[Southbeach]

I am amazed at the low level of real understanding of college athletics displayed on this board. First of all I have no dog in the race but have been around a number of programs over the years. For there to be such a level of criticism for what LB and RD accomplished for LU is really amazing. I was able to see them play a few times and was always entertained by LB ability to make shots. What a talent! Could have contributed at the ACC level for sure. Helped us get a 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

[SuperJon]

The criticism of Larry comes from students who were here when he was. He was talented. He made some amazing shots. There were just a lot of students who did not like him both on and off the court.

[flamesbball84]

doesn't the LU mens team have somewhat of a reputation for having "thugs"? I wouldn't know since I don't know anything about any of them off court, but that's what I heard and I think LB might have fit into that group?

[flameshaw]

I am amazed at the low level of real understanding of college athletics displayed on this board. First of all I have no dog in the race but have been around a number of programs over the years. For there to be such a level of criticism for what LB and RD accomplished for LU is really amazing. I was able to see them play a few times and was always entertained by LB ability to make shots. What a talent! Could have contributed at the ACC level for sure. Helped us get a 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Mrs. RD?

[BJWilliams]

My only commentary here is that every time I saw Larry, he was always very friendly to me and if I got to hang out with him more I probably would have become very good friends with him. I know I speak for the minority though

[TIMSCAR20]

doesn't the LU mens team have somewhat of a reputation for having "thugs"? I wouldn't know since I don't know anything about any of them off court, but that's what I heard and I think LB might have fit into that group?

Wow, I have never heard about Liberty players being thugs. Just because a kid wears braids in his hair or has a tatoo doesn't make him a thug. I definitely don't think anyone thought of Larry Blair that way. There are a lot of folks at Liberty that don't like Larry and maybe that is where the criticism comes in but I think he was a special player. I don't think he was the best ever but you can't deny his impact on the program. He made his mark. Yes he took bad shots at times some of which he made by the way but he really wanted to win. Everyone loved Larry as a Freshman when he hit 7 threes in the big south championship final. Really his second year he was still liked but his JR year we had that aweful season and he was blamed for it by some.

[El Scorcho]

I am amazed at the low level of real understanding of college athletics displayed on this board.

And yet, here you are. Somehow I don't think you mean this. We have a lot of people here with a lot of experience in college athletics (players, coaches, boosters, etc.) and we also have a lot of people here like me, who are just fans. I've seen other boards from other programs and this board covers a (currently) low-level Division I program much more thoroughly than most of those, including some of our competition and a lot of mid-majors.

First of all I have no dog in the race...

I think your next statement completely betrays this one.

For there to be such a level of criticism for what LB and RD accomplished for LU is really amazing.

I don't think anyone here is criticizing what Larry Blair was able to accomplish. I think there's just been some analysis of how he accomplished that, and some people don't care for how it was done. That's all.

As for RD, no one criticizes what he accomplished. A lot of folks simply criticize what he did not accomplish. And a lot of folks are tired of talking about him since his era is over. But, if you want to bring him up, so be it.

Could have contributed at the ACC level for sure.

Yep. But he didn't. He played at Liberty in the Big South. So, thanks for the grandiose statement of praise, but I don't really care for "what could have been" statements. If anyone is so hung up on what he could have done in the ACC, they should have encouraged him to transfer when he still had eligibility.

Helped us get a 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

2004 was a fun year. Yup. And that was about it.

The way you feign indifference makes me sick. We don't need another RD apologist coming on here to stir the pot. If he and the people around him can't take the criticism that comes with being an athletic coach, they should strongly encourage him to never take another position doing that again. While I'm at it, I think you may need some Immodium AD for your mouth because this kind of verbal diarrhea is stinking up the place lately.

[jcmanson]

TBGB and I got this whole debate started in the other thread. We just see LB from two different perspectives. This goes back to last year when we got in several disagreements over him.

I respect LB, he was not a thug, and he was the best player on our team and one of the best in the conference while he was here. I witnessed numerous games where he put us on his back and willed us to victory. I would trade nothing for him coming to Liberty. While he and RD were here, we had a nice run. It's over and it's McKay's time now.

[El Scorcho]

And before the usual crowd shows up to try and call me out...

I'm aware that I was extremely harsh in my above post. However, I am absolutely sick and tired of this. I do not understand it and it's starting to get on my last nerve. I never had any feelings toward our former coach one way or another until people started showing up on this board, registering just to talk about him after he was gone. The whine factor is over the top and I do not like it at all.

So, if I sound upset, it's because I am. This crap is so 2007.

[SuperJon]

doesn't the LU mens team have somewhat of a reputation for having "thugs"? I wouldn't know since I don't know anything about any of them off court, but that's what I heard and I think LB might have fit into that group?

Wow, I have never heard about Liberty players being thugs. Just because a kid wears braids in his hair or has a tatoo doesn't make him a thug. I definitely don't think anyone thought of Larry Blair that way.

