Topics

I wanted to mention, as it hasn't been the case in the past, you can now access our chat on "i" devices.  If you go to our "Game Day" link, then click on "Full Size" under the chat window it will bring up an iPhone/Pad/Pod friendly version.

The racehorse I'll Have Another has been scratched from Saturday's Belmont Stakes, ending its bid to become horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 34 years, a spokesman for trainer Doug O'Neill confirmed Friday.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/08/ill-have-another-wont-run-belmont-triple-crown-drought-remains/

[The Coming Meltdown in College Education & Why The Economy Won't Get Better Any Time Soon]

The Coming Meltdown in College Education & Why The Economy Won't Get Better Any Time Soon

This is what I see when i think about higher education in this country today:

Remember the housing meltdown ? Tough to forget isn't it. The formula for the housing boom and bust was simple. A lot of easy money being lent to buyers who couldn't afford the money they were borrowing. That money was then spent on homes with the expectation that the price of the home would go up and it could easily be flipped or refinanced at a profit.  Who cares if you couldn't afford the loan. As long as prices kept on going up, everyone was happy. And prices kept on going up. And as long as pricing kept on going up real estate agents kept on selling homes and finding money for buyers.

Until the easy money stopped.  When easy money stopped, buyers couldn't sell. They couldn't refinance.  First sales slowed, then prices started falling and then the housing bubble burst. Housing prices crashed. We know the rest of the story. We are still mired in the consequences.

Can someone please explain to me how what is happening in higher education is any different ?

Its far too easy to borrow money for college.  Did you know that there is more outstanding debt for student loans than there is for Auto Loans or Credit Card loans ? Thats right. The 37mm holders of student loans have more debt than the 175mm or so credit card owners in this country and more than the all of the debt on cars in this country. While the average student loan debt is about 23k. The median is close to $12,500. And growing. Past 1 TRILLION DOLLARS.

(Read More)

I have increased the allowable avatar size to 128x128.  If you would like your avatar to be bigger than it is currently, you need to reset it.  Simply re-upload or re-link to the picture and it should be slightly bigger than it was before (90x90).

[more than 1,200 impermissible phone calls and text messages during a 29-month span.]

The men's and women's basketball programs at Baylor University are facing possible NCAA sanctions following an investigation that uncovered more than 1,200 impermissible phone calls and text messages during a 29-month span.

Men's coach Scott Drew, women's coach Kim Mulkey and their assistants, were involved in the impermissible phone calls and texts. ESPN.com obtained a copy of the summary disposition, which was produced by the NCAA enforcement committee and Baylor.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7791434/baylor-bears-teams-facing-possible-ncaa-sanctions

The Valpo Fan Zone tourney pick'em is here!

Feel free to sign up and compete against your fellow Crusader fans!

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/group/169645/invitation?key=41e2d5abe9404132

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[Tapatalk]

Tapatalk is a forum app on the iPhone, Android, webOS, Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry. Tapatalk Forum App provides super fast on-the-go forum access to majority of the discussion forums that has activated the Tapatalk plugin.
      
   

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I have added our Twitter, RSS and Facebook feeds to the right side of the forum.  You should see the three icons anchored to the right.  If you aren't seeing it, try hitting Ctrl+F5 to force your browser to clear your cache.

I have added the RSS feeds from the Valpo Sports and Horizon League boards to our new Facebook page.

Now every half hour, the feeds will be checked and if any new topics have been created, they will be posted to Facebook!


http://www.facebook.com/ValpoFanZone

Tied for first (!) in the HL, YSU comes to the ARC tomorrow night at 4-1 and 9-6 while averaging 67.6 points per game.

Valpo is averaging 73.5 and is a game back. 

This is a crucial weekend for both teams.  After this game, YSU heads to Butler on Sunday while Valpo hosts Cleveland State.

Our second HL game, Milwaukee comes to the ARC at 9-4 and 2-0 with wins over Loyola and UIC.  They also handled IUPUI 62-49 but only beat NIU by 2.

Too bad we have back-to-back home HL games during winter break.

MIAMI -- Norris Cole stepped to the foul line with 9.3 seconds left, set to clinch the game as cries of "M-V-P" rained down upon him from the sold-out stands.

No, this wasn't a scene from his days at Cleveland State.

