Dear Jrue: Please Shut Up
by tasser10 on Jul 5, 2011 12:07 PM PDT
in Basketball
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PrintBruins Nation has been somewhat divided over how to perceive Jrue Holiday. Did he have an impact in college? Did he perform well as a freshman? Should we root for him in the NBA? Many of those can be seen as personal opinions, and we can have respectful conversations about it.
Respect however does not seem to be in Jrue's capacity. Yours truly never connected with him, seeing him as a mentally weak and lazy player with a sense of entitlement.
Mostly, it was his behavior while trying to get drafted, and his general attitude towards UCLA after he left, that let many of us to nickname him "Jrudas".
Well...it seems we were justified:
Chris Fetters is Washington's scout.com writer. One could reasonably perceive this is as (a possibly coordinated?) recruiting attack on Ben Howland from a Washington Huskies news outlet, right when UCLA recruiting is picking up steam and right when a new narrative about Howland ("UCLA factor") has been pushed in recent weeks.
The stupidity of this lies in the fact that most UCLA fans had let this go, content with being either happy for Jrue as he is doing well in the NBA, or simply indifferent. Why stoke the fires? It is an incredibly classless comment that unfortunately reinforces our perception of Jrue as a self-absorbed ingrate.
Really, it is hard to feel sorry for him when he got to play in the most storied program in college basketball, at one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, while barely having to study. He started every game and only missed one half after being benched for getting owned on defense, at which point he started his "woe-is-me, I'm gonna get my own" attitude where he stopped caring about his team and teammates.
His brother only made matters worse when he yelled "F#ck you, Howland!" right at CBH during a game. They cannot seem to let go of their baseless hatred, even though the ingrate is making millions in the NBA and benefiting from Howland's coaching, whether he admits it or not.
Meanwhile, CBH has been nothing but classy, even supporting Jrue and talking him up during the draft without letting his personal agenda get in the way (cuing Cheat Carroll). The irony here is that Lauren Holiday, his sister, just committed to play basketball at UCLA. I sure hope she does not suffer because of her brothers' idiocy.
Finally, let's simply look at Jrue's statement in and of its own. This is the guy whose main gripe was that CBH's system is what kept him from being a lottery pick in the NBA (or at least a higher pick), that he didn't allow Jrue to play his position and showcase his skills. You mean to tell me that, had he gotten his wish in Washington, he would have stayed four years despite being a high draft pick his first year?
Jrue Holiday: You are an ungrateful liar. I would use the qualifier that rhymes with tucking, but that seems to be more your brother's style.
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i never liked him and he was nto that good at UCLA and is not that good with
the 76’ers…begone jrudas…(tehe i love that)…u have no powers now…
Seriously. How petulant is that comment?
Like he would in any possible universe really still be at UW. Yeah, right. He’d have turned on them just the same as he turned on his team here, and we’d be highlighting his quotes to make UW look bad. In this case though, only one party really looks bad.
J’rue was always about J’rue. How unsurprising he didn’t choose the school that was “like family”. What was he looking for, then? I guess he had bigger priorities than “family”. So sorry he chose to come to a school that turned out to be bigger than him.
Give me players that care about the team. Things have worked out just fine for AA, DC, LRMAM, KL, RW, without any of them playing martyr while stabbing their school in the back.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
I just called my sister
and told her she was like family to me.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Re: my comment
should it be misconstrued, I just mean that Jrue’s brother played at UW…so, uh, yeah, I sure hope that feels like family…
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Exactly
If they were like family to him, what was more important than family for him to go somewhere else? His statement reveals to everyone where this guy’s priorities were. With himself.
EGO TROIORUM MALLEUS SUM
by Bruins102NCAA on Jul 5, 2011 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Got it
So now there are only 13 former Bruins in the NBA. Check.
OTOH, now that Venoy Overton is “family,” Jrue might be asked for a loan or two.
