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dwayne mccormick 04/20/2010 8:45:00 PM
i would like for coach thomas to come to my school,fairmont high in farimont,north carolina. i have two nephews that are well talent in basketball. juwan addison and donte'smith. they both are up coming seniors. juwan is just like you, mr. thomas on the court. donte' is alot like mark aguire that played with depaul.
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Mark 04/06/2010 9:28:00 AM
Thomas is doing a good job recruiting, he will get some good players in the coming years. There is alot of hatred spewed towards FIU it doesn't deserve that. In order for the university to grow at such a fast rate it must take risks.
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U 02/14/2010 1:24:00 AM
It's all about the U! Just remember that when you're in your 3rd world college on calle 8 next to the everglades.
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Byron Kendrix 02/13/2010 12:57:00 AM
Isiah Thomas has never lead ANY organization to success. In fact he destroys them and then blames them for his failures. Its too bad they hired this cancer to begin with. I watched him destroy the CBA, then the Pacers (two organizations I care about) and then the Knicks, which was fun to watch. I'm sorry to see he's doing it again to another fine organization. But that's what you get when you hire someone of Thomas' experience. Fire him now, pay him off, and you'll be better for it in the future.
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Jack 02/12/2010 10:30:00 AM
The fiu was is and will be a provincial 4th tier school full of corruption, incompetence and idiotism.To hire a sex offender to the university? to burn $55M for idiotic athletic program? Do not tell me I do not know. I work there. Hope to go back to US soon.
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Struggling Student 02/11/2010 5:38:00 AM
As a graduate student at FIU who has seen budgets slashed, promises broken, resources stretched to their breaking point, faculty fired, graduate students forced to teach greater courseloads without any corresponding increase in compensation, and a whole litany of other mismanagements, embarrassments, and atrocities committed by our wholly incompetent administration, I'm glad to see someone point out that our emperor has no clothes.
Everything Zeke touches turns to crap. How much of FIU will follow in his wake?
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socash 02/11/2010 5:04:00 AM
Only a profoundly mentally retarded person would be dumb enough to hire Thomas. FIU students and "fans" should direct their hatred toward their athletic director and dean for funneling money away from academics and into their worthless sports teams. Thomas is a a washed up thug with no business coaching kindergartners. Oh and to the idiot bitching about the author picking the New Years game to highlight poor attendance. THEY HAVE ONLY SOLD BARELY OVER 1000 TICKETS ALL SEASON!! Who cares which game he talked about? Either the comments defending him are all just his sockpuppets or you FIU fans are dumb enough that you truly deserve Thomas
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Julian Kasdin 02/10/2010 5:32:00 PM
Mr. Alvarado,
As an alumnus and supporter of FIU, it is impossible for me to see this article as anything but an attack. Like Mr. Padron, I will never understand why so many in this town are invested in taking down the only four-year state university in Dade County, a university that confers over half of all four-year degrees awarded in this county. FIU has done more for the community as whole than any four-year institution, yet so many of you feel the need to tear it down.
It shouldn't surprise me, as the New Times is known for exceedingly negative journalism, and that is why I allowed you to interview me in the hopes that maybe your paper would finally print something positive. Mr. Padron covered many of the points that I would have in my own rebuttal, so let me make some things clear.
I did not say FIU is currently a commuter school, I said we were founded as a commuter school, currently there are 3,300-3,500 students living on campus, and they have shown an increasing level of involvement with athletics. Also, you conveniently left out the qualifier in my comment about "taking this year for what it is, a rebuilding season." You could have done a little research, like on how Mike Jarvis took over at FAU and went from 6-26 his first year to 12-12 now. FIU is actually ahead of where FAU was last season, and that is with FAU having one of the few coaches to post 100 wins with three separate programs.
As far as football, you fail to mention that the budget cuts in academics took place after the money for the stadium had already been secured, and that the money for the stadium came in the form of bonds. Furthermore you fail to mention the mess Cristobal inherited from Strock, a mess that included only being allowed to award 60 scholarships as opposed to 85.
I guess we will keep on having to fight that uphill battle. We are a town mired in apathy, in love with hate, and enthralled with instant gratification. It takes time to build a program, but time and matriculation are on our side. We will get there eventually, and, as so often happens in Miami, once we do the town will come around.
I am sorry you cannot see FIU for what it is and can be, but as someone who bleeds blue and gold, I see where we have been, where we are, and where we are going, and that fills me with more pride than you will ever have.
Sincerely,
Julian Kasdin
FIU '07
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Jim 02/10/2010 2:43:00 PM
Let them continue the program(s) regardless. Whether it be football or basketball, this is a university and it's part of the college experience each student pays for in tuition. Yes they are there for an education first, but there are some teams that 7-19 would be a good season. Take the University of Pennsylvania. Some seasons they outright win the Ivy League in basketball and do well in the NCAA tournament, this season they are 3-15. And there are worse than that.
Anyway, it's not like ending the program drops tuition any.
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Juan Rodriguez 02/10/2010 8:30:00 AM
Couple of points:
1. Interesting that the writer chooses the game of December 31st, as in NEW YEAR'S EVE to go watch and FIU game and then complains about attendance. Not the Home Opener, not the Conference Opener, Not the FAU game, but the game at noon on a holiday where people are either with their families or partying.
