Stan Love's Comments ...

by Nestor on May 23, 2008 3:24 PM PDT Comment 28 comments

Adam Rose (a USC alum who runs "What's Bruin" in the LAT) flagged the following comments Stan Love made recently on some radio show:

Host: We talked during the Oregon-UCLA game about Ben Howland's recruiting pitch to you. When you look back on Kevin's year at UCLA, he get everything he was promised there?

Stan Love: [Laughs] Promised? That's kinda' ... uh ... No, is the honest answer to that.

Host: What would you have liked to have seen differently?

Stan Love: I like to see him used in the offense a lot different: face the basket more, touch the ball more. When you're a high percentage shooter I think those guys should shoot the most. It's a great fit for him as far as coming to UCLA and his teammates and all that, but I think he coulda' expanded his game a little more. You guys really didn't get to see what he can do.

To give Adam credit he had a good reaction to this exchange in the same post:

It's easy to misinterpret that and nobody should take it personally. Remember that Stan Love isn't taking a swipe at UCLA or Howland -- he's merely trying to convince NBA GMs that his son is even better than we saw last year.

That sounds about right. And I will add few more points:

I don't see any harm in Stan Love saying that Love should have "touched" the ball more. We all said it during the season along with Coach Howland. So no biggie there.
This is same draft posturing we saw from the parents of AA and JF. Yet the way they have made the effort to stay in touch with Howland's program since they turned pro leaves no doubt there is not much to be read in those pre draft comments.
To me all Mr. Love was saying that his son could have piled up more impressive stats but he was playing within a team setting

So all in all I don't see any reason to get upset over this stuff. This is a business involving millions of dollars. Stan Love is doing what he can to elevate the draft status of his son, while Coach Howland remains focused in solidifying UCLA's status as the best program in the America. I don't see the conflict.

And if there was an issue we wouldn't see recruits like J'Mison Morgan coming to UCLA knowing how going through Howland's program and learning how to play defense and team game within Ben Ball's scheme in LA's media market is a pretty sure fire way to get a ticket punched for the NBA.

So it's all good.

GO BRUINS.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Great post

It’s good to see Adam Rose is giving an objective analysis. We all understand Stan Love’s desire to see his son succeed. And there were times where I wanted the bruins to dump the ball in down low so KL could do his thing. But, when you have as many weapons as the bruins, you can’t focus so much on one guy. I think KL understood that too, despite his occasional complaint.

When you come to UCLA, you’re promised an emphasis on the team (Mata Real knows that better than anyone). You’re promised tough a tough defensive mindset. I think KL got all that.

by UCLAbruin920 on May 23, 2008 3:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Any player that plays in a structured offense

Has the legitimate argument that their numbers “could be higher”. Taken at face value, it seems like a slight on our program, but this is the language that we’ve seen in previous years ourselves and from players coming out of other programs with a structure in place. In that context, this seems like standard draft procedure. Now, there are some players who cannot make this argument, because their teams were centered around that player. OJ2 for example, and Beasley (not that he needs any help in getting drafted higher) are two such players. Hearing the same words out of them or their “people” would have to be considered a negative on the program.

by Tydides on May 23, 2008 4:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Michael Jordan's college numbers were low too

So this is not unique to Howland’s program

by Rhapsode on May 23, 2008 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Somehow Derrick Rose was able to “show what he can do” in a whopping 30 more field goal attempts (436 vs. 406 in one extra game mind you) so that now he’ll either be the 1st or 2nd pick in the draft this year. Poor Kevin, even though he led the team in field goal attempts, he really was hampered and held back by Howland’s system.

by godblesstyus95 on May 23, 2008 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I think you guys are letting Stan Love off the hook a bit here. The question was asked “Did he get everything he was promised”. Mr. Love answered in the negative. One could easily infer that Howland somehow misled Kevin in the recruiting process, which we know is simply not true, and/or Kevin was wronged in some way by the way Howland ran the offense. If I am listening to this and my name happens to be Renardo Sidney or even Alex Stepheson, my impression of Howland has probably taken a hit (and unfairly so)

What Mr. Love didn’t say was what Howland did for Kevin to improve his game, and hence his stock in the draft. How is Kevin’s defense, Mr. Love? Is he a better rebounder than he was in high school? A better shot blocker? He had an opportunity to give Howland the credit he rightfully deserves, and unfortunately he didn’t.

