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I think it would have been the right thing to do. I am glad he said it.
agree completely
I've said before, and will say it again: I don't blame him for checking things out, and taking the money and run if it was good to do so. Don't consider him a bad (or selfish) guy at all and very pleased that he's returning.
But as you said, this would've been the right thing to do - and maybe even would have eased some of the animosity towards him.
maybe
What gets lost with a lot of people is that there was really no reason to say that if it wasn't true. A lot of people attacked his character, even though it is obvious that he is an upstanding young man, and despite the fact that Cal doesn't mess with any recruits that are less than upstanding.
For a small portion of our fanbase, there is no satisfying them so you should stop worrying about them.
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anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y
Guest
This kid has displayed intelligence and tremendous character throughout this process. Stuck to his plan and had an open mind like he said. I'm impressed.
Lol. Why would it have been the right thing? It was all cleared by John Calipari. The kid did nothing more than what he said he was going to do. Said he wasn't going to play last year, practiced with the team, tested the draft waters, and ultimately decided to come back. Sure its a nice gesture but it was all cleared thru the main man.
And animosity from who? Animosity from the dumb ass side of our fan base? The same people who tweeted ignorant statements at him on twitter, made stupid posts and threads about him on message boards, contacted him negatively thru Facebook? Screw those people to put it mildly. Those are not real fans who do not understand the decision was his and his alone. He said everything he was going to do before he showed up in Lex. You have to hand it to the kid, he was completely transparent. Completely
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Absolutely. Was completely transparent the whole time. Glad to have him back. Will be rooting extra hard for Hami this upcoming season
I will say this again and again. It amazes how Cal keeps bringing in these HIGH-CHARACTER people. That means something to me.
Anyone want to wager on how much HD donates to charity after his first big contract?? Any takers? Anyone? He has big shoes to fill in Wall, AD, Cuz, yadda, yadda, yadda...
Disagree, it's a real nice gesture, but he wouldn't have owed anyone anything. At the end of the day this is a business (despite what the NCAA may say) and people need to do what is best for them.
Cal knew the potential risk and option Diallo had. He took a chance and sometimes those pay off, sometimes they don't. But again it's business.
Hamidou did the right thing in every circumstance. I think in a few months or later on in life when he looks back on this decision it will be with a smile on his face. He was honest, forth-coming, worked hard, gathered feedback, and made a decision. Whether he chose to come back or not, this kid did everything the right way. So what if it wasn't in the precious time-frame of those sensitive, entitled group of "fans". No one can fault him for any step of this process. Well done, kid!
(1) We don't know what the real story of the agreement between Diallo and Cal was but the reporting was that Diallo agreed to commit to a full year of playing at UK after he sat for a semester and then received feedback from the NBA on what he needed to work on basically an evaluation exercise. That's not what happend he entered his name into the draft got better feedback then expected and earnestly considered leaving and fully explored that option. After watching Cal's interview at the combine he appeared very bemused and kinda shocked that Diallo was being considered seriously as a Top 20 draft pick and he gave his "I'll retire if he gets picked in the lottery" line. That didn't come across as a situation that was "cleared through the main man."
(2) I will never condone attacking a teenager on public media personally it shouldn't happen period. But there were legit reasons for people to be upset at him for coming for a semester never playing and leaving. Those people weren't "dumb asses" and you shouldn't belittle people who have differing opinions from you.
Can't be true, he used the university and Cal this whole team. It was all in his master plan.
That's ridiculous he still helped last year's team and brought a lot of attention to UK through the whole draft process. I don't belive any fans are concerned about UK's money, that's just an excuse they used to project their frustration on to Diallo.
Sad that we've become so cynical we can't take something at face value
Guess I'll always be a bit gullible; I prefer to believe unless given a reason not to
Guess I'll always be a bit gullible; I prefer to believe unless given a reason not to
Yeah but in life you need to stop thinking of yourself and business so much and think of others which is a great trait Cal has and he instills that in his players..not all but most. If you want peace and contentment that is how you get it. There really is no other way. (Stop thinking about yourself so much.) Not you TheBlueDisciple...in general.
There was absolutely no reason for him to return tuition either way. Clearly he is reacting to the fans online that lost their minds. Still it was an unused scholarship so even if he left he cost us nothing. It was a worth while gamble that Cal took.
That said I am glad he came back but as much for him as for us. I don't think he is in the same point that Lebron or Kobe were. A jump bypassing his 1 year in college probably would have gone very badly for him. There are elements of his game that need the one year in college to develop. And I don't believe the D League is a suitable place to do that. Being coached by some no name in Sioux Falls Iowa is not a comparable experience to be coached by Cal. I don't care what anyone says Cal does develop players and is very good at it. That one year will pay dividends for Diallo.
