It’s like many have said: “Mistakes happen.” Then the angry, shrill demands for an apology start popping up. That’s usually followed by calls for the company to fire the person or crew and for the NCAA or managing enterprise to fire the company.
I liked it far better when sane coaches or people in authority would say, “It was an honest mistake. I don’t care who did it. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
That’s all. No federal case; no admonishments ad nauseam and let it go.
Great comment. The worst offender by far was Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, among her comments, "Inexcusable and unfair to every team that played on it unacceptable and extremely upsetting.” Dial it back Tara... neither you, any of your players noticed the minor error (keep in mind it was only nine inches short at the apex of the top of the key and imperceptible on the corners). Stanford shot 3 of 12 threes from one end and 2 of 13 from the other end. I'm not sure a team that misses 20 of 25 threes should be lofting the ball up in any case. One more fun fact, if not for eagle eyed Michael McGrath... it's likely the error would have never been discovered. Best teams won, losing sides did their best. Sports is the last entertainment that is unpredictable... it's why we show up. Can't wait for the women's final four... ratings will top the men. Shout out to my fellow Canuck Zach Edey - O'Canada! 🇨🇦
Oh, and Item Two. Teams flip ends at the half, so BOTH teams got to experience the "flexible" top end of the three-point line. Small goof with zero actual consequence.
And THANKS for the link to the company that manufactures the floor. That is a LOT of maple!
We can laugh about this - and I guess I am - but I do think it's a terrible look. For Connor Sports, of course, but also for Portland, which had no role in causing the fiasco but is copping plenty of sarcastic commentary in its wake, something the city has had too much of in recent years. My opinion.
Was a shame for sure. Blown out of all proportion by the media and 100% the NCAA's fault. Love the coaches that came out aggressively with criticism... they were asleep at the switch for not noticing it. Big yawn.
It is funny. Unfortunate, but funny. I always try to keep in mind mistakes happen. Always interesting to watch the internet masses rush to find someone to blame.
Murphy is equal opportunity. Just when Portland needed a really good shot in the arm, something stupid happens. John's right, reasonal people will over look the problem since it was not Portland's error. Problem is not many reasonable people get noticed; the unreasonable ones do. We'll never know if future NCAA decisions will reflect this problem. Hope is eternal.
Yeah, 20-20 hindsight, but with all the money they suck up from March Madness you'd think the geniuses at NCAA would AUTOMATICALLY check the dimensions of each of those $100,000 custom courts they have installed. All the old, white dudes at the top of that pyramid "earning" high six and seven figures, you'd think someone would have thought of that.
Great reporting John. Don’t know how you found him but it is what I expect from your reporting. Can’t believe the NCAA doesn’t routinely inspect these courts both at where they are made and when installed.
Thank you Richard. I kept asking ... how did you know? How? The attorney was a fun conversation. I will post the full audio of our talk here as soon as I can.
No big deal. We all learned the game on garage hung baskets in small driveways. My kids went to a rural school with a gym floor that never met regulation. 🤣
Mistakes happen, but there certainly should been someone to check the work. I expect the company AND the NCAA will change protocols to make sure this doesn’t occur again.
Amazing stuff. Nice to get not only how it happenned which you reported before but how it got caught. Since I was at Moda for the event, I got a lot of texts asking what happened and I was able to refer to you reporting....and now we get as Paul Harvey often would say "the rest of the story".
Thank you for tracking this person down and getting the whole story - I love that you did this!
Thank you for being here for it.
It’s like many have said: “Mistakes happen.” Then the angry, shrill demands for an apology start popping up. That’s usually followed by calls for the company to fire the person or crew and for the NCAA or managing enterprise to fire the company.
I liked it far better when sane coaches or people in authority would say, “It was an honest mistake. I don’t care who did it. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
That’s all. No federal case; no admonishments ad nauseam and let it go.
I am happy to see someone else feels the same way.
People make mistakes and in the scheme of things, this is relatively insignificant.
I agree. There’s just too much anger afloat for that to happen these days. So sad as it affects every little oops we encounter.
