FSU fan...

[bjornolf]

A few people addressed some of the chants that were going on after the "scrum" last night. My question was about the fan that seemed to be sitting on top of one of ESPN's mikes. He went ON and ON at the refs, I guess, right after the "scrum", about where were they when Reid got hit and what was wrong with them and how biased they were. I didn't catch all of it, but it was pretty clear on the ESPN telecast, and he went on for SEVERAL minutes. Did anybody catch more of what he was saying? Heck, did anybody else hear him? Was anybody there that heard him? Where was he sitting? Could the refs hear him?

-Joe

[gadzooks]

We replayed a couple times to catch what he was saying. One I remember was something like, "Let us know you're gonna screw us, we'll lay down on the floor" after an earlier FSU foul (I forget which one) he was clearly unhappy about.

[91devil]

It was comical and annoying to hear that guy yelling near the microphone most of the night.

At the end of the game, after the Reid / Paulus scrum, I think he yelled something like 'Hey Ref, I hope you can live with yourself tonight because you stole this game from us'....or something like that.

[bjornolf]

It was comical and annoying to hear that guy yelling near the microphone most of the night.

At the end of the game, after the Reid / Paulus scrum, I think he yelled something like 'Hey Ref, I hope you can live with yourself tonight because you stole this game from us'....or something like that.

I didn't hear him until after the scrum. But after the scrum, he went on through all the replays, through the play, through GP's free throws, and through the next play. He seriously was on mike for almost five minutes of total time at that point. I didn't catch all of it, cause the fans were loud at times, but he must have been sitting right in front of the mike or something, cause it was impressive.

[jjasper0729]

i did catch the "if you're gonna screw us, let us know and we'll lay down on the floor" line. i had to back up the dvr to make sure I heard that right

[Duke4Ever32]

I didn't hear him until after the scrum. But after the scrum, he went on through all the replays, through the play, through GP's free throws, and through the next play. He seriously was on mike for almost five minutes of total time at that point. I didn't catch all of it, cause the fans were loud at times, but he must have been sitting right in front of the mike or something, cause it was impressive.

FSU had several rows of students that were right behind Bilas and Patrick. I'm sure it was one of them.

I was at the game, so didn't hear him until watching the DVR back this morning, but I did hear the fans at the end of the arena where Duke was shooting chanting "F*** you, Paulus" after the Paulus/Reid incident (which was audible on ESPN), and also heard a bunch of fans gather near the players' exit after the game and chant "You suck Paulus" as he was exiting.

Color me totally unimpressed and full of disdain towards FSU.

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

Don't forget the FSU fan that threw the water bottle or cup onto the floor. An FSU player picked it up and tossed if off the court right before inbounding the ball. I thought the refs usually stopped play for something like that.

From TV, the atmosphere seemed like a poor man's Comcast Center.

[hurleyfor3]

Those fans (the one guy who kept screaming stuff and the group doing the "F You Paulus" chant) were pretty funny. I hope they enjoyed themselves. Otherwise, why go to the game?

After the "F You JJ" chant at Maryland a few years back, I would have thought ESPN would have put measures in place to mitigate this kind of thing. It's not just that cusswords are getting on the air, but that attention is getting diverted from ESPN's talking heads.

[Clipsfan]

Should we tie this thread into the one about the next "most hated" player at Duke? Paulus definitely seemed to fit the bill last night (although not because of his play the first 35+ minutes).

[CDu]

Should we tie this thread into the one about the next "most hated" player at Duke? Paulus definitely seemed to fit the bill last night (although not because of his play the first 35+ minutes).

The irony is that throughout the game those guys were actually calling for Paulus to be inserted into the game. They booed every time Paulus was subbed out for Smith, and constantly cheered for Paulus' return. Then, whenever Paulus got the ball, they chanted "airball."

[Clipsfan]

The irony is that throughout the game those guys were actually calling for Paulus to be inserted into the game. They booed every time Paulus was subbed out for Smith, and constantly cheered for Paulus' return. Then, whenever Paulus got the ball, they chanted "airball."

It wasn't his best performance on the whole, but I like that he gets past that and still plays his heart out at the end and makes the big plays. He's more than willing to attempt to step up, and he has delivered more times than some on this board admit.

[aimo]

It was comical and annoying to hear that guy yelling near the microphone most of the night.

At the end of the game, after the Reid / Paulus scrum, I think he yelled something like 'Hey Ref, I hope you can live with yourself tonight because you stole this game from us'....or something like that.

I though he said something like, "I hope you can sleep tonight . . ." He was rather entertaining.

Anybody notice at the home game a few weeks ago (can't remember which one) where the guys sitting behind Art Chandler were clearly audible throughout the game? It took us a while to figure out where the voices were coming from.

[redick4pres]

Can someone explain to me what Greg Paulus did that warranted being T'ed up along with Reid. And why is Sims getting a free pass when he blatantly forearmed Paulus right in the face while "going after the ball" while Greg was on the floor? I don't know about you guys, but myself and my brother (also a longtime Dukie) have really started to despise FSU altogether from their players (both basketball AND football) and their coach, Leonard Hamilton (acted like a total jerk while shaking hands with K after the game)! But what can you expect when you recruit nothing but THUGS!!!

[weezie]

I thought Hamilton shook hands, smiled and talked a bit with K? Did I miss some other interaction? I thought these two are actually pretty friendly in the ACC?

[Jaymf7]

I don't know about you guys, but myself and my brother (also a longtime Dukie) have really started to despise FSU altogether from their players (both basketball AND football) and their coach, Leonard Hamilton (acted like a total jerk while shaking hands with K after the game)! But what can you expect when you recruit nothing but THUGS!!!

I just watched the interview with Coach K on the front page of DBR. It streamed erratically and I'm not sure if I got all of it, but at the beginning Coach K said that he has respect for FSU and the team has "good kids." That was unexpected.

I can understand staying above the fray, but I can't recall seeing a more blatant act of poor sportsmanship than Reid's cheap shot. The whistle had blown, Paulus was on the floor, had already been hit and was totally defenseless. If Reid had landed directly, this could be the second knock-out of Rudy Tomjanovich. Then the close-ups of Reid showed him expressing disbelief at the double technical called on the play!?!?

In the wake of that, and all of the chippiness throughout the game, this comment was very surprising.

[wbs2455]

Looked to me like Paulus was kicking when people went in to try to grab the ball after the whistle. IMO, it deserved the double t.


Can someone explain to me what Greg Paulus did that warranted being T'ed up along with Reid. And why is Sims getting a free pass when he blatantly forearmed Paulus right in the face while "going after the ball" while Greg was on the floor? I don't know about you guys, but myself and my brother (also a longtime Dukie) have really started to despise FSU altogether from their players (both basketball AND football) and their coach, Leonard Hamilton (acted like a total jerk while shaking hands with K after the game)! But what can you expect when you recruit nothing but THUGS!!!

[CDu]

Can someone explain to me what Greg Paulus did that warranted being T'ed up along with Reid. And why is Sims getting a free pass when he blatantly forearmed Paulus right in the face while "going after the ball" while Greg was on the floor? I don't know about you guys, but myself and my brother (also a longtime Dukie) have really started to despise FSU altogether from their players (both basketball AND football) and their coach, Leonard Hamilton (acted like a total jerk while shaking hands with K after the game)! But what can you expect when you recruit nothing but THUGS!!!

He got the technical for kicking at an FSU player. Yes, it was in response to aggressive actions by FSU players at him. But I'd guess that's why he got the tech.

As for Hamilton, what are you talking about with regards to acting like a total jerk while shaking hands? What I saw looked like a very cordial conversation between the two coaches in the handshake. I certainly didn't see anything that was evidence of being a total jerk. Could you explain?

[CDu]

I just watched the interview with Coach K on the front page of DBR. It streamed erratically and I'm not sure if I got all of it, but at the beginning Coach K said that he has respect for FSU and the team has "good kids." That was unexpected.

I can understand staying above the fray, but I can't recall seeing a more blatant act of poor sportsmanship than Reid's cheap shot. The whistle had blown, Paulus was on the floor, had already been hit and was totally defenseless. If Reid had landed directly, this could be the second knock-out of Rudy Tomjanovich. Then the close-ups of Reid showed him expressing disbelief at the double technical called on the play!?!?

