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Monday, June 30, 2008

Giddens feels ‘blessed’

Ex-Jayhawk thrilled to be drafted by Celts

By Gary Bedore

New Mexico's J.R. Giddens flexes for the crowd near the end of the second half of a college basketball game against Kansas State in this Nov. 21, 2006, file photo.

New Mexico's J.R. Giddens flexes for the crowd near the end of the second half of a college basketball game against Kansas State in this Nov. 21, 2006, file photo.

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J.R. Giddens made a visit to a local sporting goods store after beginning the 2003-04 school year, his freshman year at Kansas University.

"The first thing I bought with my scholarship check was a Paul Pierce Boston Celtics jersey and green headband," said Giddens, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound forward who Thursday was tapped by the Celtics with the last pick of the first round.

"I wore that headband until it was dingy green. I wore it out completely," Giddens added in an interview with Boston WEEI radio.

Giddens - he lasted just two years at KU before transferring to the University of New Mexico - now is a teammate of Pierce, who played three seasons at KU.

Giddens said he felt "blessed," not just to land a guaranteed contract as a first-round pick, but that he's now a member of Pierce's NBA championship team.

"Everybody screamed," Giddens said of the reaction of his former Lobos teammates, who watched the draft with him in Albuquerque, N.M. "I embraced the moment with my teammates and coaches. I prayed to God and thanked him. I can't believe my dream came true."

Giddens, 23, who left KU after an incident outside Moon Bar in which he suffered a deep stab wound in his right calf (he pleaded no contest to a battery charge), also was suspended from the team twice at New Mexico.

"I was a young guy, immature, and made some bad decisions. I didn't put myself in the best positions. Now that I'm older, I feel I do a lot better in decision-making, staying on the right path. I feel I've overcome all those things," said Giddens, who averaged 16.3 points on 51.5 percent shooting a year ago in earning co-Western Conference Player of the Year honors.

"They (struggles) made me the man and player I am today. I didn't go through all those things for no reason. I feel it's helped me build character that I have now, made me a better ballplayer.

"God does everything for a reason. The path I walked is the path God chose for me. I'll continue to walk it with the best of my ability. I will try to represent myself with the Celtic organization with the utmost class possible."

Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said he's not concerned about Giddens' past. Remember, former Jayhawk Pierce also was stabbed in an incident in a Boston club during the early portion of his NBA career and has not been in trouble since. Of course Pierce did not face legal charges of any kind in that incident in which he was a victim.

"First, I'm confident he's a good kid," Ainge told the Boston Herald. "Second, the team we have will make him better. He's not as mature as I would like to see, and he's not as disciplined as our guys are, but they will help him to achieve both things."

Coach Doc Rivers said: "Back then (at KU), he was young and immature. Whenever someone transfers, you're always concerned about it. He's had some run-ins, but (UNM coach) Steve Alford loved him."

KU coach Bill Self, who never has had a bad thing to say about Giddens, said "not really," when asked if he was surprised Giddens went in Round One. He didn't necessarily expect the pick, though.

"That's another example of us not knowing what's going on," Self added. "Those NBA teams, they keep people off the scent. Like Boston would never tell anybody how much they love J.R. because that might make somebody at 28, 29 say, 'Well, maybe we should look at him.'

"Of course his name never came up, and I coached him for two years, so you'd think if they (Celtics) were interested, they would say, 'How do we trust Self to not tell anybody that we're thinking about him?'

"It's just one of those things. It's a poker game for a lot of these guys, and I certainly understand why, but I'm happy for J.R. Even though it did end up poorly here for him, he does have talent, but I was certainly disappointed it wasn't Mario (Chalmers, fourth pick of second round) getting taken at 30, 29, 26."

¢ Chalmers update: Chalmers has chosen Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management as his agent. Excel Sports Management also represents Pierce.

¢ Morris twins update: Incoming freshmen Marcus and Markieff Morris, who have been on campus the past few days, will begin summer classes today. The twins are not yet academically eligible to play during the 2008-09 season.

