NBE Basketball Report on Tony Woods
by Mike Rutherford on Oct 19, 2010 10:00 AM EDT
in Basketball
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PrintThe (again) always solid NBE Basketball Report spoke with Tony Woods' mentor/former AAU coach yesterday and revealed that the former Wake Forest center's transfer to Louisville is not a done deal. The conversation also produced some very interesting quotes.
Woods, a 6-foot-11 center originally from Rome (Ga.), visited Louisville this past weekend and will likely end up there to start the second semester. However, contrary to some reports, it is not a done deal yet.
"Tony would like to transfer toLouisville," said Norman Parker, Woods’ former AAU coach with the Georgia Stars. "Rick Pitino has called me numerous, numerous times about his character. I’ve coached Tony since he was 14; he lives 15-20 miles from me. I know him and his family well. Rick has been finding out more about him, talking to current and past coaches about his character.
"I know he’s called, he’s also talked to Tony’s girlfriend – they’re back dating and good. [Rick] has done a lot of work."
...
"He likes Louisville," he said. "I don’t think [he’s going to look at other schools]. "Obviously [he likes] coach Pitino and the great coaching staff. The Big East is intriguing, and he’s a big, physical player. He’s also got some family in the area."
...
"I’ve been around him," Parker said. "He passed everything at Wake, he’s an intelligent young man. I think he made a mistake, and he knows what he did wasn’t appropriate. He understands his punishment, he’s accepted it, and he will do everything that’s [asked of him].
"Things got blown out of proportion initially, and like I said, he and the girl are back together. He just made a mistake."
This is definitely some insightful stuff, but my position on Woods hasn't changed.
Also, how about Bozich this morning? Regardless of whether or not you agree with his stance, it's refreshing to see an undeniably bold and aggressive column.
I'm really interested to see how this all plays out.
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PR / Additional punishment
The only way this comes close to being a PR neutral add to the team is if Pitino slaps some ridiculous additional community service punishment on Woods. Something like a summer working full time at the Pitino shelter. I could easily see that happening as well.
by REALISTICCARDSFAN on Oct 19, 2010 10:24 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I would like to think this wasn’t a done deal, but I think we’re seeing a lot of window dressing going on here. Pitino probably thought he could just add the guy to the roster and there wouldn’t be a peep. He was wrong and now he’s decided to do an “investigation” even though the outcome will be the same.
Pitino knew about Woods before he allowed Woods to visit. To believe otherwise strains credibility. If he didn’t, then he’s not doing his job at all. Woods and his AAU coach wouldn’t be talking up Louisville so much if he weren’t coming here.
I would like to think someone above Pitino has told him to reconsider, but I don’t think Jurich would ever do that and I’m not sure Ramsey cares. Pitino will investigate this and say he’s determined Woods deserves a second chance even though his second chance was not serving jail time.
I just hate this story for so many reasons.
you really seem to think you have the inside scoop on just about everything over the course of the past 2 weeks. What makes you so sure that this is a done deal? just from the reports from “blogs”? or do you have direct knowledge into the recruiting dealings of pitino/UL?
Speculation is great and terrible for any side for any story, but until it is officially a done deal I would reconsider bashing OUR coach, OUR AD, and OUR University president.
Do you really think Pitino would allow Woods to visit if he had any intention of not accepting him? I don’t. The only way this doesn’t happen is if the PR gets too bad or Jurich or Ramsey step in and say no. I think the former is more likely.
The article states that he’s called people in the past. Your stance is that he did not and simply has people saying this now, becasue in your mind, he beleived he would get some one like Woods, who’s story I knew way before he xfering from WF (and I suspect most college bball fans heard about when that shit whet down), into UL with out any one noticing. Which to me, is short bus special.
Anyone who posts on ITV esepcially knows that you look for the worst possible angle on every thing UL related. And that’s cool if that’s how you want to go through life, I just think you’re going to find a warmer reception on the ITV free boards than you are here, where logic and sanity typically prevail.
And none of this is a defense of Woods, who I still really don’t want to see suit up for us.
No, I don’t go to the worst possible outcome for Louisville. The events take me there. I bashed Kragthorpe from day one because he was a bad coach and the rest of the fans caught up to me. If you notice, I haven’t had a bad thing to say about Strong and football. I think Strong is doing a great job and he is far ahead of where I thought they would be. Sorry to poke a hole in your story.
The events of the last 18 months have made me question everything Pitino has done. His actions and the trouble of finding eligible players has lead me to become very negative about him and the program. How could it not? If you have a different view, I’m cool with that.
