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Post by friarbrown on May 24, 2014 21:45:28 GMT -5
John Rooke echo's FriarSue's remarks:www.golocalprov.com/sports/john-rooke-thinking-out-loud138Really surprised by Josh Fortune's transfer. Reportedly, he wants to be closer to home in Virginia, and it's hard to argue with that. However, after playing major minutes and coming up big for the Friars last season...and growing exponentially as a player in his two years (especially on defense), can't help but feel he's letting himself and his team down. He got his shot, he came up big. He benefitted from his coaches, and improved playing against guys like Bryce Cotton. And now, he leaves? We've taught an entire generation of teens and 20-somethings that commitments mean nothing... I couldn't agree more. I hate to say this but it almost makes him seem like he hasn't appreciated the opportunity that he was given here. Cooley easily could have let him go when he took over because he didn't recruit him, but he took a chance and helped him improve as a player.
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Post by thewalk on May 25, 2014 6:50:50 GMT -5
Let's not turn this into bashing josh fortune since we have no clue why he's leaving.....including mr rooke....the kid made amazing progress toward the end of the year on the court and was the model citizen off the court....we have posters begging got masons kid to enroll...are you saying the same thing about him?
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Post by friara on May 25, 2014 7:12:18 GMT -5
Let's not turn this into bashing josh fortune since we have no clue why he's leaving.....including mr rooke....the kid made amazing progress toward the end of the year on the court and was the model citizen off the court....we have posters begging got masons kid to enroll...are you saying the same thing about him? Exactly why I am so hissed... This kid should have been another great story at PC... The type of kid that everyone is so excited to see at graduation with family and all that stuff...this sucks.
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Post by TheInfoMan on May 25, 2014 7:46:58 GMT -5
Let's not turn this into bashing josh fortune since we have no clue why he's leaving.....including mr rooke....the kid made amazing progress toward the end of the year on the court and was the model citizen off the court....we have posters begging got masons kid to enroll...are you saying the same thing about him? Exactly why I am so hissed... This kid should have been another great story at PC... The type of kid that everyone is so excited to see at graduation with family and all that stuff...this sucks. Fortune should at least give an exit statement thanking PC and Cooley for the opportunity he has been given. I dare say that his skills would not have developed, nor minutes been available at any other high major program. Thus he owes his marketability to the opportunity he's been given here. He should at least acknowledge that publicly.
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Post by friara on May 25, 2014 7:59:04 GMT -5
Info, that is what scares me...this is a really good kid we are talking about doing something that is morally questionable. Something stinks here.
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Post by oaklawnbob on May 25, 2014 8:10:54 GMT -5
Does anyone remember the piece FS1 had on Josh during the BE tourney I believe? I remember his family members saying how close Johs is to his mom and how difficult it was on him during her tour overseas. To me it sounds that this is the case-he just wants to be near his mother.
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Post by oaklawnbob on May 25, 2014 8:31:26 GMT -5
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Post by thewalk on May 25, 2014 10:11:55 GMT -5
Fortune should at least give an exit statement thanking PC and Cooley for the opportunity he has been given. I dare say that his skills would not have developed, nor minutes been available at any other high major program. Thus he owes his marketability to the opportunity he's been given here. He should at least acknowledge that publicly....you're kidding....I love Cooley but from Josh's seat Cooley told the world that josh was only playing b/c of injuries and the other crap....it could be this recruiting of mason was the last straw for josh...who knows...this news doesn't get a full page if posted in mid December....regardless lets stay away from killing the kid here...not unless we're going to hammer the transfers in as well....
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Post by Rock on May 25, 2014 10:20:21 GMT -5
As I sober-up about this news my focus becomes less about what Josh is doing here - it's his life, his choice, what do we know etc.. - than it is about how difficult it has to be to run a college basketball program these days. You get hit from all angles, all the time, no matter what. I am ready to turn the page from "What the hell, Josh?" to "What now PC and how do we identity and prevent these things down the road?" Don't get me wrong, I think we have Gerard Coleman 2.0 here and if so I can't say I'll shed a tear over it but my perspective now is on PC - much easier to focus on adult behavior, actions, options, plans than 20 year olds is what I'm saying I guess.
(BTW, anyone suggesting a 20 year old college kid come out and make a statement of thanks to mollify a bunch of strangers must know some 20 year old brains that I've yet to meet.)
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Post by thewalk on May 25, 2014 10:35:21 GMT -5
Couldn't agree more from a basketball standpoint rock....no clue about off the court...huge disappointment b/c just as with Coleman these are the types of kids pc needs to stick around all 4 to be successful over multiple seasons...
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Post by wtm97 on May 25, 2014 11:40:02 GMT -5
I agree with a sober rock here...Fortune made his decision so we move on.
It hurts because from a fan's perspective most could see his steady development and that chance to develop into a very good player over the next two seasons. While a statement from him might be wanted by some, I doubt he will say much other than "Thanks PC, now I want to play closer to home".
I really don't care either way either - he voted with his feet; now we need to back-fill and move on. Good luck Josh - we will miss you but now you are gone so...
This business we are in is just that - a business and the challenges are constant given the ever changing landscape. Player movement has become the reality and again I say we ourselves benefited with the transfer in of Harris and CD. Cooley and staff now need to get a replacement and that chance to do so is pressing - made more so with Fortune's surprising decision.
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Post by friarbrown on May 25, 2014 14:41:01 GMT -5
Walk no one is bashing Josh. It is completely understandable to want to be near his mother, especially if she is coming home. The point is that if this was something that he wanted to do you would have expected him to at least talk to Cooley and give him some heads up. Like a couple of other posters said he doesn't want to give a statement. What so hard about that? He doesn't have to give a lot of info but he can at least thank the school and Cooley for the chance that he was given.Even if Josh didn't want to do it, you would think his parents would at least encourage him to consider it. This is almost like resigning from a job without turning in a two weeks notice. Anyways its done. I wish him luck and success where ever he goes. He has moved on so at this point we must do the same.
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Cteve
Blue Chipper
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Post by Cteve on May 25, 2014 14:56:13 GMT -5
I don't read profile stuff. So I don't know anything about mother's, Gm's, fathers, et. al. Is he a chess player or not? Is this a planned move --say two moves ahead-- or just 'I'm been home for a few weeks, talked to a few guys, and have decided not to return for summer school?'
If he has a school (ODU), a purpose, a job, a friend and it leads to something positive good luck to him. If it's a pointless grass-is-greener or imagined insult (I never heard the Cooley putdown?) then it's a blunder. Where's Liberty U?
not unless we're going to hammer the transfers in as well.... ------------------------------------------------------- Mason is a 4-year grad who has a father -- in house-- very interested in his career. I view that as a positive.
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thumper
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Post by thumper on May 25, 2014 15:02:49 GMT -5
My two cents ... Josh, after starting every game last year and getting more minutes in two years than ever talent-deserved, screwed PC by leaving. So SCREW Josh.
Kids nowadays regard commitments like soiled toilet paper.
We gave him a forum for more than his skills deserved and he flushes that without a care.
Screw Josh. This is a sad commentary on today's student athletes and the $200,000 plus in education we provide them. Again, just my two cents.
PIZZA, SODA GRINDERS!!!
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Post by Rock on May 25, 2014 15:22:34 GMT -5
My two cents ... Josh, after starting every game last year and getting more minutes in two years than ever talent-deserved, screwed PC by leaving. So SCREW Josh. Kids nowadays regard commitments like soiled toilet paper. We gave him a forum for more than his skills deserved and he flushes that without a care. Screw Josh. This is a sad commentary on today's student athletes and the $200,000 plus in education we provide them. Again, just my two cents. PIZZA, SODA GRINDERS!!! Gotta be careful with this kind of thinking, IMHO. As others have pointed out, if we accept this POV then we have no business taking quality transfers from other programs; in your description, kids that have "screwed" someone. Not saying you're wrong, just saying we can't have it both ways here. I've even seen some (lame) comparisons to when coaches leave for another gig being somehow no different than what Josh has done. These are too clever by half to me but the angles to pursue justification and create dialogue on this are pretty vast. Need to look over your shoulder before firing away at Josh to much.
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