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Brandon Rush's knee injury renewed his loyalty to Big Blue - Blue Cross-Blue Shield, that is, or whatever health insurance covers the Kansas University athletic department. Anybody who believes the high-profile basketball sophomore would have bypassed the pros before he hurt his hinge also thinks Dolly Parton wears a padded bra.
Brandon and his minions weren't about to divorce themselves from the university with about a $100,000 surgical bill staring them in the face. They'll pursue repair and healing on KU's nickel.
Countless major questions; we won't know many answers until 2008. Will Rush's surgery, rehab activities and constant speculation about a return to combat be a contribution or a distraction? Suppose KU gets rolling along and decides it doesn't really need him. After all, he defected once. How much obligation will coach Bill Self feel to work him back into the rotation out of sympathy?
Would Rush red-shirt a year to regain peak shape? Rumors persist that a brother has suggested he have the surgery, get fine-tuned, sit out the year to avoid looking like damaged merchandise, then try for the NBA in '08. That leaves KU with nothing but a huge new medical bill.
Most important, there's a scholarship that could go to somebody who might help a whole season. That, to me, is the most frustrating aspect of this drama.
What about those Jayhawks ready and able to contribute for 2007-08, guys who prefer to concentrate on things like an NCAA Final Four trip? Will the incessant musings about Rush's comeback hamstring the other guys' goals and achievements, and those of Bill Self and his coaching staff?
Eyes will be trained on Bill Walker, the touted Kansas Stater who ripped an ACL last December. He's due back with a lot of other promising Wildcat newcomers in 2007-08. Come October, Walker will have had at least nine months to rejuvenate his left knee. He also had an ACL incident with his right knee in 2003 and reportedly rebounded in about four months.
Rush to have surgery on Friday
Injured KU basketball player Brandon Rush will undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL early Friday morning.
We keep hearing that KU's Rush could be reconstituted in four to six months and might not miss a game. Hard-nosed analysts say that period will be more like seven or eight months including playing back into shape. Whatever, far too much emphasis will be on Rush's medical status and not enough on the other battling Jayhawks with the potential to do great things without Brandon. They'd been planning on his absence anyway before the Kansas City accident. Will they be resentful?
There's already been too much focus on Rush and whether he will or won't help KU in '07-08. There is fear this fol-de-rol will continue to divert the spotlight from where it belongs.
Now for a little perspective. This Memorial Day, 11 more Americans were killed in the Iraq war while there was constant hand-wringing around here about Brandon Rush's injury. Consider this ultimate in fictional silliness: They're toting some KU alum off the battlefield on a stretcher after he's taken a hit in his leg and they ask if he's OK. "Yeah, I'll recover, but how's Brandon's knee?"
Let's remind ourselves, often, that sports are The Toy Department of Life and should be treated that way. If healing Brandon Rush's knee could stop the killing of our people in the war, I'd pray at some shrine eight hours a day.
Meanwhile, I'm a lot more worried about our combat heroes and heroines than about whether Rush can work the system even further for his personal benefit.
Comments
JuliansWright (anonymous) says...
Are you serious
June 1, 2007 at 5:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ahayden3 (anonymous) says...
Ah, the fine journalistic tendencies of the LJWorld sports columnists shines brightly once again.
It'd be nice once and a while to read a column that looks like the author spent more than 5 minutes throwing words onto a page, and then hitting submit.
June 1, 2007 at 5:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Sanity (anonymous) says...
Is there a contest to see which LJW columnist can best illustrate stupidity?How can a cob get so sideways? I read half way through this drivel, and decided that again, that until the editorial leadership hands back these ridiculous rants of as the unacceptable intellectual incompetence of junior high journalist want-to-be's without extending a paycheck, the Lawrence Urinal World deserves a complete ban from the KU locker room and press privileges.
Mr Perkins, it is time for you to exercise your power to chance the direction or the personnel that infest this cheap fish wrapper. In a time of increasing CO2, it is better to save the trees than to allow them to peddle this poop. I recommend zero access to KU sports for anyone but Bedore. If the others remain on the UJW payroll, deny Gary too.
I'll be damned if I will finish this article, but this article should finish Mayer.
June 1, 2007 at 6:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
carterpatterson (anonymous) says...
Bill, come on. I read the news on the American troops and then I pulled up kusports.com as I do every morning. Its not a "one or the other" situation.
Brandon has spent 2 years on scholarship, playing for no money....only books, tuition, meals, healthcare, etc. He put his name in the draft w/o hiring an agent which is what KU wanted. Had he signed with an agent, you can be sure that the agent would have picked up the medical bill.
If Brandon never plays again, we'll still be grateful for his two years of service. If he does, then we have a blue chipper ready to play by January for conference play.
June 1, 2007 at 6:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kunomu (anonymous) says...
Brandon if you read this please ignore the ignorance that is being spewed by this article. There is no way Meyer that we could find someone else, sign them, and that player have a bigger impact than a healthy Rush can have come January or February. I could care less how long Brandon takes as long as he is 100% in March. Meyer you are a true idiot.