Strange, I read it differently the first time
in a quick read, my first impression was like this: "If I would have gone to Washington, I would have still been there (as in, they would not have been able to prepare me for the NBA). They (UCLA) were like family to me.
I had to reread to understand that “They” meant Washington.
I wish that were the real interpretation.
I’d also like to see if J’rue will damage control this comment in any way.
It's a clear backhand at U.C.L.A. and Howland.
It’s quite kind of you to consider an alternative meaning. Maybe he was simply playing to the local (Seattle) audience by complimenting the UW program. But even doing that in a vacuum is pretty questionable. Juxtaposing his comment with his U.C.L.A. career is pure BS.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Didn't actually interpret it that way, but..
the first sentence is how Jrue SHOULD have been how he looked at it.
LMAO
Would have still been there? So you would have passed up on the NBA…. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Ok Jrudas, good one. If they were like family why did you pick UCLA to start. He’s now on par with the serbian player we had….
"Would have still been there?"
Yeah, because he would not have attained the skills to get into the NBA or the grades to graduate.:-)
Jrudas!!!
What a joke. It’s not like anyone even remembers he went to UCLA anyways. He did nothing for us.
Benefit of the doubt:
he probably said it off the record, and this UW honk is trying to smear UCLA, but either way, what the hell? Nothing like subtle implications that UCLA is NOT a family. UW is a family: A family of thugs who get minors drunk to take advantage of them, throw basketballs in the faces of other players, etc. Go join that family, Jrue.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Doubt removed
Looks like he said it during a radio interview (this was the post just prior to the one linked above). Can’t find the audio. I’d link to this tweet, but i can’t figure out how to work this tweety stuff.
@Chris_Fetters Chris Fetters
Jrue Holiday on with @B1rdman44 and @scottro15 right now! #950KJR #Dawgman @SportsWa
Oswego, he said it, listen here
Go here and forward to the 19th minute.
He was with his brother on a UW radio show. He was asked how close he came to coming to UW.
Also, he is a pro, so this is not like a high school new to being interviewed.
Malfeasance
Jrue was asked how close he came to playing at UW, and he went out of his way to make his statement. It should also be noted that his on air quote indicated that he’s made that statement before.
by AllHailMightyBruins on Jul 5, 2011 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I stand corrected.
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Et tu, Jrue?
Ah, but we aren’t falling. On the contrary.
greg in denver, UCLA guy for life - BruinsNation.com
This action should move the stones of Westwood to rise and mutiny!
by AllHailMightyBruins on Jul 5, 2011 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions
The noble Bruins
Hath told you Jrue was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault;
And grievously hath Jrue answer’d it.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
"Arrogant dick."
From The Concise Shakespeare?
Your comment struck me funny, coming as it did after the preceding whimsical eruditions. It was like a good, solid “Eff you!” coming after extensive, articulate argument.
For my part, it was Greek to me.
by GoodTimesBruin on Jul 5, 2011 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions
the irony of this
is that Fetters is clearly trying to smear UCLA…yet if I’m an elite high school player with dreams of the NBA I think, “I can go to Washington and feel like everyone loves me, or I can go to UCLA and become a stud in the NBA.” Let’s see…which would I choose?
And since we’re all used to such class from UW’s program and the Holiday’s in general, this pretty much fits the bill.
wow
I was just telling my son about Benedict Arnold yesterday…
I always felt that his time at UCLA was “meh” but didn’t have hard feelings with him going pro. If he’s trashing the program over 2 years later though, he’s got issues.
by RealisticBruinFan on Jul 5, 2011 2:09 PM PDT reply actions
Slight difference
Arnold was genuinely screwed by his fellow rebels several times. Understandable, but not condonable, how he betrayed the American cause. As far as I can tell, Jrue did nothing but benefit from his time at UCLA. But maybe I’m wrong
by impaulv on Jul 5, 2011 11:17 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Nothing wrong with feeling that way
Everything wrong with saying it.
