Elton's Message to Akron

[Dave in Green]

Akron's yen for national attention is starting to border on paranoia, with comparisons to programs like VCU and Butler practically ludicrous.

[ZachTheZip]

How dare we ask for national attention, with the best winning streak in the country and an NBA prospect on the team? We're supposed to be an afterthought in the sports heirarchy. Right Elton?

[Hilltopper]

I guess KD can count on Ellen not voting for him as MAC COY.

[lance99]

How dare we ask for national attention, with the best winning streak in the country and an NBA prospect on the team? We're supposed to be an afterthought in the sports heirarchy. Right Elton?

It is the continuation of no respect

[Dave in Green]

I can't even figure out where his thinking came from on that statement. I haven't seen any fan on this forum trying to claim that the Zips are comparable to VCU or Butler. All I see here is fans saying that's what we aspire for the Zips to be, and that we're making progress in that direction. Really, it's just plain unprofessional to throw a pissy line like that into a newspaper story as if there's a huge movement at UA and among Zips fans that actually believes what he's alleging. It's simply not true, and it greatly diminishes my respect for him as a journalist and for the Plain Dealer as a professional news organization. It just didn't fit with the rest of the story, which was generally reasonable and balanced.

[akzipper]

I feel like his comments were out of line. No one is guaranteeing us to make the tournament or making a deep run. All that has been said is that is the team's goals and we easily have the potential. I think what people outside of the program haven't realized yet is we aren't even playing our best basketball. The OhioU game was a step in the right direction. Who knows if they will reach their potential, but anything is possible. Just need to take it a game at a time and don't overlook any opponent. The worst thing that could happen is a let down game against CMU.

[RootforRoo44]

Elton is a perfect example of everything wrong in modern journalism.

[pdt1420]

As my eloquent father would say: What a chach.

[wadszip]

I can't even figure out where his thinking came from on that statement. I haven't seen any fan on this forum trying to claim that the Zips are comparable to VCU or Butler. All I see here is fans saying that's what we aspire for the Zips to be, and that we're making progress in that direction. Really, it's just plain unprofessional to throw a pissy line like that into a newspaper story as if there's a huge movement at UA and among Zips fans that actually believes what he's alleging. It's simply not true, and it greatly diminishes my respect for him as a journalist and for the Plain Dealer as a professional news organization. It just didn't fit with the rest of the story, which was generally reasonable and balanced.

I agree 100 percent. Like you, I'm perplexed at where he is coming from. The majority of Akron basketball talk (excluding twitter, which is a completely different animal) comes on this message board. I've read just about every topic posted on this site the last 4-5 years and don't recall anybody ever proclaiming to be, as a program, on the level of VCU, Butler, Gonzaga. ... or even complaining of not being treated like those programs. Like you said, however, there is a ton of talk about wanting to get to that level, but that's a discussion every single mid-major fan at whatever school they root for should be having, and regardless of what Elton believes, Akron is closer to actually getting to that level than 90 or so percent of other mid-major programs.

I've never really had an axe to grind with Elton's reporting. While he has always seemed to take more interest in Cleveland State and Can't than Akron, this is the first time I've really had to scratch my head, wondering where he is coming from. It was a complete sucker punch.

Since Elton has been doing this for a long time, I'll point out a team he probably remembers ... a team that was in almost the exact same situation as this current Akron team is in....great record, but no real "marquee" win. Actually, while a "lowly" home win, this Akron team has a better overall win (Middle Tennessee) to hang its hat on than none other than Can't State in 2001-02.

That Can't team was 3-3 in non-conference road games. The wins were against Robert Morris (12-18), Illinois State (16-12) and Cleveland State (12-16) ... and losses to Hofstra (11-19), Youngstown State (5-23) and Xavier (26-6). So, lets just say if that Can't team, which came into the MAC title game on a 16-game winning streak. lost to BG. It's pretty simple, Can't was a fluke that didn't belong in the tournament, right? After all, that team had some horrible road losses, no good non-conference road wins and ran up the score on a one-bid MAC. There is no possible way it could it compete in the tournament??

I'm not even saying that the 01-02 Can't team "deserved" national attention prior to the tournament run, or that this current team "deserves" national attention. Just pointing out that lack of quality road wins doesn't always mean a team isn't good enough to compete in the NCAA tournament. And somebody who has been doing this for as long as Elton, who experienced something similar first-hand, should realize that.

[UAZipster0305]

Unfortunately, journalism anymore isn't about being objective, it is about making a sale (newspapers, teevee advertisement time, etc.), and the shock value of poor journalism can generate a lot of sales attention. My advice to ZNO: don't click on the link to patronize the corresponding site, and send the editor an email stating you will no longer be visiting the Plain Dealer's site as a result of this poor journalism.

[Dr Z]

I'm shocked that people are surprised by Ellen's Zips reporting. This has been going on forever.

He's at a pretty advanced age, and should be near retirement. Hopefully the Zips help prove him wrong.

As far as writers, George is doing a nice job covering the Zips, I care more about what he writes.