June 1, 2007 at 6:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yates33333 (anonymous) says...
If you ever need to illustrate the origin of the term fan print this LJW column and these comments.
June 1, 2007 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KU_ROX (anonymous) says...
I too couldn't make it through this column. I wouldn't suggest Meyer read The Secret, but I'm sure with his centuries of experience he could write this same article without the cinical old man spin!
June 1, 2007 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jackhawk (anonymous) says...
lt is amazing that someone so senile can manage to put words together in a meaningful way, even when those words are so absurd.
June 1, 2007 at 7:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jamill4 (anonymous) says...
It's columns like this that may cause someone like Brandon Rush to follow his brother's advice. This piece is ridiculous and I am somewhat embarrassed it appears on a KU website.
June 1, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alanmichael (anonymous) says...
Mr. Mayer,
You're not exactly a "glass half full" kind of guy are you? Cheer up! Take some time off maybe until your mood improves.
June 1, 2007 at 8:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnnyLawrence (anonymous) says...
And here I thought that Keegan's article the other day was the biggest piece of trash ever put out by the LJW. This is amazingly bad. What a bitter old man you are.
June 1, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawka15fan (anonymous) says...
Mayer,
You are an ASS!!! You have always been an ASS!!! Now you have shown your ASS to the world!!!
June 1, 2007 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkdandy (anonymous) says...
I for one think that this is a fine piece of work. For me to poop on.
June 1, 2007 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Shazam (anonymous) says...
Mayer,
Why write an entire column about Rush's injury, and then critisize us for our interest in it? You yourself could turn your journalistic talent towards more important topics too. No one thinks its the end of the world that Rush got injured, but he has brought us a lot of joy, and he deserves our sympathies and well wishes. Even if he never plays for us again, we'll still be proud of him, just as we are of Julian. That being said, I'd rather have a 100% Rush come March than have him try to return too early. I have every confidence in the rest of the team to handle conference play.
June 1, 2007 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blogthis (anonymous) says...
Stupid is as stupid does!
June 1, 2007 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
1865Hawk (anonymous) says...
Are you positive that insurance (KU's or Brandon's) doesn't cover part of the surgery?
June 1, 2007 at 9:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kupops (anonymous) says...
I felt the column by Bill Mayer is short sighted. What about all of the basketball games Brandon has already played in? I had knee surgery at KU from a preseason football injury. The University paid for my knee surgery. The University makes a lot of money off KU basketball. Bill Mayer needs a new topic, he sounds like he is out of touch.
June 1, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kufootball19 (anonymous) says...
This was a horribly senile article before the last three paragraphs when Mayer completely jumped the shark by comparing Brandon's surgery to the troops in Iraq. Mayer, I think we all know that lives lost in Iraq is more important than BR's surgery. I also know that feeding the sarving children in Darfur is more important than giving my dog a milkbone, but I'm still giving her that milkbone because the two are completely unrelated. i read the front page to expand my wordly knowledge, I read the sports page for an entertaining distraction so I don't go completely mad. But I guess you've gone completely mad...
June 1, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PLHawk (anonymous) says...
If all you can do is write trash like this, go to work for the National Enquirer, STAR or some other supermarket tabloid. This is absolutely trash!
June 1, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
weterica (anonymous) says...
I've always admired you Mayer for the throw-back racism that tints your writings and your homoerotic worship of white players who try really hard. I mean, who has that courage to admit that stuff anymore? Although the racism you so often display isn't bleeding from this piece, the teeth-bearing bitterness nearly made me drunk.
A player who has never caused any trouble for the university and has contributed to the multimillion dollar machine of KU Basketball in exchange for a couple years of classes and some TV time possibly ends his basketball career and you make derisive statements about he and "his minions" and their greed for wanting the KU Athletics Dept. to pay for the treatment he is entitled! Wow.
Then, totally out of context, you bring up troop deaths in Iraq? That was a masterwork of experimental writing. You write an entire article about a local-interest sports story and then at the very end curse your readers and yourself for caring about it! That was magic, even for a barely coherent jerk like you.
Although your articles provide much insight into the mind of a man that time has passed by--who wears his sentimental racism on his sleeve, who illustrates a race-obsessed jackassery that rarely escapes my family reunions, who is so clueless about contemporary sports that he thinks NBA teams would rather have a bad white player than a good black player purely because of race(see your article where you said NBA teams would rather draft Sasha than Julian or Brandon.), who for some reason will shift time-period and topics from paragraph to paragraph without warning or reason, who displays the sanctimonious arrogance of someone with his back to the world--the outright meanness you display in this article makes me think that you should just quit.
Maybe you just can't see what you do in your writings and that is probably good, because I doubt you really want to be seen as an ass and/or a racist. If you could really see and understand how your writings are viewed you would probably be absolutely mortified and would probably retire, which is probably what you should do.
Maybe you'll just see everyone's comments as whiney PC BS, but that would be sad. You need to confront the fact that you are a fossil and just plain mean, not to mention a really bad writer.
June 1, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KUHoops14 (anonymous) says...