"There's still a little bit of a process. They've finished their schoolwork, but are still waiting for some things to get turned in and graded," Self said.

The NCAA Clearinghouse will receive the standardized test scores and grades. Self and officials at APEX Academies, the twins' prep school, said they do not expect there will be a problem with the twins gaining eligibility.

¢ Early mock draft: ESPN has put out its 2009 NBA Draft rankings. KU's Cole Aldrich has been listed as the No. 18 pick overall, four picks ahead of North Carolina senior Tyler Hansbrough. KU's Sherron Collins is listed as the 40th overall pick. Oklahoma's Blake Griffin is No. 1.

Comments

KSA_21_3503 (anonymous) says...

Eat it, Woodling.

June 30, 2008 at 4:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KoolKeithFreeze (anonymous) says...

Wow, and my comment (right after the draft) about the coincidence of J.R. and Pierce having both been stabbed and playing for KU was "removed by the KUsports.com staff" for being "out of taste" by Ryan Greene. What... did you want to wait and use it in your own articles without evidence of having plagiarized me? Just sayin'...

June 30, 2008 at 6:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Tyler Hansbrough is a tool.

Cole Aldrich is going to lead the country in rebounds.

Sherron is the next Tim Hardaway. He will be a lottery. Then get stabbed and move to Boston.

June 30, 2008 at 6:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

I didn't go through all those bar fights for no reason. I feel blessed. God chose me to get in trouble at two schools and still get paid more than Mario.

-Giddy

June 30, 2008 at 6:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

All who believe Danny Ainge is sincere in his statement about Giddens' past raise their hands.

After the past NBA draft some would should take the "r" out of the term.

June 30, 2008 at 6:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

Ive always been impressed with the size of Giddens biceps. You get a good luck in the photo of him flexing. Which is what I think might of made the difference in Giddens getting drafted ahead of Mario. Yea, Mario was certainly a big time performer and had no problems off the court, but how often did you ever see him flexing his biceps to the crowd. Obviously, not often enough to be a first round pick.

June 30, 2008 at 6:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mpann1818 (anonymous) says...

right on kgphoto!

June 30, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

And we care because...

I'm sorry, but J.R. is not a part of the Jayhawk family in my book. He left the program on bad terms...just like that other loser, C.J. Giles.

June 30, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Mark it down now...

The twins are going to be an academic liability from here on out for KU!!!!!

June 30, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

NH_JHawk (anonymous) says...

jayhawkinatl...was thinking the same thing.

Sounds a bit odd to me that they've "finished their schoolwork" but it's still waiting to be turned in and graded? Not saying I know how all this works, but dont most standardized tests get graded instantly by a computer?

June 30, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

weegee (anonymous) says...

The majority of standardized tests can take 4-6 weeks before you see results. I'm sure--despite their fame--they have to go through the same process any other test taker does.

June 30, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Chicago_JHawk (anonymous) says...

I think the twins thing has more to do with some classes than standardized scores. Remember though...Rush wasn't cleared until 3 weeks into the fall semester, and he was never a liability.

I think it says something about KU's pretty low academic standards if they are eligible to go to school here but not play ball!

June 30, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

Funny, KG.

I love it when scalawags find God when it suits them the most.

June 30, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Winterhawk (anonymous) says...

The Jayhawks were fortunate to not have Giddens the past couple of years. Does anyone remember him taking wild half-court shots for air-balls and then getting yanked out of the game? He made me crazy. I could see him getting the ball from Sherron with 3 seconds and throwing it into the stands!

June 30, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Me too, Winterhawk!!

June 30, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

penguin (anonymous) says...

Based on the past draft analysis by Chad Ford, I would have to warn Cole and Sherron to take it with a grain of salt. This is the same analyst that had Mario going 12th overall.

