Kevin Ollie news(non Uconn and non legal matter).

[Huskybass]

The list behind him would be very much larger.
If Kathy said he was the most beloved your argument would have merit. She didn’t.

KO did things that helped the program directly and indirectly. UConn got a lot of press when his history was mentioned during his NBA career. Everything positive contributes. Everything negative hurts.

I have no problem if people hate Ollie or hate the negative things he’s done. But it’s wrong to state he did nothing that was good. That’s a lie. I won’t be part of that lie.

Kathy wasn't the one who said KO was "one of the most beloved players to ever put on a UConn uniform". She simply agreed with the guy, and apparently you do as well. I think it's a stretch to make that statement, as many other players come to mind sooner when I hear the term "most beloved". Most beloved would be a top 5 or top 10 and I simply don't think KO was ever quite on that level even prior to becoming a coach. That status is for guys like Kemba, Bazz, Boat, Emeka, Ray, Nadav... the truly special players. if you want to expand most beloved to include 30 or 40 players will then sure KO is in the mix.

I get that he did some good things as a player, and then did some great things as a Head Coach during his first two years. I don't think anyone including me would deny that.

 

[pj]

I think KO was one of the most respected UConn players/alumni for a long time. I don't remember ever loving him (not as I loved other players of good character, e.g. Ricky Moore), but I respected him for about two decades. He made a long career out of a paucity of talent. He succeeded at UConn on the court, succeeded in the NBA, and succeeded as an assistant coach to JC and then in his first two years as head coach succeeded about as well as a coach can.

And then he drove off or lost JC and Blaney, he lost his motivation, and then all his weaknesses especially his lack of intelligence came to the fore. He needed to be more motivated than other coaches, and to surround himself with people smarter than he was. He didn't do either.

And then he lacked the generosity of spirit to go out graciously.

I think we can still look back and praise the guy for his strengths and his accomplishments; and yet be glad he's no longer our head coach. It's very fortunate a guy like Hurley was available when we needed him.

 

[RichZ]

The list behind him would be very much larger.
If Kathy said he was the most beloved your argument would have merit. She didn’t.

KO did things that helped the program directly and indirectly. UConn got a lot of press when his history was mentioned during his NBA career. Everything positive contributes. Everything negative hurts.

I have no problem if people hate Ollie or hate the negative things he’s done. But it’s wrong to state he did nothing that was good. That’s a lie. I won’t be part of that lie.

I always took pride in his NBA career and the work ethic that allowed him to follow it. When he was done there, the was so highly regarded in the league. And he still has friends and supporters there. But IMO, his fall from grace at UConn has completely wiped those good feelings off the board. Outside of the UConn family and a handful of NBA players/coaches, how many people remember or care about his NBA work?

The one mental highlight I have of his UConn playing days was him coming down court at full tilt boogie, taking off from just beyond the three point line and releasing a floater just before he touched down inside the foul line, for the shortest 3 point basket in history.

 

[uconnfan68]

One of the most beloved players to ever put on a UConn uniform???????

When he was made coach, yeah. Everyone loved that speech.

 

[ctchamps]

Kathy wasn't the one who said KO was "one of the most beloved players to ever put on a UConn uniform". She simply agreed with the guy, and apparently you do as well. I think it's a stretch to make that statement, as many other players come to mind sooner when I hear the term "most beloved". Most beloved would be a top 5 or top 10 and I simply don't think KO was ever quite on that level even prior to becoming a coach. That status is for guys like Kemba, Bazz, Boat, Emeka, Ray, Nadav... the truly special players. if you want to expand most beloved to include 30 or 40 players will then sure KO is in the mix.

I get that he did some good things as a player, and then did some great things as a Head Coach during his first two years. I don't think anyone including me would deny that.

Reasonable and a more rational approach. Top 30 to 40 for me. Given the number of players that’s decent but off the list of one of the most list.

I get aggravated with the foolishness that goes on which states he screwed up the last three years and did nothing the first two. Or people asterisk the first two.

 

[browndog319]

So you see Ollie working on the medical billing part of this company?
Come on!

Do you think the doctors work in the medical billing departments of their companies? Of hospitals?
They just tell the people doing the billing what to bill. The people doing the billing bill. Are you really that naive?

 

[browndog319]

That's not fair to even speculate. Ollie was a disappointment as a Head Coach, but you shouldn't forecast shady and illegal behavior. That's just not right.

Did he or did he not commit infractions while ahead Coach? Did he lie about those while under investigation? I am not saying he will but I think he could become (or may already be) a bitter man who could succumb to desperate behavior based on what he believes was taken from him unfairly. He committed those infractions because he thought they didn’t apply to him.
His ongoing lawsuit doesn’t seem to be someone who sees that his own actions have any bearing on the situation. He’s exactly the kind of person who finds himself in these situations. I hope I’m not right.

But it’s a weird business for him to choose. The typical businesses former athletes seem to choose have a high cash-pay basis as well (prone to tax evasion - think restaurant franchises). This one has the insurance piece but also a high cash pay model.

 

[Madmannsucks]

Did he or did he not commit infractions while ahead Coach? Did he lie about those while under investigation? I am not saying he will but I think he could become (or may already be) a bitter man who could succumb to desperate behavior based on what he believes was taken from him unfairly. He committed those infractions because he thought they didn’t apply to him.
His ongoing lawsuit doesn’t seem to be someone who sees that his own actions have any bearing on the situation. He’s exactly the kind of person who finds himself in these situations. I hope I’m not right.

But it’s a weird business for him to choose. The typical businesses former athletes seem to choose have a high cash-pay basis as well (prone to tax evasion - think restaurant franchises). This one has the insurance piece but also a high cash pay model.

It looks like he bought a franchise. Trying to spin he is a perfect candidate for committing felonies? BIG REACH.

 

[tentoes4rings]

I think KO was one of the most respected UConn players/alumni for a long time. I don't remember ever loving him (not as I loved other players of good character, e.g. Ricky Moore), but I respected him for about two decades. He made a long career out of a paucity of talent. He succeeded at UConn on the court, succeeded in the NBA, and succeeded as an assistant coach to JC and then in his first two years as head coach succeeded about as well as a coach can.

And then he drove off or lost JC and Blaney, he lost his motivation, and then all his weaknesses especially his lack of intelligence came to the fore. He needed to be more motivated than other coaches, and to surround himself with people smarter than he was. He didn't do either.

And then he lacked the generosity of spirit to go out graciously.

I think we can still look back and praise the guy for his strengths and his accomplishments; and yet be glad he's no longer our head coach. It's very fortunate a guy like Hurley was available when we needed him.

Fantastic post, perfect summation in my opinion. FWIW, because he went to school with me and I had season tickets most of his college career, KO was my favorite Husky PG of all time until Kemba and Bazz made that a non discussion. I loved KO’s defense, how he ran the team his last 2.5 years and his warrior mentality.