Worst article I have ever read in the LJW. Mayer, Rush has poured the last 2 years of his life into the University of Kansas. He would rather have not torn his ACL you know. And comparing that situation to the situation in Iraq is heinous. Its time to retire.
June 1, 2007 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jaydub (anonymous) says...
Mayer, you're right the University of Kansas should just throw him out on the street. Especially after KU has generated millions off Brandon's play through merchandise, tickets and TV. Not to mention he has been a model/student athlete that has given the Jayhawk Nation a lot of great memories.
He is a great player that has been humble, gone to class and been a supportive teammate. I'm sure the Athletic Dept. doesn't mind helping an injured Jayhawk, especially since there is a strong chance that he will be in a Kansas uniform again.
June 1, 2007 at 10:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beebe1 (anonymous) says...
Nothing but negative rants from the readers! You should live long enough to develop a Life's Perspective. I don't think he deserves ANY criticism for putting a little perspective on the troubles that face us world wide. Maybe you could reconsider your political vote next time?
June 1, 2007 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...
Nothing but negative rants from the readers???!!!!
How about nothing but negative rants from Mayer!!! If living long enough to develop a life's perspective means turning into a crotchety old fart like Bill Mayer, I'd rather be pushing daisies by 50!!! Good lord...
June 1, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
weterica (anonymous) says...
That's true beebe1, we should "live long enough to develop a Life's Perspective," and "reconsider our political vote" next time. That sure fixed our wagons.
How long should we live to develop a "Life's Perspective"? I have gray hair, am I getting close?
And how would "reconsidering our political vote" affect the issue of Mayer's incompetence
Thanks for in advance.
June 1, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ladibug (anonymous) says...
OMG !!!!!
I don't know which was worst...this article or the guy with the umbrella on campus ????
June 1, 2007 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cklarock (anonymous) says...
Meyer, this article's tone toward Brandon Rush is low, mean-spirited and flat-out wrong.
Give me a break. Brandon Rush is 100% class, and we're going to be glad to have him as an ambassador for Kansas basketball for his Junior year _and_ his NBA career.
You? Not so much.
You should stick to dull, and stay away from snark.
June 1, 2007 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chesterku (anonymous) says...
Wow.. I am stunned by this article. Let's see, the cost of the surgery 100K, years tuition for room and board 25K? Rush's ability to generate revenue for KU, probably 2 million a year (for his part). I will take that return on investment every time!
Brandon.. best of luck on your rehab!
The kids who go pro early, have a great opportunity and should not be crucified by this decision. I would say 99% of the world would jump on the opportunity to do something they love and make 100X more than they currently make at the same time. I saw Julian get pummeled by comments, but dude..if any of you had the opportunity, wouldn't you?
June 1, 2007 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kcmostwanted (anonymous) says...
wow..what a pointless article.. did they get this from the MIzzou website?
June 1, 2007 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DCHawk (anonymous) says...
Take this article off of the website LJW - it is unfounded, poorly written, and possibly racist. I am not sure I can support this website as long as they support this.
June 1, 2007 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
swishymcjayhawk (anonymous) says...
Mayer, you don't know sh!t. Just because you're old doesn't mean you have some interesting insight. It just means your hair is gray, your bones are old and you're wrinkley. thats it. oh and you've become a bitter no-nothing who loves ranting more than me. true to form.
June 1, 2007 at 12:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KUFan90 (anonymous) says...
I can't imagine a scenario where he sits out the entire season and then bolts to the NBA. What team would take a chance on an untested ACL reconstruction? IF he were to sit out all of the 07-08 season, has anyone considered he might return for a full 08-09 season to prove he is fully recovered? How ironic would that be...the guy we all thought was "one and done" when he came in hanging around for 4 years...
June 1, 2007 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...
What is this talking about rush being ready for february or march. I'm pretty confident he'll be ready to go when arizona comes to town, if he really does take his rehab seriously.
June 1, 2007 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says...
Oh, and this article is ridiculously bad
June 1, 2007 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kirk (anonymous) says...
Unfortunately, the system now encourages players to USE their universities as convenient pit stops to the NBA. That's not the original idea of athletic scholarships or the best use of educational resources. Nor is it good for the other guys on the team. I don't particularly blame Rush. But it's clear that KU is basically Mr. Moneybags for him and not much else.
June 1, 2007 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
100 (anonymous) says...
Mayer,
1. Please give your grandkids something for Xmas this year.
2. The War does suck. We all live with that constant burden. Not only are our American friends dying, we shouldn't be there in the first place and our president is about as sharp as a 2 headed tack. Now we're looking at being in Iraq for "decades", losing trillions of US taxpayers dollars (not billions), Al Qaida doubling its strength because most of our troops left for Iraq, as well as thousands more US lives all because a loose cannon rushed to judgement in 2003 and lost sight of our American agenda -- catching and punishing Osama.... you're right, there's a lot to think and feel bad about...