Taking over in just his second NBA game -- and with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all on the floor, no less -- Cole scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including three huge jumpers down the stretch to save the Heat in a 115-107 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

"You grow up and live for moments like that," Cole said.

...

"He's earned their respect," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Even though it's been a short period of time, about three weeks, because he's pure, he's all about the team. He's mature ... and he gets them the ball. You're always a popular guy when you find people when they're open."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=311227014

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/970553-valparaiso-crusaders-bryce-drew-brings-new-attitude-to-valpo-basketball

On Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis, in only his eight game at the helm, Bryce Drew accomplished something his father couldn't in nine tries over his legendary tenure as Men's Basketball Coach.  Bryce took the Crusaders into Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse and walked out with a win.

Saturday's win is indicative of a change of mindset throughout the program, both in terms of X's and O's and mental approach.  Bryce has done a 180 in on both sides of the floor, and game planning seems to be influenced heavily by his experience in the NBA. Gone is Homer's beloved 2-2-1 set, as Bryce has proven more willing to use a man defense, regardless of the situation.

Additionally, the offense has smoothly transitioned from operating on the perimeter (focusing on guards like Brandon Wood) to running inside-out (with the focus moving Valpo's strong interior players, Kevin Van Wijk and Richie Edwards).

In the early stages of his tenure as Men's Basketball Coach, Bryce has instilled a mental toughness in his team that I haven't seen in nearly a decade of following the Crusaders.  Valparaiso fought back from a pair of seven-point deficits in front of a hostile Butler crowd, something I have a hard time believing even the talented 10-11 squad could have done.

To have smilies or even the full array of options and edits in Quick Reply, go to your Profile, Modify Profile, Look and Layout. 

Scroll down to "Choose Quick Reply Type:" and choose any option but the first one. 

For some reason the first option doesn't play nice with quoting a post.

Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler set a new franchise record with an 80-yard punt today. Lechler's punt came in the second quarter after the Raiders offense produced another three-and-out against the Chicago Bears. Lechler broke the franchise's previous record of 77 yards held by Wayne Crow, who set it in 1961.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2011/11/27/2590710/video-shane-lechler-80-yard-punt-oakland-raiders

I have installed a new feature that allows you to highlight a portion of a post, then click on "Quote (selected)" to only quote that portion.

If you don't highlight any text before hitting it, it will quote the entire post like before.

I have added a chat box directly into this forum.  It can now be found after the off-topic area.  For those of you who do not want to see/use it, you can hit the " - " sign on the title bar to collapse it.

Hoping this makes chatting during games (or any other time) a bit easier.

The Holy Cross College Saints come to the ARC at 1-2 with losses to Bethel College (68-67) and Andrews University (68-43).  In their last game, they beat Great Lakes Christian College 83-77 in OT.

http://www.hcsaints.com/schedule/0/7.php

We have just completed a needed mandatory upgrade to the forum.  I hope you find this new version to be easier to use. 

I will be working throughout the day to return the colors/icon/feature customization.

Please let me know if you come across any issues.

Valparaiso University women's basketball coach Keith Freeman has announced the signings of three student-athletes to National Letters of Intents to play for the Crusaders.  Joining the Crusader program are Abby Dean, Sarah Godwin, and Jessi Wiedemann.

"All three of these players will give us tremendous versatility on the perimeter," Freeman said of the signing class.  "They can score in a variety of ways and will strengthen our perimeter.  Also, they are all excellent student-athletes."

http://www.valpoathletics.com/wbasketball/news/2011-12/11178/womens-hoops-inks-three-to-national-letters-of-intent/

[Struggle for UND's Fighting Sioux nickname nears end, lawmakers likely to back its retirement]

Struggle for UND's Fighting Sioux nickname nears end, lawmakers likely to back its retirement

BISMARCK, N.D. — Six years after the NCAA deemed it hostile to American Indians, the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname has hardly gone quietly through the courts or the state Legislature.

But the end of its life was in sight Wednesday, as the North Dakota House voted to give final approval to legislation that would allow the school to drop the nickname and its logo, which shows the profile of an American Indian warrior.

The NCAA in 2005 listed the university among a group of schools with objectionable American Indian nicknames, logos and mascots. UND is the only school still fighting the NCAA over the issue.

Some schools were allowed to keep their nicknames, provided they received tribal support. In UND's case, the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe endorsed using the nickname and logo but The Standing Rock Sioux's tribal council declined to support it.

