Diamond's Mom Speaks

[chocher]

Regardless of what we all think.. It takes courage and maturity for her to decide something this big and then have some sort of backlash that she is spoiled and selfish.. Not everyone makes the "right" decision early on in life.. I am glad her mother is helping her by speaking.. Maybe she needs a coach with a strong personality (Geno) that values her talent but pushes her too maximize her potential (Rizzoti, Lobo, Bird, Charles, Moore, Lewis, Stewie).. I do hope she transfer to UCONN because I think she will fit in nicely..

 

[ed4ourgirls]

The Muffett line was just poking fun at the recent MM vs GA nonsense. What really offends me is that with the exception of Maya Moore, nobody but Mickey Mantle deserves to be know simply as MM, with apologies to Marilyn Minroe and Mickey and Minnie.

Sorry to jog OT, but this post brought back memories of standing in the Innsbruck train
station in Aug 1962 looking at the newspaper headline in large letters that covered the
entire front page:

MM
TOT

I doubt that there are many folks in Austria who ever heard of Mickey Mantle or
even Maya Moore, but MM was an international phenomenon back in her day.

 

[hussybulldog]

Regardless of what we all think.. It takes courage and maturity for her to decide something this big and then have some sort of backlash that she is spoiled and selfish.. Not everyone makes the "right" decision early on in life.. I am glad her mother is helping her by speaking.. Maybe she needs a coach with a strong personality (Geno) that values her talent but pushes her too maximize her potential (Rizzoti, Lobo, Bird, Charles, Moore, Lewis, Stewie).. I do hope she transfer to UCONN because I think she will fit in nicely..

Elaborating your reasons for her being fitting in...There might be other teams that she fits in even better.

 

[chocher]

With the exception of UNC.. I watched the UNC games and she is not afraid to take the big shots and can take over a game.. she is willing to share the ball to make her teammates better.. Family environment here at UCONN as per her/moms post (missing her family). Coaches can guide her without her losing herself.. Her ego gets checked at the door because that is the UCONN way.. and again.. having Geno who not only cares for his players but is not afraid to let his feelings be known of what they didn't do on the court.. IDK.. Just a feeling of watching her play.. I just think Geno's coaching style will be good for her..

 

[EricLA]

I just read the article finally and was very impressed with what her mother had to say. Laid no blame at the feet of UNC and rightfully didn't go into any specific criticisms. Pointed out that her daughter is only 18, after all, and realized during her time there that it was not right for her . Honestly, I don't think anyone has a right to expect further specifics. I applaud the family for taking the high road, as much as possible, when your kid is the best player on the team she's leaving.

I'm a little surprised at the amount of parsing, dissecting, and "reading into" the comments made by the mom. She obviously loves her daughter, did not sound like she had a speech prepared by an expert, and probably was quoted answering questions to a reporter. Had nothing but nice things to say about Hatchell too, as her fight with Leukemia is much larger than where a star player goes to college.

 

[doggydaddy]

I just read the article finally and was very impressed with what her mother had to say. Laid no blame at the feet of UNC and rightfully didn't go into any specific criticisms. Pointed out that her daughter is only 18, after all, and realized during her time there that it was not right for her . Honestly, I don't think anyone has a right to expect further specifics. I applaud the family for taking the high road, as much as possible, when your kid is the best player on the team she's leaving.

I'm a little surprised at the amount of parsing, dissecting, and "reading into" the comments made by the mom. She obviously loves her daughter, did not sound like she had a speech prepared by an expert, and probably was quoted answering questions to a reporter. Had nothing but nice things to say about Hatchell too, as her fight with Leukemia is much larger than where a star player goes to college.

You are surprised?

 

[intlzncster]

I just read the article finally and was very impressed with what her mother had to say. Laid no blame at the feet of UNC and rightfully didn't go into any specific criticisms. Pointed out that her daughter is only 18, after all, and realized during her time there that it was not right for her . Honestly, I don't think anyone has a right to expect further specifics. I applaud the family for taking the high road, as much as possible, when your kid is the best player on the team she's leaving.