Love led the team in scoring and rebounding. As a freshman. He was 1st team all Pac-10, Pac 10 Player of the Year, and 1st team All American. He led his team to the Final Four and was the face of the program throughout the tournament. And yet still, Mr Love felt his son didn’t get what was promised?

NBA scouts will have ample opportunity to size up his game and all of his attributes before the draft. Kevin will be a lottery pick, and will make 7 figures before he is even legal to drink alcohol. He’ll be doing alright, despite not getting “what was promised”.

I’m sorry, but I think Stan Love deserve some heat from Bruin fans for those comments.

by godblesstyus95 on May 23, 2008 4:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It's okay to me

Any parents would love to see their kids excel, dominate head and shoulder over everyone else.

To see KLove put up 100+ points the way Chamberlain did routinely would have been boring night in and night out, an injustice to the rest of the team and an affront to Howland’s coaching skills.

I look at it as typical daddy talk. Nothing more. He never intended to purposely criticize our program nor our coach.

by Htse005 on May 23, 2008 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A better response:

Host: “When you look back at Kevin’s year at UCLA, he get everything he was promised there?”

Stan Love: ” Most definitely. Kevin enjoyed his time as a Bruin, and achieved many of the goals he set for himself. He regrets he didn’t get to get to win a championship, and we feel at times Kevin could’ve showcased his ability more offensively, but I feel he was well-coached and really developed as a complete player. He looks forward to showing everything he can do during NBA workouts.”

by godblesstyus95 on May 23, 2008 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds more like PR than a parent

I just don’t see malicious intent here because going the other way with it, he could have elaborated more on what he felt Kevin wasn’t getting if he truly had an axe to grind. If I were being interviewed in that situation, I doubt I’d be able to come up with the kind of wording that would cover all my bases.

Perhaps I only feel this way because it doesn’t seem to matter either way. Our recruiting class just went from Fantastic Four to Fab Five so obviously if J’Mison Morgan looked at Stan Love’s quote the way you did, it didn’t matter enough to him to not want to come to UCLA.

by Tydides on May 23, 2008 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure it's PR

but isn’t that what we’re speculating that Stan is doing on behalf of his son? I just think there was a more diplomatic way of responding to that question, especially when you throw the word “recruiting” in that question. It seems to infer that Ben, and UCLA for that matter, didn’t fulfill Kevin or Stan’s expectations when they signed with UCLA. And you’re right-obviously no impact this year with recruiting-but when stuff like this gets said and printed, you can just see some TNT analyst bringing it up during one of Kevin’s Clipper games next year, and then it starts to negatively impact the program. I just think it’s wrong and should be called out. I don’t mind Stan promoting his son, just don’ t do it at the expense of his alma mater.

by godblesstyus95 on May 23, 2008 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's easy enough to show

that his comments don’t have a whole lot of truth to them. As the year went on, many of the suggestions that Stan Love discussed actually happened.

I guess there’s a couple ways to look at it, and you could say that he’s trying to advance his son at the expense of the program, which isn’t something I can disprove. One could also say that since it’s somewhat obvious that his suggestions were actually implemented with or without his urging throughout the season, that he’s simply looking for any way to make his son look better. From his perspective, and from many of ours actually, Kevin wasn’t fully utilized until at least mid season. If what he was “promised” was something more than a dominant 2/3rds of a season of basketball, then he was pretty much correct. It seems that Stan fumbled a little with that question which indicates to me that he probably wasn’t “promised” anything to begin with and didn’t quite know how to respond to that. Ben Howland does not seem like a promise giver to me except for the promise that he will bench you if you can’t defend (like in the Texas game).

by Tydides on May 23, 2008 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see where you're sitting

on this issue, and that’s fine. I guess I’m not as willing and able to dismiss this as some sort of unintentional paternal instinct as you guys are. I’m also pretty sure that this isn’t the last interview Stan Love will have. If comments like he made go unchallenged, it makes me wonder if more ill-will towards Howland and the program could be on its way. Hopefully that is not the case. We’ll just have to wait and see.

