Nik Cvetinovic

[GoZips]

One thing that we as fans don't know is how the individual players would adjust to different roles. For example, starting may be critical to one player's ego, and not starting might result in reduced performance. Coming off the bench might be no different than starting for another player, and he might do just as well coming off the bench as starting. The coaching staff would know more about that than we would, so I defer to their judgment on matters like that.

This is an important observation and contains a major amount of truth. Egos drive decisions.

And, the coaching staff works on and with the players year round on nearly a daily basis.

Let us not second guess the coaching staff.

It is interesting that fans judge based on what they see on the court during games. It is

difficult for fans to "see" behind the scenes and what is best for the team while catering to

various players egos.

Keep in mind that current coaching thought (in general) is to divide 150 of the 200 minutes

among the top six players. The remaining 50 minutes gets divided among players 7, 8, 9, 10.

This is not hard and fast. It is a general oft used concept including at Akron.

[Dave in Green]

The top six Zips players last season averaged 155 minutes PT per game played, and the next four averaged 55 minutes per game played.

[Dr Z]

It is interesting that fans judge based on what they see on the court during games.

It is my opinion that this is the only thing that matters. I want to win games. I want the best players on the court that give us the best chance to win. I don't care who practiced well and who didn't. I want the guy that gives our team the best chance to win on the court during the games, because that's what fans come to see, the game. If you don't, then your attendance may suffer.

[Captain Kangaroo]

It is interesting that fans judge based on what they see on the court during games.

It is my opinion that this is the only thing that matters. I want to win games. I want the best players on the court that give us the best chance to win. I don't care who practiced well and who didn't. I want the guy that gives our team the best chance to win on the court during the games, because that's what fans come to see, the game. If you don't, then your attendance may suffer.

Our Little League coach used to call us "The Practice All Stars." We stunk in games, but man were we awesome in practice.

[MDZip]

Our Little League coach used to call us "The Practice All Stars." We stunk in games, but man were we awesome in practice.

Cap'n, what happened two or three years ago really isn't all that relevant to this particular conversation.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Our Little League coach used to call us "The Practice All Stars." We stunk in games, but man were we awesome in practice.

Cap'n, what happened two or three years ago really isn't all that relevant to this particular conversation.

Just for that comment, you're on our Basketball Golf Scramble team again this year.

[BirdZip]

Our Little League coach used to call us "The Practice All Stars." We stunk in games, but man were we awesome in practice.

Cap'n, what happened two or three years ago really isn't all that relevant to this particular conversation.

Just for that comment, you're on our Basketball Golf Scramble team again this year.

[Captain Kangaroo]

DaveinGreen...

You are wrong. CK often makes BOLD predictions. He often gloats a bit afterwards though!!

Dambrot has turned a defenseless, offenseless, star-free team into a MAC championship contender. What took him so long to get this crew to play defense? Who cares...he kept preaching and preaching and finally converted the masses. The Zips are definitely a team where the whole has become greater than the sum of the parts.

The Zips beat #2 COTY candidate Charlie Coles Wednesday night, and Coach Dambrot gets a well-deserved post-season accolade.

Coles has done an amazing job despite some serious injuries. If he knocks off the Zips for the 2nd time, he'll be the 1st octogenarian to win the MAC COTY that I'm aware of?

K.e.n.t's coach? No chance. OU's? No chance. Ball State's? No chance.

Wednesday night @ the JAR decides it.

And the prophesy is fulfilled. Mark it down. Dambrot gets his first CoTY.

Miss Cleo ain't got nuthin' on me.

I didn't want you to think I overlooked the post, Doug.

You are absolutely correct. I took a big cut at this one, and missed. But from my standpoint, it is a lot more fun to step up to the plate and take multiple good rips at the ball, than to watch the game from a couch. Or stand in a batter's box, bat glued to the shoulder, hoping and praying for a walk.

My questions for anyone would be - Did you enjoy reading the post? Was it a "fun read?" Generally speaking, do you enjoy posts like that on ZipsNation? Are those types of posts, whether they're from GP1 or Dr Z or ZipWatcher or anyone else...pretty much the reason you click on the site a few times per day? Or do you like repetitive, milquetoast generalities? Maybe blatantly false information and ill-founded rumors are your fancy? We have those here too. And for free!