In the wake of that, and all of the chippiness throughout the game, this comment was very surprising.

That is absolutely ridiculous. Was it way out of line? Yes. But firstly, it was not a punch (hand was open). Secondly, there was very little ferocity in the swipe. Nothing remotely close to the punch that nearly killed Rudy T. That involved a man running full speed into a full-fledged, raring-back punch. This was a (relatively) light open-handed swipe.

Reid was way out of line, but you are wildly overstating his actions to compare it to Kermit Washington's ill-fated punch.

[CDu]

I thought Hamilton shook hands, smiled and talked a bit with K? Did I miss some other interaction? I thought these two are actually pretty friendly in the ACC?

I saw the same thing as you. And Hamilton has generally been a pretty decent guy. I have real trouble believing what we saw was anything other than a classy conversation (probably both sides expressing regret over what went down).

For the record, they showed Hamilton yelling at Reid shortly after the double-technical. I REALLY don't think he was acting like a total jerk to Coach K.

[DevilCastDownfromDurham]

Agree 100%. Hamilton and K both took the high road and seemed almost deliberately friendly after the game. Greg did kick his legs out a bit, but only after he was popped in the face. Given that Reid is just back from a suspension, his flagrant decision to take several steps into the scrum, cock back, and take a swing can in no way be considered equivalent to Greg flailing about on the ground after he was bloodied by ANOTHER cheap shot. If the roles had been reversed this would have led Sportscenter and Greg would be out for at least 1 game, IMO.

[Stray Gator]

I was at the game, as I have been at every game at FSU since they joined the league in 1992. (If you watched the game, you might have seen the fan in a blue DBR sweatshirt sitting on the aisle two rows behind the Duke bench catch a ball that flew out of bounds in the second half. That was me.) The FSU fans, as they typically do, complained loudly about every call against their team, shouted obscenities at Duke players and Duke fans, and grumbled at the end that the refs stole the game from them.

I've attended many games at many venues in the past 40 years, and I've seen no place where there is a collection of fans less knowledgeable about the rules of college basketball. Even after 16 seasons in the ACC, I've seen no progress there. Until the JJ era, the FSU fans were at least relatively hospitable and respectful towards Duke and its fans. But the ugliness that their students started showing towards Redick has become a fixture--except now it's directed at Paulus or other players. And the sense that some of the FSU fans--not just the young ones--are capable of violent confrontation has become palpable.

OTOH, Leonard Hamilton has been pretty classy. I think he plays to his fans a bit during the game, but I also believe he and K are quite friendly; and if you heard his postgame comments, he was as usual highly complimentary of Duke's team.

[Jaymf7]

That is absolutely ridiculous. Was it way out of line? Yes. But firstly, it was not a punch (hand was open). Secondly, there was very little ferocity in the swipe. Nothing remotely close to the punch that nearly killed Rudy T. That involved a man running full speed into a full-fledged, raring-back punch. This was a (relatively) light open-handed swipe.

Reid was way out of line, but you are wildly overstating his actions to compare it to Kermit Washington's ill-fated punch.

Maybe you are thinking of the first shot? I am referring to Reid, who walked several steps into the fray, then cocked his arm back (elbow high in the air), and struck down on the prone and defenseless Paulus. It most certainly looked like a punch to me. Not sure how you could possibly refer to it as a "light open-handed swipe." Reid just missed.

That said, while a direct hit would have done much more serious damage, I'll concede that it may not have done the damage of Washington's cheap shot. A direct hit could have knocked Paulus out, though. Unless my eyes were completely deceiving me, I don't think that's an exaggeration.

[CDu]

Maybe you are thinking of the first shot? I am referring to Reid, who walked several steps into the fray, then cocked his arm back (elbow high in the air), and struck down on the prone and defenseless Paulus. It most certainly looked like a punch to me. Not sure how you could possibly refer to it as a "light open-handed swipe." Reid just missed.

That said, while a direct hit would have done much more serious damage, I'll concede that it may not have done the damage of Washington's cheap shot. A direct hit could have knocked Paulus out, though. Unless my eyes were completely deceiving me, I don't think that's an exaggeration.