by godblesstyus95 on May 24, 2008 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I sense your frustration

I will say this – I don’t think the comments above were a big deal (at least to me). However, if it develops into a particular talking point at the expense of our program, it will warrant a tough collective rebuke from all of us (again just my pov here).

by Nestor on May 24, 2008 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frustrated indeed

I guess I’m a bit overly sensitized to this issue ‘cause I’m such a big Ben Howland fan. I consider landing Kevin Love as sort of a milestone in BH’s coaching career…his 1st really big get. I’m sure you remember reading how Howland had tears in his eyes when KL committed. KL played at a very high level all year, won major awards, and went to the Final Four. BH has been nothing but 100% supportive of KL and his NBA aspirations from Signing day to Declaration day. That’s why reading Stan’s comments about “not getting what was promised” struck a cord, and that’s not even considering how those comments might possibly undermine BH’s recruiting efforts of future high-profile studs. Yet, if we never really hear from Stan Love again, then, as you say, it’s all good.

by godblesstyus95 on May 24, 2008 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Remember..

..Stan Love was the guy that made the remarks about OU being dead to him after their fan’s treatment of Kevin and the OU AD’s “non-apology”. Perhaps Stan runs a little hot but we should take him for what he is: a proud and protective parent who cares about his son.

Besides - and this in consideration of the fine points you made - there was an article on ESPN linked here just recently about how KL hired a coach, has dropped some baby fat, and is tearing up the auditions.

I am sure, all things considered and if they had it to do all over again, Stan and Kevin would have gone the same route.

by WHP '68 on May 25, 2008 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're right

I don’t think these comments help Kevin in any way whatsoever (does an NBA scout care in any way how good Stan Love thinks his son is?), and they essentially throw UCLA aside. Now Kevin attended UCLA, not Stan; Stan has no real reason or need to be a UCLA-er. But despite KL’s wonderful year, teams reach the Final Four, not single players. And essentially the same roster minus Love made it the year prior. So the guys around him were great.

What the heck did Stan expect at UCLA? Facing the basket and going for 40? Give me a break! Anyone who has watched a Howland game for 2 seconds knows that’s not how we work.

Isn’t the Final Four the best way to gain national attention?

There’s another question I have, but this one we won’t have an answer to for a few years. Is Kevin Love an NBA player? I think probably not a star. These mid-sized large slow guys (I know he’s not slow, but please realize we now must compare him to NBA players, some of the greatest all-around athletes on Earth) don’t generally do so well in the NBA. [Think, trying to defend Lamar Odom on a fastbreak, because that’s what’s coming.] Stan may think he is a face-the-basket superstar, and he may be right. But I think what we saw of him at UCLA-his passing and later his defense (cough, cough HOWLAND)-will be what get him minutes in the NBA, if indeed he does.

by jjreicher on May 24, 2008 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't the Final Four the best way to gain national attention?

Yes, as two SI covers will attest.

by Give me a B... on May 24, 2008 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This confirms what I had already heard

I don’t pass this off a PR draft positioning. I have a buddy who coaches high school soccer in the portland area who is really into the local high school sports scene. Of course I mention KL to him as he is from the area and the first thing he tells me is that his dad is a complete tool. Stories of how he would berate KL’s coach during games if he felt he wasn’t using him correctly in games and would threaten to take KL off the team. Typical behavior from those parents you see trying to live vicariously through their child and are convinced that they are the next greatest thing. I wouldn’t believe it. Now after these comments my only reaction is whatever Stan you’re a tool. Please, tell us what was promised that wasn’t delivered on. I would really like to know. I don’t believe for a second BH promised him that he would be getting enough touches to get 40 a game.

by makenji on May 24, 2008 8:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Please

Don’t post rumor here or what you hear from your “buddies’ without substantiating it. There are message boards for this kind of post.

by Nestor on May 24, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here is an article that touches on KL when he played at Lake Oswego and the coach didn’t start him for a game. Sounds like there was already issues with the coach before this, but it could explain why the perception of SL could be negative with some people in Portland.

by makenji on May 25, 2008 1:18 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

No more Stan Love, please

In my opinion, putting up “Fire the Coach” stickers is too much. I had enough of that sort of attitude when I coached Little League.

by Fox 71 on May 25, 2008 3:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

I am going to give lot of credence to report from bitter Oregon papers – where people were bitter about losing their once and generation blue chip talent UCLA. Whatever.

Might as well bring up quotes from Oregon students/alums who were busy hurling homphobic slurs and other despicable names to Love family while he dismantled them in Eugene. What a joke.

by Nestor on May 25, 2008 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That wasn't my point

I don’t put any credence in anything disgruntled fans have to say about Stan (or Kevin) Love, but I assumed that the allegation of putting up stickers was truthful. That sort of conduct seems a little petty. The rest of what Stan Love says doesn’t bother me. It’s self-aggrandizing, but that’s the norm now. Stan Love should not be the story any more—the story should be Kevin Love. But I don’t blame a reporter for interviewing someone who will more than likely give you a good controversial comment. Look at all the action the reporter has generated here.

I retract everthing if in fact Stan Love did not put up the Fire the Coach stickers.

by Fox 71 on May 25, 2008 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe he did

In his sophomore year in HS if i recall. There was an article out there stating something to that effect. I believe the same article mentioned how Stan and the coach had made peace, certainly by his senior year when they played Mater Dei. Does not mention how this happened though. It’s surely undesirable behavior, and I don’t think anyone is holding Stan out to be some example of temperance.

by Tydides on May 26, 2008 12:19 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Put me in the group of people

Who are sorry to see Kevin Love go, but won’t miss Stan Love in the least.

by insomniacslounge on May 26, 2008 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And while we're at it,

whatever happened to Bullet Bob Love of the Chicago Bulls nee Zephyrs?

by Fox 71 on May 26, 2008 4:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Just Want To Know..

...what was “promised” and, according to Stan, not delivered?

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on May 24, 2008 8:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm Not Sure SL Was That Critical of CBH

The first question asks about “promises”. SL’s answer is a stumble without substance.

Then, SL is asked what he, SL, would have liked to have “seen differently” and he gives the substantive answer.

It does not follow that what SL would have liked to have seen differently are the same things that Howland “promised”. And, I don’t think that is what he was saying.

I think SL was surprised by the first question, about promises, and didn’t know how to answer it. He stumbled a bit and didn’t give any specifics.

Instead of following up, the reporter asked the second question—and that was probably the right thing to do. I don’t think he intended an interview on BH’s recruiting tactics.

Then SL gave the “father” answer and talked about all of the things his kid can do that he didn’t do.

As I read this, the long answer has nothing to do with broken promises.

SL has been a solid supporter of this program. I’m in the camp that finds no fault in this interview—and certainly in the context of all of the good things he’s had to say about UCLA and will probably continue to say about UCLA.

I think he deserves some slack.

sjh

by Class of 66 on May 24, 2008 11:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Stan Love: Good Vibrations

I listened to the radio interview and then I listened to the talk radio host’s comments after he completed his interview with Stan. That is where you find alot of insight. The host has known Stan for years and said Stan is very emotional and will say whatever comes to his mind, especially when it involves Kevin. The host sat with Stan during the Oregon v. UCLA game at Eugene. Stan screamed out “F—Ernie Kent, he didn’t recruit Kevin to go to Oregon!” Then later in the game, Stan screamed out, “F—Ben Howland, he’s not getting the ball into Kevin enough!” Still later he screamed out, “F—the referees!” I don’t interpret this as anything against UCLA or Ben Howland. It’s just an emotional father trying to pump up his son’s draft position. I think Coach Howland would be the first to say that Stan has been very supportive of UCLA. Stan really went out of his way to denounce his alma mater Oregon. He could have done the same to UCLA if he felt that Coach Howland ripped off Kevin. Anyway, I am thankful for what K-Love and Stan have done for my alma mater in just the one year. Gooooo Beach Boys!! Oops, I mean Goooo Bruins!! Let’s hope there is Good Vibrations between K-Love, Stan and the Bruin Nation for years to come. Peace, out, dude.

by bruin75 on May 25, 2008 3:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs