… student athletes in Coach Howland’s program who relish being a “Ben Ball warrior.” Jrue doesn’t fit that role.

Please don’t fall for the PR hype. He has been in Florida showing off his “Chris Paul” game at an Academy and has been extending his stay.

As for those “the Tool and the trainer Thorpe” hyping up Holiday, they are doing it infront of Holiday without him and his folks not doing anything to inject some humility into the process.

CBH is too classy to speak his mind about this nonsense.

I mean, Jrue has said some things that don’t reflect well on UCLA and the bball program, but I think the bigger issue here is the “hype machine” – as you say Nestor – which Jrue isn’t controlling. The media and (maybe) his family may be at fault for these things, but I don’t want to blame a 19 year old about to become a 1st round NBA draft pick for not correcting people when they compare him to these great players.

As much as we expect these players to be mature adults, the fact is they’re teenagers. As 66 said, they’re not going to disassociate themselves from people they’ve trusted their whole lives.

Feel free to hang out some place where you can keep defending Lavin from mean UCLA basketball fans.. gbcw comments like yours are dime a dozen around the internets.

I had to take out the trash. What a loser. I’m embarassed that loser went to the same school I did. Put him in the trOJan hall-of-fame with other UCLA traitors.

I’ve watched the video that is embedded in this thread, and with Fox have watched the other video’s of JH and the press.

His performances have been exemplary — sincere, understated and respectful. I truly do not understand how they can be the basis of an attack on him personally as opposed to an attack on his “retinue”.

I spend a lot of time teaching communication skills — to people with far more life’s experience, success and money than Jrue Holiday, and can say, categorically, that for a young man, with limited life experience and maturity, to do so well in press interviews is impressive.

Perhaps the thing that all who are questioned by others must understand is that they need not answer the question propounded if they do not think the question fair or if they do not buy into the vocabulary used by the person propounding it. Most people think that if someone sticks a microphone in their face, or has a pad of paper, a pen and a credential that they have to answer each and every question asked — no matter how unfair, ridiculous or slanted.

What does that mean in real terms? It means that most people let the person asking the question shape the ball field and set the rules of the game. People on the receiving end of the question usually “accept it” and then struggle to answer it. Very few challenge the underlying assumptions or the words used.

So, it is not reasonable to expect Jrue to say “Hold on there , don’t compare me to Chris Paul — what are you smoking.” But, he did the next best thing. He said, something to the effect that it was an honor to be compared to CP. Watch the interview, Jrue was modest to a fault. When asked why his prediction of a national championship was not met, he didn’t say “Hey, that was just bravado.” he attempted to answer a very complex question that is not susceptible to a short answer — one that CBH would probably slough off as calling for a very complex answer — and said WE didn’t play well together. He threw himself under the bus, too. And, please, what’s wrong with saying that D is hard and he wants to have fun. Some things I do are hard and I, too, sometimes wish I could just have fun, too. That’s not being critical. Is there anyone here who does not look at his or her job and think some things are more fun than others BUT still does all of those things?

Dealing with questions, from whatever source, be it the press, an interrogation by a cop, or cross examination by a lawyer, requires advanced skills in listening, analysis, and the ability and strength to battle to shape the playing field. Most grown ups cannot do it. Don’t agree? Think of poor KD. And, there have been a few moments when the most articulate of all sports personalities, CRN, have slipped up.

Most people faced with a “professional questioner” would be better of turning away and not answering. There is no up side and tremendous risk. But, most people don’t understand that they have the power to do so or are seduced by the attention they are receiving.

To expect Jrue to be better at this than people older and far more experienced than he, is just plain unfair.

sjh

PS. And, I think the criticism of HIS answers has been overly harsh. I actually think he’s done a good job both substantively and stylistically.

is in a 100% different situation than Holiday. Those 9.6 ppg come in one of the best pro leagues in the world, playing around 20 minutes per game. Those 9.6 ppg translate to about 20 in the college game. I will guarantee you, without a doubt, that if Rubio played college ball he’d average 20 and 10 next year. He’s that good.

As for Jennings, again, different league, different game, fewer minutes. And for the record, I think Jennings made a mistake not trying to go to college…but you have to understand it’s not Jrue’s (lack of) stats that have Nestor and the others thinking he isn’t ready. It’s the fact that he had little to no impact on the team during big games. Rubio was probably the MVP of the Spanish League.

Forget the stats in this case. They rarely tell the whole story, but right now they don’t even tell half of it.

The reason that people didn’t mind Love leaving is because of the WAY he left. He had a great season at UCLA and exhibited his skills for the NBA to evaluate. Thus, he did not need to talk himself up (or have others do it for him).

Jrue on the other hand did nothing to distinguish himself while at UCLA and if he is going to have any chance of getting drafted high, he has to come up with some sort of angle for teams to bite on. Consequently, he has used the media to explain how he is much better than what he was allowed to show at UCLA. This is probably true, but the WAY he has gone about it is why people here are upset with him.

If Jrue had just gone about the draft process quietly and trying to let his game speak for itself, like Love did, then no one would have a problem with him. Unfortunately he has chosen a selfish and misguided path which would make it toxic for him to come back to UCLA and pretty much forced him to go to the NBA even if he doesn’t think he will be that high of choice. Even though CBH is unlikely to offer a scholarship to any player at this point, Jrue’s decision to not sign with an agent yet just as an insurance policy in case something bad happens (Brandon Rush getting injured, Ty Lawson getting a DUI) and thus keeping his scholarship tied up is a pretty weak move.

We see ridiculous hype and/or statements what we believe puts UCLA program in bad light.

How do you compare coaches to players? There’s no hypocrisy about coaches, they’re professionals who are there to win games and make money doing it, and if a better coaching position opens up with better pay, why shouldn’t they take it?

College players are not professionals. Supposedly, they’re in school to get a degree, and only get to earn their degree for free because they’re good at sports. Now we all know that has turned mostly into a joke for the big sports, but there’s no comparison.