Brian Faison, the university's athletics director, has said the nickname's continued use has made it difficult to schedule some rival schools, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, and has cast doubt on whether UND will be allowed to join the Big Sky Conference in July.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/struggle-for-unds-fighting-sioux-nickname-nears-end-lawmakers-likely-to-back-its-retirement/2011/11/09/gIQAaBSP4M_story.html

We are aware that there is an error when trying to view your profile.  Currently working on it 

I have installed a new reputation system that allows you to give rep to a poster based on their posts.

When you click the heart icon under their name, you will have the option to agree/disagree with the post and leave a comment.  This will add/subtract from the users reputation level.  

How you accumulate rep points:

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Every 10 points you receive increases your "Reputation Power"  (under your username) by one and every 100 points adds another bar image.

If you want to see your current number of points, go to your profile and it displays there.

To see who has given you rep, click on "View Reputation" while viewing your profile.


There are some rules to giving rep...

You can only give out reputation 10 times a day and you must give it to 3 different people before you can rep the same person twice.

Enjoy!

3:30pm ET: Bethune Cookman-Miami (FL), ESPNU (Adam Amin, Dan Hawkins)

Good stuff from Sports Pickle:

Chicago White Sox slugger Adam Dunn said today that he is dedicated to turning his 2011 season around, which has so far gotten off to a rough start. Dunn, who signed a 4-year, $56 million deal with Chicago before the season, is hitting just .160 with a .294 OBP, 11 home runs and 174 strikeouts through the season's first 160 games.

"I've always been a slow starter," said Dunn. "Like, last year with the Nationals I hit only .225 in April. The only difference now is that it's 65 points lower and it's through April, May, June, July, August and the majority of September. But I feel my swing starting to come."

Dunn has seen his plate appearances drop off in the second half of the season as his production stayed low, a fact he admits angered him.

"I'm just trying to shake those spring training cobwebs off and they pull the plug on me after 350 or so at-bats?" he said. "I mean, what's the big rush?"

With two games left in the season, Dunn hopes to get his average up close to his previous career mark of .250.

"I think a couple of 2-hit games should do it," he said. "I think that's reasonable."

Told that two 2-for-4 games would only increase his average to .166, Dunn sighed and said, "Well, I guess I better hope they go extra innings."

Gordon Hayward Makes His Decision: IGN Pro League

Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward isn't playing professional basketball overseas during the lockout. Instead, he's taking his talents to a galaxy far, far away.

DeseretNews.com reports that Hayward will be playing video games professionally.

The 21-year-old Utah Jazz player has joined a professional video game league with IGN Entertainment. Hayward will compete with other eSports video athletes in a StarCraft II competition from Oct. 6-9 at Caesars Atlantic City in the IGN Pro League. Hayward is excited to be among 256 players shooting for a share of a $100,000 prize pool in IPL 3: Origins.

"I've been playing video games for as long as I can remember," Hayward said in a news release. "I'm a competitive guy, and I love the competitive nature of video games.

"Pro-gamers are really sports stars themselves," he added. "The mental strategy that goes into planning your next move and what your opponent is going to do are skills you need to be successful playing basketball — and playing StarCraft II. If you want to be good, you have to put a lot of time and effort into it, just like with other sports. I've got the best of both worlds."

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/31802184

Sign up to play the Valpo Fan Zone NFL Pick'em.  Please use your message board name so we know who is who!

The regular season starts tonight, but we will drop the 3 lowest scores so if you miss this week or 2 more, you will still be fine. 

http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/pickem (Join a Private Group.)

Group ID#:   63439
Group Password:   crusaders

Also, use this thread for trash talk or any other discussion!!

[2013-2014 Valpo Men's Basketball Schedule]

2013-2014 Valpo Men's Basketball Schedule

http://www.valpoathletics.com/wbasketball/news/2011-12/10898/valpo-announces-2011-2012-womens-hoops-schedule/

Fifteen home games at the Athletics-Recreation Center along with a Thanksgiving weekend tournament at the University of Colorado highlight Valparaiso University's 2011-2011 women's basketball schedule which has been released by head coach Keith Freeman.

"I am really excited with our quality home schedule this season which features a diverse set of teams representing several different conferences," Freeman said.

The Crusaders will tip-off the season Nov. 12 at SIU Edwardsville before returning to the ARC for five of its next seven games.  The home opener is on Nov. 20 against Conference USA foe Rice before the Brown and Gold entertains former Mid-Continent Conference rival Western Illinois two days later.

Valpo heads to Colorado for the 25th annual Omni Hotels Classic Nov. 25-26, battling the host Buffaloes in the first round before taking on either Wisconsin or Montana State on day two.

"We are excited to be playing in a tournament with three highly competitive teams," Freeman added.  "We get to open with a Pac-12 team, playing against conference we don't see very often."

The Brown and Gold return home for contests against Indiana-Northwest, Lehigh, and IPFW before embarking on a two-game road trip.  On Dec. 10 Valpo heads to Pittsburgh to battle the Panthers from the BIG EAST for the third consecutive season before traveling to Ball State on Dec. 18.  Non-conference action wraps up just before the Christmas holiday as the Crusaders entertain Eastern Illinois on Dec. 20.

Horizon League action begins Dec. 28 at Wright State before the Crusaders head down the road to Detroit on New Year's Eve.  Valpo's longest homestand in conference play takes place Jan. 5-14 as the Crusaders host Cleveland State, Youngstown State, and Butler.  The regular season wraps up at home on March 3 as Valpo takes on Detroit for Senior Day.

This year's Horizon League Tournament is set for March 5-11 at campus sites.

Valpo will play a pair of exhibition contests at the ARC prior to the regular season commencing.  Huntington will visit the Crusaders on Nov. 1 while Saint Joseph's (Ind.) is slated for a Nov. 5 contest.

Happy Independence Day everyone!  

Roger Federer was 178-0 when leading a match 2 sets to love, but he collapsed today vs. Tsonga for his first loss.  Pretty incredible stat and a great run!  I think we are seeing the beginning of the end of Federer's amazing career.

Norris Cole didn't join LeBron hate train

MIAMI -- Cleveland State guard Norris Cole says fans there are happy he was taken in the first round of the NBA draft, even if he's joining the despised Miami Heat.

"They know it wasn't really my choice," Cole said with a smile Monday.

Cole was in Miami for an introductory visit after being drafted 28th overall Thursday night, then traded by Minnesota to the Heat for the rights to guard Bojan Bogdanovic, a second-round pick in 2014 and cash.

Cleveland fans have been rooting against the Heat ever since LeBron James chose them over the Cavaliers last summer, but Cole said his new team's unpopularity back in Ohio doesn't bother him.

"I've liked the Heat anyway," he said. "I was cheering for them. Some people didn't like the fact I was cheering for them, but they're happy for me and my success. Some people have bad comments to say about LeBron, but I ignore them."

Happy Father's Day to all the dads on the board! 

I love the Seattle announcer's call (third call in this clip)... "That is one of the greatest catches you will EVER see...THIS YEAR!"

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15451861&topic_id=11493214&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_15451861

   

Old, but fantastic! 

Conan O'Brien Old Time Baseball

Just because we have entered the "slow" time of year for Valpo sports doesn't mean the board has to slowdown as well!  I strongly urge everyone to use the Off Topic board!  There are plenty of topics that can be discussed amongst the group!   

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[Get Educated]

When posting in this forum, you should keep in mind the following:

1. Get Educated. Read the Terms of Service for this website. While most sites will have similar rules, there can be key differences from community to community, so it's a good idea to acquaint yourself with what is allowed and what is not.


2. Read Before Participating. It's best to browse a message board for a while before you post your first message. Read a couple week's worth of messages the first time you visit a board, and then read new messages for another couple of days. You'll see what topics are hot and which are cold, you'll get to know some of the key participants, and you'll become familiar with the demeanor of the board.


3. Communicate Clearly. Write clearly when you compose a message. Preview and review your message carefully before clicking Post. Typos can be confusing. Remember, if your message can be misunderstood, it will be.


4. Refrain from using ALL CAPS. Typing in all capital letters is frowned upon; it's the equivalent of screaming. It's considered an aggressive way to post and it doesn't come off as being very friendly. It also makes your message more difficult to read. Moderators often delete topics or posts that use ALL CAPS.


5. Utilize Formatting Codes and Smilies. Since tone can be difficult to convey simply using the written word, most forums are equipped with coding options (such as HTML and BB Code) and smileys. Using these options can help clarify what you are saying. Italicizing a word may help the reader understand what you are stressing. Putting a winking smiley in your message will help show you are just kidding or teasing and help avoid a person taking a comment personally.