3. Brandon Rush brings in Money and excitement to the University and we will all follow him for years in the NBA just like most of us KU fans are excited to see Jacque and Greg Popovich in the finals, and how we root for Drew Gooden and Scot Pollard to win one more game for Cleveland. Brandon brings this excitement to Lawrence, for now, just as Xavier Henry will if a journalist like you doesn't scare him off.
Thanks.
One KU Fan
June 1, 2007 at 12:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says...
Sure Mayer.......if you are so concerned about the troops then why are you writing about Rush? You are an idiot.
to those who disagree with this piece of trash journalism: Please email the editor. The icon is at the top of this article. We all need to make our wishes known this sort of thing is wrong.
June 1, 2007 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GitS (Christian Hinton) says...
Wow! What an amazingly negative response to an editorial. I get to be in the minority here it would seem.
I think some of the people who lambasted Bill for "throwing words on paper for five minutes and then hitting submit" were doing just that in reply.
It is helpful to have some perspective on things from time to time. I find it funny that so many people became outraged at the suggestion that they put too much importance on Brandon's knee injury, and the reaction for some almost proves the point. I also think that the concerns about next year are a valid side of these recent events and I, for one, hadn't considered them beforehand.
Thanks for an informative piece, Bill.
June 1, 2007 at 2:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trich424 (anonymous) says...
Alright, your an idiot Mayer.
A) Self already said no other recruit would be signed for this year, so Rush coming back won't take a scholaship from another recruit.
B) Comparing Brandon's knee injury to an injury in the War in Iraq? Of course more people are talking about Brandon's knee here than the War in Iraq. This is a website about KU. But that doesn't mean his knee injury is more important.
C) I don't think Brandon's recovery will distract the others from the final four. And they're not going to resent him from coming back. Why would they?
This story is the worst I've ever read. If anyone is reading my post before reading the story, stop reading immediately, or just hit yourself in the head with your keyboard. No facts behind this story, just the skewed opinion of one man.
June 1, 2007 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dbegert (anonymous) says...
Informative? You're telling me that you actually read that article and then said to yourself, "what great information! I did not know that Brandon Rush was a selfish jerk and a soon-to-be locker room cancer who will take all of Tyrel Reed's and Rodrick Stewart's hard-earned minutes! Oh, and the war in Iraq is tragic! Thanks Bill Mayer!"
Plus, you're the second person to mention "perspective." Well to that point, let's examine Mayer's powerful hypothetical, that "They're toting some KU alum off the battlefield on a stretcher after he's taken a hit in his leg and they ask if he's OK. "Yeah, I'll recover, but how's Brandon's knee?" Mayer says this in jest to put "perspective" on this issue, but actually I would not be surprised if a Jayhawk soldier was concerned about Brandon's knee while recovering in an army hospital. Know why? (1) Because he's a fan, (2) KU basketball is entertainment, and (3) all of us, even the soldiers, need something to distract us from this pointless war.
June 1, 2007 at 3:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kirk (anonymous) says...
Somebody hit a nerve.
June 1, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EvanstonReader (anonymous) says...
I for one have never been so happy to read a Mayer article or the LJW. Minus Beebe1, Kirk, and GitS I have never seen a more unified front of KU supporters. The Jayhawks could go undefeated and win the NC and half the posts would still be negative, but this was great to read so many fans all on the same page. Whether you agree/disagree with the article still nice to see the unity for once.
Also after reading all the ESPN stuff about Arkansas this week, be glad we are not hog fans.
June 1, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dannyxo (anonymous) says...
WOW! I hate to pile on, I didn't even get to the second half of this trash and I don't think I will. This time next year, we will look back on this article as the one that put Mayer into forced retirement. It is bad enough he writes opinionated, misinformed, hateful crap like this, but for an editor to read it and post and print it is far worse. Just how many idiotic and hurtful quantum leaps in logic is this old man allowed because of his age?
I don't know if Mayer's writing has always been like this, but it has been for the past 15 years that I have been reading him. I cringe when I see his name on an article, but this one has to be his crowning achievement.
Mayer should have taken a cue from Max on how to end a long career. Class, dignity and a true understanding and respect for the people that make your job possible leave a much better legacy than an old man's bitter and baseless opinions and name calling of someone who has done nothing wrong.
Brandon was smart and did exactly what he should have done, and has done so for the past 2 years as a Jayhawk. Now most FANS and lovers of KU Basketball are happier than they were 2 weeks ago. Everyone wanted Brandon not to hire an agent and leave his options open. That was good for both him and the university. He suffered the injury as a scholarship player and student in good standing. Even if Brandon never sees the floor again, he has earned more money and prestige for KU than any costs his injury may incur.
Editors, please do your job and stop publishing hatred and lies and convincing yourself it is OK because Mayer is "old" and the columnist everyone "loves to hate." You are not telling both sides of the story and keeping your journalistic integrity by publishing this crap. People are not upset because they are thin-skinned fans. It is untrue and unfair information about a kid, a University of Kansas student, who has no "minions" (remember Lester Earl?) and has been one of the most surprisingly well behaved student-athletes on the team during the Bill Self era.
June 1, 2007 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
krisell (anonymous) says...