I like taking the big cut. And writing perspectives that are unique and thought-provoking. It always seems to generate some good follow-up, and keep the board active. I'll never bat 1.000, but when I walk away from the plate, I'm always satisfied with my effort. Dambrot told us in December that Egner and Euton would play big roles for the Zips in 2011...so even that guy misses once in a while?

My on-base percentage may be no different that that player who only looks for walks...but I like to think the way I play the game is a hell of a lot more fun and compelling...and, we all know chicks dig the long-ball.

[johnnyzip84]

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Good stuff, Cap'n! This kind of thing is EXACTLY why I keep coming back for more.

[Hilltopper]

I think Doug has misinterpreted the playful banter between myself, CK, and DIG. If everybody agreed on everything, this board would be pretty boring. Just because CK thinks he is some kind of Babe Ruth, he can't always hit one out of the park.

[Dave in Green]

It's a pretty black and white choice between stepping up to the plate and taking multiple good rips at the ball vs. watching the game from a couch or standing in a batter's box, bat glued to the shoulder, hoping and praying for a walk. Fortunately, there are shades of gray in the world, and other options than those. For example, there's the option of standing there with the bat glued to the shoulder on bad pitches and taking good rips at good pitches. Some might even argue that's the most intelligent way to play baseball, and consider those who flail away at anything that moves to be something less than great.

The key to any productive discussion is diversity. When everyone thinks the same way and posts the same way, it's boring. When you have diversity of opinion, things start to get interesting. Different people state their opinions in different ways, challenges are made, more data is presented, and we're all better off for having expanded our vision.

But it does require that everyone respect the fact that diversity is good, that others with different opinions and styles are not worthless, and that none of us is so great that we have all the answers to every issue. Some people have a hard time admitting that great truth because it requires keeping one's ego in check, and an unchecked ego can be intoxicating.

I think some people may be put off when certain "chosen ones" on ZN.O are perceived to be elevated to the status of deity and those who differ labeled irrelevant. That brings back the childhood memory of seeing the Wizard of Oz at the local theater, and I'm reminded of the fire and thunder of the Great Wizard of Oz trying to intimidate poor little Dorothy and friends. What a revelation when we learned that the Great Wizard of Oz was just a little man hiding behind a curtain pulling levers to make all the fire and thunder.

As it turns out, once out from behind the curtain, the Great Wizard of Oz proved to be a pretty nice guy who tried to help Dorothy get back to Kansas. There's a good lesson there. People and things aren't always what they appear to be. I've found that even the posters on ZN.O who I personally find to be the most annoying also post words of wisdom, though they're not always the words those posters push the hardest as being absolute truth.

So, on balance, I like ZN.O, the people who run it, and those who post here. I may not always agree with everything everyone says. But I respect the fact that at any random moment, even those I appreciate least may teach me something new that I might never have learned if I hadn't listened.

[yazan07]

It's a pretty black and white choice between stepping up to the plate and taking multiple good rips at the ball vs. watching the game from a couch or standing in a batter's box, bat glued to the shoulder, hoping and praying for a walk. Fortunately, there are shades of gray in the world, and other options than those. For example, there's the option of standing there with the bat glued to the shoulder on bad pitches and taking good rips at good pitches. Some might even argue that's the most intelligent way to play baseball, and consider those who flail away at anything that moves to be something less than great.

The key to any productive discussion is diversity. When everyone thinks the same way and posts the same way, it's boring. When you have diversity of opinion, things start to get interesting. Different people state their opinions in different ways, challenges are made, more data is presented, and we're all better off for having expanded our vision.

But it does require that everyone respect the fact that diversity is good, that others with different opinions and styles are not worthless, and that none of us is so great that we have all the answers to every issue. Some people have a hard time admitting that great truth because it requires keeping one's ego in check, and an unchecked ego can be intoxicating.