Also I am assuming that by turned in Self if referring to paperwork and not assignments. The statement does seem a bit off. The admissions requirements for out of state residents is as follows:

* Achieve an ACT score of 24 or above or an *SAT score of 1090 or above with a 2.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0-point scale, or
* Earn at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0-point scale in the Kansas Board of Regents Curriculum, or
* Rank in the top one-third of their high-school class.

http://www.admissions.ku.edu/requirem...

However, also not mentioned in these requirements is that KU can accept students who do not meet them. When the BOR went to qualified admissions, they did so with the ability to admit up to 10% of those applicants who did not meet the standard.

Also the KU standards are higher than the NCAA standards. They require a minimum of a 2.0 High School GPA and your SAT/ACT scores are then dependent on your GPA. So say you have a 2.5 GPA then you must get a 820 on the SAT. Again, this is much easier that the base Freshman entrance requirements.

http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/membe...

June 30, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

barackchalkjhawk (anonymous) says...

"The first thing I bought with my scholarship check was a Paul Pierce Jersey and a green headband".

Probably should've started with some books, things might have worked out differently.

Don't think he'll amount to much in the NBA, but we'll see.

June 30, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

PaulDMeyer (anonymous) says...

Confused about...

"The first thing I bought with my scholarship check was a Paul Pierce Boston Celtics jersey and green headband," said Giddens,

What are scholarship checks? Stipends? I thought student athletes only received room and board with their scholarship?

-Self always says the right thing... I agree with him 100 percent in relating the Chalmers perspective and poker faces of NBA GMs.

-Is the Morris twins' academic situation even further scrutinized by KU AD because of the incident concerning Arthur's high school teacher?

June 30, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Wow. All this hate and venom coming from "classy" KU fans towards someone who once wore the crimson and blue.

That is the kind of "better than thou" attitude that gets KU fans despised by others.

June 30, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Toto_the_great (anonymous) says...

The joy of watching Giddens play in a KU uni. I thought my daughter's first words were going to be "Damn-it Giddens."

Other sayings while daughter was not near...

"WTF Giddens?!?"
"Yank his @$$!"

He has a lot of talent and was fun to watch at times (e.g., in a UNM uniform).

June 30, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

What does god have to do with the NBA draft?

I thought he only watched college ball...

June 30, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wiltstilt (anonymous) says...

I caught myself watching a couple NM games this year (not sure how/why they were on), and JR did look like a much-improved player. He was doing more than posting up at the 3 point line waiting for the ball to hit his hands so he could chuck it up... so that's nice. He also put on some weight (remember the stick man muscle flex he would do after making one).

I guess my point is that I really didn't mind him... once he was out of our hands. I think he's got a shot to make it and he couldn't have landed in a better position. You know if he gets out of line, KG will bite his nose off.

June 30, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

JR had a pretty good freshman year... averaged 11ppg, shot 40% from 3, and when he hit that game-tying 3pter to force OT against GTech in the Elite 8, I went crazy...
But he really stunk it up, on and off the court, in his sophomore year... did not improve as much as people would have liked to... shot too many 3s, with a bad %, never got to the foul line, etc....
But I just looked at his stats at UNM. 17ppg, almost 9 rebounds, 5 FTA per game, even 3 assists per game... It's not the same JR, at least on the court.
I don't like him much... but I don't hate him either.
I am curious to see what he will do in Boston.

June 30, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wiltstilt (anonymous) says...

btw... Boston was not only trying to fill a need at the wing, but I'm guessing they also didn't want to rock the boat or do anything to shake Rondo's confidence. If they brought in a guy with starter's potential (Mario) that may have gone a long way to unravel what they've built up in him. Personally, I would look back to the game two years ago when Mario and Russell shut him down and see a chance to improve at PG. I guess if it ain't broke, though...

I also think Mario landed in a great position... somehow Pat Riley manages to sound more excited about him than Beasley, and Miami definetely needs help at the point. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Russell make a roster someday if he can establish himself as a lock-down defender capable of staying with some of the talented young PGs the league has today.

June 30, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jhaux (anonymous) says...