6. Correction and Retraction. If you realize that you made a mistake in a previous message, please add a new message acknowledging the mistake and correcting it promptly. You will find most people are understanding of mistakes if they are dealt with immediately.


7. Be Respectful, Kind and Honest. Don't issue personal attacks, use profanity, or post threatening, abusive, harassing, or otherwise offensive language or images. Keep your messages appropriate and courteous at all times. Please disagree with other opinions respectfully. If you are unsure if something is inappropriate, ask yourself these questions: Would you say it to the person if she were standing right in front of you? Would you say it to your best friend or loved one? Are you calling someone names? How would you feel and react if faced with the same message from someone else? If it would anger or upset you, you might consider re-framing your thoughts in a less objectionable tone.


8. Personal Communication. Personal messages, and especially critical comments, are more appropriate when sent directly and privately. Many forums have a private messaging feature that can be utilized for this purpose. If not, an e-mail to the individual is also an acceptable option.


9. Problems with Another Poster. If you find yourself having a problem with another poster, it is poor form to voice your concerns on the forum. It is much better to contact the moderator or webmaster privately through email or private-message.  If all else fails, consider using the "ignore poster" feature.


10. This is a Family-Friendly Site. Because of the nature of the internet, you cannot be sure who may be reading your post. Try to use only appropriate language in your post.


11. Trolls. Ignore "trolls." Some people get a thrill from posting flames (really obnoxious messages) just to get a rise out of others. The best way to make them go away is to ignore them; they'll get bored and go somewhere else.


12. Be Careful When Posting Personal Information. Be careful about including private information about yourself, such as phone numbers and street addresses. It's not only a personal risk to you, but can also make other members of a community feel uncomfortable or wary. If you must share information of that nature, it should be sent by e-mail or private message.


13. Be Kind to Newcomers a/k/a Noobs. Writing a first topic on a forum can be daunting, so please be friendly and welcoming. Also, while trolls are a reality, and sometimes members may feel apprehensive about opening up to those they don't know, remember that everyone was a "newbie" at one time or another. It is best to extend the benefit of the doubt to guests and new members.


14. Respecting the Forum. Most Message Boards and Forums are provided as a service to the internet community. As a result, posting on forums should be viewed as a privilege, not a right. You would not consider acting hostile or inappropriately in a restaurant or other "public" location, and therefore you should not expect the right to do so on a forum.


15. Respecting the Moderators and Admins. Just as the world needs law enforcement to help keep the peace, Message Boards often employ moderators to help enforce the rules and keep things running smoothly. Most do so on a voluntary basis. While you may not agree with them, moderators are there for the general better of the community, and should be afforded respect and courtesy. If you have a problem with a moderator, you should contact the webmaster privately through email or private-message.


16. Freedom of Speech. The U.S. Bill of Rights allows citizens the right to free speech in a public forum without limitations imposed by the State/Government. Most message boards are not actually public forums, but rather private forums open to the public. While you will find most communities allow free and open discussion, private communities have a right to limit what is discussed and how it is discussed, as well as defining what is appropriate behavior for their forums. Freedom of speech is not the right to say something anywhere you want, but the right to say it somewhere. Freedom of Speech is the right to find another forum where you can speak your mind, or the right to start your own community in which to discuss what you wish. If you do not like the rules of a particular community, it is best if you find another which is more to your comfort level.


17. Remember the Golden Rule. It is very easy to misinterpret a person's word when you cannot see them and/or hear their tone, so please keep in mind the Golden Rule of Message Board Etiquette: It's not just what you say, it's how you say it.

[Get Educated]

When posting in this forum, you should keep in mind the following:

1. Get Educated. Read the Terms of Service for this website. While most sites will have similar rules, there can be key differences from community to community, so it's a good idea to acquaint yourself with what is allowed and what is not.


2. Read Before Participating. It's best to browse a message board for a while before you post your first message. Read a couple week's worth of messages the first time you visit a board, and then read new messages for another couple of days. You'll see what topics are hot and which are cold, you'll get to know some of the key participants, and you'll become familiar with the demeanor of the board.