2. Interesting that the writer criticizes the basketball on the floor when Coach Thomas has had less than 1 year to do the following: recruit players (currently the recruiting class for fall of 2010 is ranked #17 IN THE COUNTRY), set-up his program, hire assistant coaches, get used to NCAA competition (Conference opponents, rule changes, NCAA bylaws, Compliance rules, etc.) Let's not forget that Isiah was hired ON SIGNING DAY, meaning he pieced his team together at the last minute.
3. Interesting that the writer fails to mention that NOT 1 player in the starting line-up is taller than 6'5'. Again, Isiah has not had time to build his team.
4. Interesting that the author states AS FACT that attendance is 120 people, when I, a Season Ticket Holder, was here during the Rouco years (less than 60 people at the arena) and now we easily average 1,000 fans per game. Again, the glaring exception being the New Year's Eve game, that the writer happened to "coincidentally" attend.
5. Interesting that the author states that President Rosenberg announce Coach Thomas, when it was in fact former Provost Berkman (staunch anti-athletics administrator) that committed the gaffe. But let's not let those stupid things called "facts" get on the way of a good story.
All very Interesting Mr. Writer, I'm sure you had no bias and no agenda while writing your article, none at all
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Juan Rodriguez 02/10/2010 8:29:00 AM
Couple of points:
1. Interesting that the writer chooses the game of December 31st, as in NEW YEAR'S EVE to go watch and FIU game and then complains about attendance. Not the Home Opener, not the Conference Opener, Not the FAU game, but the game at noon on a holiday where people are either with their families or partying.
2. Interesting that the writer criticizes the basketball on the floor when Coach Thomas has had less than 1 year to do the following: recruit players (currently the recruiting class for fall of 2010 is ranked #17 IN THE COUNTRY), set-up his program, hire assistant coaches, get used to NCAA competition (Conference opponents, rule changes, NCAA bylaws, Compliance rules, etc.) Let's not forget that Isiah was hired ON SIGNING DAY, meaning he pieced his team together at the last minute.
3. Interesting that the writer fails to mention that NOT 1 player in the starting line-up is taller than 6'5'. Again, Isiah has not had time to build his team.
4. Interesting that the author states AS FACT that attendance is 120 people, when I, a Season Ticket Holder, was here during the Rouco years (less than 60 people at the arena) and now we easily average 1,000 fans per game. Again, the glaring exception being the New Year's Eve game, that the writer happened to "coincidentally" attend.
5. Interesting that the author states that President Rosenberg announce Coach Thomas, when it was in fact former Provost Berkman (staunch anti-athletics administrator) that committed the gaffe. But let's not let those stupid things called "facts" get on the way of a good story.
All very Interesting Mr. Writer, I'm sure you had no bias and no agenda while writing your article, none at all
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Alberto 02/10/2010 6:41:00 AM
Miami New Times writer Francisco Alvarado,
I�ve resided in South Florida since in 1988 and here�s what I�ve observed: there are no shortage of haters and followers in Miami. Sure, when a team becomes trendy, everyone�s a so-called die-hard. Other than that, this town can be found on the corner of Apathy Blvd. and Hater Street dispensing opinions that are as valid as the fake fans that showed up to Miami Heat finals games in 2006 and Florida Marlin�s post-season games in �97 and �03. And when it comes to FIU, boy, even the lowest form of journalist takes their shots at the school without a second thought to the thousands upon thousands in this community who graduated from FIU. Miami has only one 4 year state school in its boundaries and it�s FIU. Yet instead of helping build its only state u, the Miami New Times, and most third rate reporters in this town, tee off on FIU. The pretentiousness and lack of support by outfits like yours will never make total sense to me.
On to the facts:
Miami New Times writer Francisco Alvarado, your article was riddles with inaccuracies, the mark of a sloppy journalist whose fact checking skills rivals that of a Keystone Kop (yes, it�s spelled with a �K�). You wrote, �Thomas was introduced by the school's president, Mark Rosenberg, who misidentified his new head coach as Isiah Thompson." In fact, that quote was by Ronald Berkman, former FIU Provost and current president at Cleveland State University. That fact is well documented. A simple Google search would have revealed that for you. You owe current FIU President, Mark Rosenberg, an apology.
As for FIU�s Basketball future:
FIU will be fine sooner rather than later. Like everything else FIU has ever accomplished, the Golden Panther Community will succeed in the face of headwinds blown by the haters, naysayers and detractors in the local media, with few exceptions. Mr. Alvarado, you had a chance to be a builder, to be different, to be positive. Sadly, you chose the alternative and therefore disappoint me along with FIU�s 40,000 students, over 120,000 alumni, and thousand more in terms of faculty and staff. Mr. Francisco Alvarado, the Golden Panther Community will not soon forget your name and that of your newspaper. As always, Go FIU Panthers!
Sincerely,
Alberto Padron
FIU '98, '09
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tmfa 02/10/2010 4:50:00 AM
"Thomas was introduced by the school's president, Mark Rosenberg, who misidentified his new head coach as "Isiah Thompson."
That statement is factually incorrect. It was not President Rosenberg, but it was a former Vice Provost (can't think of his name) who left to take a job @ Cleveland State. If you go back and watch the press conference, he does not have glasses and is not bald, both of which Rosenberg has (glasses and a bald head).
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Kevin 02/10/2010 2:53:00 AM
If Zeke got married in 1985, how is the child born before the marriage only 23?