Coach Doc Rivers said: "Back then (at KU), he was young and immature. Whenever someone transfers, you're always concerned about it.

That's an odd comment from a guy whose own kid just transferred from one college to another.

June 30, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

mwilliam (anonymous) says...

KU 98 good to put things in perspective. Why the hate for a kid who made mistakes as a youngster. I guess none of you did crazy things when you were 19, 20, 21? Wish I could say I was always on the right path when I was that young--even when I was older. He didn't cost KU a championship and I can say he didn't really lose any games for KU. He left, matured, to a degree and did well at UNM, even though he had some problems the first year. Who is to say anyone in that situation, leaving KU for UNM would not have reacted initially.

He is not the first college basketball player to have a pretty good freshman year and then have problems that sophomore year. I am simply puzzled by the hate for a kid who was good enough to be recruited to KU; screwed up and was given the opportunity to transfer; eventually took advantage of that transfer and has now been drafted to play in the league, and all we want to do is hate. I have been a KU fan for probably more years than most of you have been alive and Ican't get into all this negativity, and I'm glad the KU fans I hang with are of a different breed.
I too wish Mario and Arthur would have gone higher but I can't blame JR for them not going higher--their mistake was not getting the proper agents to take care of business.

June 30, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I can respect the feeling that Giddens has improved. He's been in college for 5 years. I hope to God he has. All I'm still saying is that he's not good. And being 23 years old... he can't have too terribly much unrealized potential left.

And don't think for one second that any current KU player wouldn't have an amazing boost in stats if they went off to play at New Mexico. Let Mario go drop 25pts and log about 4 steals a game there and see how much better he all of a sudden becomes.

June 30, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

lalawguy (anonymous) says...

I think Giddens is talented, and he made some crucial three's during his time at KU. I never really followed him at N.M. But for the Celtics to rank his talent above Mario Chalmers makes no sense. Chalmers has shown that he can produce when the pressure is really on. It's just disappointing that such talent did not get recognized in the first round. of the draft.

June 30, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

milehighhawker (anonymous) says...

Good point Lebowski.....What do you think Rush or Arthur, hell even Jackson would have averaged in the Mountain West Conference, without all the talent on the floor.

June 30, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfanincali (anonymous) says...

Irony of the day when comparing Mario and J.R. in relation to draft status..........jersey #15

June 30, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

Lebwoski, I don't deny that playing for an inferior program typically leads to a boost in stats, particularly points, but give the guy just an ounce of credit.
You don't go from 4 to 9 rebounds a game by simply standing behind the 3pt line, like he used to do at KU. Same with the assists, from barely 1 per game to 3... he shared the ball a little more...
And finally, the FTA... not even one per game with KU, over 2 years, to 5 per game his senior year.... shows more agressiveness, regardless of the team...
Again, I don't like him much, but I don't understand why so many of you hate him so much...

June 30, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ESUjayhawk (anonymous) says...

The Morris twins are waiting for the NCAA Clearinghouse to approve them to be eligible to play... It is way more than just grading a standardized test... They look at transcripts from every school they have attended and it takes even longer if you have attended several high schools and prep schools... I did track in college and only went to one high school and it still took over a month before I was even cleared to practice with the rest of the team... They must go through this process for every single athlete in the NCAA D1, D2, D3, male and female alike... They dont just look at a piece of paper and say either APPROVED or DECLINED... There is a due process that takes time... The last thing the NCAA wants is another OJ Mayo or Darrell Arthur (although not true) incident

June 30, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

imnotpaulpierce (anonymous) says...

I thought JR was banned from Wal Mart...

June 30, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Yes, and as I pointed out ...

Will JR and PP compare knife scars?

June 30, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

"Funny, KG.
I love it when scalawags find God when it suits them the most."

So true. I saw a comedian do a routine once about an athlete who blamed every bad thing on God--something like, "I wouldn't have fumbled if it wasn't for God ..." It is funny how God is only responsible for the good things and never has anything to do with the bad things. Guess he's not quite so "all powerful," huh?

