Baron Davis is a Benedict Bruin?
by Tydides on Sep 21, 2011 10:30 AM PDT
in Recruiting
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PrintFollowing Coach Ben Howland's latest recruiting victory in landing elite point-forward Kyle Anderson, there is some understandable jubilation amongst fans of the program Coach built. Unfortunately, in order to fully close the book on this recruiting battle, we must revisit a rather unpleasant chapter within it: the potential betrayal of the program and UCLA by former players.
Some of you may recall bluebland's fanshot from a couple of weeks ago:
"It made a big impact," said Anderson who saw the Big East school with his mother, Suzanne, and two brothers, Duanne and Jamar. "It shows he gets guys NBA ready. Baron talked about Coach Lav, how he helped him get to where he is today."
That Baron would fail to mention that UCLA's current coach, based on the results we've seen, is a far better man to mold a young talent into NBA material indicates an outright betrayal of Coach's program. What is so disappointing is that Baron has always seemed proud of his Bruin heritage, and many words have been written during the NBA lockout about Baron's return to UCLA to complete his degree. That was, and is, an admirable feat, and we have applauded him for that. We have documented his eccentric personality and how many of his efforts outside of basketball are those that make us proud to count him among us. But make no mistake: All of that goodwill can go up in smoke by betraying the Bruin family like this.
Remember, this is a guy who famously leveled one of the harshest blows against the Lizard's coaching abilities:
"As reported by Bay Area blogger Geoff Lepper of the Contra Costa Times, former UCLA point guard Baron Davis looked into the rafters at Pauley Pavilion last Friday during the Golden State Warriors' morning shoot-around and said, "We should have a banner up there: the only team to make the tournament without a coach." . . .
Somewhere, surely, Steve Lavin's ears were burning."
I know that deep down, Baron knows the truth, and he knows that Kyle Anderson would have a far better shot at being a lasting NBA talent under Howland's tutelage than under the Lizard's. I can only hope that this is a temporary lapse in judgment and that we'll never find another reason to question Davis' loyalty.
Sadly though, this sordid affair doesn't end here.
Another former player, Earl Watson, has also been documented betraying Coach's program:
Steve Lavin was also one of only two head coaches at St. Anthony yesterday, along with Seton Hall’s Kevin Willard, to watch Anderson work out. Another former UCLA point guard, Earl Watson, accompanied Lavin.
This betrayal, though obviously irritating, is less surprising, as Watson has never given an indication that he recognizes how he and others were shortchanged in their development by Lavin's "coaching". Nor does he fly his Bruin colors as proudly as Davis has in the past. We've been supportive of Earl as a fellow Bruin and as part of the legacy that is Bruin basketball, but if this is how he wants to play it, then he can join Henry Bibby in the "dead to me" category.
Some of you may be saying, "What's the big deal, Ty? Surely players develop some level of loyalty to the coaches the play for as well as the school, right?" Well that may be true, but at a school with the legacy and tradition that UCLA has, I believe that people that play here have an additional responsibility to ensure that that legacy remains just as attractive and appealing to future generations of recruits, and a responsibility to uphold one of Coach's greatest virtues: loyalty. That means that at the absolute worst, I expect at least an equivalent sales pitch for the greatest collegiate basketball program in the country.
It's not too late for redemption, but we, the Bruin family, do notice these things, especially when it impacts Coach's program. If Baron, Earl, or any other former players expect any sort of loyalty or support from the Bruin family, it's only right that they treat UCLA Basketball with the respect it deserves, especially against a fraud like the Lizard of Westwood.
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Well said Ty
I certainly hope UCLA will stop promoting Baron Davis as a Bruin from here on out unless he issues an apology for betraying the Coach’s program.
Watson is too blind to see
that he and his teammates could have won an NCAA title under a halfway competent coach. Instead, his teams would head home after a S16 loss, and hear the Lavinator tell reporters what a gratifying season it had been.
Has Kyle Anderson
signed a LOI to play for UCLA or is it a verbal(err..twitter) commitment?
Also, any possibility that Anderson was misquoted? Maybe he misunderstood Baron? It really seems odd that the guy who said he played at UCLA with no coach now says he is where he is because of lavin.
maybe he meant it in a negative way. kind of like, “I’m where I am because of lavin…bouncing around NBA teams when I should have been a franchise point guard taking teams deep into the playoffs”.
Agreed....maybe he meant it literally
I’m where I am…injury prone, overweight and only having a couple of stand out years in the NBA..because of Coach Lavin…if thats what you aspire to,than Lavin is your man
by WestlakeVillage Bruin on Sep 21, 2011 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions
For all we know
Baron was talking about the time he and his old south central buddies were going to pull a drive by and Lavin talked him out of it like Lawrence Fishburn did Cuba Gooding Jr in Boyz-N-The Hood. Lavin might have saved Baron’s life.
