KAEO: Doug Wiggins

uz2b-len · Post by **uz2b-len** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:34 am

umassah03 wrote:Also believes the point guard position is his for the taking.

If he really believes that, he's an arrogant fool. Does he recognize the possibility that he may not practice with the team all year? Does he realize that therefore he's gonna have to complete with players with lots of practice and game experience with the system?

But I realized I'm not too worried about his status right now. What we have right now is similar to something in special education called an extended evaluation. If he's really getting his act together, then he won't be in the police log any time between now and next October. And if he's as narcissistic as many of us believe, he'll show it by screwing up and getting kicked out of here. Nothing to worry about--time will clarify everything.

throwdown · Post by **throwdown** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:58 am

Wiggins would be the best PG on this team right now. Problem is, that's not the issue.

Post by **MikeUMA** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:55 pm

ktabz16 wrote:honestly, who cares what some kid wrote on the internet?

I do, because of the kid that wrote it.

When the kid can't seem to keep himself off the arrest sheet, that's a big problem. But then he adds salt to the wound by posting the things he's posted on public web pages. And then his friends make matters worse by talking about what he does in his free time.

The issue is this: if this is a regular student at the University, who gives a hoot? Nobody. But what makes it different is two things:
- He's a member of our basketball team. This is a special privilege and should be taken seriously.
- He's on scholarship. This is a very very special privilege.

For those two reasons, he needs to conduct himself with more humility. He can't be writing some of those things he has written on Facebook. He needs to tell his friends to tone down what they write about him. And he needs to keep himself out of trouble.

There are deserving students all over this country that can't afford college tuition and all other related expenses. Then there's Doug who is already on his second school, and gotten himself into hot water before playing a game.

What do you say to one of those deserving students when they're passed over for a scholarship because that money has gone to Wiggins?

umassah03 · Post by **umassah03** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:00 pm

MikeUMA wrote: What do you say to one of those deserving students when they're passed over for a scholarship because that money has gone to Wiggins?

That maybe wiggins is more talented and can help our basketball team more? If by deserving you mean of equal talent and ability then yes i agree, but if your referring to an inferior bball player, or just another student who needs funds, wiggins is a good ball player, thats what the priority is. Just the way it is. Having said that he does need to get his head on straight and keep out of trouble if he wants to ever see the floor here.

umassah03 · Post by **umassah03** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:35 pm

ktabz16: agreed

shovelhd · Post by **shovelhd** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:50 pm

I don't know what Doug Wiggins plans to do in life. If all he thinks he'll be doing is playing basketball, then the facebook junk probably doesn't matter much. But if he has any inkling about working in corporate America, then it matters a LOT, and anyone that doesn't understand that does so at their own peril. Companies do not hire thugs, period, and that's how he comes off.

Jackman · Post by **Jackman** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 4:49 pm

In my opinion, you're as accountable for what you write on Facebook in your own name in a publicly viewable place as a journalist is for what he writes in his newspaper column. Kids need to learn that facebook isn't some private, smoke-filled club. If you're going to stick your name and photo on it, you shouldn't post anything there that you wouldn't shout or do in the middle of Boston Common. That goes especially for people of public interest, such as college athletes. You may not be planning to get into any trouble, but as soon as you do get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, guess where everyone is going to go looking for more dirt. Don't be stupid, get anything that can be used against you the hell off of Facebook. If you want to behave like you're in a private space, find a private space. Social networking sites aren't it.

That said, I don't think what Doug Wiggins wrote quite rises to the level of needing university action. But his writings make it clear to me that this is a very immature kid, and I don't trust him in the slightest not to get into more trouble. They should be taken into account when deciding whether to keep giving Doug more chances.

Quann · Post by **Quann** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 4:53 pm

Jackman, I agree with everything you said. I don't think most kids even think (or care to think) that social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace are for publice viewing. I'm on both but I don't broadcast my life like so many people I know do. I find it kind of disturbing.

philosopher · Post by **philosopher** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 4:53 pm

umassah03 wrote:If by deserving you mean of equal talent and ability then yes i agree, but if your referring to an inferior bball player, or just another student who needs funds, wiggins is a good ball player, thats what the priority is.

There is this nagging memory in the back of my head that keeps telling me that the University of Massachusetts is primarily an institution of higher education, and all other programs fall in line behind that. Yes, the scholly that will go to Wiggins, if he manages to stay in school, offends me because there are more deserving student wannabes out there who will not be given the chance. Please don't tell me that athletic schollies are designated for student-athletes, it is a given. For Wiggins to get off my personal fecal roster (and it is true that the only who cares about that is me) he needs to earn the status of "student" as well as "athlete." Both of those entail learning how to live within the structures of the university, in terms of legalities, academics, and his athletic ability.

Yup. I am an old fart, and proud of every single gray hair on my head.

uz2b-len · Post by **uz2b-len** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:03 pm

Actually, I think Wiggins is paying his own way this year.

philosopher · Post by **philosopher** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 6:38 pm

uz2b-len wrote:Actually, I think Wiggins is paying his own way this year.

In line 2 the mention of the scholly that Wiggins will get, not has. But thanks for the catch, Len.

Joyeus Noel, Happy Hanukkah, however you celebrate: be well, enjoy, and love.

Phil

nale · Post by **nale** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:18 am

ktabz16 wrote:again, if you're going to hang him based on his first few comments, shouldn't we also praise him for his apparent change of heart and recent comments?

i hate defending the kid but it seems like none of you are getting the point and all wrapped up in the facebook stuff. you don't get a true representation of someone from their facebook page. those of you that are FB friends with me would never guess that i can be such an a-hole on an internet message board.

again, it's his actions, NOT his postings on facebook that should get him kicked off the team.

I totally agree with your point of giving blame and credit equally for different postings.
I also agree that his FB posting should not get him kicked off the team.

However regarding FB. First posting on FB is an action, an action the poster is responsible for. Second the representation of someone from their facebook page may not be true but it is the way the person choose to represent themselves.
The full effects of FB may not be felt for years but I think many people will end up regreting some of the things they posted. I did my share of dumb stuff in my time fortunately there was no one documenting most of it.

Post by **MikeUMA** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:44 am

Maybe some of this is starting to hit home. I can't see Doug's Facebook page anymore. Seems he's being a little more selective about who he lets see it.

UMass87 · Post by **UMass87** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:22 am

MikeUMA wrote:Maybe some of this is starting to hit home. I can't see Doug's Facebook page anymore. Seems he's being a little more selective about who he lets see it.

An excellent solution.

AGAWAM28 · Post by **AGAWAM28** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:54 pm

So what's Wiggins status going into next season?