"The joy of watching Giddens play in a KU uni. I thought my daughter's first words were going to be 'Damn-it Giddens.'"

That's funny, toto!!!

"He didn't cost KU a championship and I can say he didn't really lose any games for KU."

How can anyone know that? Yes, he probably didn't cost KU a championship, but to say he "didn't really lose any games???" How can you possibly know there's not a single game that would have turned out differently if JR hadn't been standing at the three-point line jacking up shot after shot, or if he hadn't played mediocre-to-poor defense? I don't harbor any ill will for JR, and in fact would like to see him do well despite his history, because he's still an ex-Jayhawk. But let's not look at his history through rose-colored glasses.

June 30, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

swishymcjayhawk (anonymous) says...

"What are scholarship checks? Stipends? I thought student athletes only received room and board with their scholarship?"

nope. they get room and board, along with a stipend for spending money, every couple weeks.

June 30, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmkjayhawk (anonymous) says...

I heard that Rush said he never even considered KU until Giddens left, so I'm fine with the way the whole thing worked out.

June 30, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

Hey, at least he paid for the headband and the jersey.

June 30, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

trich424 (anonymous) says...

"Remember, former Jayhawk Pierce also was stabbed in an incident in a Boston club during the early portion of his NBA career and has not been in trouble since."

Two completely different things. Giddens is a stab-er, Pierce was a stab-ee

June 30, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rcaltrider (anonymous) says...

"Two completely different things. Giddens is a stab-er, Pierce was a stab-ee"

Ummm, maybe I'm remembering things wrong, but I'm pretty sure Giddens didn't stab anybody. He was also the stab-ee.

June 30, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhwkfan162515 (anonymous) says...

djkc28...the NBA "evil"? I thought the Oklahoma Sooners were the Evil Empire...

I will say this, I'm not buying into J.R.'s remarks yet. I'd like to see some fruit of the Spirit. Mere words aren't going to convince me that he has changed.

June 30, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Johann Ross) says...

djkc28.

The headline is not misleading. Even if your contention is true, that these "blessings" are not from God, it still remains that Giddens feels that way. The headline is therefore correct.

My objection to your post has less to do with religion, and more to do with the fact that salvation sermons are being preached in a sports forum. Havent you ever heard of the "Separation of Church and Sports" clause in the Constitution? DUH!

June 30, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

aledell (anonymous) says...

jross: "separation of church and sports" HILARIOUS! Seriously everybody, Giddens is a good basketball player. He doesn't seem to be the most stand-up guy. There's a lot of that in the NBA. That being said, I did laugh out loud during the draft as I was anticipating Mario's name and heard JR's.

Why does everyone seem to take this so personally? We got a championship and JR got Mountain West co-player of the year (or whatever). Who do you think (quite predictably) came out on top in that situation?

June 30, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

"I pray that each of our players drafted into the evil NBA will find the Lord and follow in his footsteps."

Find Him?

I didn't even realize He was missing!

Following in His footsteps might be pretty difficult as that might involve walking on water ... allegedly.

June 30, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cobweb (anonymous) says...

4000 killed in Iraq, the economy going to hell, homeless people, terrorism, etc. and the Lord chooses to help Giddens the punk get drafted in the first round? Right.

June 30, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Lot of venom here.
As far as the twins, folks they are going to be eligible eventually.
It's going to take a while probably a long time like Rush's eligibility took a long time.
Self told me last night the grades still are being turned in, etc., so it's not even to the Clearinghouse yet.
There was still question about Rush's eligibility midway through his freshman season as you recall. KU rolled the dice and let him play and it turned out fine. He almost had to sit out a road game as KU checked further into details.
You can worry about it day after day, but that's what you will be doing. Like Self told me there is a process. It's gonna take a while.
Again, Little pulled off a major accomplishment to be eligible himself, having to take 2 summer school courses as well as having to pass a batch his second semester.
Moral of the story: Anytime God, Giddens, Roy, Padgett, Giles, Chad Ford draft predictions of current Jayhawks are mentioned in a story, there's gonna be venom.
If I were you I'd just assume they are gonna be eligible or you'll be wasting a lotta energy cause there doesn't figure to be a final update on their eligibility for a while.
I mean you could also start worrying about Cole turning pro after two years if you want. Henry signing, et. all.
The moral of the story is enjoy the 2008 title ... and ....
GO WHITE SOX!

