Another reason why I love this this team... | Page 2 | Syracusefan.com

Another reason why I love this this team...

Great human beings who play basketball do not have to be great at basketball. I don't think the intent was malicious. Baye is a great human being and the fact he gave SU some of the most important years of his life is wonderful. He did really struggle on the court a lot and it is definitely a long shot at best for him to collect a paycheck playing hoops anywhere and if he wasnt 6'11 well... love that kid as a person though.

The story reminds me of 3 women at the grocery store fighting over a bottle of wine last week. My family is german so I recognized that language while the other two were french and russian. It was quite entertaining.
 
I love Baye. He's one of the best ambassadors we have ever had. He was a great leader and worked his butt off. And I think CTO's story is great.

That said, saying Baye could play at some pro level is no more realistic than Billy Celuck or Craig Forth being legitimate pro level players (nothing against them, either - some people are tall, hard workers, and great reps for SU, who simply don't have the skill level necessary to play at the next level).

It's not taking anything away from Baye to say he isn't good enough to play pro ball. The vast majority of college players are in the same boat, and it doesn't lessen the impact they had at their respective schools.

Gerry freaking McNamara could barely make it in pro leagues (I know he was chasing the NBA level and that was a hurdle and he eventually just decided to coach instead, but the point remains). If GMac struggles to play at a pro level, it's not unrealistic to say Baye won't be able to, either.
 
jekelish said:
I love Baye. He's one of the best ambassadors we have ever had. He was a great leader and worked his butt off. And I think CTO's story is great.

That said, saying Baye could play at some pro level is no more realistic than Billy Celuck or Craig Forth being legitimate pro level players (nothing against them, either - some people are tall, hard workers, and great reps for SU, who simply don't have the skill level necessary to play at the next level).

It's not taking anything away from Baye to say he isn't good enough to play pro ball. The vast majority of college players are in the same boat, and it doesn't lessen the impact they had at their respective schools.

Gerry freaking McNamara could barely make it in pro leagues (I know he was chasing the NBA level and that was a hurdle and he eventually just decided to coach instead, but the point remains). If GMac struggles to play at a pro level, it's not unrealistic to say Baye won't be able to, either.
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jekelish said:
I love Baye. He's one of the best ambassadors we have ever had. He was a great leader and worked his butt off. And I think CTO's story is great.

That said, saying Baye could play at some pro level is no more realistic than Billy Celuck or Craig Forth being legitimate pro level players (nothing against them, either - some people are tall, hard workers, and great reps for SU, who simply don't have the skill level necessary to play at the next level).

It's not taking anything away from Baye to say he isn't good enough to play pro ball. The vast majority of college players are in the same boat, and it doesn't lessen the impact they had at their respective schools.

Gerry freaking McNamara could barely make it in pro leagues (I know he was chasing the NBA level and that was a hurdle and he eventually just decided to coach instead, but the point remains). If GMac struggles to play at a pro level, it's not unrealistic to say Baye won't be able to, either.
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Jekelish you're tall what are you like 6'6 why don't you play pro basketball somewhere? Waste of height if I've ever seen it.
 
EastCoast2 said:
Jekelish you're tall what are you like 6'6 why don't you play pro basketball somewhere? Waste of height if I've ever seen it.
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Sadly I'm only 6-2, otherwise I would be playing summer pro with Sidney Dean.
 
EastCoast2 said:
Jekelish you're tall what are you like 6'6 why don't you play pro basketball somewhere? Waste of height if I've ever seen it.
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5'3" here heyyooo. Muggsy in the house
 
People do realize that there are thousands of US players in foreign leagues, don't they? Matt Gorman played 6 years overseas till injuries forced him to retire. Brandon Reese, a walk on played overseas. Elvir Ovcina is in his 2nd decade playing European basketball. I know 2 kids from a local high school, Ludden who played overseas, one played D2 ball and is currently in his 6th year over there. 2 graduating Lemoyne players this year, Nate Champion and Jim Janson both plan on playing overseas. Here's a site dedicated to D3 (yes D3 players), NAIA players who are playing overseas.
http://www.usbasket.com/ncaa3/Ex-NCAA-D3-Basketball-Players.asp

Some players just don't make the huge adjustment to play overseas - they get homesick etc and some just aren't that dedicated to basketball to make it work. If players have other options , are married etc - many opt to stay stateside not go over seas nor live a nomadic lifestyle in a foreign county and decide to just start their post basketball lives. I have no doubt that Baye with his motor could play overseas somewhere but with his personality, work ethic I'm certain he will have other options to weigh before making his decision. Playing basketball overseas won't be his only option to make a decent living - just like Keuth Duany.
 
Cheriehoop said:
People do realize that there are thousands of US players in foreign leagues, don't they? Matt Gorman played 6 years overseas till injuries forced him to retire. Brandon Reese, a walk on played overseas. Elvir Ovcina is in his 2nd decade playing European basketball. I know 2 kids from a local high school, Ludden who played overseas, one played D2 ball and is currently in his 6th year over there. 2 graduating Lemoyne players this year, Nate Champion and Jim Janson both plan on playing overseas. Here's a site dedicated to D3 (yes D3 players), NAIA players who are playing overseas.
http://www.usbasket.com/ncaa3/Ex-NCAA-D3-Basketball-Players.asp

Some players just don't make the huge adjustment to play overseas - they get homesick etc and some just aren't that dedicated to basketball to make it work. If players have other options , are married etc - many opt to stay stateside not go over seas nor live a nomadic lifestyle in a foreign county and decide to just start their post basketball lives. I have no doubt that Baye with his motor could play overseas somewhere but with his personality, work ethic I'm certain he will have other options to weigh before making his decision. Playing basketball overseas won't be his only option to make a decent living - just like Keuth Duany.
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I could probably go to Australia right now and find a league to play in for basically scrap pay but since I'm getting paid it would be considered a professional league...
 