I definitely believe Pitino knew who Woods was when he invited him to tour the school. I also think he was surprised at the view many, many UL fans have expressed. Because of that, he put out the word he is doing an investigation and let it be known it might not be a done deal. I think he’ll come back in a week or so and say he’s determined Woods deserves a chance even though he’s PROBABLY already made the decision.
So you're not a pessimist, just ahead of the curve on the downfall of everything?
Noted.
by CARD_G6 on Oct 19, 2010 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Whacker's opinion on what's really happening with Woods, the background checks, et al
is just as feasible as the converse opinion. I doubt we’ll know the whole truth, of course.
Whacker does come off as a negative nancy but recent events would make me wonder why anyone would take Pitino at his word either.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Oct 19, 2010 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess it just hard to believe that a person called "Whacker"
is doing more than just jerking us around
by Centre24 on Oct 19, 2010 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I trust Rick,
and I’m not so sure that he is all of a sudden investigating this kid, I’m sure he went into it with some understanding that this is a touchy subject. I hate it when our fan base questions our coach’s intelligence, because most of these kinds of fans criticize him whether he gets players or not. This is just crazy how much judgement gets thrown around before we even see more than 2 paragraphs to a, IMO, very long story. Again, Ive said it numerous times, I do NOT condone anything Woods did but my come on people. What normal girl in her right mind would stay with Woods if it was such a traumatic event. I know it was wrong but, if it was as bad as people are making it out to be, I would of chucked up my dueces by now………
"I trust Rick"
That’s where you lost me.
by centrecard on Oct 19, 2010 10:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
As Cardinal fans we deserve some answers IMO!
Here we GO! Who needs soap operas, WWE, or reality shows when you can watch Louisville Basketball drama unfold each week. Coach being a playboy, players arrested, transfering, empty promises, can’t land recruits, sex scandals, fights over hair brushes and then beat the hell out of the girls step-dad, player injuries, disgrunted asst coaches aka Ralph Willard, asst coaches driving drunk Kevin Willard, now were getting a kid who beat the hell out of his girl like Stone Cold Steve Austin…WTF is going on???? You couldn’t write a movie script to this and make anyone believe it….Rick Bozich says it best that this is a act of desperation and a quick fix because he knows he’s not getting the kids and he’s filling the void. I have no problem with second chances and i wish the kid well and hope he as grown up some ( only 2 months ago this happened) but do we really need more bad news and bad PR on every broadcast of every game talking about this situation along with Pitino’s sex scandal. It would be nice if for one season we could talk about how good our team is and how were going to kick ass instead of all the damn drama with players in trouble with the law or our coaches acting F’n stupid.
wow?
why are you still a Louisville fan then? Seems like all is lost with you from what I just read. Instead of looking at the good side of rooting for a top notch program like Louisville:
1. Charlie Strong in his FIRST year doing amazing things with the football program
2. Top 25 in Mens BBall (except last year)
3. Top 25 in Womens BBall
4. Top 25 in Baseball
5. Current #1 Soccer team in the nation
6. New renovations to PJCS
7. Best new BBall arena in the country
8. etc.
YOU would rather look at all the negatives. Yeah Pitino f’d up with the whole Sypher ordeal, but you know what? It wasn’t illegal like what most coaches are getting caught for now-a-days. If our program were going to have any sort of drama, which every University goes through but we just don’t follow closely enough to see them, at least we don’t get Illegal accusations thrown our way. Pitino will sort all of this out and I trust his decisions. He’s not an idiot, he knows what is right for this school.
by Card-in-nati on Oct 19, 2010 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
+1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,00,000
especiallly directed toward certain peopel AHEM COUGH COUGH Whacker77 COUGH COUGH
Bilal Powell for Heisman!
The one thing I’m not going to do is spend the next year arguing Pitino should go. I wouldn’t be unhappy if he did, but I know he’s not going anywhere. Regardless, I’m troubled by many things that have taken place over the last year or so. Woods just adds to that.
I’m still a Louisville fan because I care about the school I attended have rooted for my entire life. We shouldn’t question the fandom of someone just because they have real problems with certain aspects of the program. I certainly don’t say those who are supportive of Pitino or Woods are no more or less fans than those who don’t.
This discussion is about basketball and to throw in baseball or Strong detracts from the issue at hand. Those are great stories, but this topic is Woods.
actually
i wasn’t responding to you Whack, that’s why I replied to CountryCard. I was simply saying there is no need to always focus on what is going wrong with the program instead of all the great things that are. We get word of some troubled young man and the whole world starts having a melt down b/c Pitino is researching him? We have no idea of the whole story and how much Pitino is actually considering him.
by Card-in-nati on Oct 19, 2010 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Look the bottom line is
when Rick finishes his investigation and if he decides to accept his transfer then woods is gonna be here. Its obvious Jurich trust Rick’s judgement and Messages boards and blogs which he probably doesnt read to begin with are not going to change his view points.
