For a team that likes to talk — and from what I’m hearing in the press room, that’s going to be detailed plenty by national media outlets — the Tigers sure didn’t want to do much of it Saturday night after a 66-62 loss to Tennessee.
Look, I understand that losing stinks. It’s hard, especially for a team that isn’t used to it. But the lack of leadership, the lack of accountability shown by Chris Douglas-Roberts and Antonio Anderson in the postgame locker room was flat-out poor. This was the No. 1 team in the country, playing a national game in front of national media, and they are a big story. When you lose, you can’t pull what the Tigers pulled Saturday, basically giving the middle finger to reporters. For the record, Robert Dozier, Doneal Mack and Derrick Rose talked about the game. Nobody else did. And by the way, this kind of stuff isn’t tolerated in other programs. Ask anybody in our business. A lot of people in the Memphis program and the fans like to complain about the media. That performance Saturday — not during the game, but after — isn’t going to earn much benefit of the doubt.
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Responses to “Lack of accountability disturbing”
February 24th, 2008 at 3:40 am
They were probably so pissed at Joey Dorsey that they wanted to wait awhile before commenting
February 24th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I can live with the loss. Hey, these things happen when you play good teams. Somebody has to lose. But I have no respect for people who won’t stand up in the face of defeat and hold themselves accountable for failure. You man up, you own up and then you move on and turn it into a positive lesson.
These guys don’t need better 3-point shooting or free-throw shooting. They need some grapefruits to replace those marbles.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Give them a break. This is not a consistent pattern of behavior for the players you mentioned.
I believe they were praised for speaking after a bad loss to Ohio State.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I call BS on this one … it was a tough, tough loss that could have gone either way. When the NCAA starts paying these kids to play basketball, then they should be required to comment after the game. This isn’t about leadership, it’s about a really tough loss to swallow.
And who’s to say the kids aren’t holding themselves accountable? Just because they didn’t talk to the media doesn’t mean they aren’t holding themselves accountable. There was plenty to write about …
The Tigers will come back stronger and more resilient … see you in San Antonio!
February 24th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Wolken,
It’s not their job to talk to you and help you do your job. They play the game, something you probably have never done. Take your they won’t talk whiney attitude and shove it where the sun don’t shine.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Here’s the reality, Dan - nobody cares about whether players (from any team) give interviews except the media and a few fans and non-fans who want to find one more thing wrong.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
The best way to measure this defeat will be by the
value it will give them for the tournament. The
blueprint for defeat or victory come March/April is this game. Better it came in Feb than then.
My teens couldn’t talk either after the game until
I said ,”it’s not the end of the world, it’s a game that can make you a champion, the pressure is off, lets just go back to playing ball again.”
They need a full house on Wednesday,go tigers….
February 24th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Reporters really do think they are the center of the universe, don’t they?
February 24th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Dan, you are way off base here. If this were a regular pattern maybe you’d have a point. But this team just suffered their second loss in well over a year. They talked last year. Get over it on this one.
February 24th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Yeah, that’s right, let’s let them off the hook. They’re just little kids playing a kids game. Whatever. My son’s a scholarship athlete in college and I’m grateful no one’s holding his hand and wiping his ass and covering up for him when things go bad. No wonder these players act like spoiled brats sometimes.
February 24th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Great Dan. Why don’t you just kick the crap out of CDR and Antonio while they’re down.
I could think of 2 dozen positive angles that you could have taken about the game but you elected to follow conventional wisdom. Negativism sells newspapers. Oh, I forgot, newspapers aren’t selling that well are they?
February 24th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Do you think Calipari still believes free throw shooting isn’t important?
The Tigers had their chances. The Vols showed up and made plays. They out-hustled Memphis. They killed the Tigers on the boards. They missed easy shots. Dorsey was a no-show again.
Post game interviews were the least of their concerns. The leadership you spoke of wasn’t apparent on the court either.
Hopefully they’ll take what should be learned from this game. The NCAA tournament will just as intense and this experience will serve as a reminder of how you must play every game to be a champion.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Grow up Wolken!
You’re a reporter not a prince.
You’re not entitled to whatever you want when you want it.
Most of us who work for living understand this.
Maybe you should get a REAL job instead sniffing around college kids for a living.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Wolken,
I bet you were a tattle-tail in junior high, too. “Mommy, the jocks wont talk to me!”
February 24th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
i am certain that after this post cdr and antonio a will be very happy to speak with you anytime. maybe they can show leadership and get the rest of the team to ignore you for the remainder of the season. you took cheap shot at two of the best leaders on this team. there should be some consequence. more than likly they are bigger men than you, and will just write it off as your childish peevishness.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Dan, I love your stuff, BUT I gotta disagree with you on this one. While I would love to hear their comments–If they do not want to talk..they dont want to talk.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Dan-
Looks like you’re drinking the ESPN kool-aid.
Why don’t you follow suit and write a hit piece on the character of the team?
You got quotes from 3 of the Tigers, as well as their coach. If that’s not enough for you to write your story, then shame on you.
Perhaps developing relationships with these players you cover would be a good idea.
At least that’s how we do it in the MLB.
By the way, your lack of empathy is disturbing.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I’m quite sure that CDR and Antonio feel all the pain from this game. Let’s not forget that these are all just kids… talented kids, but kids nonetheless. They were depressed. I have no doubt that the Tigers will rebound from this however. Now they can see weaknesses that they couldn’t see when they were beating up teams by 20 points. I’m traveling from Florida to see my first game in the Fedex Forum ever (UAB). I wouldn’t miss it!
February 24th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I’m a big Tiger fan,and have had season tickets since 1973. That said, I happen to agree with Dan. Like it or not, the media has something to do with shaping the “hearts and minds” of college basketball fans, tournament committees, tv networks, etc. We all complain that the Tigers are never respected nationally. Avoiding the media, both on a national and local basis, just isn’t smart. In order to get respect, you have to earn it. If the UM wants to be mentioned in the same breath as the Dukes and North Carolinas, they need to behave differently.
That applies to the Coach as well. John Calipari has done a remarkable job here, and I certainly don’t miss the days of Tic Price and the end of the Larry Finch era. However, I don’t understand his need to run his mouth, picking fights with coaches, and also players. I still can’t find the logic of his seeming to confuse J.P. Prince’s name on purpose. Why give the kid more motivation to play well in Memphis? Again, it just seems to make the program not look all that classy. It’s hard to get on someone like Joey Dorsey, who called out Greg Oden quite foolishly before the Elite 8 game last year, when his Coach seems to have a habit for the same behavior.
As said, I’m not a “miserable.” I’m a long time ticket holder and huge fan, and I can’t wait to get back on Wednesday to support the team. But, it would be nice for them to show a little more class and maturity.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Im with Dan on this one, they should need to man up and talk. Props to Mack, D Rose, and Rob for talking to the media.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I’ve been a Tiger fan since ‘85. I’ve traveled around the country a lot since then, so I know our program gets a lot of respect nationally.
Big time players have to step up to the plate whether it’s a win or a loss, on or off the court. CDR and Antonio are our leaders. “We were out-hustled by a team that wanted it more.” That would be hard to say without calling out Dorsey and Rob, but that’s what leaders are expected to do.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Yea thats right. I would really believe in my team leader if he threw me under the bus immediately after our first home loss. That’s leadership for you. It would make a real tight team.
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