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willie

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Posts posted by willie

    Report on the meet and greet last night-(10/28)

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    Ready to leave for work and thought I'd check in to see what everyone else thought about last night's event. I couldn't believe that there was nothing posted. Maybe my wife and I were the Billiken.com family members there. Here goes.

    Positives:

    great to finaly see the players-they are no longer members of the witness protection program;

    as usual, the Band was great-mid season form-Mike even got the crowd involved;

    the Saintsations (or as the big man referred to them the SLU-etts it almost sounded like he said sluts) were also very good, given the season hasn't even started yet-thanks to the young ladies and the Band for being there;

    WR has gained about 20-25 lbs and BC has reduced his body fat down to 7 from 9. they have all worked hard in the weight room;

    the chemistry between the players seemed very good-seems like CS is very popular with his new teammates;

    Rammer did a great job as the MC and eating up some time after the player intros when it was obvious that RM was late to the event.

    Not so positives:

    I walked out with a real sense of disppointment over what I felt was a wasted evening. Looking back over my excitement when we hired RM, I must admit I have done a 180 since that hire. Acouple of guys were walking out just in front of us and I gotta say that one of them seemed to hit the nail on the head, to use an old guy's term. He described RM as a buffoon who probably knows a ton about the sport he coaches, but is one strange character. The buffoon tag seemed a little harsh until I looked it up this morning and it does seem to fit. Even his players were laughing at some of his comments and they were not because RM was so funny, but rather at how strange some of his comments were.

    Specifics---the first question was as expected--What can you tell us about the C Ellis situation? It could have been answered thoroughly in about a minute, BUT about 7-8 minutes later, we really knew nothing about the situation and its possible resolution. Instead RM managed to fit a long rambling discourse with lots of Andre Miller talk into the reply. Before the evening was over, RM had managed to bring up Miller's name 3 times, K Van Horn, Phil Jackson, Larry Bird, J. Sloan, K Malone, J Stockton, Kobe, Jordan any other Utah or NBA players names. I just wanted to scream---WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT BILLIKEN BASKETBALL, NOT THE NBA!!!!!!!!!!!!! This truly is a sick individual who cannot talk for even one minute about basketball w/o reverting in time to HIS glory days. I would estimate that he rambled for over an hour when he could have answered the questions asked in 10 minutes. The evening came to a quick halt when a fan asked BC to talk about what a RM practice was like-instead of letting Brian answer, RM quickly interjected himself and made the reply.

    At the beginning of the event Rammer said that they had giveaways at least for the students and that they had a video to show. None of that happened since that couldn't get RM to shut up. A staff member even got Bob to move over close to RM to try to get him off stage and move along to the other planned activities, but with no luck.

    The main positive I took home with me was the knowledge that I had wasted my last night going to an event where RM was going to talk. If this sounds too negative for some of you, I'm sorry but the night, overall, was a bust in spite of what seemed to be some excellent plans on the part of the Ath. Dept staff.

    One final complaint- the sound system was horrible as was RM's ability to speak into the mike so as to be heard. For some reason the speakers kept cutting out, but especially when the big man was rambling. I could only hear him at all times since I was in the second row right in front of the podium.

    Bauman,I was there last night and can understand where you are coming from, but I just don't agree. I find RM hillarious. I can listen to him ramble on for hours. I can't wait to hear what comes out of his mouth. Who knows what in the hell the players really think but I thought they were enjoying his show. Who knows untill they start playing but I felt like RM quietly feels these guys can be pretty good. RM is kind of like your brother in-law who is always saying weird things, but you enjoy being around.

    First Exhibition game only 2 days away!

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    so your examples are marquette and syracuse who you admit already have great home attendance. fine, pack the place every game and then i have no problem showing the home games on tv.

    actually this is a silly debate as there is little chance of every game home or away being on tv for the billikens.

    Currently thus is a silly debate, but I bet if you went back to last years televised home games you would not find a drop in attendance. Show them all.