3. Communicate Clearly. Write clearly when you compose a message. Preview and review your message carefully before clicking Post. Typos can be confusing. Remember, if your message can be misunderstood, it will be.


4. Refrain from using ALL CAPS. Typing in all capital letters is frowned upon; it's the equivalent of screaming. It's considered an aggressive way to post and it doesn't come off as being very friendly. It also makes your message more difficult to read. Moderators often delete topics or posts that use ALL CAPS.


5. Utilize Formatting Codes and Smilies. Since tone can be difficult to convey simply using the written word, most forums are equipped with coding options (such as HTML and BB Code) and smileys. Using these options can help clarify what you are saying. Italicizing a word may help the reader understand what you are stressing. Putting a winking smiley in your message will help show you are just kidding or teasing and help avoid a person taking a comment personally.


6. Correction and Retraction. If you realize that you made a mistake in a previous message, please add a new message acknowledging the mistake and correcting it promptly. You will find most people are understanding of mistakes if they are dealt with immediately.


7. Be Respectful, Kind and Honest. Don't issue personal attacks, use profanity, or post threatening, abusive, harassing, or otherwise offensive language or images. Keep your messages appropriate and courteous at all times. Please disagree with other opinions respectfully. If you are unsure if something is unappropriate, ask yourself these questions: Would you say it to the person if she were standing right in front of you? Would you say it to your best friend or loved one? Are you calling someone names? How would you feel and react if faced with the same message from someone else? If it would anger or upset you, you might consider re-framing your thoughts in a less objectionable tone.


8. Personal Communication. Personal messages, and especially critical comments, are more appropriate when sent directly and privately. Many forums have a private messaging feature that can be utilized for this purpose. If not, an e-mail to the individual is also an acceptable option.


9. Problems with Another Poster. If you find yourself having a problem with another poster, it is poor form to voice your concerns on the forum. It is much better to contact the moderator or webmaster privately through email or private-message.  If all else fails, consider using the "ignore poster" feature.


10. This is a Family-Friendly Site. Because of the nature of the internet, you cannot be sure who may be reading your post. Try to use only appropriate language in your post.


11. Trolls. Ignore "trolls." Some people get a thrill from posting flames (really obnoxious messages) just to get a rise out of others. The best way to make them go away is to ignore them; they'll get bored and go somewhere else.


12. Be Careful When Posting Personal Information. Be careful about including private information about yourself, such as phone numbers and street addresses. It's not only a personal risk to you, but can also make other members of a community feel uncomfortable or wary. If you must share information of that nature, it should be sent by e-mail or private message.


13. Be Kind to Newcomers a/k/a Noobs. Writing a first topic on a forum can be daunting, so please be friendly and welcoming. Also, while trolls are a reality, and sometimes members may feel apprehensive about opening up to those they don't know, remember that everyone was a "newbie" at one time or another. It is best to extend the benefit of the doubt to guests and new members.


14. Respecting the Forum. Most Message Boards and Forums are provided as a service to the internet community. As a result, posting on forums should be viewed as a privilege, not a right. You would not consider acting hostile or inappropriately in a restaurant or other "public" location, and therefore you should not expect the right to do so on a forum.


15. Respecting the Moderators and Admins. Just as the world needs law enforcement to help keep the peace, Message Boards often employ moderators to help enforce the rules and keep things running smoothly. Most do so on a voluntary basis. While you may not agree with them, moderators are there for the general better of the community, and should be afforded respect and courtesy. If you have a problem with a moderator, you should contact the webmaster privately through email or private-message.


16. Freedom of Speech. The U.S. Bill of Rights allows citizens the right to free speech in a public forum without limitations imposed by the State/Government. Most message boards are not actually public forums, but rather private forums open to the public. While you will find most communities allow free and open discussion, private communities have a right to limit what is discussed and how it is discussed, as well as defining what is appropriate behavior for their forums. Freedom of speech is not the right to say something anywhere you want, but the right to say it somewhere. Freedom of Speech is the right to find another forum where you can speak your mind, or the right to start your own community in which to discuss what you wish. If you do not like the rules of a particular community, it is best if you find another which is more to your comfort level.


17. Remember the Golden Rule. It is very easy to misinterpret a person's word when you cannot see them and/or hear their tone, so please keep in mind the Golden Rule of Message Board Etiquette: Its not just what you say, its how you say it.

