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casualfan
10-28-2014, 03:26 PM
So says Dana O'Neil (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/11750375/big-east-conference-basketball-crossroads-entering-second-season)

I'm sure many people will write this off because it is done by ESPN, but I think this is a very poignant well written article that echoes a lot of the things I've been saying leading up to the season.

LadyMuskie
10-28-2014, 03:40 PM
This article is so transparent. When the Big East had teams like Cincinnati and Rutgers, perennial bottom feeders in more ways than one, no one questioned the validity of the Big East. Seton Hall and DePaul were members of the Big East when the Big East was on ESPN and their membership therein wasn't being questioned by Dana O'Neill or any other ESPNer. Why? Where are all those articles asking why the Big East had to have 16 teams, when 11 of them were crappy?

The very fact that she mentions the tv package in the article tells me her incentive behind writing the article. Sadly, she could have had some valid points, but her opinion is meaningless because of the intent behind the article - which she doesn't even try to hide. Additionally, the fact that she happily and readily disregards Xavier and our performance in the tourney year in and year out (minus the debacle last year, of course) further shows the intent in the article. Before, had Villanova lost in the first round, it would have been okay because it's just great that they made the tourney. Now, it shows what a sham the "new" Big East is. Please.

The Big East as it is today cannot and should not try to compete with ghosts. We will never be able to beat things that no longer exist. So why try?

bleedXblue
10-28-2014, 03:42 PM
There is nothing in that article that 90% of the people on this board already know. The old Big East was not sustainable. The league needs to recruit better. Its still a damn good league and a great thing for X.

X-man
10-28-2014, 03:48 PM
Amen. The article was noteworthy in its transparency of ESPN's vendetta against the BE. It was so full of crap that it is hard to believe anything in it. Our troll, casualfan, of course finds it all true.

paulxu
10-28-2014, 04:06 PM
Great. Dana O'Neil gets 5 minutes in the box for violating Rule #1.

Must be almost time for the season to start!

GoMuskies
10-28-2014, 04:22 PM
First of all, barf.

Second, the article was written by Jeff Borzello. So please give the esteemed Ms. O'Neil a break on this one.

muskiefan82
10-28-2014, 04:25 PM
First of all, barf.

Second, the article was written by Jeff Borzello. So please give the esteemed Ms. O'Neil a break on this one.

Jeff Borzello is writing under the pseudonym Dana O'Neil? Not a good choice.

GoMuskies
10-28-2014, 04:26 PM
Huh, the byline changed. That was weird.

OK, I'll join then. Screw you O'Neil!

xubrew
10-28-2014, 05:19 PM
From the article....


"I don't know why people have to call us the new Big East or the relaunched Big East,'' Providence coach Ed Cooley said. "We're the Big East.''

The only people that don't seem to understand why it's always referred to as the "NEW Big East" are those who are associated with the Big East. Perhaps Axl Rose is confused as to why people don't think of whatever band he's playing with now as being Guns N Roses, even though they're technically called Guns N Roses. The Big East could put four teams in the Final Four five years in a row, and people still won't think of it as being the same as the old Big East. It's not the same. That doesn't mean it can't be as good or better. It just means it's not the same. Personally I find it kind of frustrating that it's always being compared to something it's not instead of being looked at for what it actually is.

With that being said, the Pac Ten/Twelve is on their fourth or fifth pivotal year in a row now. It hasn't folded. it hasn't lost its TV deal. It has the same potential and opportunity that it always has. Every year is pivotal to some degree because every season is its own entity. The point of the article seems to be that the Big East needs to do well to be relevant. Well, that's true of every league and every team every year. So....what's her point again??

waggy
10-28-2014, 05:25 PM
Crossroads? WTF is that even supposed to mean? It's 1 year into a reconfigured conference and it's at a crossroads already? Hahahaha.

Hey ESPN, how about putting that quote from Roy Williams back up? You know, the one you took down about how he's sure they did everything right. Right......

DC Muskie
10-28-2014, 06:27 PM
Amen. The article was noteworthy in its transparency of ESPN's vendetta against the BE. It was so full of crap that it is hard to believe anything in it. Our troll, casualfan, of course finds it all true.

He's a troll because he finds it all true? Come on.

If 90% of the article is something everyone on this board already knows, then how is it causualfan is trolling? Explain that to me.