Haven't you watched enough SVU?
Sadly most women stay with someone who’s beat them because of low self-esteem or they like attention, even if it’s bad/horrible attention
When you have a kid together...
You probably want to make it work out despite some bumps on the road, if you think having this man in your child’s life is in his or her’s best interest. It may even speak to how the incident could have been overblown by the media. (I know, shocking that the media would consider using sensationalism in an incident such as this.)
by Remote Cardinal on Oct 19, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m all for second chances, usually more than most. And especially with a guy who has a clean past until an isolated (although terrible) event, I’m willing to give a chance. But with our basketball program, I’m just sick of the drama. NBA entries, academic ineligibility, injuries, jumping to pro European basketball….do we really need to sign a kid 6 weeks after he cracked his gf’s spine, even if the injury was somewhat bad luck? Get more Kyle Kurics, Andre McGees, Larry Obannons. They don’t have to have a closet full of AAU MVP trophies for us to love them or for us to win!
On top of everything else, it’s not like this is Demarcus Cousins. I mean his sophomore numbers were average at best. If you’re going to make this call, do it with a guy that is guaranteed to come in and dominate, not because he was hyped 2 years ago. Even if be was a monster, I still don’t want the added drama. I think our football program could handle it, but basketball has been enough of a nightmare already
by uoflcard on Oct 19, 2010 1:22 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Seriously. Cousins was a much better prospect.
And although he certainly had the anger potential to do something like this (as I’d think most 18-22 yr olds do), he never acted out off the court.
by Remote Cardinal on Oct 19, 2010 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't even have an opinion
I just love all my fellow cardinal brothers and sisters!
Here's part of the problem....
“I do NOT condone anything Woods did but my come on people. What normal girl in her right mind would stay with Woods if it was such a traumatic event.”
Someone upthread wrote this. The truth is the vast majority of abused women go back to their abusers. It’s a sad fact. Sometimes they’re afraid to try to live life on their own. Sometimes they already have the responsibility of raising a child and are fearful of trying to do that without a man in their lives. I don’t know what applies in the Woods case.
But it doesn’t matter. This is a story that should never be told in the circles of Louisville basketball. The Woods kid may well deserve another chance, but he deserves that chance somewhere else, some place where indignation, moral outrage and consternation haven’t been on the front burner for fa year or so.
Louisville basketball has an image that’s been tarnished by behavior, trials and publicity. We don’t need to go down that road again; we need to change direction.
theoldman
I think that it would be worthwhile to note that surely Tom Jurich
has told Pitino in no uncertain terms that there can be no more PR problems while he is at Louisville. You know that Jurich knows what Pitino does could cost him his job, so would he not make sure that Pitino knows that he has reached the end of his rope?
If I am Jurich, even if I do believe in Pitino and what he can do to the nth degree, I make sure he knows the next screwup he is gone. I just don’t see Pitino taking a huge risk like this if he was not pretty sure the kid could do what he needs him to do, both on and off the court.
I could be wrong here, but under the circumstances, I just think that if this happens it will be all planned out down to the last detail beforehand.
I Shall Always Be The Cat......In The Hat!!! The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 19, 2010 3:52 PM EDT reply actions
But what does Pitino have to lose at this point?
Of course he’ll take a risk if he thinks the talent’s going to be bad the next 2 years.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Oct 19, 2010 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I think "15 seconds" destroyed any remaining shred
by SpeedStudent on Oct 19, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
That 15 second thing is total BS
It’s so distorted it no longer has any semblance to fact. It’s like saying Al Gore claimed to have invented the Internet.
Trying not to get too graphic, we’re talking about coitus interruptus at 15 seconds – not, um, culmination of the act.
"Screech, you CAN'T elope!"
"Who are you calling a cantaloupe, you melonhead?"
Meh
I was referring to the graphic description of the incident as a whole.
by SpeedStudent on Oct 20, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, if he wins the Big East, and the kid assaults another girl,
does it matter then? Or some other off the court issue. My point being that He could get himself back in good standing coaching -wise, and another scandal still bring him down.
I Shall Always Be The Cat......In The Hat!!! The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!
by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 19, 2010 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Sports Ill’s Andy Katzsays this episode with Woods and his girl friend is not a fist.
" According to multiple sources who had knowledge of the WFU hearing, it was revealed that this was not the first incident involving Woods and Barbour, who has since supported Woods."
So there should be no mention of second chances. Only third, or fourth, or fifth………….
spelling correction
Really strange typo. I didn’t mean to say it wasn’t a “fist.” I meant to type “first.” Huge difference.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
by bjack357 on Oct 19, 2010 11:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
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