I'm a little surprised at the amount of parsing, dissecting, and "reading into" the comments made by the mom. She obviously loves her daughter, did not sound like she had a speech prepared by an expert, and probably was quoted answering questions to a reporter. Had nothing but nice things to say about Hatchell too, as her fight with Leukemia is much larger than where a star player goes to college.

Nah, the Boneyard is famous for it.

 

[HuskeySlim]

I truly wish DD all the happiness in the world wherever, or whatever she chooses. As her mother said, college should be the best time of her life. We do not know what made her unhappy at UNC. Was it basketball, or something else ?

She was really the main person to get that freshman class to come to UNC. You could tell it was her team. So it seems to me she had what she wanted on the basketball court. So, could it have been something else ?

It is all speculation now. It just seems so wrong for an 18 year old to have to go through all this pressure. We may never know what her reasons were for leaving UNC, and that is perfectly fine to me. I just hope she finds what she is looking for.

 

[EricLA]

You are surprised?

Yes, to a degree, but probably more disappointed.

Nah, the Boneyard is famous for it.

Then I find that unfortunate and am reminded of Huskynan's opinion that the BY is in danger of becoming The Summitt.

I get criticizing a player (or parent) when they make egregious, over the top, or semi-crazy comments, but to try to divine what a loving mother "really" meant or criticize her (or DD at this point) is just bad form. I agree with Rocky 100%. Also with Cat's and Ice's comments. She's said her peace for now, and the rest is none of our business.

It could be DD cannot articulate the factors that constitute an unhappy stew for her and have her moving on. It does not feel right, she is moving on. That should be enough.

There is simply nothing to suggest that Diamond did anything wrong, and her mom was the epitome of class in avoiding criticism of a Cancer victim while expressing her young daughter's desire for a better place. Unless we hear something different from DD or her family, that should be enough.

I totally get fans being disappointed. UNC fans especially. It's the criticism of this situation, and how the Deshields family has handled it, that I don't get.

 

[intlzncster]

Then I find that unfortunate and am reminded of Huskynan's opinion that the BY is in danger of becoming The Summitt.
I get criticizing a player (or parent) when they make egregious, over the top, or semi-crazy comments, but to try to divine what a loving mother "really" meant or criticize her (or DD at this point) is just bad form. I agree with Rocky 100%. Also with Cat's and Ice's comments. She's said her peace for now, and the rest is none of our business.

Yeah, I wasn't condoning it, just saying that's how it is. I actually don't think, outside of involving a great player, that this whole thing is a big deal at all. In fact, if I was forced to make a judgement, I'd say that the EDD and Walker transfers were more difficult situations for the team involved. Diamond, though probably unhappy most of the year, stuck it out and busted her tail for the whole season. Didn't leave anyone in a lurch. JMO

 

[EricLA]

Yeah, I wasn't condoning it, just saying that's how it is. I actually don't think, outside of involving a great player, that this whole thing is a big deal at all. In fact, if I was forced to make a judgement, I'd say that the EDD and Walker transfers were more difficult situations for the team involved. Diamond, though probably unhappy most of the year, stuck it out and busted her tail for the whole season. Didn't leave anyone in a lurch. JMO

Fair enough and good points!

 

[doggydaddy]

Didn't leave anyone in a lurch. JMO

I think she left the fellow freshmen that clearly were expecting to play with the best player in their class for 4 years in the lurch. If they based their decision to go to UNC on this so-called pact, I bet they feel that they were abandoned.

 

[intlzncster]

I think she left the fellow freshmen that clearly were expecting to play with the best player in their class for 4 years in the lurch. If they based their decision to go to UNC on this so-called pact, I bet they feel that they were abandoned.