I was definitely thinking of the incident that resulted in the double technical. And it was absolutely open-handed, not a punch. Watch the tape of it again and look closely, from the mid-court camera angle. The hand was open. That's why I called it a swipe. It was aggressive, sure. But it was not a punch. And it is VERY unlikely that it would have knocked Paulus out. That would have taken a really huge swing or a really unfortunate angle of contact. The mid-court camera angle makes it pretty clear it's neither a punch nor nearly as ferocious a swing as you indicate.

This doesn't change the fact that it was completely inappropriate and unacceptable. That much was never in question. But I think people have gone WAY overboard in their descriptions of the incident.

[Classof06]

Maybe you are thinking of the first shot? I am referring to Reid, who walked several steps into the fray, then cocked his arm back (elbow high in the air), and struck down on the prone and defenseless Paulus. It most certainly looked like a punch to me. Not sure how you could possibly refer to it as a "light open-handed swipe." Reid just missed.

That said, while a direct hit would have done much more serious damage, I'll concede that it may not have done the damage of Washington's cheap shot. A direct hit could have knocked Paulus out, though. Unless my eyes were completely deceiving me, I don't think that's an exaggeration.

I'm with CDu on this one, I think Reid's actions look a lot worse than they really were. Watching it live, I thought there was no doubt Reid swung with a closed fist, but after seeing the replays, it was not even close to a punch and the swipe that looked very violent from behind, was nowhere near as bad when looked at from the frontal angle.

If you want my opinion, I think Reid was about to do serious damage until he realized he'd just come back from a 9-game suspension and accordingly held up just in the nick of time.

[CDu]

I'm with CDu on this one, I think Reid's actions look a lot worse than they really were. Watching it live, I thought there was no doubt Reid swung with a closed fist, but after seeing the replays, it was not even close to a punch and the swipe that looked very violent from behind, was nowhere near as bad when looked at from the frontal angle.

If you want my opinion, I think Reid was about to do serious damage until he realized he'd just come back from a 9-game suspension and accordingly held up just in the nick of time.

Completely agree. He rares back as though he's going to throw a haymaker (which is why the basket camera angle looks so bad), but seems to catch himself in time and delivers an open-handed swipe which lacked in "mustard." When you see the other angle (from mid-court or so) it's MUCH more tame. Still not an acceptable act, just not nearly as violent as has been suggested.

[grc5]

I totally agree with Stray Gator's depicition of FSU fans. Sitting in press row right in front of the student section was an aboslutely atrocious expereince. Someone should remove those seats, because FSU students obviously aren't mature enough to enjoy such a privilage.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I totally agree with Stray Gator's depicition of FSU fans. Sitting in press row right in front of the student section was an aboslutely atrocious expereince. Someone should remove those seats, because FSU students obviously aren't mature enough to enjoy such a privilage.

Don't the sportscasters also sit court side in front of the students? I remember Dick Vitale's comments after a student vaulted past him to get on the court when the 2006 game was about to end. Not a safe place to be!

Friends (one a Duke alum and the other a former Duke employee) who have retired to Tallahassee refer to those who engage in such antics as the "Criminoles."

[bbar7502]

fan? i thought that was mike patrick yelling obsecenities about duke......

[dukestheheat]

Stray Gator brings up a salient point: Duke players have become the target for opposing fans of most any school out there.

one guy at the game last night held up the sign to the camera that read 'Even God hates Duke'.

it's a great testament to the greatness and dominance of our team, consistently, that stupid fans choose to 'hate' Duke and act they way that they do.

it's also a very sad and troubling commentary when we get to the point that fans treat Duke players the way they do these days. for some reason, we've also grown callous to challenging the status quo when it comes to 'hatred' about Duke. we seem to let it go and mark it down as 'not that serious' but the Maryland fans are completely boorish, as are the Virginia Tech fans and also the FSU fans, to start with the ACC.

I don't see the Carolina fans as boorish, at all, actually.

But inside the ACC the number of teams with fans of the boorish nature are certainly growing, and this troubles me. It's ridiculous to treat people that way. I also think that at Duke we should GO BACK to helping other players off of the court when they're knocked down. At least when we win the game others may 'hate' us less.

dth.

