Butler--> Celtics vs Canadiens vs Yankees...
Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 2:11 pmKind of responding to the Butler discussion from the other thread, but going on a slightly different tack...
Butler is an excellent addition to our conference. The reasons have been repeated a thousand times-- success under many coaches over many years; 2 national finals; excellent school with pride and adherence to "The Butler Way"; perfectly located, in a major metro area in a city within our conference footprint, the state capital in a state that is considered the heart of basketball country in America; their home court is the Fenway Park of the basketball world, a historic fieldhouse of "Hoosiers" fame, with fans right in on the action.
Anyway, as far as Stevens' leaving for the NBA Celtics-- after the surprise of his move, it's in many ways a great thing for the Big East-- it legitimizes Butler even further beyond their 2 title games and their membership our power conference, because the Celtics are the most storied franchise in the NBA, and they've chosen the coach of Butler to lead them... and the response from Celtics fans and the press hasn't been negative at all... instead, it's been very positive.
Compare this to other sports if this had happened:
Take the most storied franchise of each sport:
- If the Providence hockey coach, Nate Leaman, had been hired by the Canadiens and the decision got positive responses from Montreal fans and the sports-following public, it would be a great selling point for the Friar program and our conference.
- If the St John's or Seton Hall baseball coach was hired to manage the Yankees and the decision got positive responses from New York fans and the sports-following public,-- again, excellent PR for the programs at either school, and also for the conference.
- Same with the Packers.
- Same with any sport (Man United...?)
Butler is an excellent addition to our conference. The reasons have been repeated a thousand times-- success under many coaches over many years; 2 national finals; excellent school with pride and adherence to "The Butler Way"; perfectly located, in a major metro area in a city within our conference footprint, the state capital in a state that is considered the heart of basketball country in America; their home court is the Fenway Park of the basketball world, a historic fieldhouse of "Hoosiers" fame, with fans right in on the action.
Anyway, as far as Stevens' leaving for the NBA Celtics-- after the surprise of his move, it's in many ways a great thing for the Big East-- it legitimizes Butler even further beyond their 2 title games and their membership our power conference, because the Celtics are the most storied franchise in the NBA, and they've chosen the coach of Butler to lead them... and the response from Celtics fans and the press hasn't been negative at all... instead, it's been very positive.
Compare this to other sports if this had happened:
Take the most storied franchise of each sport:
- If the Providence hockey coach, Nate Leaman, had been hired by the Canadiens and the decision got positive responses from Montreal fans and the sports-following public, it would be a great selling point for the Friar program and our conference.
- If the St John's or Seton Hall baseball coach was hired to manage the Yankees and the decision got positive responses from New York fans and the sports-following public,-- again, excellent PR for the programs at either school, and also for the conference.
- Same with the Packers.
- Same with any sport (Man United...?)