I will say it again and probably again! And some very strong, well known voices here, will talk and talk about the things that have been pillars of the success of the U Conns women's basketball program and surely one has been manner in which the young women learn to behave on and off the court. But now that maybe the next DT or MM (or better) comes along throw it out the window because all that matters is we must get and have that recruit and of course might not win as much without them.
Let me explain my thinking on this one and I do have one aspect of it that I'm not sure about.
It says a huge amount about a person who would go to another country, at a international tournament and purposely and continually create sounds that effect every person at the game and watching or hearing it can not help being impacted by! If this was done by a parent of anyone other than a superstar player, we wouldn't even be having this conversation! If I were present, crazy as I am, I would have surely done something to tell him to stop. Of course, first of all he probably was not asked or told by anyone, whether it be someone in the stands or a member of the USA basketball hierarchy to stop. The obnoxiousness and annoyingness of continually trying to disrupt the other teams offense throughout the game, surely strongly points to his not giving a damn about what anyone thinks. Of yes, he's Azzi Fudd's dad, so what might you have to say? This is one very clear example of what Geno talks about that makes it so much harder to coach now then years ago. The entitledness of such behavior is as loud as the noises he perpetuated on all, and the only choice one has is leave the arena, turn off the volume if watching from afar, or confront him and cause more of a mess.
I truly feel sorry for Azzi Fudd that her Dad can't control whatever drives and drove such behavior. On many levels, I feel why should she be punished for her fathers behavior? But if you don't expect decent behavior and common sense from him, what might very likely comes along with accepting such?
I am and have been a loud, sometimes inappropriate voice at my daughters sporting events years ago and I now regret that behavior. Of course, she couldn't come close to shining Azzi Fudd's basketball shoes. And of course, the child is not responsible for their parents behavior? Unfortunately if you just accept it, especially from a parent of maybe an all time great players father, what might likely be coming with it over the next X years, and how does that impact your handling of other players and their families? A parent of another star recruit who has worked hard to behave appropriately when at times they might have thought otherwise, what's the message to them and more importantly to their kids, especially the star players. Actually some parents might use accepting or rejecting such behavior as an important part of where they wish their child to attend college and be the primary basketball role model of their daughter from before they arrive until after they leave.
I could and already have gone on way too long!
I will finish by stating that tolerating such behavior is enabling such behavior. It is one of numerous elements of what's happening throughout our society that puts us firmly where we are today.
I've moved on from Azzi Fudd and I hope U Conn has as well. As adults, children watch and hear not only what we hear and say, but what we DO!
Bronx23