That said I am glad he came back but as much for him as for us. I don't think he is in the same point that Lebron or Kobe were. A jump bypassing his 1 year in college probably would have gone very badly for him. There are elements of his game that need the one year in college to develop. And I don't believe the D League is a suitable place to do that. Being coached by some no name in Sioux Falls Iowa is not a comparable experience to be coached by Cal. I don't care what anyone says Cal does develop players and is very good at it. That one year will pay dividends for Diallo.
Actually Hami and Cal has used the words "always been the plan to test the draft waters" so its looks like that was the whole story. That is complete speculation on your part as far how Cal looked. If you are gonna write it up to not knowing the whole story because Cal looked "very bemused" and "kinda shocked" to YOU, then be prepared not to know the complete story a majority of the time with Cal. Hami said when he declared it was always the plan to come not play, practice with the team, test the draft, then make a decision on feedback. That is exactly what he did to the letter. Cal used the same term, "always part of the plan."
Hami was completely transparent. And as a kid his age he deserves props for it.
You get on the internet and act like a dumb ass, I will call you a dumb ass. It has nothing to do with differing opinions. Your opinions differ from mine, fine lets hash it out. act like a fool, get called a fool.
And I'd like to know "legit" reasons people had to be upset if he had left? He had a plan that laid out and transparent to everyone that took the time to acknowledge it. He stuck to it. And executed it. I'd like to know what you think is "legit" grounds for being upset with someone else's decision.
Just as easy as Wall and Cuz (among many others) giving after the fact of being at UK as players. Yeah I know that was a shock to some that Cal's players support with THEIR money and have given tons back to UK and their respective communities...
It is also a shock to take people at their word...until they lie to you. Note: This may be a new concept to some but it is a good way to treat others. jmusao (It WORKS.) Be Good
I highly doubt part of the above (In bold) (Other than that, I tend to agree.). When anyone starts reacting and appeasing the "fringe" they have lost already. Professionals in any profession do not appease anyone or they find they are not in that profession long. That is just a fact.
Wait a second. I'm not talking about his right to do anything. People leave school, he should be no different than anyone else. My thought in saying that is technically he is here to play basketball games for the University of Kentucky. That is what his scholarship is for.
He wasn't injured, there was no event that he could have not seen ahead of time to cause him not to play. He made a decision not to play. In most programs that would mean that your not on the team anymore. I do not hate him, I have no ill will toward him at all, but I think that the money needed to be payed back for services not rendered.
its so awesome to see him and others care sooooo much about the name on the front of the jersey, treat uk with such respect. its refreshing!
Let me clarify one thing
My meaning when I agreed that it was the "right thing" was more in the thought..the offer to pay back.
It wasn't necessary of course, he didn't take a scholarship from anyone else and I don't believe it was money wasted
The gesture was the right one, IMO.
My meaning when I agreed that it was the "right thing" was more in the thought..the offer to pay back.
It wasn't necessary of course, he didn't take a scholarship from anyone else and I don't believe it was money wasted
The gesture was the right one, IMO.
I agree with you also, I just did not want my comments to be taken down another Hami bashing stink hole. There is no NCAA rule there, so he is not breaking anything. It was just great to see and thought it was the right thing to do for the reasons that I stated.
Diallo owed nothing for that. Even though I was one who would not have wanted him to receive full tuition for life had he not played, paying back the spring semester would not have been required. He was on the team, practicing, and that's contribution.
And Cal wouldn't have accepted that anyway.
And Cal wouldn't have accepted that anyway.
Agree with all of this
But I do believe him SAYING he would have was the right thing.
And I really think he would have made the offer even if it wasn't accepted
You're in the minority but you're 100% right. The real "dumb asses" IMO are the ones bitchin' about fans whose opinions differ from theirs. That's what message boards are- places to state opinions. I agree that attacking the kid on public media is extremely wrong and he had a right to do what he did. I'm glad he'll play for UK next year but in the end he wanted to go straight to the NBA and he ended up settling to play at UK for one season. No law broken there but for those that didn't like it and don't like the current system they have every right to feel that way. And that doesn't make them "dumb asses".
Not sure why I can't tag him, but to @brianpoe.. this goes a LOOONG way making me think he didn't do this in deceit or for selfish reasons. Obviously it's not hard evidence.. but it's enough to swing my outlook on the situation. Seems like he had the right intentions, and the NBA was just an "Oh, well maybe it's a possibility now" scenario. Can't fault him at all, at this point.