    Billiken Roar

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    Just to correct something on the free food give-aways. Don't believe anyone really objected to free give-aways to put butts in the seats. My comments last year were more directed at the timing -- only a few days after we season ticket holders paid full price, another waive of potential season ticket holders were offered the very same pricing for season tickets but this time with free food for EACH game. If SLU felt they needed to do that, so be it. I just would have waited a few more days out of respect for the season ticket holders before offereing the giveaways, I would offered something also season ticket holders, I would have given the food away with a smaller multi-game packages for the reason that if someone didn't buy season tickets amid the construction of Chaveitz and in time for its grand opening, that the offering of free food alone is probably not going to change someone's mind to buy a full season of tickets. Then, again, I believe the entire pricing structure and seat selection process greatly overestimated demand and, in some ways, was a bit offensive to the loyal supporters but that is another story and water under the bridge.

    Your point about timing is well taken. If I was Chris May I would call Peter McLaughlin[sp] of the Blues and take him out to lunch. Pick his brain for a couple of hours. I'm not a hockey guy but they have done a fabulous job of marketing that program.Yeah they win a little bit, but the perception of caring for the fan is unbelievable.

    Billiken Roar

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    David, I agree with both you and Roy's/Clocktower's points and I think we all need to realize that the two positions are NOT mutually exclusive. I think I read all your posts to agree with Roy & CT, yet it seems like all of you are disagreeing with each other. Marketing (Ads & Appearances) alone won't fill the Fetz-we also need to win. My problem is with the fact that even reading RM's words he is setting extremely low expectations for this year. Given that even the HC doesn't expect winning this year, then he and the Ath. Dept. need to do whatever possible to get fans in the seats. The billboards are nice and hard to argue with IF THEY ARE FREE or almost free. However, I truly can't imagine even one ticket being sold as a result of a driver seeing them. They only serve the purpose of lots of advertising, that is, to keep the product in mind. They by themselves won't sell ticket one.

    Since we don't have any expectation of a big-time winning record this year, I suggest we not just blow the year off with regard to attendance. We need to get a large portion of the Fetz filled with fans so that some noise is generated. You want to sell tickets? If so, then we need to promote the hell out of the product with lots of ticket sales promotions. How about some creativity from the sports marketing group. What's wrong with looking at some of the great ideas being employed by the Blues-they seem to get it with regard to selling tickets. What's wrong with $1.00 hotdog or burger night? How about free popcorn and soda for a 1/2 price kids night? What about Ladies Day, to borrow an idea from baseball in the 70s. Just one thing, if we do come up with some really good ticket generating ideas, how about we think them through and do them right? Last year we had some kind of food promotion, and I heard more complaints than anything. People got there 30-40 minutes before tipoff and all the food promotion item was gone-again maybe the Blues can show our staff how to do these things right. What ever it takes----wait a minute hasn't that slogan been used already?

    Bauman,I agree with much of what you say. If it was up to me I would practically give away every unsold ticket. Bring your CYC team for $20 and get a soda and hot dogs for 50cents. Every person who paints their face blue gets in free. Promote-Promote-Promote. Rick Majerus look alike night,winner gets free food at Pappys. I know some people will argue that you can't give your product away. I disagree. When you start winning and your demand increases you can then increase prices,but for now get butts in the seats.

    MAC???

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    I also was at the MAC for another function and stood at the door for 10-15 min. Best line was in answer to a question about how he liked Chaefitz Arena. He rambled on talking about how great the building is untill he got to the bottom line. THE FOOD SUCKS. Huge laugh. He did say he thought we would be a very good team by Jan. 2011. I just caught the end of an Ellis discussion and thought he hadn't given up hope.

    Only 7 games on TV.

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    willie you should correct your post to say, "but i'm tired of not winning big." our record over the years show we win, just havent won big.

    i too want to win. and of course i too want to win without cheating. i just want to also win with class from all angles.

    To me winning would be top 1/3 of the A-10 every year. Making the dance at least 2 out of every 5 years. Roy John Wooden is 99 years old. I'm not sure who your perfect coach is?

    Only 7 games on TV.

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    Sorry to disagree, and this is not anti RM remark, it does have to be him. Occasionally, the media will accept Porter Moser, but he's not the head coach. RM has a way of running his program, and, frankly, we all have to admit, it is not marketing friendly.