I think some people may be put off when certain "chosen ones" on ZN.O are perceived to be elevated to the status of deity and those who differ labeled irrelevant. That brings back the childhood memory of seeing the Wizard of Oz at the local theater, and I'm reminded of the fire and thunder of the Great Wizard of Oz trying to intimidate poor little Dorothy and friends. What a revelation when we learned that the Great Wizard of Oz was just a little man hiding behind a curtain pulling levers to make all the fire and thunder.

As it turns out, once out from behind the curtain, the Great Wizard of Oz proved to be a pretty nice guy who tried to help Dorothy get back to Kansas. There's a good lesson there. People and things aren't always what they appear to be. I've found that even the posters on ZN.O who I personally find to be the most annoying also post words of wisdom, though they're not always the words those posters push the hardest as being absolute truth.

So, on balance, I like ZN.O, the people who run it, and those who post here. I may not always agree with everything everyone says. But I respect the fact that at any random moment, even those I appreciate least may teach me something new that I might never have learned if I hadn't listened.

Hey so did you guys hear Nik Cvetinovic is coming back next year?

[Captain Kangaroo]

It's a pretty black and white choice between stepping up to the plate and taking multiple good rips at the ball vs. watching the game from a couch or standing in a batter's box, bat glued to the shoulder, hoping and praying for a walk. Fortunately, there are shades of gray in the world, and other options than those. For example, there's the option of standing there with the bat glued to the shoulder on bad pitches and taking good rips at good pitches. Some might even argue that's the most intelligent way to play baseball, and consider those who flail away at anything that moves to be something less than great.

The key to any productive discussion is diversity. When everyone thinks the same way and posts the same way, it's boring. When you have diversity of opinion, things start to get interesting. Different people state their opinions in different ways, challenges are made, more data is presented, and we're all better off for having expanded our vision.

But it does require that everyone respect the fact that diversity is good, that others with different opinions and styles are not worthless, and that none of us is so great that we have all the answers to every issue. Some people have a hard time admitting that great truth because it requires keeping one's ego in check, and an unchecked ego can be intoxicating.

I think some people may be put off when certain "chosen ones" on ZN.O are perceived to be elevated to the status of deity and those who differ labeled irrelevant. That brings back the childhood memory of seeing the Wizard of Oz at the local theater, and I'm reminded of the fire and thunder of the Great Wizard of Oz trying to intimidate poor little Dorothy and friends. What a revelation when we learned that the Great Wizard of Oz was just a little man hiding behind a curtain pulling levers to make all the fire and thunder.

As it turns out, once out from behind the curtain, the Great Wizard of Oz proved to be a pretty nice guy who tried to help Dorothy get back to Kansas. There's a good lesson there. People and things aren't always what they appear to be. I've found that even the posters on ZN.O who I personally find to be the most annoying also post words of wisdom, though they're not always the words those posters push the hardest as being absolute truth.

So, on balance, I like ZN.O, the people who run it, and those who post here. I may not always agree with everything everyone says. But I respect the fact that at any random moment, even those I appreciate least may teach me something new that I might never have learned if I hadn't listened.

Take your base.

[Dave in Green]

Take your base.

Thanks, ump.

[johnnyzip84]

I'm not sure where this belongs exactly, but I know we've had discussion as to who is on scholly for next year. Read this article in today's ABJ about halfway down to see the summary.

Men's basketball

Coach Keith Dambrot had no scholarships available to land any recruits in the spring signing period that ends this week.

But he kept in contact with several seniors because of the possibility that junior Nikola Cvetinovic would leave school and play professionally overseas.

However, Cvetinovic has indicated that he is staying for his senior season, so there were no scholarships available.

''We were prepared either way,'' Dambrot said. ''It's good to have him back because he is experienced. He is a versatile guy.''

With the departure of four seniors and the transfer of freshman Dakotah Euton to an NAIA school, Asbury (Ky.) University, UA has 13 players on scholarship, which is the NCAA limit.

The returnees are Cvetinovic, Zeke Marshall, Brett McClanahan, Alex Abreu, Quincy Diggs, Josh Egner and Michael Green.

Transfers who practiced last year and are eligible for the first time are Chauncey Gilliam and Brian Walsh. Grayshirts Nick Harney and Demetrius Treadwell and incoming freshmen Blake Justice and Deji Ibitayo will be part of the program for the first time.