I read the first paragraph and decided to stop.
shame on you journal world! subscription cancelled!!!
June 1, 2007 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KrazyKracker (anonymous) says...
CRAP
June 1, 2007 at 4:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dsinger (anonymous) says...
Yeah, emailing the editor will solve everything. You do realize the sports editor is Tom Keegan, right?
This article really is junk, though. It's as illogical as it is mean-spirited. Also, way to go with the Dolly Parton mention. That's as topical as you could get? Anyone who thinks this article is good also thinks Bobby Darin wore lifts in his shoes.
June 1, 2007 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emeryhawk (anonymous) says...
The Dada movement is alive and well in the LJWorld. Wow. Bringing up the Iraq war clinched it as the stupidest piece of sports "journalism" I've ever read. Wrong on all counts. As a lot of people have said, Brandon has been a model citizen, has given a ton to the university including two years of great play, and was completely within his rights to test the draft waters without hiring an agent. KU can afford to pay this kid's medical bills, and are ethically obligated to. He's not going to be a locker room cancer. Oh, and he's the #1 ranked SF in the nation right now by Rivals.com. That's from an article that came out after his injury became known. If he's healthy by tournament time, it will have been worth it. Even If he never plays another minute for the Jayhawks, no one but some ignorant journalist will have a second thought about it. He's done enough already! The program takes care of its players. That's what a great program is supposed to do. I hope to hell that no one on the team and definitely that no potential recruits read this article. It's embarrassing.
June 1, 2007 at 5:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkgolden (anonymous) says...
Next time you're calling somebody an idiot, make sure you know the difference between "your" and "you're."
"Your an idiot."
Classic.
June 1, 2007 at 5:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhatleysMustache (anonymous) says...
"Oh yeah Reilly. Well i had sex with your wife." --George Costanza
June 1, 2007 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
honk4tad (anonymous) says...
Everybody needs to read weterica's post. It's a thing of beauty.
Toy Department of Life?
June 1, 2007 at 5:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JayhawkPhil (anonymous) says...
This was bad, even for Mayer. I have never liked this guy and I have been reading the Lawrence Journal World since the early 60's. He isn't bad just because he is old, he was always this way and should have been fired a long time ago. I just wish people would come out like this everytime he writes a column-- maybe the LJW would do something about it.
June 1, 2007 at 5:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
honk4tad (anonymous) says...
I'm going to do my part by boycotting kusports.com. i can get all the KU basketball news I need by reading phog.net and the KC Star.
June 1, 2007 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
actorman (anonymous) says...
Wow, just a few days ago I had the pleasure of reading Keegan's article which quoted some East Coast expert no one had ever heard of as saying that Brandon "may not play all year, then again he may make the first game," or something to that effect. I commented that in my 30 years of reading the Urinal-World that was the single stupidest column I'd ever read. But lo and behold, only a few days later I got to read one that was even worse. To call this column drivel would be an insult to drivel. And I have real pity for Mayer's few defenders. Unfortunately, not everyone can get the benefit of a first-rate education. There is simply no excuse for putting this kind of cr*p in a newspaper. My favorite quote is, "Suppose KU gets rolling along and decides it doesn't really need him. After all, he defected once. How much obligation will coach Bill Self feel to work him back into the rotation out of sympathy?" If you ever needed evidence that the man has truly gone senile, this is the smoking gun. Obligation???? Self would feel obligation to "work into the rotation" a potential first-team All-American??? Has the man lost any remaining brain cells he had?
Aside from everything else, what Mr. Mayer and his few defenders fail to understand is that even if everything he said was right (which of course is a stretch of Olympian gymnast proportions), if KU were to deny medical treatment to a player who still has a right to be there, then KU would NEVER get a major recruit again!!! And that's not even talking about the major lawsuit KU would face. The column is wrong on so many levels that an entire book could be written about its lunacy. When will we no longer have to be subjected to Mr. Mayer's endless senile rantings?
I join KeithMiles in urging all readers to email the editor, and promise that I will do so. Yes, I realize the editor is Keegan, but at least he sometimes has something interesting and informative to say, and hopefully even HE can see how ludicrous a piece of garbage this article is.
June 1, 2007 at 6:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jcjayhawk (anonymous) says...
"Suppose KU gets rolling along and decides it doesn't really need him"
That quote is the stupidest part of the article. We might be 25-0 when BRush is ready to come back. Is there any chance the team would say "no thanks Brandon we are already too good." I don't think there are any NBA teams that are so good they wouldn't take Brandon Rush if they could. Assuming he gets healthy he could very well be the best player in the country by March.
June 1, 2007 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
actorman (anonymous) says...
Okay, here's what I just sent to the editor. I strongly urge other readers to send similar emails:
I've been reading the J-W for many years, first in hard copy and for the last 20 years on the internet. I have sometimes liked Bill Mayer's columns, and sometimes I have not. I have even occasionally defended him on the KUSports website as others have criticized him.