As for the article itself. It is silly to say the BE is at a crossroads, because as brew pointed out, that's an argument that can be made year to year. But it does remind us of the extra work this conference needs to do to dispel these perceptions. We have to get better. Year 2 needs to be better than Year 1. I think we can all agree on that. I think as the commissioner pointed out that our league is getting better and hopefully that will translate on the court.

As for the new BE, I've made my argument about how silly that moniker actually is. We don't call the AAAAAAC "The New AAAAC" even though it's completely new. But that's like arguing against the sun rising. However if in year three we are still referred to "The New BE" then yes, we can blast people for whatever they write about the league. And hopefully that is because we proved that BE basketball has gotten better.

bobbiemcgee
10-28-2014, 07:21 PM
I agree. The article was biased crapola.

Masterofreality
10-28-2014, 08:53 PM
Amen. The article was noteworthy in its transparency of ESPN's vendetta against the BE. It was so full of crap that it is hard to believe anything in it. Our troll, casualfan, of course finds it all true.

Dana O'Neill was the same writer that called the Big East a "Circus" last summer, before they had a chance to hire Val Ackerman.

Yeah, there's a vendetta all right.

xeus
10-28-2014, 09:16 PM
I hate Crossroads.

PMI
10-28-2014, 09:24 PM
From the article....



The only people that don't seem to understand why it's always referred to as the "NEW Big East" are those who are associated with the Big East. Perhaps Axl Rose is confused as to why people don't think of whatever band he's playing with now as being Guns N Roses, even though they're technically called Guns N Roses. The Big East could put four teams in the Final Four five years in a row, and people still won't think of it as being the same as the old Big East. It's not the same. That doesn't mean it can't be as good or better. It just means it's not the same. Personally I find it kind of frustrating that it's always being compared to something it's not instead of being looked at for what it actually is.

With that being said, the Pac Ten/Twelve is on their fourth or fifth pivotal year in a row now. It hasn't folded. it hasn't lost its TV deal. It has the same potential and opportunity that it always has. Every year is pivotal to some degree because every season is its own entity. The point of the article seems to be that the Big East needs to do well to be relevant. Well, that's true of every league and every team every year. So....what's her point again??

Totally agree with all of this. I have trouble seeing the point of the article. I know ESPN still misses the old Big East (they take every opportunity to make that clear) but nothing she argues is unique to our teams or conference. We do need to recruit well and see the teams in the league have good seasons and postseasons. Just like the ACC needed to do when it was down. Just like most of the SEC needs to do now. No need to single out the Big East in that regard. She can miss her company's old oversized league that covered 60% of the country all she wants without having to remind everyone that the Big East needs to be good to... be good.

Kahns Krazy
10-28-2014, 09:35 PM
I hate Crossroads.

Public reps because the man is putting me in a harness for the show.

Kahns Krazy
10-28-2014, 09:45 PM
The Big East isn't what it used to be, and I don't care. It's good enough that if we put the right team together, the league can prep us for a deep run in March. That's all I really care about. If the league falls apart around us, we move on the the next. I'm not ever going to lose sleep over what other teams do or what sportswirters write.

BBC 08
10-29-2014, 12:09 AM
I hate Crossroads.

[Bone Harmonian Intro]
Bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone
Tell me what ya gonna do -
When there ain't nowhere to run -
When judgment comes for you?

[Verse 1: Bizzy]
Let's all bring it in for Wally
Eazy-E, Uncle Charlie
Little Boo Boo - God's got him
And I'm gonna miss everybody
I done rolled and blows my gauge
Looked at him while he lay
When playing with destiny, play too deep for me to say
Lil' Layzie came to me, told me if he should decease:
"Well then please bury me by my Gran Gran
And when you can, come follow me"

[Verse 2: Layzie]
God bless you working on a plan to heaven
Follow the Lord all 24/7 days
God is who we praise even though the Devil's all up in my face
He keepin me safe and in my place
Say grace to the gates we race
Without a chance to face the judge
Then I guess my soul won’t budge
Grudge, because there’s no mercy for thugs
Ohhhhhh what can I do, it's all about a family and how we roll
Can I get a witness not enough fool
We livin' our lives to eternal our souls ay o ayo

[Verse 3: Krayzie]
Now follow me roll stroll whether it's hell or it's heaven
Let's come take a visit of the people that's long gone they rest
Wally, Eazy, Terry, Boo
And still keepin up wit they family
Exactly how many days we got lastin' while you laughin' we passin'
Passin' away
God rest our souls cause I know I might meet you up at the crossroads
Y'all know ya forever got love from
Bone Thugs baby

