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Post by oldbeav on Jul 22, 2024 10:22:49 GMT -8
As with all Eggers articles, this goes much deeper than just Johnson’s work on an NIL. Great read, especially for those of us who were at OSU for all or part of his OSU career.
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Post by sakamotosu on Jul 22, 2024 21:04:53 GMT -8
This is a great article. I had no idea about SJ's troubles as a kid and his road to OSU. The way this article was written, it felt like a movie. This *could* be a movie. Great story, which is still in the making. The part that was sad to hear was how incompetent OSU was back in the day re: how to take care of players or how to have a vision to keep the program growing into a stronger brand and powerhouse. I hope things are better now in terms of vision, strategy, and commitment. Anyway, fantastic read.
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Post by seastape on Jul 22, 2024 22:42:13 GMT -8
As with all Eggers articles, this goes much deeper than just Johnson’s work on an NIL. Great read, especially for those of us who were at OSU for all or part of his OSU career. Interesting article. Very interesting. Interesting to read in so many ways. Interesting to read what Johnson had to say about Miller's offense, specifically in the tournament and more specifically about the Kansas State game: ---“The flaw in Ralph’s offense is it was rigid and structured, and you could not adapt if a defense was playing you a certain way. My teammates did not have the freedom to shoot. In his system, if our outside shooting was working, there was not a damn thing (a defense) could do. (The defense) had to guard the perimeter players, which opened the middle for me. If they collapsed on me, those guys were open. “We struggled with outside shooting the last two years in the tournament. We didn’t have the freedom to play. Early in the Kansas State game, I took a hook shot from a little further out than normal. During the next timeout, Ralph said, ‘If you’re taking that shot, you better make it.’ Not the right thing to say. It’s the players’ time. Let us read and execute and use our skills.” Interesting that Miller coached for 19 years at OSU, went to the NCAAs 8 times and lost their first game in 6 of those 8, often to lower ranked teams. Interesting what Johnson said about OSU and the treatment of student-athletes white he was a student-athlete there: --“It was clear to me that the university didn’t care about its athletes. When I went into the NBA, I never wrote (Oregon State athletic department officials) a check. They didn’t have a relationship with me, and I didn’t have one with them.” OSU went through quite a period when athletics were definitely NOT a priority, and Johnson was there for part of it. Johnson has seen what not to do and seems to have a clear vision of how it can be improved. I like the fact that he wants the athletes to get NIL money now and to build networking/alumni for the future beyond the athletes' time as students at OSU. He wants to improve the lives of OSU men's basketball players. And then he wants to spread it to all OSU student-athletes and then he wants to spread it to all students. He has a vision that could improve a lot of lives in the OSU Community. I hope he succeeds. |
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Post by Henry Skrimshander on Jul 23, 2024 9:21:51 GMT -8
Interesting. I have always heard Johnson was well taken care of here, with a brand-new van, TV, nice apartment, free gas at the station at Circle and Kings, etc. In fact, didn't we get on NCAA probation later for the extra benefits to athletes when he was here?
I have also heard that he has always been somewhat entitled post-graduate, demanded to be paid for appearances at reunions, etc., while others were simply glad to be back on campus with friends and teammates, and to be recognized for their accomplishments.
I don't recall hearing similar complaints from Radford, Blume, Sitton, AC, or others from his period.
One could also argue whether athletics are supposed to be a PRIORITY at a university, if athletes are supposed to get special treatment, or whether athletics and athletes are simply part of the whole experience. Probably worth discussing on another thread.
The truth probably is somewhere in between. Either way, it's good OSU seems to be back in his good graces, and he wants to help.
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Post by fridaynightlights on Jul 23, 2024 10:56:51 GMT -8
Unfortunately, part of Ralphs legacy is his teams' failures in the NCAA tournament. I remember what a gut punch the losses to Kansas State and to a lesser extent Lamar were at the time. I can only imagine what it would be like if that kind of failure happened now with the increased scrutiny that the internet and social media brings.
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