But his column on today's site about Brandon Rush is simply over the top (or under the bottom, as the case may be). It is absolute garbage, plain and simple. He casts all kinds of aspersions on the character of someone who has been a model representative of KU and has made Jayhawk fans everywhere proud. There is simply no reason for Mayer's rantings about Brandon supposedly using KU for his own personal benefit. The NCAA rules are clear and are set up for everyone; each person has a right to make his own choice as to what to do with his career, and Brandon has done nothing wrong.
I believe that Bill Mayer has overstayed his welcome and it's time for him to go. If you read the barrage of comments under his article, you will see that the overwhelming majority of KUSports.com readers agree.
Please do not subject the J-W's loyal readers to more of this hateful, mean-spirited, senile tripe.
Thank you for your consideration.
June 1, 2007 at 6:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dab (anonymous) says...
Actually, I'm rather impressed that Mr. Mayer put together an entire piece without using the word "basketeer".
That being said, this column is just plain embarrassing...Mayer comes across as an uninformed rube.
June 1, 2007 at 6:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
klineisanazi (anonymous) says...
KU and its players have a mutually exploitive relationship, and I don't mean that in a negative sense. KU wants their talent for a few years, and the players want the exposure and experience that will land them in the NBA. Everyone but Mayer seems to know that.
Rush was blunt and to the point when he was recruited...he wanted the chance to improve and become a professional. Rush was and is a student-athelete under the rules of the NCAA. Availing himself of the benefits of that status is not at all improper.
Bill Mayer has proven once more how irrelevant he is in a conversation about modern NCAA basketball. Sorry, Bill, but the days of KU fielding a team of mostly white guys from small towns is over. As long as KU is competing at an elite level, it will always be dealing with players declaring for the draft or at least flirting with the NBA. The only teams that don't have that problem are the ones that don't make the NCAA tournament. Please quit embarassing yourself and retire.
June 1, 2007 at 6:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawkandtigerfan (anonymous) says...
Way to encourage a player to stick around. Why can't we be happy he is back? I like that people pointed out how much of a model KU athlete Brandon Rush has been. Granted, he wants to go to the NBA as soon as he can, who wouldn't? He has said himself that school is not his thing, but yet he's stuck it out. He made sure to do well in his classes even though he thought there was a good chance he'd be gone. He has used his head twice before jumping into the NBA too soon. He has never gotten in trouble at KU, he is extremely coachable, and he's a classy, unselfish player on the court. Brandon Rush will go down as one of the classiest guys we have ever had the privelige of having on our team. I haven't seen many extremely unselfish and talented guys that were great people like brandon since the likes of jacque vaughn and jared haase.
June 1, 2007 at 8:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KBReyn06 (anonymous) says...
man, that was awful. this guy is a moron. he should be ashamed. god have mercy on his soul.
June 1, 2007 at 8:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KanKu (anonymous) says...
Ridiculously obnoxious. I don't come to this page to read about Iraq. I hardly watch the news anymore due to the negativity and paranoia it brings. Although w/sports it seems the scandals and negativity have really hit more-so these days (Mike Vick, Steroids, Baylor BBall incident, entire Bengals team, CJ Giles), I enjoy sports due to their entertainment and escape.
Sportswriters these days have too much bias and agenda. Please leave your bias and worthless opinion to yourself Mayer.
June 1, 2007 at 9:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ryanjasondesch (anonymous) says...
LJWorld: You want people to read garbage, then please provide directions to the north Lawrence dump where people can see discarded copies of this worthless drivel. The address is www. mapquest.com. Mayer: get off the toilet, get off the pills, get off the bullsh*t, get off the pipe, get a life, and get f*cked you overpaid bitch.
Brandon: Don't believe the hype, you showed us you never did, we dont, and don't start now. Stay strong and keep head up, we all believe, the comments here show as much. Go KU, f*ck those who don't see the forest for the trees.
June 2, 2007 at 1:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oregonjhawk123 (anonymous) says...
Mayer has been writing crap for at least the past 20 years...;However, I'm even more pissed at the editorial staff for printing this drivel. Mayers last copy should be an apology to Brandon Rush and his family, and then to all the subcribers of the Urinal world. An apology from the LJW should follow. What inspired this rancor? Give the fossil his gold watch and retire him!
June 2, 2007 at 1:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Krohnutz (anonymous) says...
For this fine article, sir, you have been awared the honorary "Krohnutz' Mug of STFU You Idiot." Drink from it proudly sir, you earned it!
This is perhaps the worst piece of literature I have read since... oh my gawd... since Keegan a couple nights ago.
Where is a doobie, maybe it has a hidden message when you are on drugs.
June 2, 2007 at 1:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Sparko (anonymous) says...
Brandon Rush is one of the most talented Jayhawks ever, has brought thousands of fans to the school, and has more than earned some surgery for a knee that has been used harder than 99% of any other college-age knees in the service of Sports pages like this one. This column merits an apology if not a resignation. If we had decent medical care for all citizens, maybe we wouldn't see costs portrayed as "haves vs have not" so starkly for dramatic effect. Lord knows, many Kansans are having trouble buying gas these days. But medical care for our athletes is a given. Just like empathy and sincere concern for their well-being.