Cheriehoop said:
People do realize that there are thousands of US players in foreign leagues, don't they? Matt Gorman played 6 years overseas till injuries forced him to retire. Brandon Reese, a walk on played overseas. Elvir Ovcina is in his 2nd decade playing European basketball. I know 2 kids from a local high school, Ludden who played overseas, one played D2 ball and is currently in his 6th year over there. 2 graduating Lemoyne players this year, Nate Champion and Jim Janson both plan on playing overseas. Here's a site dedicated to D3 (yes D3 players), NAIA players who are playing overseas.
http://www.usbasket.com/ncaa3/Ex-NCAA-D3-Basketball-Players.asp

Some players just don't make the huge adjustment to play overseas - they get homesick etc and some just aren't that dedicated to basketball to make it work. If players have other options , are married etc - many opt to stay stateside not go over seas nor live a nomadic lifestyle in a foreign county and decide to just start their post basketball lives. I have no doubt that Baye with his motor could play overseas somewhere but with his personality, work ethic I'm certain he will have other options to weigh before making his decision. Playing basketball overseas won't be his only option to make a decent living - just like Keuth Duany.
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well... cherie won this debate.
 
RandygoCuse said:
I've heard that reference, but I can't place it.
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I was just questioning his avatar of Merril Hoge. I'm assuming that would be the same for any other time it was referenced.
 
cto said:
Anything that is not deleted is obviously not "off limits." I just found it sad that what started as a light-hearted thread about a cute off-the-court story, suddenly turned into criticism of a player's on-the-court shortcomings.
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I am really sorry for starting the string that seems to have high jacked an very interesting story. CTO's (and others) comments about how great a young man Baye is, made me interested in his future. It does seem that most of the "foreign" dudes who come to play ball in the US end up making more of themselves than home grown kids (at least percentage wise). As pointed, there hare literally hundreds of pro leagues in the world and with his skill set (minus the hands) he could do well in some. Of course it ends up being a balance of what a pro pay check might offer (plus the experience!) versus what a mundane job has to offer.
 
jekelish said:
I love Baye. He's one of the best ambassadors we have ever had. He was a great leader and worked his butt off. And I think CTO's story is great.

That said, saying Baye could play at some pro level is no more realistic than Billy Celuck or Craig Forth being legitimate pro level players (nothing against them, either - some people are tall, hard workers, and great reps for SU, who simply don't have the skill level necessary to play at the next level).

It's not taking anything away from Baye to say he isn't good enough to play pro ball. The vast majority of college players are in the same boat, and it doesn't lessen the impact they had at their respective schools.

Gerry freaking McNamara could barely make it in pro leagues (I know he was chasing the NBA level and that was a hurdle and he eventually just decided to coach instead, but the point remains). If GMac struggles to play at a pro level, it's not unrealistic to say Baye won't be able to, either.
Expand...
I am sure Gerry could have made it in a pro league, like others have said there are many, but his ultimate goal was to try to get to the NBA, so I doubt he was trying or playing in leagues Keita/Matt Gorman are looking at. I am sure there are many "pro" leagues that are not much more competitive than NCAA.
 
Garbs said:
I am sure Gerry could have made it in a pro league, like others have said there are many, but his ultimate goal was to try to get to the NBA, so I doubt he was trying or playing in leagues Keita/Matt Gorman are looking at. I am sure there are many "pro" leagues that are not much more competitive than NCAA.
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And that's why I specifically pointed out that with Gerry, he basically seemed to want NBA or nothing.
 
Garbs said:
yet you still made the post
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Yes I did because the GMac part wasn't remotely the point of the post. It was more or less an afterthought.

Apparently you missed the part where I said Baye is a great kid and ambassador, and that not every college player is going to play pro ball and that still doesn't detract from anything he has done or will do.

Way to look for the negative and focus solely on that.
 
cuseincincy said:
Yes but only one person is showing their ignorance. There are 416 professional basketball leagues in 271 countries around the world. Very few of which are likely superior to Division 1 NCAA basketball in which Baye was a solid contributor. I think he might be able get paid to play somewhere.
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There are like 3 divisions of pro ball in Europe. A friend of mine played D3 in Germany.
 

The one sure fire for an athlete to improve his hands is to learn to jungle. My son had tonsillitis and was out of school for a week. I got him a tape from the library on the art of juggling. He not only entertains us at family gatherings but it gave him better hands for basketball and baseball.

Ask him to juggle for you at the next tailgate.
 
Last edited:
Orangeyes said:

The one sure fire for an athlete to improve his hands is to learn to jungle. My son had tonsillitis and was out of school for a week. I got him a tape from the library on the art of juggling. He not only entertains us at family gatherings but it gave him better hands for basketball and baseball.

Ask him to juggle for you at the next tailgate.
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can he juggle chainsaws?
 
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