[Big Zip]

I'm actually pretty puzzled by this board. He placed a quote from Alex directly in the middle of the article "It's finally time for our national recognition". Hell on the radio with Steve and Joe he said he's been dreaming of a national championship and I've seen guys on the team tweeting #finalfour. Additionally, to act like people on this board weren't pissed when we didn't get a postseason invite after the 26 win season is revisionist history. I love this team but at the end of the day the seven finals games and two wins is a terrible percentage. Our OOC games are always terrible. Hell we lost to Coastal Carolina and I think some of the team stayed on the bus against Creighton. I feel like this is the first time when this team was on a big stage with some national attention ESPNU they actually came through. Will Keith once again tell us how the BracketBuster game doesn't matter prior to the game then go out and lead his team to a loss on national TV like last year?

Now was it poor form to write the column I'm in agreement. I don't understand what instigates an article like this and some of the references to VCU and Butler. I think we actually discuss being like Gonzaga on this board more than those schools. (In fact for a moment Saturday the announcer called us the Zags so we reached out goal. ) I would have much rather seen an article talking about what Akron needs to do to earn national recognition without taking the shots he takes in the article.

Ultimately I'd like this article to go up in the Zips locker framed on the wall. Let this article serve as national recognition is earned and the first step in earning it is earning the NCAA berth and then actually winning the first game in the tournament because you can't win multiple games unless you win that first one.

[Sergeant Zip]

As far as writers, George is doing a nice job covering the Zips, I care more about what he writes.

Agreed

[skip-zip]

Of course, we can debate about whether we belong in that category.

But, it still upsets me that a key person in our local media isn't advocating for us to get more national attention. Comments like this are only going to hurt our chances, when they come from people who matter.

[Blue & Gold]

Cleveland media. Everyone knows they despise Akron. (Please don't bother citing the rare exception which proves the rule.)

Fortunately, the old guard is dying off. Nobody reads newspapers anymore and hardly anyone watches channels 3, 5 & 9. So the fact they go out of their way to ignore us won't matter much longer.

Thank you Al Gore for inventing the internets.

[zestycoyote]

I just don't get it. I know Cleveland media is anti-Akron when it comes to sports (except UA soccer, it seems), but CSU and Can't State are both down right now in basketball. Why not encourage support for the closest good team? He almost wrote a positive article, but had to get a jab in...

[zen]

Perhaps he thinks that he is going to be the voice of reason and of reality in a town used to sports let-downs.

[bUAkronG]

I actually understand his point.... to an extent. To get respect, you have to earn it. Our program as a whole hasn't really done anything extravagent to earn that respect.

However, how has the 2012-2013 Akron Zips Men's Basketball team not earned some respect? 13 wins in a row is impressive. Whipping last year's MAC Cinderella story by 14 points(regardless of the location) when they return all 5 of their starters is enough to earn respect.

So yes, right now, we deserve respect.

[Dave in Green]

The rest of the article was just fine -- a nice mix of enthusiasm and caution. That one line using "paranoia" and "ludicrous" was just out of the blue, over the top and beneath contempt. I'd love to see Elton try to explain his way out of that line the way he tried to explain his way out of this.

[zippy_ua_00]

There was no reason why he didn't pick him. Just reasons why other players deserved to be there also, but he never said any of them are better. Douchebaggary

[FromdaBurgh]

I WANT ELTONS Twitter tag!!! I'm getting ready to BLAST him!! Have we EARNED RESPECT now??!!!

[MDZip]

I WANT ELTONS Twitter tag!!! I'm getting ready to BLAST him!! Have we EARNED RESPECT now??!!!

Easy there .. he gave the Zips a top 25 vote.

[FromdaBurgh]

Oh so he BLAST US in his article and THEN turns around and gives us a vote? #A doubleminded man is .....(read the book)"

[GP1]

Ultimately I'd like this article to go up in the Zips locker framed on the wall. Let this article serve as national recognition is earned and the first step in earning it is earning the NCAA berth and then actually winning the first game in the tournament because you can't win multiple games unless you win that first one.

I agree. I'm hearing too much, "Give us recognition!" on this board. It's hard to argue with the facts Elton presented because they are true. The interpretation of the facts is debatable.

We play in the MAC. The term "Dollar General" should be used to describe the horrible MAC basketball season this year. Only three teams other than Akron have a record greater than .500 (Source), so why do we deserve national recognition for winning against a bunch of teams from the Dollar General league and losing to the likes of CCU?

I hate to seem like I'm throwing cold water on things, but when I see any team with the longest winning streak in the country, I automatically wonder who that team has beaten. There is no doubt we are by far the best team in the league. That alone doesn't qualify for national recognition. I saw UNCC play in person last weekend. They are a fourth to fifth place A-10 school and they could go toe to toe with Akron at every position. Let's keep things in perspective.

Instead of demanding respect, let's take it in March.

[Dr Z]

We play in the MAC. The term "Dollar General" should be used to describe the horrible MAC basketball season this year. Only three teams other than Akron have a record greater than .500 (Source), so why do we deserve national recognition for winning against a bunch of teams from the Dollar General league and losing to the likes of CCU?

I agree, you earn respect in March, win an NCAA game. I've said it for years. I really don't care about national respect, but I do think this team is deserving of local respect due to the potential they have. After winning the Western game, I was very disappointed in a team (not just the kids, staff too) that I was hoping would have success at post season play and I didn't see it that night. After the BG & OU game, I have seen a team (players & staff), that look like they are ready to compete in bigger games. That's what excites me. Now we need to figure out how to play the first 10 minutes of a game like the second 10 minutes of a game.