June 30, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Ah, Gary-

You just had to throw in that last little jab didn't you? I suppose you have the bragging rights at the moment for sweeping my Cubbies. Just like I do for the opposite happening on the North side....

I also want to applaud you for using the terms "ex-Jayhawk" and "former Jayhawk" correctly. Any chance you can pass that on to the rest of the staff and get them to do the same?

Everyone else:
As to Giddens, people do harbor tough feelings toward the guy, but it isn't his fault Chalmers fell to the 2nd round. Give the kid a bit of a break here. He has the body of an NBA player; whether he will become a decent one remains to be seen.

June 30, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

Gary,
I agree. I just don't understand the venom towards Giddens. If you are gonna be mad at anyone for Mario not getting drafted in the first round, start with the Euro who averaged 5 pts a game, but still managed to get selected in the first round, or how about the kid from the Congo, or the one from Western Kentucky, or the guy from IUPUI that the Spurs took. I would think that Mario is a better player/prospect than any of them.

Get over it people. Enjoy the Championship... and...
GO Steelers!

June 30, 2008 at 5:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

I look forward to the day when djkc28 will not engender a single response from one of his bits of drivel. Let's all make a pact to not give him the satisfaction of noticing that he exists.

June 30, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bringheatwavewheat (anonymous) says...

"Alot of venom here"

Hey, you figured out what blogs or for huh?

June 30, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bringheatwavewheat (anonymous) says...

are for

June 30, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Yeah, the Cubs did the job in Wrigley. Nice job there.
The Sox got even in the cell.
I disagree that blogs should be for venom.
My goal in life is to make the internet a kindler, gentler, place. Currently comment boards and message boards resemble streetfights minus the fists.

The ex-Jayhawk former Jayhawk thing is confusing.
You guys have to see our point of view on this.
If we say Jayhawk Paul Pierce it implies he is still on the team. So we say former Jayhawk or ex-Jayhawk.
I take it you all prefer former, but isn't it the same word really?
Fans may say once a Jayhawk always a Jayhawk but there has to be some way of identifying former players vs. current.
As an interesting sidenote, I'll give Julian credit. He was mad upon reading one of the stories that called him an ex-Jayhawk. He sent me an email saying he's always a Jayhawk. I though that was neat.
I told him it wasn't meant to be a slam, just that we have to find a way to identify former KU players vs. current.
If I'm doing a story on what KU players think of Missouri and I say, KU player Ryan Robertson, that doesn't make sense. I could say Ryan Robertson, who graduated from KU in xxxx, but not all former Jayhawks have graduated, so you can't be safe in saying KU grad, especially on guys who leave school after two or three yeras.
I appreciate the input.
There are some things we do that make readers made that are unavoidable, like writing about Roy, Giddens, Padgett, etc. But face it, some people are interested in ex-Jayhawks, I mean former Jayhawks.

June 30, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Oops there are a couple typos in that message where I can't edit 'em.
The most confusing one is in the last graph, substitude mad for made. Thanx.

June 30, 2008 at 7 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

trich424 (anonymous) says...

Just say former Jayhawks. Not that hard.

Former Jayhawk Paul Pierce. Ex-Jayhawk JR Giddens. Jayhawk Travis Releford.

June 30, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Former sounds good, but isn't ex a synonym for former?
Just askin.

June 30, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Strikewso (anonymous) says...

Giddens was also the Stab-ee. Remember the punk he got in a fight with? That guy was a complete loser.