If he has issues with Howland, hey it happens. But there is no good reason to say those type of things publicly. It is immature and foolish.
Why?
Why are we spending our time talking about this miscreant?? I for one refuse to utter his name as he is and will always be the anti-Afflalo!
CBH can use this to his advantage.
Recruit: “I had such a good time on my visit to UW.”
CBH: “Do you want to play in the NBA, or do you want to have a good time?”
Case in point: Jrue Holiday hated college. He left after one season of my coaching. He was picked 17th and is enjoying a successful NBA career. Justin Holiday loved college. He played four years. He didn’t get drafted and now earns as much as the local pizza delivery guy while playing for Bakersfield in the D-League.
by AllHailMightyBruins on Jul 5, 2011 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
UW deepest team in the PAC 10 last year and Preseason favorite
Yet they may have needed to win the tourney just to get to the dance.
Draftees one: Isiah Thomas with the last pick. I am not prediciting Lee and Honeycutt for greatness but I like their NBA chances a lot better than Mr. Thomas.
Unfortunately
for the younger generations, most would probably answer “I want to have a good time. I’ll get into the NBA because I’m good enough.” Sometimes they may be right, often they will be wrong.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
That was not intended as a reply.
by AllHailMightyBruins on Jul 5, 2011 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Not surprised by this
Jrue was the crown jewel of one of the most overhyped, overrrated recruiting classes in college basketball history. He was the centerpiece of UCLA’s first rebuilding project after the program’s most sustained success in the post-Coach era, and you can say we’re still in the rebuilding mode. I would think that would override all the warm sentiments we all have of UCLA as fans. I’m not sure Jrue was a UCLA fan before signing, which would also impact his emotions now that he’s gone. Some athletes were born to be Bruins (our Ben Ball Warriors, ATV, and Rahim), while some only attended UCLA for personal gain, nothing else. I see this in other factions of Bruins aside from athletics. I have friends who went to UCLA only because it provided them the most ideal launch pad to their respective graduate schools. I don’t begrudge them for not having the same emotional connection to their alma mater.
That said, Jrue is a 21 year-old kid, who just isn’t poised and savvy enough to conduct himself properly in an interview. They can’t all be Kevin Love, you know. This just makes me appreciate AA, JF, JS, DC, RW, KL, AA2, LRMAM, LRM, MR, et. al, all the more. When you have a great track record like that, it tends to magnify the bad seeds like Jrue, Gordon, and Morgan.
Every great program has its black sheep. Jrue is ours.
It wasn't an off-the-cuff comment
He’s said it before. It is a calculated statement, he is going out of his way in an attempt to smear CBH, because CBH probably tore him a new one for being a lazy useless defender and poo widdle Jrue’s feelings got hurt.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Also note
This attack on Coach Howland and on our basketball program was served up on a radio show featuring an opposing conference program. The remark was not a gaffe. He knew full well what he was saying and that it would be used by Washington Huskies (media) boosters. Of course it was immediately tweeted by Washington’s scout.com writer and amplified by their staff on other boards. This was not an innocent gaffe. This came at a time when Coach Howland and his staff have gathered significant recruiting momentum to reestablish the UCLA program.
by Nestor on Jul 5, 2011 3:15 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Right.
But his words likely won’t sway any opinions. I find it interesting that the “Howland is a control-freak” cries have reached their nadir, and this comes out.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
The family obviously don't feel the same way...
since his sister has just committed to UCLA. Fetters has an agenda.
Of course Fetters has an agenda
That’s irrelevant. Jrue gave him the ammo, and this act of betrayal is on him. Shooting the messenger doesn’t make Jrue any less of a turncoat.
Dear Jrue,
Put the Coffee down! Coffee is for closers, only. Ben Howland has how many players in the NBA? yeah, enough said.
correcting the format,
Put, the coffee, down.
Ben Howland to Jrue:
“You see pal, that’s who I am, and you’re nothing. Nice guy? I don’t give a s@$t. Good father? F&$k you! Go home and play with your kids. You wanna play here? – Close! You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you c@#%##%er? You can’t take this, how can you take the abuse you get on a sit? You don’t like it, leave. "
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Yeah he would have still been there
Playing off guard to isiah thomas and getting beaten up in practice by Overton. He would have been there cause depite being a big name recruit he wasnt playing for a coach coming off three straight FFs in one of the biggest media markets and one of the most legendary programs. He also wouldnt have had the defensive and ball control tutelage from one of the best active coaches and an awesome senior point guard to teach him.
by realfabfive on Jul 5, 2011 6:54 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
His draft position was helped by being at UCLA
Show me a single UW player to go higher in the draft than Jrue with Jrue’s numbers his freshman year. Ben Howland’s seal of approval no doubt helped him overcome what was a very unimpressive freshman year.
Eh.
I’ve always liked Jrue Holiday (as a basketball player, I don’t know him as a person), so take what I say with a massive grain of salt. I’m not going to hide that.
Obviously the majority of us (myself included) were somewhat disappointed with Holiday’s performance at UCLA. Given the hype, I felt like he was capable of more, and his raw talent indicated that. I still think he was the best passer I saw in my years at UCLA (2004-2010), he defended well (albeit when motivated), and he generally played fairly solid team basketball on a team rightfully dominated by seniors like Darren Collison, which isn’t always easy for a hyped freshman to go through. I was, however, disappointed in his handle, finishing ability, and outside jumper. Each has tightened since he’s reached the pros.
While I don’t think he’ll ever be a star, I still think Jrue Holiday has an excellent natural feel for the game and will make a very good pro. Not a perennial All-Star, mind you, but he has an outside chance at making a showcase in his career. It’s also true that I really enjoy his feel for the game, and guys with his playing style.
Clearly he had some maturation issues, both at UCLA and in the pros. I don’t begrudge him at all for leaving early; his dream was to make the NBA (as all of ours would be), and while he obviously could’ve improved as a basketball player and benefited from more time at UCLA, he also had guaranteed millions staring at him in the face . And since he’s held his own in the pros, improved his outside shot, and been able to concentrate on basketball 24/7 as the starting lead guard for a (crappy… but scrappy!) playoff team, it’s hard to argue that he made the “wrong” choice. The NBA is not the same as college basketball.
Also, despite six years at UCLA and camping out at every almost every single basketball game, there’s no way I can pretend to know who Jrue Holiday is as a person. Maybe he’s a cocky, arrogant jerk motivated to defile the UCLA program, and maybe he’s a soft-spoken kid who’s said some misguided things and has gotten misconstrued. The bottom line is that none of us really know, and that there are probably way more d-bags (and good guys) than any random tweet or news report could possibly tell us. It does make the special ones, like Alfred Aboya more memorable — but again, there are few of us who know what he truly is like as a person (I bet he’s effing awesome though).
Admittedly, he got burned by Klay Thompson (a lottery pick, mind you), and sulked a little. But he didn’t quit on his team (Gordon), transfer (Bobo), or flat out suck (Jerime). It’s not like he was Satan or something. Boy that 2008 class was great.
Anyway, not trying to change any of your opinions on Jrue; you’re entitled to them as much as I am to mine. Take all that for what it’s worth.
Bullshit
You say that we can’t know who Jrue is as a person. I say that his actions and quotes since leaving give me more than enough to paint a picture of a spoiled, ungrateful, petulant a-hole intent on burning bridges. You spend the majority of your post talking about things irrelevant to the central point and then try to sneak in this crap at the end about how he didn’t quit on the team, when it was clear that in certain games, he most certainly did with his sulking. Maybe you’re willing to bend over and take this kind of abuse from some stupid kid who is wholly unqualified to give it, but for the sake of the program, I speak for BN when I say that we are not.
I agree with Tydides
on this one.
And also please don’t put Jerime in the same group as the other guys. Was he extremely overhyped coming out? Yes, as we’ve all found out, but at the same time he has done what has been asked of him from CBH without complaining (publically at least). Not fair to knock JA because of mistakes in recruiting.
Absolutely agree with your point on Jerime
Jerime’s skill level wasn’t what we hoped for.
Jerime’s efforts in the last 1-2 seasons to improve and do what he can for the team has been all we could ask for and more.
I’m really looking forward to watching him this coming season.
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Reminder:
We are not coming down on Jrue for his choice of leaving for the NBA but for his demeanor, attitude and putdowns towards CBH and UCLA since he left. It is not hard to see that he and Gordon were two poison pills that destroyed the chemistry on this team and led to the disastrous 14-18 season. Good riddance is more like it, I’m glad he didn’t stay.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
I would also add Bobo to that list.
His attitude and “work ethic” left much to be desired, and likely rubbed off on the rest of the squad.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Guess you're a glass half full kind of person
It’s obvious you want to like Jrue, which, in principle, is always a good place to start with anyone. I defended Jrue myself at the beginning. But now I think you’re letting your bias keep you from seeing the whole picture with this guy.
So maybe you can excuse his underachievement while in college, and accept when he did actually quit on his team during games, and understand when those near him were openly critical of Coach Howland and the basketball program, and forgive his most recent comments that are clearly directed at U.C.L.A.
Or maybe, all those things together simply reaffirm that the glass was empty all along.
I’m always willing to give the benefit of the doubt to our Bruins whenever possible. You’ve seen a million times here that BN does not tolerate anyone trashing the character of our student-athletes, regardless if they are good or awful players. But we will always call out anyone who is intentionally and maliciously harmful to our school and program. And that’s exactly the kind of crap he’s been spewing for a long time, and we aren’t going to let it go unnoticed.
greg in denver, U.C.L.A. guy for life - BruinsNation.com
Raise your hand if you wish he had gone to UW too!!
Not a Bruin. Apparently none of his teammates were viewed as family. No reason to discuss him further.
Let’s focus attention on true Bruins that joined the team, treated it like a team, and made a difference or tried to make a difference. We can list hundreds.
OK! I have been wanting to voice my opinion about a lot of Bruin players who only come there for the fast track to the NBA! I know we all need to do whats best for ourselves and our families, but when did a 19yr old w a free ride need to bling so fast? Kevin Love is a Great NBA Player and had a solid impact at UCLA, but I still thought he could have used another year in college. If anything he could have gone down as an all time greats at UCLA. Jrue is a joke! He was no even worthy as a starter at UCLA! Sorry but he could have used 2 more years in High school. He should be donating $ to UCLA and kissing CBH’s Butt! This guy only made it because he chose the bruins! Hes like that spoiled kid who never found out that the only reason people like him is because he had something everyone else wanted! In this case he had nothing anyone wanted. Hes bitter because he now realizes hes nobody in terms of UCLA modern greats! Its almost like he never went to UCLA. UW? Are you kidding? Where did their coach evolve from? Im so sick of people hating on UCLA! This is by far the Best place to go to college period. If you are an athlete then its a no brainer!!! Oh let me see… Do I want to go to College in a Shitty, Cold, Rainy Climate and get a degree nobody gives 2 shits about or go to Beautiful sunny California and be a part of Tradition in the middle of a city that is happening and get a degree in one of the Best all around Institutions in the world? Hummmmm? What sounds better on a resume? Those 4 letters Baby! U C L A ! ! ! I would give anything for the chance to live in LA and attend The University of California Los Angeles! Get real all you Spoiled Ignorant Lazy Punks!!!
Jrudas and Honeycutt
Can throw each other pity parties next year while the NBA is locked out. I never liked this guy, I usually support any NBA team with a former Bruin, this guy will get no love.
by Strathmore&Gayley on Jul 14, 2011 1:33 PM PDT reply actions
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