Dear John Fanta

[RollSkis]

From Suitcase school in the early 90s to Basketball Blue Blood is wild.

Also I am just in utter disbelief at what just happened

 

[bendm]

I’m a big fan of Fanta…I think he will be one of the biggest stars in broadcasting in a few years

Hi John,

You’re still better than Dauster and Goodman but in thin ice

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Goodman was pondering if Hurley may regret this a few years down the line. I dont know why Hurley would regret going for a 3 peat with another stacked team versus try the NBA (which he could fail miserably). Hurley has plenty of time to try the NBA, just seemed like an idiotic take.

 

[housekeys]

How can anyone be upset with the Mama Cass of CBB? He was only California dreaming.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

The whole Field of 68 crew has had a brutal year. They try too hard to be edgy. Goodman by far the worst of them.

 

[Gutter King]

The whole Field of 68 crew has had a brutal year. They try too hard to be edgy. Goodman by far the worst of them.

If they weren't so UConn-centric they'd be dead to me. Goodman is legitimately terrible. I had it on as background noise today, and his shoe-horning in of Hurley's "weirdo" room has become so predictable. Almost everything that comes out of that man's mouth is complete cringe. Also did it in their AK is back interview, at the expense of an interesting question from Dauster.

I do appreciate Fanta's strength of articulating the bigger picture of important moments like this. I think he gets it, even if he went amateur hour with this story.

 

[Matias]

All fanboying aside, I think Fanta's (and pretty much every other journalists') fatal error was thinking the NBA was simply something nobody in their right mind could ever say 'NO' to; that there's nothing in college basketball worth aspiring to more than coaching a top NBA brand.

Simply wrong. The NBA is not the same sports league it was 2 to 5 decades ago. Basketball has grown bigtime around the world and the NBA is far removed from being the single source of big money in basketball. March Madness consistently beats the NBA Finals in ratings every year and now top players don't need to rely on NBA prospects to feed their families.

The words "You better get us now cause it's coming" have never been more prophetic.

 

[RedStickHusky]

...and let's not give Woj a free pass either. It's so obvious he was helping the Lakers frame a narrative and thus being loose with the facts.

Was it Woj that put "100 million" out? We wouldn't have been so worried if we'd had the real numbers.

 

[Fan1978]

Was it Woj that put "100 million" out? We wouldn't have been so worried if we'd had the real numbers.

Would not have made a difference. 100 million in LA = 50 in ct

 

[CL82]

I'll give Fanta a pass, he's often too obvious with his infatuation with us.

Maybe, but Fanta is infatuated with all things including us, the big east, college basketball, college athletics, etc. I would say it is part of his schtick, but I think it's just who is. I bumped into him on a train into MSG and he jumped into our conversation about UConn. He's pretty much the same guy he is on TV, maybe just with the volume backed down to 9.

 

[mikedog10]

John Fanta is doing fine. The only people who see him for a fool right now are on this board, and were already aware of/critical of Fanta. Reporters are wrong all the time. He gained a lot of followers this past weekend and will continue to do so. John and his career are further along now than they were a week ago, he’s good.

 

[CL82]

Would not have made a difference. 100 million in LA = 50 in ct

The tax differential is 5%. On the $3 million difference between the deals, that amounts to an extra $150K a year.

I suspect that wasn't a dealbreaker.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Would not have made a difference. 100 million in LA = 50 in ct

Maybe so but there's an emotional impact associated with "100 million" that had a lot of us cringing.

 

[RedStickHusky]

The tax differential is 5%. On the $3 million difference between the deals, that amounts to an extra $150K a year.

I suspect that wasn't a dealbreaker.

No, it just wasn't the "can't refuse" offer it was being made out to be... It was a reasonable offer, not a "we're all in" offer.

 

[DRBackup]

Opinion. You are assured of this…. How?

Because he's a "journalist". His UConn fan boy era just magically corresponds to two national championship seasons is just... coincidence ? Please.

 

[Irvine]

Would not have made a difference. 100 million in LA = 50 in ct

Not in Greenwich

 

[gtcam]

This is such a lame thread. Digging on Fanta when he’s been a UConn fan boy all along. He has a job to do, gave his opinion, so what. He still loves UConn and is a big advocate out there.

Some of you need to decide to just be nice and happy. It a choice, just make it and flip the switch. This look can pop up once in a while but come on, really we’re digging Fanta now? Who’s next?

It's like all the dolts who are decrying anyone who questioned DH's integrity etc. during the past few days.
Opinions are just that- opinions.
DH has every right to perform his due diligence on investigating any employment offer that comes his way, the same for you and me.
However, DH has not always been forthright, especially in dealing with Bouknight during that sophomore year and a few other issues in the troubled player's past, so I can see how some view him in sunglasses at times,
DH has created a very effective team of coaches as well as a unique team atmosphere that has produced ultra-impressive recent results.
Fanta has always been a loud positive voice for the UConn mens basketball team. He may have mis stepped a few times during the DH/Laker issue but I am quite sure he meant no malice. DH seems to trust Wojo but Wojo is not always on the level. None of these guys and ladies in the media today are blameless.
DH is back, UConn is better for it and we all benefit by his and his family's decision. No time to cast stones. Time to celebrate.
We all learned a quick lesson. Trust no journalists or media in telling any story in an unbiased or properly vetted fashion.

 

[metsfan2323]

The Boneyard always needs something to complain about.

 

[FreeKlaiber]

Fanta has always been a loud positive voice for the UConn mens basketball team. He may have mis stepped a few times during the DH/Laker issue but I am quite sure he meant no malice. DH seems to trust Wojo but Wojo is not always on the level. None of these guys and ladies in the media today are blameless.
DH is back, UConn is better for it and we all benefit by his and his family's decision. No time to cast stones. Time to celebrate.
We all learned a quick lesson. Trust no journalists or media in telling any story in an unbiased or properly vetted fashion.

The difference is Woj WAS an insider (being fed info by DH to broadcast for leverage) while Fanta was a poser, wanting to be seen as an insider, and made up stuff to further his sycophant status. I guess At least he didn't say Bruce Pearl would be a good replacement... lol

 

[RedStickHusky]

The Boneyard always needs something to complain about.

Real life imitating real life...

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

...and let's not give Woj a free pass either. It's so obvious he was helping the Lakers frame a narrative and thus being loose with the facts.

You think that’s what Woj was doing?!?!

 

[Palatine]

I do not get the Fanta love or hate. He's just another guy covering the Huskies. Not really worth working up any emotion about this guy. For some reason, he seems to draw outsized reactions.

 

[BigTenFan]

The only 'Expert' in the whole process was Dan Hurley. Everyone could learn from coach on how to conduct yourself with class in negotiations.

 

[SubbaBub]

Was this necessary? As if, we don't have enough media grudges.

 

[Scoe]

Move on, I know this is hard for some people to comprehend but nothing is news until it becomes official.