Of course, I’m making s*** up ‘cause I don’t know a thing about Baron Davis and Steve Lavin’s personal relationahip much like everyone else on this blog.
Then he needs to clear it up
He helped recruit against UCLA helping Lavin of all people. It’s unacceptable. Period. End of story.
by Nestor on Sep 21, 2011 1:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Your career is not a high point when the Clippers trade you
because they don’t want you to hurt the team chemistry.
by Gen2Bruin1987 on Sep 21, 2011 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Are we really
Going to throw Baron Davis under the bus because he said something kind about Lavin when he is on record as already blasting him to other reporters? Baron was probably just shining the kid on or doing a favor for Lavin.
You may disagree with it Ty, but Baron Davis was being loyal by saying kind things (apparently?) to Anderson about Lavin… just not the type of loyalty that you want. Personal loyalty cannot be overlooked even though we want to place a ton of importance on institutional loyalty. The institution is no more than the individuals that make it up.
In your opinion Ty, just because Earl Watson accompanied Lavin to watch a HS kid play ball, that makes disloyal?
I just don’t think that’s right. You might be being a tad too harsh.
by MbahABako on Sep 21, 2011 12:46 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
I don't think it's too harsh
The disappointing aspect is that these guys haven’t done the same to help UCLA’s recruiting, as far as I know (probably because CBH hasn’t asked for or needed their help). Especially when it comes to such a big-time recruit.
Now look, let’s not discount the fact that Lavin has certain powers of persuasion. It was evident in his recruiting and, uh, his wife. Maybe it was hard for these guys to say no him. That’s fine.
But what REALLY bothers me about this, and this goes to Lavin’s slimy persona, is that he asked these guys SPECIFICALLY to help him recruit Kyle Anderson, knowing that the Bruins were recruiting him. I don’t recall reading anywhere else that he ever asked them to help on other recruits.
I understand loyalty to a coach, but I would like to ask these guys whether UCLA helped them more or Lavin?
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
While I agree that we don't know what relationship Lavin & Davis have
& that we should take Davis’ prior statements on Lavin into account, there’s no denying that in helping Lavin in any way (given Lavin’s relationship with UCLA’s bball program) or even passively recruiting in spite of UCLA can be seen as disloyalty. Maybe Davis & Watson don’t have a relationship with Howland, but at the very least they could abstain from anything which could potentially negatively impact their alma mater. I don’t understand any UCLA alum could actively work against UCLA’s interest (unless UCLA’s interests somehow morphed dramatically). I mean, I can understand UCLA alums coaching against UCLA (I mean, its their job). But there’s way to do things, then there’s way to do things (ie Bibby would be a perfect example of how not to do things).
It's a conflict of interest that they(former players) should avoid.
to help him recruit Kyle Anderson, knowing that the Bruins were recruiting him
Been a Bruin since birth
My second to last paragraph specifically obliterates this line of thinking
And I find it had to believe that this was the extent of Watson’s participation. In fact if you read carefully, you’ll notice I don’t even go as far as N has, as I find this behavior out of Baron disturbing but still a blemish on an otherwise positive relationship he has had with the university. Earl has far less Bruin goodwill to work with. That’s why he gets harsher treatment.
And what you think about how harsh I am is irrelevant and miniscule next to the fact that we had former Bruins actively recruiting against our school.
Baron a traitor? That's a bit harsh
I read the original article and nothing from it can make me conclude that Baron betrayed UCLA in any way. First of all, the article is from the New York Post. I know little of its journalistic integrity with regards to sports, nor of its writer Braziller. Should the rest of the country accept everything Slimers writes as being gospel? I think not.
Second, we don’t know what Baron said, or why he was even at St. John’s. Let me say that again, we don’t know what Baron said or why he was there. We have a recruit’s words, but until Baron comes out and actually confirms or denies anything, I’ll wait to pass judgment. Baron has done more for UCLA than Anderson has. I’ll trust his words instead of taking a quote from Anderson that may have been printed out of context.
Finally, how do we know Baron didn’t give Anderson an equivalent sales pitch about UCLA? If he did, do you think the New York Post would report that? For all we know, Baron could have pulled Anderson aside afterwards and said, “Forget everything I just said in front of these reporters, go to UCLA. Period.”