[killerleft]

After reviewing the dvr of the tie-up frame by frame, it seems that #3 for Florida State is the one who hurt Paulus, on purpose, with a left forearm to Paulus' face (this is where the blood you notice on Paulus later comes from). Paulus then kicks at #3's legs. Reid then catches Paulus on the side of the neck and face with enough force to cause Paulus' head to move away and down. Reid's hand is not balled up but the contact with Paulus happens just as quickly as it looks like it happens in the above-basket replay - I imagine it hurt quite a bit. All of this action takes place well after the whistle stopping play.

All this started when Paulus raked Reid's mask as he swiped down to knock the ball away from him. Did Paulus get the ball cleanly? Possibly, since the hand is supposed to be part of the ball. But Reid probably felt he was mugged. Paulus' slap at the ball probably did Reid's hands no good.

Conclusion? Hard play, emotional reactions, boys being boys, thank goodness no one got badly hurt. #3 got in the best lick, Paulus the second-best, Reid came in last. It just wasn't Reid's night.

[redick4pres]

Maybe I was wrong by my assumption that Hamilton was being a total jerk after the game. I could not read his lips, but IMO while Coach K was trying to talk to him, he just looked away and shrugged off anything Coach K was saying. I do understand that most coaches in the ACC, even the nation, don't look Coach K straight in the eye when he's shaking their hand after beating them. I also believe that Coach K's post-game comments about FSU and their kids were vintage Mike Krzyzewski! He ALWAYS praises the other team and says they have good kids. This is something I appreciate about Coach K, but also have come to realize that sometimes you have to understand that he's being as politically correct in that moment that you'll ever get from him! He shows class by complimenting the other team and their kids, unlike the FSU fans did during the game. I'm still waiting on a comment on Sims though. Please review the scrum on your DVR's and watch Sims forearm Paulus. He still hasn't been brought up by anyone else. I do admit I didn't catch Greg kicking at the FSU players so maybe I missed the cause of the forearm to Greg's head!

[redick4pres]

Sorry killerleft, didnt' realize you had comment on Sims before I posted!

[CDu]

Maybe I was wrong by my assumption that Hamilton was being a total jerk after the game. I could not read his lips, but IMO while Coach K was trying to talk to him, he just looked away and shrugged off anything Coach K was saying. I do understand that most coaches in the ACC, even the nation, don't look Coach K straight in the eye when he's shaking their hand after beating them. I also believe that Coach K's post-game comments about FSU and their kids were vintage Mike Krzyzewski! He ALWAYS praises the other team and says they have good kids. This is something I appreciate about Coach K, but also have come to realize that sometimes you have to understand that he's being as politically correct in that moment that you'll ever get from him! He shows class by complimenting the other team and their kids, unlike the FSU fans did during the game. I'm still waiting on a comment on Sims though. Please review the scrum on your DVR's and watch Sims forearm Paulus. He still hasn't been brought up by anyone else. I do admit I didn't catch Greg kicking at the FSU players so maybe I missed the cause of the forearm to Greg's head!

I think you're misreading coaches looking away from Coach K for them actually turning their ear to him so they can hear him. It looked to me like Hamilton was smiling and chatting with Coach K, and turning his ear toward Coach K to hear what he's saying. Arenas can tend to be loud after a game (even after a loss).

I believe the hit was by Swann (not Sims), but I agree that that was the more painful blow to Paulus. And it was the shot that caused Paulus to kick at the FSU player.

[killerleft]

I must have beat you by a few seconds. Sims? I couldn't remember his name. His forearm was a purposeful blow. He was the one who really deserved the "T".

