Saturday, February 5, 2011

Not II Classy

In one of the most boneheaded moves in the history of college basketball, Larry Drew II announced yesterday that he is leaving Carolina.  The list of reasons why this is a boneheaded move is long.  Consider:
  • Every player who transfers has to sit out a season, but since this year is half way over Drew will have to sit out a year and half; he won't be back on the court until the 2012-2013 season;
  • Who would want a guy like that on their team anyway? The resume reads 'led defending national champs to NIT as a sophomore starter; as a junior quit on team mid-way through the season.'  Oh yeah, schools are going to line up to sign a guy like that;
  • Drew quit when he and the team were playing well; coming off the bench as really suited Drew II and the Heels; but I guess the prospect of coming off the bench next year was too much for him to take;
  • Quitting midway through the season invites inevitable comparisons to Sarah Palin;
  • Drew II had his dad, Atlanta Hawks head coach Larry Drew Sr., call Roy and deliver the news; that's like a school in the summer - no class.
That last point is the most serious one.  Carolina will be fine - though thinner and it weakens a real strength of this team, having a deep and productive bench. 

Why have your dad make that call to Williams?  Do you have so little respect for the University and the team?  Drew II never spoke to Williams or to any of his teammates in person.  Not a very mature approach.

And if Drew II was that unhappy, the classy and conscientious path would have been to wait until the end of the season.  A good friend and a good teammate thinks of their friends and team first.  Drew II did not, opting to act like a spoiled baby.  

You can only make yourself happy if you make others happy first.  That's true in life, but especially for a point guard!

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