11 Comments
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Published Monday, March 1, 2010 | 7:03 p.m.
Updated Monday, March 1, 2010 | 7:18 p.m.
Alford vs. Tavernari
Related Blog
So, here's an update to the Steve Alford-Jonathan Tavernari incident which we discussed in last night's Greene Room post.
Late this afternoon, the Mountain West Conference lowered the boom.
The league released a statement late Monday afternoon to announce that it had publicly reprimanded the New Mexico coach after he was caught on camera dropping an expletive in the direction of the BYU senior forward Saturday following the Lobos' 83-81 triumph in Provo, a win that captured at least a share of the league's regular-season title.
And after reading it, I'm trying to figure out the significance of a public reprimand.
My first thought was that it's kind of like when you get in trouble as a kid, and your mom will look at you say, "I'm not mad at you, but I'm very disappointed."
To that, the kid always walks away thinking, "What the heck does that mean?"
Same here.
No suspensions were handed down here on anyone by the league. Should there have been? No, I don't think so.
Taking that into account, if no one's getting suspended or fined, why should the conference say anything at all?
Not very surprised at his behavior. He learned from it from his old coach, Bob Knight. What a tool.
What in the heck is going at New Mexico State anyway? First Elizabeth Lambert goes psycho in a college soccer match and then they have their men's basketball coach who can't control himself after a game.
I guess the Mountain West has gone frontier when it comes to scholastic/sports standards.
Well, this is actually the University of New Mexico, not New Mexico State.
I think both parties were in the wrong, but when is the Mountain West going to get a handle on Tavernari? This entire incident was something that he instigated. First, after he and Hobson had a very minor "scuffle," Tavernari followed Hobson all the way to UNM's huddle to talk trash. When they came out of the huddle, Hobson tried to shake Tavernari's hand and Tavernari blew him off.
After the game was over, Tavernari continued having a temper-tantrum during the team handshakes and was yelling at UNM players and coaches. Then, once Alford and a UNM assistant yelled back at him, he tried to play it off like he wasn't doing anything. I'm not saying Alford should have called him what he did; but at least I can say Alford wasn't lying.
Tavernari is the most hated player in the Mountain West because he instigates things all the time, but then tried to play like he doesn't do anything. The worst part is that the Mountain West Conference is allowing him to behave this way. The MWC usually goes out of its way to protect BYU's interests. Tavernari followed an opposing player to the opposing team's huddle to talk trash and that doesn't deserve a technical, at least? If that's Hobson or Tre'Von Willis following Tavernari to his huddle, they probably get sent to the locker room.
I'll agree both parties were in the wrong, but Tavernari had it coming, and I'm assuming he was forced to make an apology, because I can tell you if those teams meet again he WILL run his mouth more. That's a fact.
As far as the conference getting involved, I'm with Ryan. No suspensions, and maybe a verbal "don't let it happen again" speech. Whats the point?
Tavarnari is a colon-orafice. We have been watching him for 4 years. I am glad he is gone after we take byu out of the tourney.
Greene obviously hasn't read the MWC's sportsmanship rules. They spell out pretty clearly that Alford's behavior was a violation and they specify the punishment: the first offense merits a reprimand and the second one a suspension.
Since this is the first time that Alford was "caught" the punishment was appropriate and it is why the conference is saying something at all.
There is a lot of hatred towards Tavernari in the previous comments. Perhaps, some of that is because he is a local boy who left town to go to BYU. However, for a coach who wins the game to single him out for verbal abuse was both extreme and immature. And for Alford to insist that he had not done anything worthy of discipline shows that he is either very arrogant or very dishonest, or maybe some of both. He didn't ever apologize to Tavernari or the BYU fans he insulted, despite his assertion that he called Dave Rose.
"However, for a coach who wins the game to single him out for verbal abuse was both extreme and immature."
Really? What kind of BYU apologist are you? If anyone is guilty of not "read(ing) the MWC's sportsmanship rules" it's that aggressive bully Tavernari. If his own coach won't reign him in, then everyone around the MWC should join in chanting the word that Alford called him each and every time he touches the ball.
Here's an idea, let's have everyone chant a**hole when Tavenari gets the ball when UNLV and BYU meet in the tourney. I know its not exactly family friendly, but its a little better then the standard "B.S" chant that happens after a bad call nowadays. Plus, you have to admit it's pretty funny.
I'm opposed to chanting swear words. I do think it's hilarious, but it crosses the line.
For the record, "You're an A-hole" has a better chanting cadence.
Also Tavernari is NOT a local boy. He's from Brazil. He just needed a place to play his Senior year of high school and got shipped to Bishop Gorman.
Rebel fans hate him because of his attitude. We're glad he's in Provo.
AAAAAAAAAA-Hoooooooolllllllee
AAAAAAAAAA-Hooooooooollllllee
AAAAAAAAAA-Hooooooooollllllee
I like it. Has a good basketball cadence, yet doesn't cross the line. Nice take WispyGeezer!
Tavernari played his senior year in Provo at Timpview High. He played at Bishop Gorman before that. And I think Rebel fans hate anyone who goes to BYU.
@slstaker
Nope. Dead wrong.
Before BYU:
"BISHOP GORMAN HIGH SCHOOL: Averaged 23.1 points per game, leading the state of Nevada, and 10.2 rebounds per game as a senior at Bishop Gorman High School ... joined the team in mid-December after being forced to sit out the first five games due to eligibility concerns ... played at Timpview High School his junior year before transferring to Bishop Gorman ... named second-team Region 6 by the coaches and second-team All-Valley by the Deseret Morning News while at Timpview"
From:
http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID...
Tavernari played at Bishop Gorman for about three months as a senior. Academic rules wouldn't allow him to continue playing in Provo so they shipped him down to Bishop Gorman (a private school, therefore different rules than public schools) for his senior year so he could continue to hone his skills before returning to Provo, his home away from his real home (Brazil).
Everyone here hates Tavernari because of his attitude. He is not a Las Vegas product.
Please refrain from posting false and grossly inaccurate information.