Looks like bbtds has left us.  He was a pretty active poster on both boards... wonder why he chose to delete his account.

Tom Smith, the last basketball coach at Valparaiso University whose last name wasn't Drew, politely answered a few questions about VU for a story I did a few years ago about their success.

He didn't give me much.

The message was clear by the end of the conversation: The VU experience, particularly the final years, really weren't a good time for him. Don't call again about that subject.

Smith was worn down by the lack of resources, no recruiting budget, no real arena and no support from the administrators. Yet they were expected to play a real Division I schedule. Apathy drove him back to Missouri to coach. He was beat down by indifference. It was all a bitter memory for him, even years later.

Nothing ever beat Homer Drew down.

When Drew arrived from Bethel in 1988, the Crusaders' Division I basketball history was a vast pit of emptiness, pain and defeat. VU had a combined record of 115-201 since they started Division I play in 1976. They weren't even a local laughing stock. Nobody in the extended community cared enough for that to happen.

Read the full article

[Profile > Personal Message Options]

Just like on the old board, you can block posts by user if you want.

Simply go to Profile > Personal Message Options and add their name to the list. 

Instead of seeing their posts, you will see this:

I have noticed that a few people have been having trouble with replying with quotes, probably when using quick reply (their post ends up in the middle of a quote, etc.)

To avoid having this happen, simply wait for the quote to load and then hit return/enter twice.  When the quote is inserted in the Quick Reply box, the cursor is automatically taken to the end of the quote, but unfortunately it doesn't scroll to it so you can't always see where it is.  By hitting return twice, not only will you have some space after the quote, but your view will be taken to the cursor and you can be sure that you are replying after the quote.

Also, I have modified the Quick Reply box to look like the standard reply screen.  

Hope this is helpful.

After 22 years coaching at the University of Maryland, Gary Williams stunned the college basketball world Thursday by abruptly announcing his retirement from his alma mater.

"It's the right time," Williams said in a news release.  "My entire career has been an unbelievable blessing.  I am fiercely proud of the program we have built here.  I couldn't have asked any more from my players, my assistant coaches, the great Maryland fans and this great university.  Together, we did something very special here."

Maryland will host a news conference Friday at 1 p.m. at Comcast Center. The public is encouraged to attend.

In 33 years as a head coach at American, Boston College, Ohio State and Maryland, Williams went 668-380 (.637), reaching 14 NCAA tournaments, winning three ACC regular-season titles, making seven Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights, two Final Fours and winning the 2002 national championship. Williams was named the National Coach of the Year in 2002 and the ACC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2010.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bal-gary-williams-retires-from-maryland-0506,0,1913430.story

INDIANAPOLIS -- Butler's Shelvin Mack wants to find out where he stands in the NBA draft. If it doesn't work out, hey, the 21-year-old junior can always return to the two-time national runner-ups.

On Tuesday, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard said he is declaring to enter the draft but has not hired an agent, making him eligible to return to school next season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6336316

From Sports Pickle:

Valparaiso had 80 student-athletes honored as the Horizon League has announced its 2010 Fall Academic Honor Roll.  The league's 10 institutions combined for 724 total honorees across all 19 league-sponsored sports.

To be eligible for the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must have participated in a league sport in its most recent season, completed at least three full-time semesters at the same member institution and hold at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.20.

A complete list of Valpo's 80 honorees follows.

http://www.valpoathletics.com/news/default/173/10626/

http://www.tauntr.com/content/greatest-march-madness-moments-lego-ized

I don't have Insider Access, but if anyone does, here is what Keith Law just tweeted:

New draft blog post for Insiders - Valparaiso RF Kyle Gaedele, the grand-nephew of the famous PH Eddie Gaedel: http://klaw.me/eoWQ6D

Here is the excerpt that is free:

Most fans of baseball history are aware of the story of Eddie Gaedel, the only little person to appear in a major league game. At 3-foot-7, Gaedel was the subject of a publicity stunt by baseball's master of publicity stunts, Bill Veeck, who was then the owner of the sad-sack St. Louis Browns. Gaedel pinch-hit in the first inning of the back end of a doubleheader, drew a walk on four pitches -- the pitcher, Bob Cain, apparently laughing too hard to throw a strike -- and was removed for a pinch-runner. The next day, American League president Will Harridge voided Gaedel's contract, although by that point Veeck had already achieved his objective.