The Pearl Ceremony - Another Poor Job

[Col. Bleep]

This time at least the athletic department didn't spell the name wrong.
But come on.
If you can't produce a decent honoring ceremony then hire someone to do it.

The "ceremony" came off as a chaotic jumble.
Just a few of the major things they could have done to make it look like they really cared:

1. Produce a real video of his career that - I don't know - might actually include an interview clip with him (even if he wasn't the most loquacious person).
And more from teammates AND opponents.
(Big credit though for the Boeheim soundbite that he never heard Pearl use the word "I." It was always "we.").

2. Introduce the teammates who came back for the occasion. Among the guys who were there (but the crowd might never know): Lawrence Moten, John Wallace, Raf Addison, Wendell Alexis, Laz Sims, Dale Shackleford and Gene Waldron.

3. Nothing against Sonny Spera. Good of him to be there. But his comments weren't exactly memorable or articulate. There really was no one else perhaps more suited for the moment?

4. How about a comment from Pearl's wife if she was up to it?

5. What bothered ne most was the off-hand, after the fact way the number 31 was revealed at center court.
How about having the teammates and family stand around it in a semi circle as it's revealed? The screen would handle any obstructed views.


And that's just for starters. Basic things that could have been done at no cost (except maybe for the video).

 

[NineOneSeven]

Was Roosevelt Bowie there?

 

[Ozcuse]

I thought it was fine. The size of the crowd was disappointing but not unexpected. I would have felt a lot better about it if it was a win as that usually makes memories of in-game events a little more rosy.

 

[310Pigpen]

Was Roosevelt Bowie there?

Yes.

 

[AZOrange]

This time at least the athletic department didn't spell the name wrong.
But come on.
If you can't produce a decent honoring ceremony then hire someone to do it.

The "ceremony" came off as a chaotic jumble.
Just a few of the major things they could have done to make it look like they really cared:

1. Produce a real video of his career that - I don't know - might actually include an interview clip with him (even if he wasn't the most loquacious person).
And more from teammates AND opponents.
(Big credit though for the Boeheim soundbite that he never heard Pearl use the word "I." It was always "we.").

2. Introduce the teammates who came back for the occasion. Among the guys who were there (but the crowd might never know): Lawrence Moten, John Wallace, Raf Addison, Wendell Alexis, Laz Sims, Dale Shackleford and Gene Waldron.

3. Nothing against Sonny Spera. Good of him to be there. But his comments weren't exactly memorable or articulate. There really was no one else perhaps more suited for the moment?

4. How about a comment from Pearl's wife if she was up to it?

5. What bothered ne most was the off-hand, after the fact way the number 31 was revealed at center court.
How about having the teammates and family stand around it in a semi circle as it's revealed? The screen would handle any obstructed views.


And that's just for starters. Basic things that could have been done at no cost (except maybe for the video).

The placement of the number seemed odd. Was it related to the spot of the BC shot?

 

[Jeremy L.]

The placement of the number seemed odd. Was it related to the spot of the BC shot?

Yes

 

[sabach]

I thought it was fine. The size of the crowd was disappointing but not unexpected. I would have felt a lot better about it if it was a win as that usually makes memories of in-game events a little more rosy.

Same thing happened on the day we dedicated "Jim Boeheim Court". A loss to Georgetown. UGH

 

[OttoMets]

Didn't think it was a particularly bad job, though I was curious about the identity of some of the older players. Maybe they didn't want to introduce people because the event was about Pearl?

The Spera and Tirico videos were a little silly, looked like they were shot from a laptop.

 

[Vorony]

Agreed for the most part. There was a lot of confusion at the end too. No announcement to say "Let's hear it once again for Pearl". The crowd around me was asking "Is that it?" No conclusion of any sort... they basically just moved on to the halftime games that they always do.

 

[realorange]

Didn't see it. After the comments, glad I didn't. It sounded too much like the "ceremony" retiring his number.

As someone suggested, get somebody who knows how to put together this type of production.

Just sad.

 

[oldpinepoint]

I thought it was an improvemt over others. I agree I thought it was clunky

 

[Newhouser]

Didn't the Spurs just hold Duncan's jersey retirement post-game? IF so that is the way to go. Less rushed, and the fans will stay if you can get it started within a half hour which is fairly easy to kill time wise with video tributes and highlight reels. I thought I read the Spurs started the ceremoney 30 minutes after the game ended.

 

[kirbivore]

surprised the new sheriff apologist hasn't chimed in yet. Another AD fail.

 

[MSOrange]

surprised the new sheriff apologist hasn't chimed in yet. Another AD fail.

I'm still here. I watched the ceremony videos on youtube and thought they were nice and the paper writeups said it was a nice ceremony but some people always have to bitch about something I guess. Sorry can't live my life that way but hope you enjoy it.

 

[realorange]

I'm still here. I watched the ceremony videos on youtube and thought they were nice and the paper writeups said it was a nice ceremony but some people always have to bitch about something I guess. Sorry can't live my life that way but hope you enjoy it.

If you read what people had to say about the sound system----------

 

[pfister1]

I thought it was fine. The size of the crowd was disappointing but not unexpected. I would have felt a lot better about it if it was a win as that usually makes memories of in-game events a little more rosy.

I think its Rosie. Rosie Bowie.

 

[OrangeDW]

This time at least the athletic department didn't spell the name wrong.
But come on.
If you can't produce a decent honoring ceremony then hire someone to do it.