    No Midnight Madness

    No Blue and White Game

    No open practices

    Doesn't always attend booster meetings

    Doesn't drum up support at outside events (attends the MAC meeting, but that's about it)

    Not involved at all locally

    All are terrific opportunities to market his program.

    Conversely, when he does reach out, he's very marketable. When he attends Billiken Club meetings he is informative. He's always appreciative of people attending games and meetings. He is having the Meet the Team event.

    Unfortunately, on balance the program is minus in my opinion on reaching out to the masses.

    Hope he wins, cause he's betting everything on it.

    I agree with everything you say but I don't give a sh#t as long as he wins. Must be my old age but I'm tired of not winning. Roy won"t like this but all I care about is winning as long as it's done without cheating.

    TT on practice start, players heights and other notes

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    Driving to work yesterday Martin Kilcoyne and Rich Gould were complaining that the Billikens were not opening up their first practice. Gould called down wanting to do something and was told he could not attend. They criticized the fact that the Billikens weren't creating Buzz. Gould did say that his station[KPLR] would probably be carring some of our games. Personally I miss the open practices.

    1 month away

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    The 1st ex. game is 1 month away and there is practically zero hoops talk. Someone has to have something. Open Gym? Ellis update? Pauls status? Recruiting? Throw us a bone.

    Somebody make something up. I'm tired of all this soccer crap. I heard Rick is hot on the trail of some Mongolian center who is 7ft -6 330 lbs.

    Basketball anyone?

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    It appears that the members of this Board are seeing just how long we can go without any post related to basketball, in general, and more importantly, Billiken basketball.

    I thought I would be able to make a post with some info on how the players looked when I went down to the Fetz last week. Unfortunately, a young lady who works there asked me what I was doing and when I told her I was a season ticket holder and I just wanted to watch the team work out for a few minutes. (I was high above the practice courts, in the concourse surrounding the main floor-no one was within 50 feet of me.) Too bad for me-she asked me to leave saying that they were setting up for an event in the main arena. I just said ok and left but I clearly was not anywhere near any activity or in the way of where any activity be taking place. Oh well.

    How can we talk about basketball? This is a football town. Every day I open up my sports page to read about Missouri football, You would think they are playing for a national championship with the coverage they are getting. Seriously I don't remember being bombarded like this in the past.

    Thompson

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    Trey, I don't know about the rest of the people on this board but I wish your brother well at Lindenwood. Bottom line, whatever makes him happy is all that matters. Very few college basketball players make it to the professional level so it's all about finding an environment you enjoy and get a good education. Lindenwood can certainly provide that, whether or not he decides to transfer after one year. BTW, our own Earl Austin, Jr. is a Lindenwood grad.

    So is Bob Ramsey.

    Big Time or Big House?

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    Has anyone here voiced their concerns to the Athletic Department? The way I see it, the coaching staff is making an egregious mistake even associating themselves with this kid, so shouldn't we relay those concerns to the Athletic Department? The department website has a phone and e-mail directory of department staffers. We should let those individuals know of our displeasure, rather than count on someone from the athletic department to notice our displeasure by checking this board.

    I think this board needs to take a deep breath and see what transpires. We don't know what's going on. I don't believe Rick would put the schools reputation at risk. He knows what type of school we are. Let this play out before we start a revolution.

    Progress

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    Brad was the last coach. The comparisons are inevitable. How's this, "Rick has recruited the best back to back classes since I've been following the Billikens."

    PS in your example we traded Albert Pujols for Mike Laga right at the trading deadline. It was a budget buster but still a winner, despite the fact that Laga was such a great guy. In your example Laga is now playing in the Pacific Coast League and boy do we look smart for that trade......

    All I want to know is when is Albert Pujols going to hit a ball out of Busch Stadium? Then we can compare.

    Soderberg to..... LINDENWOOD???

    in Billikens.com Main Board

    Posted

    I'd say the decision to send Kramer to SCW was a good one, seeing as how he's now playing Division I ball at a great university.

    There are plenty of reasons for Catholics not to send their kids to Catholic schools. The wife and I live in one of the best school districts in the state, for example, which makes a compelling argument for public school over spending $4,000-$5,000 a year for the parish school.

    Does anybody know what kind of salary Lindenwood might pay? $125k- $150?? Any thoughts?
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