[Wish Bone]
Lil E-Z long gone
Really wish he could come home
But when it's time to die gotta go bye bye
All 'lil thug could do was cry, cry
Why'd they kill my dog?
Damn man I miss my Uncle Charles y'all
He shouldn't be gone
In front of his home
What they did to Boo was wrong ohhhhhh (wrong, wrong)
Was so wrong gotta hold on, gotta stay strong
When the day come better believe Bone got a shoulder you can lean on
Lean on

[Repeat Chorus 1 (fade into main chorus)]
And we pray, and we pray and we pray and we pray
Every day, every day, every day, every day
And we pray, and we pray and we pray and we pray
Every day, every day, every day, every day
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
And I'm gonna miss everybody
And I'm gonna miss every lottie
And I'm gonna miss everybody
And I'm gonna miss every lottie
And I'm gonna miss everybody
And I'm gonna miss every lottie
Livin' in a hateful world
Sending me (straight to heaven)
That's how we roll
Livin' in a hateful world
Sending me (straight to heaven)
That's how we roll
Livin' in a hateful world
Sending me (straight to heaven)
That's how we roll
And I ask the good lord why
He sigh, he told me we live to die
Whats up with that murder y'all?
See my little cousin was hung
Somebody really wrong anybody wanna touch that star?
And Ms. Sleazy set up Eazy to fall
You know while we sinning
He intendin' on endin' it when it ends
He comin' again and again and again
Now tell me what ya gonna do
Can somebody anybody tell me why hey
Can somebody anybody tell me why
He died
We die
I don't wanna die
(so wrong-oo, so wrong-oo, wrong)
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely

SlimKibbles
10-29-2014, 08:30 AM
The original version of that from their "East 1999 Eternal" album, which is fantastic, is better.

I'd rep your post, by the way, but I'm on my phone and have no idea how to do it through Tapatalk.

nuts4xu
10-29-2014, 09:45 AM
[Bone Harmonian Intro]
Bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone, bone
Tell me what ya gonna do -
When there ain't nowhere to run -
When judgment comes for you?

[Verse 1: Bizzy]
Let's all bring it in for Wally
Eazy-E, Uncle Charlie
Little Boo Boo - God's got him
And I'm gonna miss everybody
I done rolled and blows my gauge
Looked at him while he lay
When playing with destiny, play too deep for me to say
Lil' Layzie came to me, told me if he should decease:
"Well then please bury me by my Gran Gran
And when you can, come follow me"

[Verse 2: Layzie]
God bless you working on a plan to heaven
Follow the Lord all 24/7 days
God is who we praise even though the Devil's all up in my face
He keepin me safe and in my place
Say grace to the gates we race
Without a chance to face the judge
Then I guess my soul won’t budge
Grudge, because there’s no mercy for thugs
Ohhhhhh what can I do, it's all about a family and how we roll
Can I get a witness not enough fool
We livin' our lives to eternal our souls ay o ayo

[Verse 3: Krayzie]
Now follow me roll stroll whether it's hell or it's heaven
Let's come take a visit of the people that's long gone they rest
Wally, Eazy, Terry, Boo
And still keepin up wit they family
Exactly how many days we got lastin' while you laughin' we passin'
Passin' away
God rest our souls cause I know I might meet you up at the crossroads
Y'all know ya forever got love from
Bone Thugs baby

[Wish Bone]
Lil E-Z long gone
Really wish he could come home
But when it's time to die gotta go bye bye
All 'lil thug could do was cry, cry
Why'd they kill my dog?
Damn man I miss my Uncle Charles y'all
He shouldn't be gone
In front of his home
What they did to Boo was wrong ohhhhhh (wrong, wrong)
Was so wrong gotta hold on, gotta stay strong
When the day come better believe Bone got a shoulder you can lean on
Lean on