[blueprofessor]

:) I couldn't go to the game (flu---first Duke game I have ever missed there), but sent my athletic son and his buddies who were the tall 16 year-olds sitting right between the bench.They were kind enough to let an older, very good friend from Tampa catch an errant bball as described in an earlier post in this thread.Heh,heh.
FSU fans have become quite obnoxious and vulgar. However, I observe the same behavior by Florida fans, Hurricane supporters, and FSU partisans at games between any two of those schools.This behavior used to be isolated to pro games ( my experience was Celtic and Bruin games in the 1970s when I was in school there). You did not take a lady to the game lest she would get an earful of F-words and beer dumped by drunk fans. The local college games (Beanpot hockey with Harvard,BU,et al , and football and basketball) were enjoyable events free from vulgarity.
:( Now, we have a coarse society. A generation of people have not been taught to eschew crude behavior.
:D I have been engaged in a running commentary today with several local sportswriters over the degradation of college sports crowds' behavior and what to do about it.One action would be to follow the WAC example of assessing a technical against the team whose fans chant obscenities and display lewd or grossly unsportsmanlike behavior.School presidents,ADs, and coaches have the ability to control noxious behavior.They choose not to for several reasons, including that of realizing the imperative to establish a home-court advantage.Most important is the fact that there is very little downside or penalty to this behavior at games---nothing much that is a detriment to winning! College sports are big business because fixed costs are high and winning provides the revenue required to fund that overhead expense.Think nuclear race without a winning outcome as when America won the Cold War. There is no rational end in college sports!
:) What happened last night would have shamed FSU folks(and its president) 30 years ago.So many fans judge the merits of their school by its sports program. I have not been asked about the quality of my students in years.Yet, everybody inquires about the football or bball teams. FSU,like a ton of football schools(including a few others in Florida), has become a life-support system for a sports program.In that environment,winning at any cost is the only rule.
Best regards--Professor of ethics

[mgtr]

Here is a tough question. Would you rather be associated with a school that recruits criminals and thugs (UConn, FSU) or a team which recruits staight arrow kids (Duke + many other teams)? I go with the latter time after time.

[redick4pres]

Yes, didn't even think of that and you're probably right about the turning of the head. Just thought I saw a little sarcastic look on the face of Hamilton. And you are also right that it was Swann, not Sims. Sorry for the misinformation!

[ArnieMc]

After reviewing the dvr of the tie-up frame by frame, it seems that #3 for Florida State is the one who hurt Paulus, on purpose, with a left forearm to Paulus' face (this is where the blood you notice on Paulus later comes from). Paulus then kicks at #3's legs. Reid then catches Paulus on the side of the neck and face with enough force to cause Paulus' head to move away and down. Reid's hand is not balled up but the contact with Paulus happens just as quickly as it looks like it happens in the above-basket replay - I imagine it hurt quite a bit. All of this action takes place well after the whistle stopping play.(I assume you have a high def DVR as I do.) From the third angle (from the side), it is clear that Swann balled up his fist, drew his arm back in a bowling motion, and delivered a blow to Paulus. If Paulus hadn't raised his head at that moment, he would have gotten a fist in the face instead of the forearm to the face. Paulus then pushed Swann off of him with his foot, while DeMarcus was behind Swann pulling him back. DeMarcus crossing in front of the scrum to get to Swann screened Valentine from seeing this first punch.

Meanwhile (from the first angle, from the rear), Reid gets up, goes over to the scrum, balls up his fist, cocks his arm, and throws a punch. From the second angle (from the front), I can't tell if the fist is still closed at impact. It is obviously open after impact with the back of his hand toward Paulus. Maybe the fist opened on impact; maybe he realized that this was not a good idea and opened it himself; or maybe he hit Mims' arm or body first (he had to punch around Mims' arm to get to Paulus). I don't know.

In both cases, however, there appears to be an intent to throw a punch, and both hit Paulus. IMHO both FSU players should be suspended for a game.

[bluedev_92]

I'm pretty sure I heard the guy yell something like "you should hit him harder next time" after Reid took the shot at Paulus...

[gadzooks]

I think you're misreading coaches looking away from Coach K for them actually turning their ear to him so they can hear him. It looked to me like Hamilton was smiling and chatting with Coach K, and turning his ear toward Coach K to hear what he's saying. Arenas can tend to be loud after a game (even after a loss).Yes, exactly. I just rewatched it, and they shook hands, did the arm embrace, then leaned in so their heads were together, which puts each person's ear next to the other's mouth for better hearing, and it's obviously impossible to look the other in the eye in that position. Hamilton is smiling the entire time they're talking. Not a huge grin, but definitely not shrugging K off.