The "ceremony" came off as a chaotic jumble.
Just a few of the major things they could have done to make it look like they really cared:

1. Produce a real video of his career that - I don't know - might actually include an interview clip with him (even if he wasn't the most loquacious person).
And more from teammates AND opponents.
(Big credit though for the Boeheim soundbite that he never heard Pearl use the word "I." It was always "we.").

2. Introduce the teammates who came back for the occasion. Among the guys who were there (but the crowd might never know): Lawrence Moten, John Wallace, Raf Addison, Wendell Alexis, Laz Sims, Dale Shackleford and Gene Waldron.

3. Nothing against Sonny Spera. Good of him to be there. But his comments weren't exactly memorable or articulate. There really was no one else perhaps more suited for the moment?

4. How about a comment from Pearl's wife if she was up to it?

5. What bothered ne most was the off-hand, after the fact way the number 31 was revealed at center court.
How about having the teammates and family stand around it in a semi circle as it's revealed? The screen would handle any obstructed views.


And that's just for starters. Basic things that could have been done at no cost (except maybe for the video).

We never do these things right. It's incredible. At least they repeatedly asked people to stay in their seats at halftime beforehand this time. They've screwed that part up in the past.

#2 really ticks me off. Had no idea they were there. Ridiculous. And when is Moten's jersey getting retired? Lomg overdue. Wallace too.

To add, it ended really suddenly. Like, you didn't know if it was over or not for a bit.

 

[OrangeDW]

Didn't the Spurs just hold Duncan's jersey retirement post-game? IF so that is the way to go. Less rushed, and the fans will stay if you can get it started within a half hour which is fairly easy to kill time wise with video tributes and highlight reels. I thought I read the Spurs started the ceremoney 30 minutes after the game ended.

Some people around left this game with 3 minutes to go, and the outcome very much in doubt. Many more left with over a minute to go.

If you hold it after the game, there aren't any more people in the stands than if you do it at halftime unless you get lucky and it's the perfect storm or events with a tight game right down to the buzzer and SU winning so almost nobody leaves early, and the team is playing great and has momentum like after the Duke win in 2014...and you start it right after the game ends. Otherwise, people are leaving to beat the traffic or to shovel nachos down their throats.

 

[OrangeDW]

I'm still here. I watched the ceremony videos on youtube and thought they were nice and the paper writeups said it was a nice ceremony but some people always have to bitch about something I guess. Sorry can't live my life that way but hope you enjoy it.

Id say it was a 6.5, maybe 7 out of 10. Not horrible. Not embarrassing. Got the job done effectively. Not a home run either. Some legitimate gripes can be made. Could've been better. All in all, it's a positive but certainly not anything incredible and super memorable, which we would all hope for...but unfortunately none of us expect given the established precedent.

 

[thebigeast44]

We never do these things right. It's incredible. At least they repeatedly asked people to stay in their seats at halftime beforehand this time. They've screwed that part up in the past.

#2 really ticks me off. Had no idea they were there. Ridiculous. And when is Moten's jersey getting retired? Lomg overdue. Wallace too.

To add, it ended really suddenly. Like, you didn't know if it was over or not for a bit.

Had a picture taken with Poetry and Jdub after the game and went on to have a fun and profane conversation with Wallace about Georgetown

 

[Jeremy L.]

Some people around left this game with 3 minutes to go, and the outcome very much in doubt. Many more left with over a minute to go.

If you hold it after the game, there aren't any more people in the stands than if you do it at halftime unless you get lucky and it's the perfect storm or events with a tight game right down to the buzzer and SU winning so almost nobody leaves early, and the team is playing great and has momentum like after the Duke win in 2014...and you start it right after the game ends. Otherwise, people are leaving to beat the traffic or to shovel nachos down their throats.

The people who care about the event will stay regardless. If people don't care about it and just went for the game and know nothing of Pearl, so be it. It's a sad way to think of it really, but people who know all about Pearl and what he meant to Syracuse would stay and watch.

 

[bballbeadle]

I never saw Pearl play, in person or on television. I moved to Syracuse in 1984 and didn't start watching SU bball until the tournament, 1987. But I understand what he meant to the program and to Boeheim. When they peeled off the covering to his number, I got tears in my eyes and I saw several people in the family wipe tears from their eyes as well. I thought the ceremony was good enough. Half time was the perfect time to have it and most people stayed in their seats. The PA system is absolutely dreadful. The renovations can't come soon enough for me.

Long live Pearl!

 

[Brooky03]

Some people will always find something to critique. I thought the ceremony was good. Unveiling the '31' on the court was very cool and the video was well done.

 

[OttoMets]

Did anyone else notice that they refinished the whole court to look more like the (darker) court from the Pearl era?

The building smelled faintly of a refinished floor and what was a very light wood court at the BU game is now very different looking. I think the baseline typeface has changed, too.

 

[FrancoPizza]

The people who care about the event will stay regardless.

I don't think it's that simple. There are some people who do have to get home to relieve babysitters. And I'm sure there are other legit reasons that people don't want to stay out an extra 30 minutes on a frigid work night. With access to the Hill as cumbersome as it is, it's amazing we get anything approaching 20k for some of these games.

JB's fears that we'd never get 15,000 may come true next year if this ship doesn't right itself. in that case we'd need to bring back the blue curtain to rope off the 300s.