[Repeat Chorus 1 (fade into main chorus)]
And we pray, and we pray and we pray and we pray
Every day, every day, every day, every day
And we pray, and we pray and we pray and we pray
Every day, every day, every day, every day
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
And I'm gonna miss everybody
And I'm gonna miss every lottie
And I'm gonna miss everybody
And I'm gonna miss every lottie
And I'm gonna miss everybody
And I'm gonna miss every lottie
Livin' in a hateful world
Sending me (straight to heaven)
That's how we roll
Livin' in a hateful world
Sending me (straight to heaven)
That's how we roll
Livin' in a hateful world
Sending me (straight to heaven)
That's how we roll
And I ask the good lord why
He sigh, he told me we live to die
Whats up with that murder y'all?
See my little cousin was hung
Somebody really wrong anybody wanna touch that star?
And Ms. Sleazy set up Eazy to fall
You know while we sinning
He intendin' on endin' it when it ends
He comin' again and again and again
Now tell me what ya gonna do
Can somebody anybody tell me why hey
Can somebody anybody tell me why
He died
We die
I don't wanna die
(so wrong-oo, so wrong-oo, wrong)
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely
See you at the crossroads (crossroads, crossroads)
So you won't be lonely

I have absolutely no idea what this is, but it is rather lengthy for a punchline of any kind.

XU 87
10-29-2014, 09:51 AM
I hate Crossroads.

Does that church still close on Christmas?

Muskie
10-29-2014, 10:32 AM
ESPN and I are at a crossroads in terms of me continuing to read their site.

94GRAD
10-29-2014, 11:10 AM
I have absolutely no idea what this is, but it is rather lengthy for a punchline of any kind.

You ever heard of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony?

gladdenguy
10-29-2014, 12:42 PM
Come on Nuts.....that song was unreal!!

nuts4xu
10-29-2014, 01:01 PM
You ever heard of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony?

Heard of them...yes. I am obviously not very familiar with their work.

Muskie
10-29-2014, 01:12 PM
Heard of them...yes. I am obviously not very familiar with their work.

This surprised me. I think they share some similar interests...(a love of good beats).

ballyhoohoo
10-29-2014, 01:21 PM
This surprised me. I think they share some similar interests...(a love of good beats).

I see what you did there. Mis direction, heh.

Muskie in dayton
10-29-2014, 02:27 PM
ESPN and I are at a crossroads in terms of me continuing to read their site.

I've passed that crossroads and their website is well in my rear view mirror. I'm now at a crossroads with their app, which gets more dysfunctional with each update. I had to open it, watch it shut down, then reopen it 3 times today before I could get the World Series score.

LadyMuskie
10-29-2014, 03:04 PM
Heard of them...yes. I am obviously not very familiar with their work.

Only rap group to find a place for Phil Collins.

Masterofreality
10-29-2014, 07:01 PM
you ever heard of bone thugs-n-harmony?

Cleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeveland proud!!!!!!!!

xeus
10-31-2014, 03:28 PM
Does that church still close on Christmas?

I think so. Also, I just found out it is closed on Halloween too.

muskiefan82
10-31-2014, 03:58 PM
The Big East is at a crossroads. Do they discard Depaul or Butler and go to a 9 team league so they can schedule more out of conference games or do they add two teams (neither or which is Dayton) and split the league into two 6 team divisions? That is a crossroads for sure. Not sure what else ESPN could be referring to.

DC Muskie
10-31-2014, 05:41 PM
The Big East is at a crossroads. Do they discard Depaul or Butler and go to a 9 team league so they can schedule more out of conference games or do they add two teams (neither or which is Dayton) and split the league into two 6 team divisions? That is a crossroads for sure. Not sure what else ESPN could be referring to.

I hope you are not serious with this. Neither is going to happen.

xudash
10-31-2014, 05:52 PM
I hope you are not serious with this. Neither is going to happen.

No one gets dropped. We certainly learned that with our A-10 experience.

Depaul will eventually get its act together, especially with that new facility coming online. With that done, I see them being a serious contributor, especially given the fact that they reside in Chicago.

For that matter, Butler just finished up Henkle Hall. They will get their coaching situation straightened out as well, if they have not done so already, and should be a contributor as well.so, no one gets dropped.

If it is about adding A-10 teams, then I'm not excited about anyone being added at this point. Let it continue to ride as a 10 team conference.

muskiefan82
11-01-2014, 05:04 AM
The Big East is at a crossroads. Do they discard Depaul or Butler and go to a 9 team league so they can schedule more out of conference games or do they add two teams (neither or which is Dayton) and split the league into two 6 team divisions? That is a crossroads for sure. Not sure what else ESPN could be referring to.

Said I with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Of course I was kidding - except the no Dayton part.