Messages

I haven't been far away, I still keep an eye on the team and read the board every now and then.   

You know what if Ryan makes an NBA team it means we can visit the USA more and a visit to Valpo will be on the cards to catch up with all of our Valpo friends, can't wait.

WH, Ryan would make a fantastic coach, I like your thinking 

I am still here 

Hi all, I am still here never far away.   Thank you for your kind words about Ryan, it is much appreciated.   It certainly was an experience in Rio and something we won't ever forget.   To lose a bronze medal over some dubious call was gut wrenching.   Really sad for a game to be decided by the ref and not the two teams on the court.   If I could have gotten my hands on that ref 😡   But we are so proud of Ryan and the team, to beat teams that no one gave us any chance of beating was fantastic.   As for Rio we really enjoyed it here, people were very friendly, we never felt unsafe and no Mosquitos.   Just a shame not more people working at the venues or bus stations spoke English, disappointed in the sly taxi drivers ripping you off, traffic management wasn't that great but overall a great experience.   You know what I am sure Rowdy would love to share his experiences, no one has ever asked him too?   Good luck in the upcoming season, we will be watching from afar 

Hello, can we please get back onto Rowdy, the Boomers and the Olympics please 

The game was amazing, the atmosphere electric, the experience of a life time.   Awesome game by Rowdy, we were excited to be there with him 

Thanks for the support he will be very happy to know you haven't forgotten him.   It was the most amazing experience watching him play in the Euroleague finals, we wish Loko hadn't started off so poorly and yes if only he had hit that 3 😔   Now to finish off with a win and get that 3rd place, now that the nerves were dealt with yesterday?   If you could only see us now we are sitting relaxing at the Hotel playing cards, drinking tea and Kev is wearing a Valpo jacket, I am wearing a Besiktas (his Turkish team of last year) jacket, Ryan is in his Australian Boomers hoodie and Jim is in his Loko hat.   We never forget his previous teams ❤️

Just thought you'd all like to know that Rowdy's team Lokomotiv Kuban have made it to the final four in the Euroleague finals, the first time Loko have ever accomplished that feat and only the second Russian team to do so.    We are currently in Berlin to watch him play tonight against CSKA and the winner goes onto play the winner between Fenerbache or Laboral Kutxa in the grand final, the losers play off for 3rd and 4th.   So proud of Ryan and all that he achieved at Valpo and since turning Pro, hope you all are as proud as we are?   Go Loko, Go Rowdy 🏀

You know I am still here and we still follow Valpo from afar     

The Assistant Coach at St Mary's was Ryan's coach at The Australian Institute Of Sport so it all makes sense them having so many Aussies on the team.

You know if I found another Rowdy I'd send him to Valpo, we are still looking 

Good luck to the team, we will be watching 

And thank you valpopal, covufan, FWalum, nkvu 

Thank you wh that's really nice to know.   None of us will ever forget Valpo either and we still keep an eye on how the team is going     

Tell your gorgeous grandson that Ryan still wears his mouth guard to protect his mouth and teeth.   He listens to his mum who always worries about errant elbows 

agibson, Google Turkish Basketball League and you should be able to find out some news on it.   

The teams are picked as to where the teams are situated either on the European side of Turkey or the Asian side. 

The fans vote for the players they want to play in the game and for Ryan to be chosen is a huge honor being he is from the Southern Hemisphere and only into his second year in the league.   He is definitely a fan favorite which is fantastic 

The game is this Sunday so it should be a lot of fun for everyone involved.

Thanks for still remembering him 

We had the pleasure of meeting him a real character, VU just won't be the same.   RIP Dave, you made watching the games so much more fun.   Our thoughts are with his family.

He will, they travel to Finland and play a practise match and Angola is in their World Champs pool 

Thought you'd all like to know that Ryan was selected in the Australian Boomers team to play at the World Championships in Spain     

After the heart break of being the last player cut for the London Olympics we are so happy and proud of him for never giving up and chasing his dream 

Yes I was at that game wh but I ashamed to say I had my head in my hands praying so hard that the team wouldn't go out like that so I didn't see the shot live    Thank goodness for the large screen and all the youtube clips that I have been able to watch it over and over with such pride not only of Ryan but the whole team for never giving up even though it didn't look good with so few seconds left on the clock.   

Being at Valpo to watch Ryan's last few games as a senior was wonderful but also bittersweet knowing his time at Valpo was coming to an end.   We sure do miss the place and still watch every Valpo game when it's shown live.

Thank you for remembering Rowdy, we all still hold Valpo in such high regard and still wear all our Valpo gear around town.   We are excited for him and hope he makes the Aussie team     

I wish I could get Ben Simmons to Valpo he would be a fantastic signing but alas I don't know the young man or family which is a shame

Hello everyone, it's been a while since I have been on but I felt the need to write on Jay's behalf.   I have spoken to him mum, Mari and she is so disappointed that people would write such lies about Jay.   He has not done anything illegal or taken drugs.   Yes he does have tattoos but so did some of our former players and most likely some of our future players will too?   He is still in class and will graduate on time with his degree.   If he was doing any of what is written above then why would the school let him remain?   It's sad that people write such negative stuff about former players and forget what they did for the team when they played at Valpo.       

Rowdy made the team and today the Boomers beat Butler 96 to 57, Rowdy hit 12 points in 15 minutes of game time.   

If he makes the team then yes.

Hey I am still here lurking in the shadows and still like to read what you all have to say about everything.   We are very excited for Ryan to be playing in Turkey.   He is currently in camp for selection for the Boomers to play in the 2013 Oceania Championships against New Zealand, we will know if he makes the team in the next few days.   Thank you to all the fans that maintain an interest in him.   I am looking forward to Valpo's season starting and will keep an eye on how the team is going.   G'day to you all from 'Down Under' 

Silver medal for Rowdy and the Aussies at the World University Games going down by 7 to Russia.   Fantastic effort by the team 

Woohoo the Aussies beat Serbia after being down by as much as 15 to make it to the gold medal game.   Wasn't one of Ryan's better games but we won and he gets another chance.   Serbia were dirty so it was fantastic to beat them and they didn't like it.   We play the winner out of Canada and Russia so the worst we can do is silver and the highest we have ever finished in the past was 7th so a terrific effort by the team.   GO AUSSIE UNIROOS!!   

Thought you'd all like to know that the Aussie boys beat Lithuania in their quarter final by 5 to advance to the semis.   Rowdy top scored with 14 points and 4 rebounds.   Was a tough game with the Aussies clawing their way back after being behind at the end of each quarter.   So proud of Ryan and the team, Go the UNIROOS!!   

Yay Rowdy, Go Aussies!! 

G'day all I just wanted to drop you all a line to say a big thank you from Rowdy, his family and I.   We have loved being a part of the Valpo basketball and academic families and can't believe how quickly the four years have flown by.   Rowdy has loved playing with the team a sensational group of young men who became his brothers, getting to know and meeting all the fans, living and studying here and we have enjoyed each and every time we have visited.   Graduation today was amazing and a very proud moment for me.   I am very thankful that I was able to come back to be a part of it and see so many wonderful students graduate alongside my son.   We wont say goodbye because we hope to come back one day to visit all the special friends we have made.   Thanks again for making Valpo basketball such fun, we are going to miss seeing Ryan wearing his number 45 and playing for the Crusaders but we hope he left a mark and that you all wont forget him.   You all take care and remember us in Australia as we wont forget you