I Heard Kim Mulkey Speak on Saturday

[MsProudSooner]

My son-in-law was inducted into the Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame this weekend. We had lunch at the 'B' Association (think O Club) before the Baylor football game. Mulkey spoke after lunch. I've never heard her speak that much. There was a lot more "Louisiana" in her voice than I remember hearing before.

She made a point I agreed with and one I didn't agree with.

She said that when her daughter was on the AAU team w/ Griner & Sims, she was just being a mother first and that there was nothing wrong with that. Since lots of other coaches who have had daughters in the same situation didn't approach it the same way, I would have to disagree with her.

She also talked quite a bit about fans being too critical of a teams performance in certain areas when they really don't know what they are talking about. She was talking specifically about criticism that the Baylor football team has had about their defense this year. She said that unless you have been to all the practices and know everything about the players that the coaches know, you don't have a leg to stand on when criticizing the performance of a team. I would have to agree with her on that point.

 

[tycat947]

I disagree and agree also. She's trying to soften the blow of being caught cheating. That's her story and she's sticking to it!

I also agree that fans generally have no idea of the inner workings (practice, classroom, injury/illness, etc) of teams.

 

[soonerstar]

Most coaches do not like to be criticized. Stoops stopped callers from calling in to his radio show a couple weeks ago because of this.

 

[35TangoTango]

Most coaches do not like to be criticized. Stoops stopped callers from calling in to his radio show a couple weeks ago because of this.

Well, Kim's comments tell me that there is on-going criticism of her blatant disregard for a clearly stated rule. You got to give her credit for brass, though, to say "Yes there's a rule, but I'm above it because I'm a mother!"

 

[MsProudSooner]

Most coaches do not like to be criticized. Stoops stopped callers from calling in to his radio show a couple weeks ago because of this.

He also found lots of other coaches don't take live questions any more and haven't done so for several years. Some people love to hide behind the anonymity of the internet or a call in radio show and say things they would never have the guts to say to someone face to face.

I began reading message boards and listening to sports talk radio about 14 years ago. I gave up on sports talk radio completely several years ago after hearing one too many completely inane calls. Message boards are rapidly going down the same path.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Well, Kim's comments tell me that there is on-going criticism of her blatant disregard for a clearly stated rule. You got to give her credit for brass, though, to say "Yes there's a rule, but I'm above it because I'm a mother!"

Yeah, somehow I don't think that if I look in the NCAA rule book, there will be a 'Mother Exception'.

 

[Boomer-D]

When you get paid millions to run an elite program... you better get use to criticism cause it's not going away and is part of the reason your salary is justified. Especially when you're a women college coach who's entire program is funded by men's football. I know a handful of men's b-ball teams actually make money, but don't think many women's programs do if any. I know molding young women and graduating players is important but go 500 a few years in a row and you're gone. College sports isn't a charity. Winning is the #1 priority for the athletic director to considered.:sherri175_jpg_xs:

Coach Bennett Baylor DC is likely to get fired soon btw... and justified. you can't get paid that much to be poor amongst your peers.

 

[SoonerNorm]

When you get paid millions to run an elite program... you better get use to criticism cause it's not going away and is part of the reason your salary is justified. Especially when you're a women college coach who's entire program is funded by men's football. I know a handful of men's b-ball teams actually make money, but don't think many women's programs do if any. I know molding young women and graduating players is important but go 500 a few years in a row and you're gone. College sports isn't a charity. Winning is the #1 priority for the athletic director to considered.:sherri175_jpg_xs:

Coach Bennett Baylor DC is likely to get fired soon btw... and justified. you can't get paid that much to be poor amongst your peers.

I completely agree. College sports isn't a popularity contest either.

 

[35TangoTango]

When you get paid millions to run an elite program... you better get use to criticism cause it's not going away and is part of the reason your salary is justified. Especially when you're a women college coach who's entire program is funded by men's football. I know a handful of men's b-ball teams actually make money, but don't think many women's programs do if any. I know molding young women and graduating players is important but go 500 a few years in a row and you're gone. College sports isn't a charity. Winning is the #1 priority for the athletic director to considered.:sherri175_jpg_xs:

Coach Bennett Baylor DC is likely to get fired soon btw... and justified. you can't get paid that much to be poor amongst your peers.

So is this a justification for cheating? You can break all the rules you want if it wins you a National Championship?

 

[Sooner Suzie]

I don't think it's a issue of Kim's success on the court. Regardless of the level of success, ANY coach who would use her position as a coach on a national team to deny a worthy candidate a spot on a national team in order to give it to her own daughter (who can't even earn a starting spot on her own team) is certain to get a reasonable degree of criticism.