June 30, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

Gary, Ryan Robertson graduated in May 1999.
Jayhawk86, why would you be mad at Ajinca or Ibaka or anyone else drafted before Mario? If you want to blame anyone, start with Chad Ford and his stupid mock draft. He predicted Mario would be a lottery pick... and he gets paid for predictions like that... Then move on to the GMs and others who probably told Mario he was a first-rounder... Don't hate the playaz, hate the "game"!

June 30, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BannerforKirk (anonymous) says...

Gary - your job is words. Are you really saying that semantics don't matter? Your readers are letting you know it makes a bit difference in the way they perceive what you write - that's come across pretty clear. Is continuing to make the point/ask the question supposed to change the answer? Seems to be an interesting strategy for someone who writes to not understand that synonyms don't always read the exact same way.

June 30, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

ku98, thats my point. There is no reason to be mad at JR or at any of them. if you wanna be mad at one, be mad at all. but really, theres no reason to be mad at anyone..

it is what it is..

June 30, 2008 at 10:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

No, Kirk it's good to know they don't like the word ex.
They like former apparently but I didn't see why ex is less offensive.
I should try to remember former or if I forget somebody might point it out again.

June 30, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

trich424 (anonymous) says...

Former is a better term than ex. (Ex-wife?)

June 30, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...

Gary-

I don't mean to be picky, and sorry if I opened up a can of worms with other posters. "ex" and "former" do basically mean the same thing. I just see "ex" as having a more negative connotation as trich424 pointed out. I think with most of the readers when you say "former Jayhawk" we all understand that he or she left on good terms (i.e. graduated or went pro) where as "ex-Jayhawk" says to us that he transfered or was kicked out, etc. Sort of like excommunicated. It implies that a person like J.R. didn't leave college, he went to a competitor.

I guess it is just semantics, but the connotations have meaning to most of us. That's why we like Julian Wright being a former Jayhawk, and J.R. Giddens being an ex-Jayhawk. But whatever. Write what you want.

And Go Cubs!

June 30, 2008 at 11:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

Good point trich.
That comparison of ex-wife is easy to understand compared to former wife.
I'll try to write former if I can remember.

Not to re-open this up, but as a White Sox fan, I do not think I'd be disturbed to hear "ex-Sox pitcher Jon Garland" shut out the Twins. This is a learning experience for me. If you don't like ex you don't like ex. No other explanations needed.
BTW, as you know I loved Chenowith and stand up for a lot of former Jayhawks ... but I never really liked J.R., for what it's worth. He did a couple strange things around the media his freshman and sophomore years. Hope he's grown up. I was not surprised he got into all that trouble, put it that way.
Hope he's cleaned it up. From what I understand he didn't get into trouble under coach Alford, but did have some suspensions under McKay. Of course JR had to stay out of trouble his final year if he hoped to cash in on the NBA.

July 1, 2008 at 12:34 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUGreenMachine (anonymous) says...

first, I don't think anyone is mad at JR. He's just a loser.

second, how could you defend someone by saying, oh kids do crazy things? When was the last time you got charged with battery all the while getting stabbed in the leg?

The guy made the storied KU program look bad for that short while in history...same with CJ Giles (the woman dragger). As a KU fan, how could you not hold a little resentment towards them?

July 1, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

The whole JR thing seems to have been pretty hazy, and we'll probably never know exactly what happened, whereas things seem pretty clear as far as CJ is concerned. Although JR obviously wasn't a saint, I don't think it's fair to him to compare someone who gets in a fight (with another person who's fighting back) to someone who's a batterer.

July 1, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

garybedore (Gary Bedore) says...

At least JR hasn't gotten into any more trouble with the law since Moon Bar.
He has been suspended from the team however which lends you to believe he's not got his act completely together.
But if he's a law abiding citizen now I wish him the best.
He's hit the guaranteed money jackpot of Round One. Hope he knows what to do with the money.

July 1, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )