Bob Hill of the C-J takes a swing at Gillispie -- and hits only air

by Truzenzuzex on May 13, 2008 8:05 AM EDT Comment 19 comments

Comes now Bob Hill, mostly a political and culture commentator at the Courer-Journal, to scold college basketball coaches in general and Billy Gillispie in particular for recruiting so young. Fortunately, his argument is so bankrupt it only takes a second to dismiss it. Quoth he:

Does Harvard offer four-year scholarships to eighth-grade business tycoons with an eye on an MBA?

Does the Juilliard School guarantee full academic rides to eighth-graders adept at dance, drama or music? Would Northwestern University or the University of Missouri offer a budding eighth-grade journalist four years of free education?

Recruiting eighth-graders is nuts for any reason at any school -- even as we all realize it's long been done in athletics at the high school level. It's been the subject of years of angry debate and attempted legislation in and among private and parochial schools in Indiana and Kentucky.

Two words for you, Bob -- child prodigies. Academic and arts institutions like the ones you name have been fighting over these young talents for years. These young people actually enter college at the ages we are talking about guys like Avery merely deciding on one.

Spare me the nonsense, Bob. Go back to writing about things you have at least a puncher's chance of having an informed opinion about.

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Comments

OH snap

Bob Hill just got owned.

by blbskue on May 13, 2008 8:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HOW TRU!

I am astounded by the lunacy of Hill’s comments! Tru, you are so right. I’m almost speechless.

by racercat98 on May 13, 2008 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I see my new favorite tag

Tru used the “fail” tag, which is something I’m going to have to utilize more often.

The Online Home of the Big Blue Nation...

by TheFakeGimelMartinez on May 13, 2008 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tru throws the smack down on Bob!

by Clandestine on May 13, 2008 5:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bob, do your/some homework before writing...

Obviously this does not go on in academia…Duke University (I threw up a little in my mouth just writing those two words!) actively seeks talented elementary school students for their Talent Identification Program. (See link below) I am sure Duke doesn’t just delete the names and addresses of these talented younsters when they are making their college choice!

www.tip.duke.edu

by cpacat on May 13, 2008 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Heh ...

... sweet. Great find.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 13, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, but...

I didn’t have to “find” it. My daughter brought home something they passed out in her “gifted and talented class” in the middle of her fifth grade year. At least BCG is leaving them alone until they are in middle school!

“My daughter must have gotten her good looks and intelligence from her mom….I still have mine.”

by cpacat on May 13, 2008 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Definitely deserves a rec.

BTW, 3 recs for a post, and it goes in the top at “recommended posts.”

3 recs for a comment, and it’s highlighted green.

by jc25 on May 13, 2008 11:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 14, 2008 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Question

I hate to admit/ask this but I really dont get the whole “rec” thing. I am still kind of “blog illiterate.” Anyone care to explain it to me?

by kentuckygirl0724 on May 15, 2008 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A rec ...

... is a “recommendation.”

If you read a FanPost, or a FanShot, or a regular article you really like, you can recommend it to others by clicking the “rec” link at the bottom. After enough “recs” (5, I think) the FanPost or FanShot goes up to the top under a special heading called “Recommended FanPosts” or “Recommended FanShots.”

It is a way of elevating things that are really good or interesting to the top of the list. That’s really all there is to it.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 15, 2008 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

I was not aware of this.

by kentuckygirl0724 on May 15, 2008 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

rec

the “rec” button will show up when you click on actions…you can also recommend individual comments within the posts.

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on May 15, 2008 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Nice call,Tru

BTW,a relative of mine received a letter from Duke after scoring 100 on the math portion of the year end testing while in middle school.The letter stated the university screens all children nationally,who score 95 and higher on the test,and request that the student take an ACT test just to see”where they are at”.So Mr. Hill,you have no idea what you are talking about.

by -Zoso- on May 14, 2008 6:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great comment.

In Hill’s defense, sometimes when a writer composes a piece, they think they have a good point and just don’t. I have done that before, myself, and been gigged for it. Welcome to the club Bob!

That point you made about Duke contacting young kids with high aptitude is just exactly what I was talking about.

:-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 14, 2008 7:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch!!

So when will Hill write his retraction??...lol

by Magnoliacat on May 14, 2008 7:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't ...

... hold your breath. :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on May 14, 2008 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My toungest brother

was recruited by Duke when he was in 5th grade for science and math. I remember my Mom on the phone with them. We got mail, shirts, hats you name it. They were so determined that they were offering to extend private high school in NC on the deal and pay moving expenses.

Several years ago while working at a software/web application firm we did work for a company that automated the recruiting process for schools and the data started as low as 4th grade. THAT is icky. Zollo and Avery is just how it is so get over it.

Changing how you think will change what you think.

by wilson452 on May 15, 2008 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs