Friends, Family and Colleagues,
Please pardon me for not returning your emails, texts, phone calls and other communication attempts over the past 18 hours. I do not possess the words to describe my personal pain and depths of emotional despair. In an effort to make Monday, March 22 a productive day at work, I am sending out this communication as my covering comments. This way we can all be productive in fairness to our families and employers. There will be NO need to call me, stop by my office, text me or email me to discuss KU basketball.
My initial reaction is to eliminate sports from my life. Possibly replace it with art, cars or something that won’t destroy my psyche and soul like KU basketball. However, I know those replacements will not suffice in filling my life up (or many others reading this email). Allow me to properly set the stage for those that are casual sports fans or have an “office level” interest but lack the depth to properly diagnose the situation.
Background Information
§ The five largest upsets in the history of amateur sports are as follows:
5. 2007 Appalachian St Over Michigan (football)
4. 2005 Bucknell over Kansas (basketball)
3. 1980 US. Men’s Hockey over the Soviet Union
2. 1997 Arizona over Kansas in the 2nd round (Basketball) KU was 35-1—Pierce, Lafrentz, Pollard, Haase and Vaughn
1. 2010 Northern Iowa over Kansas (basketball)
§ That is correct. Yesterday’s debacle was the worst loss and greatest upset in the history of amateur sports. Note that 3 of the all-time chokes involve KU basketball and 2 of them are directly attributed to Bill Self.
§ Only Quantrill’s Raid on August 13, 1863 outranks March 20, 2010 as the darkest day in the history of the sate of Kansas. One must not “put into perspective” or “minimize” the catastrophic level of this loss. Religious zealots will state that there are more important events in life and quickly dismiss the magnitude of this loss. Don’t be fooled. A loss like this is damaging at a very deep emotional level to many families and lives. Wearing the jersey with KANSAS across the front and holding the position of head coach do not allow for you to casually enter a game and say “we’re slow starters” over and over. If this game doesn’t hold your attention, what would?
§ Bill Self has been to one Final Four in seven seasons at KU. He will receive a lifetime media pass because of Mario’s Miracle. It is evident the fire does not burn as brightly as before—more to follow
§ Bill Self and Bobby Cox are eerily similar. Only David Justice’s 2-out home run in Game 7 with the Twins saved Cox from becoming the Buffalo Bills of baseball. Mario’s miracle shot saved Self and can mask the heartache of 6 choke jobs to less savvy fans
§ Self is directly responsible for the Bucknell, Bradley, GT, MSU—with a 13 point second-half lead blown and now UNI losses. Yes, that’s UNI with a couple guys straight from a Geico caveman commercial shoot.
§ Yes, Roy Williams choked repeatedly, but has 2 titles and 3 Final fours to his credit at UNC
§ The slippage of Self goes back much further back than yesterday. Many players have quit the team—JR Giddens, Micah Downs, Dave Padgett and the list goes on and on
§ In 2005, Poplar Bluff, MO native, Tyler Hansbrough chose to leave Big 12 country to follow Roy Williams to UNC. Little was made of Self’s recruiting failure. In 2010, the top-rated player in America, Harrison Barnes, native of Ames, IA, chose to leave Big 12 country to attend UNC. Come on! These are local kids that are going to the ACC. Michael Snead in 2009 chose Florida St over KU. When was the last time KU won a big recruiting battle? Please don’t tell me Xavier Henry.
§ Xavier Henry is no more ready for the pros than a Warsaw Tiger high school player. He cannot create his own shot, cannot make critical free throws and only shoots well against inferior competition. Please stop the insanity of pro talk. In addition Cole Aldrich cannot play pro ball—same thing—when he goes against Shaq or Dwight Howard how in the world will he get a shot off? Self advised Julian Wright Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur to go the pros early—all are buried on the bench—as is Drew Gooden
§ Mario Little (2009 starter and Travis Releford redshirted. High school all-Americans, Elijah Johnson and Thomas Robinson sat buried on the bench while the Morris twins and Sherron Collins committed a comedy of turnovers—game after game! Doesn’t look so good now, does it?
I believe a coach can usually win one championship and then needs to move on. Do you think UNI’s coach could recruit at KU? Let’s admit it, almost anyone can load the bench with McDonald’s All-Americans at KU and win lots of games. Do you think Matt Painter (Purdue) could coach KU’s all-Americans? Or how about Tom Izzo?
Let’s not forget that Wall, Orr, Cousins and Stephenson all expressed interest in playing at KU—wanted to all team up. Good thing we used those scholarships up on Brady, Elijah, Withey, Little and Releford.
Isn’t it also great that we play tough hard-nosed man-to-man defense (most overrated concept in the history of sports)? Let’s never change up the game plan. By the way, KU does not work harder than any other school in practice. You would think that KU trained with the Navy Seals in the off-season. No, KU players were brawling with the football team over a couple co-eds!
What about Lew Perkins, KU’s AD? Does he shoulder some of the blame? You bet he does! I track this back to the firing of football coach, Mark Mangino. All Mangino did was graduate players, recruit Big-12 level players and win 3 bowl games, including the Orange Bowl. But, no, he yelled at a few players and held then accountable to win in the Big 12. The Bill Self that roamed the sidelines verbally scolding his players and holding them accountable was absent this year. Years before mothers had to cover the ears of their kids as Self verbally blasted players—even puling them out of the game for lazy defense and poor execution—what a concept. Not this year. Instead, we witnessed Self’s chin in his hand while his Rolex shone underneath his sleeve. Collins committing 12 turnovers—who cares? Morris twins missing routine lay-ups—who cares? Tyshon not guarding anyone—who cares? Has there ever been a more talented team accomplish less in the history of college basketball? Nope. Never!
Friends, there was a lot more than a basketball game going on yesterday. We have institutional chaos. KU alumni, let’s end this insanity and get back on the path that is rightfully ours---pursuing National Championships---not another 10 straight Big-12 championships. Our peer group is UK, Duke and UNC---not Mizzou or KSU.
Thank you for listening. We will revisit KU basketball in November. Until then, please carry on as best as you can.
Greg Adamson