Great comment. The worst offender by far was Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, among her comments, "Inexcusable and unfair to every team that played on it unacceptable and extremely upsetting.” Dial it back Tara... neither you, any of your players noticed the minor error (keep in mind it was only nine inches short at the apex of the top of the key and imperceptible on the corners). Stanford shot 3 of 12 threes from one end and 2 of 13 from the other end. I'm not sure a team that misses 20 of 25 threes should be lofting the ball up in any case. One more fun fact, if not for eagle eyed Michael McGrath... it's likely the error would have never been discovered. Best teams won, losing sides did their best. Sports is the last entertainment that is unpredictable... it's why we show up. Can't wait for the women's final four... ratings will top the men. Shout out to my fellow Canuck Zach Edey - O'Canada! 🇨🇦
Oh, and Item Two. Teams flip ends at the half, so BOTH teams got to experience the "flexible" top end of the three-point line. Small goof with zero actual consequence.
And THANKS for the link to the company that manufactures the floor. That is a LOT of maple!
Great point.
Once you see it, you can't unsee it! But it was noticeable in pictures before they corrected it once you knew to look.
We can laugh about this - and I guess I am - but I do think it's a terrible look. For Connor Sports, of course, but also for Portland, which had no role in causing the fiasco but is copping plenty of sarcastic commentary in its wake, something the city has had too much of in recent years. My opinion.
I don't think anyone reasonably can blame Portland... but I get it. It happened in Portland. It's like the door blowing off that Alaska flight.
Was a shame for sure. Blown out of all proportion by the media and 100% the NCAA's fault. Love the coaches that came out aggressively with criticism... they were asleep at the switch for not noticing it. Big yawn.
It is funny. Unfortunate, but funny. I always try to keep in mind mistakes happen. Always interesting to watch the internet masses rush to find someone to blame.
Murphy is equal opportunity. Just when Portland needed a really good shot in the arm, something stupid happens. John's right, reasonal people will over look the problem since it was not Portland's error. Problem is not many reasonable people get noticed; the unreasonable ones do. We'll never know if future NCAA decisions will reflect this problem. Hope is eternal.
Yeah, 20-20 hindsight, but with all the money they suck up from March Madness you'd think the geniuses at NCAA would AUTOMATICALLY check the dimensions of each of those $100,000 custom courts they have installed. All the old, white dudes at the top of that pyramid "earning" high six and seven figures, you'd think someone would have thought of that.
You'd think.
Say, is Larry Scott working for NCAA now?
No. If Larry Scott was working for the NCAA the court would have cost $200,000.
$100,000 for the court and a hundred grand for Larry.
And the logo would have been inlaid with semi-precious stones.
I bet now they check it all the time.
Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice...I must be an NCAA executive.
If we quit paying attention to the unreasonables, they will cease to exist😎
GO DAWGS
Great interview with Michael on the BFT. Thanks for the background on this gentleman.
Great reporting John. Don’t know how you found him but it is what I expect from your reporting. Can’t believe the NCAA doesn’t routinely inspect these courts both at where they are made and when installed.
Thank you Richard. I kept asking ... how did you know? How? The attorney was a fun conversation. I will post the full audio of our talk here as soon as I can.
Loved the the Line Srory!
Thank you Lynn. Appreciate that you're here for it.
No big deal. We all learned the game on garage hung baskets in small driveways. My kids went to a rural school with a gym floor that never met regulation. 🤣
My basket was 9 feet, 10 inches. I had troubles on a 10-foot rim. LOL
Across the street we played with a 12 footer!
So true! Bird learned to dribble on grass and dirt. Our gym had a wall two feet behind the baseline (thank God for tumbling mats hung on the wall!).
Mistakes happen, but there certainly should been someone to check the work. I expect the company AND the NCAA will change protocols to make sure this doesn’t occur again.
Super bad...
You know who's laughing about this? Caitlin Clark.
Nine inches? It could have been nine FEET and it wouldn't matter to her. Or Dame. Or Curry. Or Pistol Pete (sadly, no threes then).
To us mortals, sure, probably matters. But to that wondrous handful of truly ethereal downtown shooters?
Nah. Just pass 'em the ball...and marvel.
Ha. I found it interesting that the teams didn't seem to shoot differently despite the difference.
I Jjust knew I would not even sbe susoected, , Ha, disbled guys in wheel
Amazing stuff. Nice to get not only how it happenned which you reported before but how it got caught. Since I was at Moda for the event, I got a lot of texts asking what happened and I was able to refer to you reporting....and now we get as Paul Harvey often would say "the rest of the story".
Thx
Thank you Edward. Appreciate you.
Sometimes it's easier to see something like that from farther away than standing on top of it. Especially from up high. 😁
It would be a great gig indeed Mr. McGrath! I spy with my little eye…a new trend for bball games…