well in his future, and I trust the recruiting prowess of Ernie, every year the program gets a bit deeper and broader.  I agree that much of the contempt felt towards Kevin is based on the comments of his own pops.
Green and Yellow curbs my rage...

by fortheloveofDuck on Jan 24, 2008 2:47 PM PST   0 recs

poor ernie...
If Love didn't go to Oregon because the coach has had two rotator cuff surgeries and an artificial hip socket, and therefore couldn't carry his bags for him, I don't want him around anyway.  There are much better fits for the program than Kevin Love.

My favorite thing about the "premiere recruit" that we DID land (Michael Dunigan) is that he said his goal is to finish school early like AB, Maarty, Malik, and Bryce did (source: educk article July 29, 2007).  Wow! RECRUITS THAT WANT TO GRADUATE COLLEGE!  I'm not saying it will actually happen-- he's 18.  Still, you have to like that the program is attracting kids who want to grow and mature instead of one-and-done drama queens.

Love will be gone in a year and the next phenom will come along for the Bruins.  In the meantime, Ernie has a group that will hopefully stay together a while, and that we can cheer for.

by gribbit1 on Jan 24, 2008 3:08 PM PST   0 recs

Question for the Chicago guys
Anyone been to Witt's lately? They really spruced up the place. New booths along the back wall, a new beer cooler (with some Oregon beers) behind the bar, and a new sign along the center ceiling beam that features an Oregon logo next to the list of drink specials.

They must have made so much cash on the Oregon games, they could splurge on the upgrades. Nice to see our dollars at work!

by DavisDuck on Jan 24, 2008 7:22 PM PST   0 recs

Nice
I haven't been since the last regular season game.  Sounds good.  I remember the owner mentioning that he was going to carry some Oregon beers.  That's always nice.

by ntrebon on Jan 24, 2008 7:35 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

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