http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/seth_davis/01/04/todd.obrien/index.html?xid=cnnbin

Interesting story......

I wonder what the motivation of the St. joseph's coach and administration is for not releasing O'Brien according to the NCAA guidlines?

Thoughts?

Phil Martelli seems like a mean, mean man.

Even though the article does say he's a well-respected coach in the industry; still, just let the guy transfer. What's the big deal, this happens quite a bit now?

More to this story than it appears. It's a terrible situation, but Martelli is getting killed, and he doesn't necessarily deserve it.

I remember a few weeks ago when this broke and Seth Davis, Digger, Bilas (especially Bilas), Mike Decourcy, Dave Telep, Rick Bozich etc were all BLASTING Martelli on Twitter. It was really interesting to follow, and I was wondering what the other side was. This was all the reaction over O'Briens "letter". Martelli never came out and said anything to defend himself really, so I just kind of figured everything being said was pretty accurate.

Azubuike24;1039705 wrote:More to this story than it appears. It's a terrible situation, but Martelli is getting killed, and he doesn't necessarily deserve it.

There usually is. Thats why I tend to never try to side with one or the other. The media rarely knows everything, or even most of situations like this. They tend to paint the picture and stick to it no matter what.

Azubuike24;1039705 wrote:More to this story than it appears. It's a terrible situation, but Martelli is getting killed, and he doesn't necessarily deserve it.

If there's a legitimate reason not to release the kid, he should communicate what it is. Otherwise, he deserves to get killed.

either way from a recruiting/pr perspective he should release the kid

queencitybuckeye;1039746 wrote:If there's a legitimate reason not to release the kid, he should communicate what it is. Otherwise, he deserves to get killed.

How do you know there are not circumstances that prevent him from talking? There are confidentialities that are involved sometimes. Sometimes the coach is taking the high road as well. Again, unless you know exactly what went on, what is going on, its not right to make a judgement IMO.

centralbucksfan;1039770 wrote:How do you know there are not circumstances that prevent him from talking? There are confidentialities that are involved sometimes. Sometimes the coach is taking the high road as well. Again, unless you know exactly what went on, what is going on, its not right to make a judgement IMO.

Is he a mute? I assume he can still talk. If so, he can come out and say whatever he needs to say to clear himself. He doesnt even have to get into the specifics, but he can deny what O'Brien is saying and even say for reasons I cant communicate, this decision had to be made.

Oh I agree the kid should be released, that's not the "other side" of the story. However, the initial story came out from his editorial article. So technically, the only side we know is from his perspective and his family's perspective.

However, like someone else said, Martelli probably should speak out more than the standard statement from the school if he wants to lessen the raking over the coals.

Laley23;1039779 wrote:Is he a mute? I assume he can still talk. If so, he can come out and say whatever he needs to say to clear himself. He doesnt even have to get into the specifics, but he can deny what O'Brien is saying and even say for reasons I cant communicate, this decision had to be made.

Does he really need to clear himself? If he speaks out, then sometimes you are just buying into something that would never go away, and possibly stir things up even more. Sometimes, often times, its not worth saying anything at all. I am not taking sides. Just making a statement based on exerpiences.

centralbucksfan;1039770 wrote:How do you know there are not circumstances that prevent him from talking? There are confidentialities that are involved sometimes. Sometimes the coach is taking the high road as well. Again, unless you know exactly what went on, what is going on, its not right to make a judgement IMO.

He could simply say "it's not something I can discuss at this time until so and so is hashed out", instead of saying absolutely nothing.

centralbucksfan;1039770 wrote:How do you know there are not circumstances that prevent him from talking? There are confidentialities that are involved sometimes. Sometimes the coach is taking the high road as well. Again, unless you know exactly what went on, what is going on, its not right to make a judgement IMO.

Such as?

Azubuike24;1039705 wrote:More to this story than it appears. It's a terrible situation, but Martelli is getting killed, and he doesn't necessarily deserve it.

I'm sure there is more to the story, I wasn't overly sympathetic to the player's position after reading the CNNSI bit - seemed like there something involving his commitment to the program. Still, why not release him from the schollie? Who does that hurt? Cut ties and let the guy loose. Did he commit a crime? A civil fraud? When an employer cuts an employee they don't stop them from working somewhere else unless there was a non-compete clause in the contract.

Of all the issues I have with the NCAA, this rule is 1A. A coach can elect not to renew a scholarship and there are no consequences. But the student athlete elects to transfer and the coach has to release them? It's complete BS and gets me fired up just thinking about it. Screw Martelli. He's scum as far as I'm concerned.

queencitybuckeye;1041273 wrote:Such as?

Excellent question.