[gw67]

Hamilton has a very stern look about him but he came accross as a soft spoken guy when interviewed during his coaching adventure with the Wizards.

gw67

[Chard]

Yes, exactly. I just rewatched it, and they shook hands, did the arm embrace, then leaned in so their heads were together, which puts each person's ear next to the other's mouth for better hearing, and it's obviously impossible to look the other in the eye in that position. Hamilton is smiling the entire time they're talking. Not a huge grin, but definitely not shrugging K off.

Did you notice the small object being thrown in K's direction as they shook hands? The Florida State Trooper looked over his right sholder after it went by. Just curious.

[gadzooks]

Did you notice the small object being thrown in K's direction as they shook hands? The Florida State Trooper looked over his right sholder after it went by. Just curious.It was a small orange object, maybe a wadded up piece of paper or something like that, since it didn't seem to have a lot of mass to it. It appeared to bounce off Hamilton's elbow, but he didn't react to it. I reckon the trooper couldn't see who threw it and nobody looked like they were about to throw anything else, so he didn't pursue the matter.

[Hurley2Hill]

From TV, the atmosphere seemed like a poor man's Comcast Center.

That just made an excellent Friday even better. Good work, sir.

[wumhenry]

I'm dismayed to hear that K said the FSU players are "good kids." That was asinine and disloyal, it seems to me, under the circumstances. What the Hell would he know about their character, anyway, aside from what was revealed by their conduct in the game, which hardly speaks well for them?

[SeattleIrish]

I'm dismayed to hear that K said the FSU players are "good kids." That was asinine and disloyal, it seems to me, under the circumstances. What the Hell would he know about their character, anyway, aside from what was revealed by their conduct in the game, which hardly speaks well for them?

That seems a bit over the top to me. To whom was K being "disloyal" when making that statement? I have a hard time imagining Greg feels K is a less supportive coach because of those words. Absent concrete information about the F$U players character (and he may personally know many of them from recruitment or past games), I'm comfortable with Coach K assuming the best.

I have a difficult time getting worked up about the coach of "my team" saying positive words about an opposing team's players after we just got a great win on the road.

s.i.:confused:

[wumhenry]

That seems a bit over the top to me. To whom was K being "disloyal" when making that statement?
His starting point guard.


I have a hard time imagining Greg feels K is a less supportive coach because of those words.
Well, call me a sorehead, then, but if it was *me* whose coach had made no protest when I'd just gotten mugged like that and who instead complimented the muggers on their niceness, "supportive" isn't what would pop into my mind if you were to ask me describe my coach in one word.

[DukieInKansas]

Coach K and Paulus had quite a discussion on the bench as the game ended, but I couldn't really tell what they were talking about. It appeared to be friendly, but emphatic. I imagine Greg is just fine with Coach K and the situation/comments.

[gadzooks]

I wouldn't consider it appropriate for K to publicly criticize the other team's players, and I honestly think less of coaches who do; I think it makes them look like poor sports. If he has concerns, he can bring them up privately to the opposing coach, and let him handle it. I like that K is always gracious toward the other team.

[wumhenry]

He could've complimented their playing without saying that the muggers were nice kids.

[Stray Gator]

He could've complimented their playing without saying that the muggers were nice kids.

K didn't say they were "nice" kids--he said they were "good" kids. It was a classy, sportsmanlike way of defusing a potentially controversial situation. If K were to publicly criticize an opposing player, especially after Duke won the game, it would only inflame all those cretins who desperately seek out reasons to hate Duke and denigrate Coach K. Besides, I wouldn't want our coach to take snide shots at opposing players like a certain legendary former coach at the school 8 miles down 15-501 was known to do.

[CrazyCat]

Dissing another teams players is not Coach K's style. Never has been and likley will never be. I have to agree, however that if K did say something negative towards FSU, the media would be on that like flys on a pig, and once again throw another can of gas on the already flamming I Hate Duke bombfire that seems to always be burning. I would be dissapointed in K if he were to do that. We know in our hearts who the better team is and who has the best fans in the world.

[wumhenry]

You're beating a strawman, guys. Who said K should have dissed FSU? Nobody. I just wish he hadn't said they're "good kids," which was fatuous insofar as it applied to Reid and Swann.