Scar, I love you, but I'm going to have to disagree with part of what you said.

One of the reasons this year's team is so easy to get behind is because they don't exude the "thug look" like past teams. The past two seasons, which is all I have to go by because it's all I've been here, the team has had that look. I agree that just having braids and tattoos doesn't make you a thug. However, the braids, the pants halfway down their butt, the shirts fifteen sizes too big, the blatant breaking of the dress code on a regular basis, and just the way they acted in the hallways gave them the thug look. At some schools, that's fine, but not at Liberty. This year the guys are in dress code. They are more involved with the students. They give off the look of "we're Liberty students who happen to play ball" not "we're ball players who happen to go to Liberty." From an alumni standpoint, people don't see this stuff. They just see what's on the court. The kids who saw him everyday in the hallways, in class, etc have a completely different opinion of him. If I need to, I can go into more detail, but I'm hoping this explained it enough.

[ToTheLeft]

I like this year's team a lot. I got to hang around BJ Jenkins in class and he is an awesome kid, really bright.

The rest of the team just exudes this spirit of fun and effort at the same time, and that's why I have high hopes for them.

Is this the most talented team? Maybe not.

But I love 'em and I am behind 'em because they are good guys playing a game they love.

Peace out.

[givemethemic]

I don't normally get in these types of debates but I can say this about LB and that was I never once saw him where he didn't have a smile on his face. He would come in the radio station all the time and would do anything we asked him to do. He is one of the best players to ever play here and after getting into several indepth conversations with him he had his head on straight and truly loved this place. He didn't have to stay here but he was committed to LU...

[whmatthews]

I disagree with most of the negative about LB. He was amazing, and he carried the team when nobody else would/could. How do you not take all the shots when everyone on the team just stands around and passes you the ball (whether that was RD's strategy or not, I don't know.... but it happened and it was worth the price of admission just to see him shoot it).

Sincerely,
Will Matthews
President, Larry Blair Fan Club.

[ToTheLeft]

by LB ability to make shots.

From a basketball standpoint, people seem to think, and rightfully so, that he didn't make shots, just that he was able to create a lot of them and, by default, was a good scorer.

[thepostman]

I want to know who "everybody" is when people say "everybody didn't like how Larry was off the court"...I like Larry..I had a couple classes with him and anytime I was around him he was quite the opposite of how you guys are making him out to be...I am sure he did some things that were questionable, but the same can be said about other athletes on certain sport teams right now...

Did Larry sometimes hog the ball?? yes....but to me that is more of a coaching thing then a Larry thing...I just am kind of shocked to hear people say things like nobody liked him...I have never heard anybody besides those on this board say a bad things about LB....

[TIMSCAR20]

doesn't the LU mens team have somewhat of a reputation for having "thugs"? I wouldn't know since I don't know anything about any of them off court, but that's what I heard and I think LB might have fit into that group?

Wow, I have never heard about Liberty players being thugs. Just because a kid wears braids in his hair or has a tatoo doesn't make him a thug. I definitely don't think anyone thought of Larry Blair that way.

Scar, I love you, but I'm going to have to disagree with part of what you said.

One of the reasons this year's team is so easy to get behind is because they don't exude the "thug look" like past teams. The past two seasons, which is all I have to go by because it's all I've been here, the team has had that look. I agree that just having braids and tattoos doesn't make you a thug. However, the braids, the pants halfway down their butt, the shirts fifteen sizes too big, the blatant breaking of the dress code on a regular basis, and just the way they acted in the hallways gave them the thug look. At some schools, that's fine, but not at Liberty. This year the guys are in dress code. They are more involved with the students. They give off the look of "we're Liberty students who happen to play ball" not "we're ball players who happen to go to Liberty." From an alumni standpoint, people don't see this stuff. They just see what's on the court. The kids who saw him everyday in the hallways, in class, etc have a completely different opinion of him. If I need to, I can go into more detail, but I'm hoping this explained it enough.

Well I will say that even if a guy wears his pants down to his ankles that doesn't make him a thug or a tough guy. I guess it is symantics but my point is, if you spend 5 seconds with LB you wouldn't think he was a thug. Hip hop culture and thuggery are 2 different things to me. I know thugs, I know gangters and no one on Liberty's campus comes close to that to me. IMHO these people may not be exposed to what thugs do and how thugs act so they equate that behavior to thuggery. It is easy to form opinions of people in the public eye. It is a case of perception vs reality I guess too. I can see where someone would equate hip hop swagger or slang and cussing to thuggery but truthfully it is not close. I do see your point though John. I just think the perception is way way off.

[SuperJon]

Scar, that's why I talked about the "thug look" and not being one. I know, personally, the difference, but you have to remember this is Liberty and a lot of kids don't know the difference.


I don't know Larry. I never once claimed that this was my opinion on him. Because I don't know him, I can't form one other than what I saw on the court. The most I've done was say good game to him in passing by the SMGT classes. Maybe I should put the words, "that I'm around" behind "everybody" when talking about him. Most of the SMGT kids I know don't have many positive things to say. I was giving a reason as to why the basketball team in previous years as a whole was not liked and why they had the "thug" reputation and noting the change that has been made just in appearance and attitude this year.

[paradox]

Larry Blair a thug? What's that judgement based on?

Larry never wanted the attention. He just wanted to go out and do his thing and be left alone. Nothing wrong with that. That's his personality.

[pbow]

Wow, I have never heard about Liberty players being thugs. Just because a kid wears braids in his hair or has a tatoo doesn't make him a thug. I definitely don't think anyone thought of Larry Blair that way.

Scar, I love you, but I'm going to have to disagree with part of what you said.

One of the reasons this year's team is so easy to get behind is because they don't exude the "thug look" like past teams. The past two seasons, which is all I have to go by because it's all I've been here, the team has had that look. I agree that just having braids and tattoos doesn't make you a thug. However, the braids, the pants halfway down their butt, the shirts fifteen sizes too big, the blatant breaking of the dress code on a regular basis, and just the way they acted in the hallways gave them the thug look. At some schools, that's fine, but not at Liberty. This year the guys are in dress code. They are more involved with the students. They give off the look of "we're Liberty students who happen to play ball" not "we're ball players who happen to go to Liberty." From an alumni standpoint, people don't see this stuff. They just see what's on the court. The kids who saw him everyday in the hallways, in class, etc have a completely different opinion of him. If I need to, I can go into more detail, but I'm hoping this explained it enough.

Well I will say that even if a guy wears his pants down to his ankles that doesn't make him a thug or a tough guy. I guess it is symantics but my point is, if you spend 5 seconds with LB you wouldn't think he was a thug. Hip hop culture and thuggery are 2 different things to me. I know thugs, I know gangters and no one on Liberty's campus comes close to that to me. IMHO these people may not be exposed to what thugs do and how thugs act so they equate that behavior to thuggery. It is easy to form opinions of people in the public eye. It is a case of perception vs reality I guess too. I can see where someone would equate hip hop swagger or slang and cussing to thuggery but truthfully it is not close. I do see your point though John. I just think the perception is way way off.

You couldn't be more right...LB was an awesome guy. And in response to SJ's first post about the players being blatently out of dress code, why is it okay for a for at least 40% of the students to try to be out of dress code all the time, but when the bball players do it it makes them look like thugs. I could care less who on this campus is or isn't in dress code. LU would be a much better place if people would stop judging other students by the things that they wear and whether they're in dress code every day or not (i'm not calling out SJ on this one, i'm talking about the whole campus).

[thepostman]

exactly....if people think LB or anybody else like him are thugs because of how they dress or talk or whatever else it is they are complete idiots...

again SJ...this is not calling you out as you are just saying what you have heard others say...This board is seriously the only place I have every heard anybody call LB a thug...I am just kind of baffled by it

[checkmate]

Southbeach, get use to being accused of being related to RD if you don't join the parade of criticism. Even when yes some will stoop to a low level of discussion to attack a young man who achieve some tremendous accomplishments for us.
The way some choose to trash others on here is a standard well established. I saw LB as a great role model with our children and other youth in the community.

[El Scorcho]

Southbeach, get use to being accused of being related to RD if you don't join the parade of criticism.

And get ready to be accused of being mean if you're tired of people who only post on this board whenever his name is mentioned. It's sad and pathetic.

[Rocketfan]

If everyone hear complains about RD and LB, i really can't imagine what you would have done if you had to put up with Karcher( for more than 1 year or whatever) and Hankinson. I mean seriously some of you guys would be a suicide watch in straight jackets. I can understand Scorchys opinion of being a bit disgusted, but its almost like i have become numb to this whole thing. We have been going round and round about this for what a good year now? No one brings anything new to the arguements either. Hey Scorchy, maybe we can just compile a thread of just this stuff, you know copy and paste it. Then when anyone new comes and wants to bring it up we can give them about a week of reading and hopefully answer every question they ever had lol.

[LUconn]

I think the whole "LB was a thug" is new to the discussion. SJ's been saying it for the last couple of days and it's really the first time I've ever heard anyone say that type of thing about him.


I love getting random people logging on every month or so and talking down to us. They read something that one person said and now we all have such a low athletic program IQ. I think you'd be hard pressed to find more than one person that thinks LB was bad for Liberty. It just so happens that that one guy posts here (TBGB). Just be happy that everybody else knows better.

[bigsmooth]

ya know this RD thing will probably never die. it's just the nature of college athletics. fans of all schools still talk about fired coaches calling them bumsor whatever negative talk that could be spun. yes indeed it's old, i agree with scorcho, and we need to put all this crap behind us and talk about our team now and coach mckay, but i know it wont happen. just my 2 cents.