Fact is, there is little proof for me to suspect Baron went Ken Norton on us.
by Kerckhoff405 on Sep 21, 2011 1:13 PM PDT reply actions 7 recs
I feel more surprised than betrayed by all of this.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Who here thinks that Baron Davis
just happened to be on St. John’s campus the day that Kyle Anderson was visiting? crickets So we’re all in agreement that Lavin leveraged his friendship with B-Diddy to get his help in recruiting a UCLA target. I can’t help but come to the unsurprising conclusion that Lavin is the a**hole here and Baron Davis simply the friend placed in a tight spot.
+1
That’s what I was trying to convey above, less concisely.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Bottom line
If anyone helps Lavin to recruit against UCLA, he or she will be held accountable. We don’t care who it is. Until Baron clarifies what happened he is a persona non grata on BN.
by Nestor on Sep 21, 2011 1:31 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
That goes without saying
but it’s, uh, nice that it was said.
Sorry I was just reading Guerrero’s statement from the other day.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Ha
I was just pivoting off your comment which I agreed with. My bad.
by Nestor on Sep 21, 2011 3:20 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Baron can make it easy
By congratulating UCLA in getting Anderson.
by Nestor on Sep 21, 2011 1:28 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
That's kind of my feeling, too
Seems like Lavin presented this as a reunion for Baron, Kris Johnson, Ray Young, and others while using it as a recruiting device for his own means. Based just on twitter it appears that Kris Johnson loves both Lavin and UCLA. I haven’t seen anything from Baron which would indicate as much.
Baron definitely still has ties to UCLA. Keep in mind that he is one of many Bruins who returned to campus for summer school, where he was recently quoted as saying:
“That’s what I wanted to do in my life, be a Bruin and graduate from UCLA,” he said. “That’s more than an honor and a privilege — not to say that I went there but that I have a degree, and to share that with all the great alumni that come from that school.”
But like others have said, I’d feel more comfortable forming an opinion if Baron actually clarified what was said at that reunion.
by insomniacslounge on Sep 21, 2011 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Well
I wouldn’t have cared if Baron, Watson and Johnson were helping Lav recruit someone who wasn’t considering UCLA. However, in this case the recruitment was about someone who was a prime focus of UCLA’s recruiting class. This wasn’t news to anyone.
When the stories of Baron and Watson came out about them helping Lav, they could have immediately clarified via Twitter that their first loyalty was to UCLA. However, there was radio silence as Lavin and St. Johns were racking up headlines.
This was betrayal unless Davis formally clarifies his position.
I wonder if Anderson was the only recruit at this thing, or if there were a bunch of high school players? Not that it makes a huge difference- I’m just trying to get a mental picture of the event.
by insomniacslounge on Sep 21, 2011 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions
You'll notice I am far easier on Baron than on Earl
The way I see it is that it’s possible that Baron was in the wrong place at the wrong time or quoted out of context, but even with that, he is not a stupid guy, and he knows that recruiting is a cutthroat business, and he needs to be careful and think about how his actions can affect UCLA. I’ve acknowledged the goodwill that Baron has built up in the Bruin community. All I’m saying is that it can be undone quickly by recruiting against UCLA.
Everyone keep in mind
That Baron — and I’m sure Earl — had all been playing pickup games at UCLA with Kyle Anderson throughout the summer. No chance in hell that they didn’t know of Kyle Anderson’s status as a major recruit seriously considering UCLA. No way in hell. The generous theory that they may have been ambushed by Lavin doesn’t fly. I agree that he may’ve forced them to make a tough choice between saying no and recruiting against their school, but Baron didn’t have feed Anderson a bill of goods about how great a coach Lavin is.
Misquoting? Please. The Post report simply quoted Anderson talking about what Baron Davis told him. The Baronistas will have to blame Anderson for misquoting Baron Davis when speaking to him during an official visit at St. John’s. Kyle Anderson isn’t Chris Foster.
Kyle Anderson probably took one look at Baron,
Thought, “So I’m going to be a 300-pound backup point guard for Cleveland if I play for Coach Lav?” and immediately chose UCLA.
did he officially
sign a LOI…or is it a verbal?
There are two periods of time when an individual can sign an LOI
The early signing period is in the Fall of one’s senior year, while the normal signing period is some time in the Spring. LOI’s are never accepted prior or between those two periods.
by Alanamaslama on Sep 21, 2011 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Kyle and his parents aren't stupid. They can see the opportunities at UCLA vs Lav!
Easy decision to make. Especially, if you’re not one-and-done.
Hmmm
I just can’t get the memory of Lavin emphasizing and repeatedly name-dropping his own “ties” to UCLA when he was a “color commentator” for college games out of my head. The fact is, neither Baron nor Lavin can resist hitching their history wagon to UCLA at every opportunity.
Ironic.
I would hope that this says more to Anderson about his realistic opportunities than a somewhat “arranged” showing of a personal alliance between a former coach and one of his former players.
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