We owe Brandon all the time he needs to rehabilitate, all the care we can give him, and heartfelt thanks he chose Kansas to display his talents. High level athletes destroy their bodies so vegetative columnists can complain about their "selfishness." I think selfish is a word I would use for someone who sees an injured college student as a damaged commodity.
June 2, 2007 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
Actorman wrote: When will we no longer have to be subjected to Mr. Mayer's endless senile rantings?
Answer: as soon as fewer than 65 comments show up after one of his posts. If you really want him to go away, don't comment. All we've done is prove to the staff that people read his stuff. (By the way, I see the inherent irony of commenting to say 'don't comment').
June 2, 2007 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lukay (anonymous) says...
This is a terrible article. Mayer's view on this matter is surprisingly silly.
June 2, 2007 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Krohnutz (anonymous) says...
tis-4tim;
Note to the staff at LJW, in response to your post. We read this stuff because it is on kusports.com, NOT because we like what it says. So do yourself a favor, hire a chimpanzee to write, it couldn't get any less informative, he would work for far less than Mayer or Keegan, and we might enjoy the articles.
June 2, 2007 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KURUSH1530 (anonymous) says...
Wow..this article is actually good. All of you people are completely overlooking the point. I mean, someone has to play devil's advocate. Think about it...if he had signed an agent and then hurt his knee, where would he be at? Definitely wouldn't be getting drafted (which is all he cares about anyways, I've never once heard Brandon talk about getting to a final four and making it to the title game) and I'm pretty sure the agency that would have signed him would have a tough time taking on those medical bills when they are unsure of his future. Now, when he trailed off at the end, I don't know what he was thinking. You know how old people get. But my point is, why do we keep giving all of these guys so much love and attention when they give nothing back? How much has Kirk, Drew, Paul and etc. gave back to KU since making millions in the NBA?
June 2, 2007 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KU_FAN_circa_77 (anonymous) says...
I can't believe I'm reading this in KU's hometown newspaper. Why in God's name is the Journal World paying Meyer to publish nasty speculation about a current KU student recovering from an injury? It's the type of thing you would expect to read on an MU message board, published by a rash fan, shielded by anonymity, who was too immature to realize that he was writing about a young adult who had just sustained a painful injury, a young adult a day out of surgery who has done absolutely nothing wrong. Rush didn't do anything wrong by declaring for the draft and investigating his prospects in the NBA. We all knew that if it looked like he was going to get drafted in the top 20, he would go. Who could blame him? And we understood that if his chances of going in the first round didn't look good, he would stay. No harm no foul. You write as Rush had conspired with the devil or Bin Laden to tear his ACL, all for some fun, free surgery. You've lost your perspective, Meyer. He's a student, for Christ sake, a class act who has conducted himself well on and off the court and provided KU fans with nothing but joy for the two years he has attended KU. When columnists exhibit less maturity and judgement than anonymous message board bloggers, it's time for the editorial staff to do a gut check. I sincerely hope this the last column you write for the Journal World, and that you pay for your next surgery out of your own pocket.
Kansas 77'
June 2, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
actorman (anonymous) says...
"How much has Kirk, Drew, Paul and etc. gave back to KU since making millions in the NBA?"
I think a better question is how much effort you put into your English classes. Whatever effort you did put in, it obviously wasn't enough.
As for the "substance" of your comments, the answer is that we have no idea. It's not public knowledge how much players give back. It doesn't even have to be about money. It could be staying in contact with the coaches to see how things are going and make suggestions. There are many ways that players can give back. But even if none of them have given a single thing back, the point is that they don't HAVE to. They each gave us PLENTY when they were at KU. That's all they owe to any of us--to give a solid effort on the court and to be a solid citizen off the court.
Then again, considering that your first comment was that "this article is actually good," I might as well be trying to argue logic with a chimpanzee.
June 2, 2007 at 7:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
actorman (anonymous) says...
tis4tim, although you make a good point about the number of comments in response, I would think the staff would love to have a columnist that doesn't p*ss off and/or offend most of the people with every article he writes, and that occasionally has something intelligent to say.
Besides, as Krohnutz points out, this is on the KUSports website. I'm not currently subscribing to the Urinal-World, so it's not like they know they're getting my money.
June 2, 2007 at 7:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tmorris (anonymous) says...
You insensitive jerk. The venom in your article would enable you to be stuffed in a locker in a previous life.
Have you ever had an invasive surgical procedure? If so, then you can appreciate the pain and uncertainty Brandon will be dealing with as he attempts to rehab his injury. Depending on how his rehab materializes, he may never be the force on the court he has demonstrated so far. Hopefully he will have a great rehab and be a big part of the team this upcoming season. Brandon has never publicly whined about anything and a clown like you puts the knock on him. Did Brandon stiff you on an interview request? Is that why your story is so weak?
One goes to college to prepare himself / herself for the real world, to hopefully give themselves the opportunity to glean a competitive advantage in an incredibly competitive world.
Your war viewpoints are well taken...the sports world is simply a diversion void of any serious relevance. But to express the cynicism regarding a young man's motivations for wanting to return to school should not be questioned.
Many college athletes planning to enter an upcoming nfl, nba, mlb draft ignore class during the Spring semester. Brandon stayed in school this past semester and never hired an agent. He should be applauded for his responsibilities as a student and his mature approach regarding his effort at entering the NBA Draft.
Brandon will likely receive a thunderous ovation when he plays in Allen Field House this upcoming season. Will you be cheering for him?
June 2, 2007 at 9:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tis4tim (anonymous) says...
actorman and krohnutz,
I'm not so sure that editors don't appreciate vitriol just as much as accolades. It's proof of readership, which will in turn sell advertising space.
To be honest, it's people like yourselves and some of the others with some real insight and interesting opinions that keep me reading anyway, not someone like Mayer.
June 3, 2007 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whoisjohngalt (anonymous) says...
Mayer, you suck at life.
June 3, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RockChalkGumbyHawk (anonymous) says...
I'm embarrassed by this column. If there are thought-provoking, information-sharing, or otherwise enlightening articles / columns, I'm always wanting to read, but this left me wanting to get back the time I spent reading it.
June 3, 2007 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JHawkFan29 (anonymous) says...
What kind of newspaper lets their writers talk about their local university like this? The columnists are constantly writing bad things about the Jayhawk basket ball team that can't be good for our recruiting. Who would want to go to a school when it looks like their town only complains about them?
Mayer, retire and leave town.
June 3, 2007 at 6:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
actorman (anonymous) says...
Thanks, tis4tim, I appreciate it.
June 4, 2007 at 12:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drum1984 (anonymous) says...
Okay, so Mayer should never be allowed to write for kusports.com again. Are you serious? How did this make it past the editor. Unbelievable.
June 4, 2007 at 2:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkgolden (anonymous) says...
JHawkFan29:
A newspaper isn't a PR system for the local university. That being said, this article was bad.
June 4, 2007 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldrocker (anonymous) says...
"Crap, crap, mega-crap!"
June 4, 2007 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
actorman (anonymous) says...
A newspaper should put out writing, not garbage. There's no other word for this article. When a writer is past the level of competence, entertainment and intelligence, it's time for him to go.
June 4, 2007 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Raydude (anonymous) says...
When this is obvious to the reading public...per response..........Why in xxxx don't you put in another article ...sooner to alleviate the angst? Negative responses don't equate to readership/advertiseing $....as the readers of these pages read...Jayhawk stuff anyway...whether from Topeka Cap Jour or Lawrence World....it certainly doesn't garner respect from readership. Why the delay??
June 4, 2007 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kujayhawk7476 (anonymous) says...
The problem isn't so much the Journal World, but that Bill Mayer is stuck in the 40's and 50's. I've been ignoring his columns since 1969, and am not sure he understands that KU has fielded various successful teams in several sports since 1960!
Face it, Simons family, Bill Mayer is a dinosaur and should be asked to fade away....quickly!
Brandon Rush deserves our support and respect. Bill Mayer does not!
June 4, 2007 at 8:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KURUSH1530 (anonymous) says...
Actorman, that was well put. I'll go through and read every English textbook I've ever owned. The point is, there doesn't have to be a public report telling us who gives money back and who does not. Take a look at the names on the building, that's a fairly good indication. Almost forgot to mention this, but the University of Kansas didn't have a problem releasing the names of who is funding the new football facilities. By the way, funny story, I graduated a few years ago with a masters in English.
June 4, 2007 at 10:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
monstertruckery2 (anonymous) says...
Is Mayer drunk? This is horrible. I will never read another Mayer article. A new low. Thanks for spoiling kusports.com, clown. Retire.
June 5, 2007 at 1:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
milehighhawk (anonymous) says...
Take this angry, confused man out to pasture.
And no - more comments isn't a good thing when more than 95% of the people are completely pissed off at the author. When Jason Whitlock pisses people off, he does so by making well-reasoned arguments, not some ridiculous vitriolic rant against a model KU player.
you should be ashamed of yourself, bill mayer.
i'll even drive you to Brandon Woods. It's for your own good.
June 5, 2007 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawkfan4life (anonymous) says...
Time to hang it up Mayer. This article is proof that it is past time for you to put down the pen.
June 5, 2007 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tigerkiller55 (anonymous) says...
It would be ridiculous for Brandon to sit out a year, that would hurt his draft status more than playing under 50%, this article is just stupid.
June 10, 2007 at 8:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
filmhawk (anonymous) says...
who's going to pay for your brain transplant mayer?
what a tool.
June 18, 2007 at 8:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
speedy (anonymous) says...
i agree with you bill mayer!
September 16, 2007 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
milehighhawk (anonymous) says...
hahahahahahahahahahaha
you owe brandon rush an apology, mr. mayer
April 10, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hs_reader (anonymous) says...
Yeah, he was SO unimportant this season.
rock chalk jayhawk, national champs '08!!!
April 11, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
quigley (anonymous) says...
you suck mayer!!!