True. Every transfer does that in a sense. I meant during (Walker) and in prep for (EDD) the season.

 

[doggydaddy]

True. Every transfer does that in a sense. I meant during (Walker) and in prep for (EDD) the season.

I believe this is a unique situation based on everything we heard about players working together to commit to UNC together.

Just a reminder about how this came about.

 

[doggydaddy]

True. Every transfer does that in a sense. I meant during (Walker) and in prep for (EDD) the season.

I misread your post. Sorry.

 

[sivad40]

http://www.heraldsun.com/sports/blog/unc/x1505314918/Hatchell-I-wish-I-knew-why-DeShields-left-UNC

Coach Hatchell:

1. Still has no idea why Diamond is transferring.
2. Blames herself for not being around this season to coach her and wondered if things would have been different if she had been coaching.
3. Gave her an unconditional release
4. Said bye to her yesterday in a meeting at which Diamond was dressed in Carolina stuff "from head to toe" and hugged Sylvia for 2 minutes.

 

[HGN]

According to NCAA rules, a transferring student must spend a year "in residence" at the school she intends to play at. Simply sitting out a year does not meet this requirement and would result in the student/athlete having to "red-shirt" another year and lose a year of eligibility with regard to the five to play four alprovision. I suppose the student/athlete could petition the NCAA for a sixth year, but, absent a compelling reason, such as a significant health problem, I seriously doubt that would be successful.

Jim

Thank you. I was just wondering what she might could do.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

http://www.heraldsun.com/sports/blog/unc/x1505314918/Hatchell-I-wish-I-knew-why-DeShields-left-UNC

Coach Hatchell:

1. Still has no idea why Diamond is transferring.
2. Blames herself for not being around this season to coach her and wondered if things would have been different if she had been coaching.
3. Gave her an unconditional release
4. Said bye to her yesterday in a meeting at which Diamond was dressed in Carolina stuff "from head to toe" and hugged Sylvia for 2 minutes.

It's too bad that Sylvia blames herself for not being around to coach Diamond.

 

[Replicant]

“She told us she wanted a release, five days after she said on television ‘We’re playing for you, Coach Hatchell.’ - Sylvia Hatchell

Ouch!!!

 

[msf22b]

Assuming Diamond's mom and dad to be knowledgeable and world-wise.
I took a look at the latest with regard the cheating scandal.

It just isn't going away: seconding a letter from a group of retired distinguished professors, the History Department recently requested a full accounting and one of its faculty is researching a book; a California congressman is pointedly querying the NCAA's on its passivity, and an NCAA committee is beginning to make some noise.

Senior admin appears to be laying low and hoping the issue will quiet down.

I wonder if its possible that the family has some inside information?

 

[Bestiarius]

Someday, this situation will make a great case study for an ethics class. The title of the class may be, "Why is the truth so difficult to utter, and does lying for the purpose of political correctness or face saving make the situation better for anyone?"

 

[HuskyNan]

Someday, this situation will make a great case study for an ethics class. The title of the class may be, "Why is the truth so difficult to utter, and does lying for the purpose of political correctness or face saving make the situation better for anyone?"

Who is it you think is lying? I'm assuming you have some reason for saying this.

 

[RadyLady]

It's too bad that Sylvia blames herself for not being around to coach Diamond.

I know that and I feel so badly for Sylvia.

Nan, are your sources telling you that she is still going to Tennessee?

 

[HuskyNan]

I know that and I feel so badly for Sylvia.

Nan, are your sources telling you that she is still going to Tennessee?

I haven't spoken to anyone about the situation since I last posted so I have nothing new to add.

 

[MilfordHusky]

It could be DD cannot articulate the factors that constitute an unhappy stew for her and have her moving on. It does not feel right, she is moving on. That should be enough.

Diamond doesn't need to articulate the factors to us or even to UNC, but I hope she can do so to herself, so that she is happier wherever she winds up next.