IMO, it's certainly warranted.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I don't think it's a issue of Kim's success on the court. Regardless of the level of success, ANY coach who would use her position as a coach on a national team to deny a worthy candidate a spot on a national team in order to give it to her own daughter (who can't even earn a starting spot on her own team) is certain to get a reasonable degree of criticism.

IMO, it's certainly warranted.

I guess I missed that story...what and when did that happen?

 

[badger]

I guess I missed that story...what and when did that happen?

I can't wait till her player-of-her-lifetime leaves her program and we can go back to beating them. Yes, I know they got a championship before their female dunker... BUT, we also used to beat them a lot back then.

Anyway, I'm all for kicking Baylor out of the Big 12 if they can't learn their place soon. Football @ OU this weekend one of their midterm examinations. Start losing, or start shopping the Sun Belt/MWC for a new home!

 

[ou4ever]

Most coaches do not like to be criticized. Stoops stopped callers from calling in to his radio show a couple weeks ago because of this.

I've been hoping for several years now that phone call-ins be eliminated. Now that twitter and e-mail are available, there's no reason to waste time saying hellos, praising the coach, asking silly questions, and saying good-bye. Toby said after one show the other night that they had answered more questions than on any show before that one. And the questions were better because they were screened by someone first.

 

[True Colors]

I disagree and agree also. She's trying to soften the blow of being caught cheating. That's her story and she's sticking to it!

I also agree that fans generally have no idea of the inner workings (practice, classroom, injury/illness, etc) of teams.

Cheating?

Here we go again.

tycat, could you please tell us specifically what Mulkey has ever done which has not occurred at other universities.

I would especially like to hear about things that Mulkey has done which have NEVER occurred at OU.

TC

 

[sybarite]

Cheating?

Here we go again.

tycat, could you please tell us specifically what Mulkey has ever done which has not occurred at other universities.

I would especially like to hear about things that Mulkey has done which have NEVER occurred at OU.

TC

Ask Michelle Voepel.

 

[True Colors]

Yeah, somehow I don't think that if I look in the NCAA rule book, there will be a 'Mother Exception'.

Perhaps you should go ahead look in the NCAA rulebook then. There are actually numerous "mother exception" rules written in.

For example, the NCAA allows parents(including college coaches) to watch their kids participate in person at athletic events where other college coaches are barred from attending.

In fact, the NCAA even allows parents(including college coaches) to give huge amounts of cash and lavish gifts on their kids who are considered to be athletic prospects. Other college coaches are not allowed to give cold hard cash to these kids, but there is a "mother exception" for this.

TC

 

[sybarite]

Perhaps you should go ahead look in the NCAA rulebook then. There are actually numerous "mother exception" rules written in.

For example, the NCAA allows parents(including college coaches) to watch their kids participate in person at athletic events where other college coaches are barred from attending.

In fact, the NCAA even allows parents(including college coaches) to give huge amounts of cash and lavish gifts on their kids who are considered to be athletic prospects. Other college coaches are not allowed to give cold hard cash to these kids, but there is a "mother exception" for this.

TC

Are you suggesting that it would be OK to cheat if a rule doesn't exactly prohibit it, if you can find a way around the rule? You represent a "moral" university with that attitude? Interesting.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Perhaps you should go ahead look in the NCAA rulebook then. There are actually numerous "mother exception" rules written in.

For example, the NCAA allows parents(including college coaches) to watch their kids participate in person at athletic events where other college coaches are barred from attending.

In fact, the NCAA even allows parents(including college coaches) to give huge amounts of cash and lavish gifts on their kids who are considered to be athletic prospects. Other college coaches are not allowed to give cold hard cash to these kids, but there is a "mother exception" for this.

TC

Which rule makes it OK for a mother who happens to be a college coach to sit with the parents of her recruits instead of with other coaches while watching said AAU team?

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

This is exactly why Williams backed off of the first two Ruishes. They were living with that booster and there's no was he could have gotten away with recruiting them.

I've been hoping for several years now that phone call-ins be eliminated. Now that twitter and e-mail are available, there's no reason to waste time saying hellos, praising the coach, asking silly questions, and saying good-bye. Toby said after one show the other night that they had answered more questions than on any show before that one. And the questions were better because they were screened by someone first.

Long time listener, first time caller. I turn the shows off when they start taking calls. And the worse the host the worse the callers usually are.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Are you suggesting that it would be OK to cheat if a rule doesn't exactly prohibit it, if you can find a way around the rule? You represent a "moral" university with that attitude? Interesting.

??? How is it cheating if the rule book doesn't prohibit the activity? I don't understand your point.