Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Feb 7, 2013 11:10:19 GMT -5
"Wasted Talent, Sonny"
|
|
SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,783
Member is Online
|
Post by SFHoya99 on Feb 7, 2013 11:21:04 GMT -5
Yeah, Amazon and others have created a situation where you can essentially self-publish an ebook and for a cut, they provide the distribution network. It's self-edited, no physical copies, self-promoted, but you can technically sell your writing to others. It's the vanity press run without the cost, and that means that while I'm sure there's a few pretty good books out there that were turned down by traditional publishing, the lack of barrier to entry means there's a lot of crap. The blurb on that book is misleading, though. Like turbo, I was in Vic's class. Really nice guy from the interaction I had with him. Someone mentioned he was built like a man -- Vic was a bit older than the average freshman. He was a lefty with unbelievable athleticism. It felt like he and Iverson must've thrown 100 alley-oops to each other that season. His handle looked loose but it wasn't. On the other hand, he was a volume shooter who was streaky from outside and had trouble finishing at times. People forget this, but Vic shot 40% and 38% from the field. That last number is almost unbelievable since he shot 37% from three that year. He went to the line a decent amount but not a ton. In other words, if the sabremetrics stuff were around then, I'm not sure we'd be as excited about Vic or Shenard, etc. But he did take a team to the NCAAs that had no other scorers -- Ya Ya, Boubacar, Ed Sheffey, Jahidi, Daymond Jackson. That all said, we though Vic would make the pros later in his career, but most of my friends and I didn't think he'd get drafted after sophomore year. The draft was different then. Iverson had gone #1 as a sophomore -- but he was supremely talented. It was still not normal for one and dones to occur, and kids who went straight from high school were still be undervalued in the draft.
|
|
AvantGuardHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
"It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something."
Posts: 1,481
|
Post by AvantGuardHoya on Feb 7, 2013 12:21:51 GMT -5
The Page/Iverson backcourt was truly explosive. Circumstances dictated that Page leave after his sophomore season. Another year or two would have helped him get ready for pro ball, but clearly off court issues were his downfall.
And please don't read me as demonizing him; I haven't lived his life. But I did go to public school in inner city DC and have some insight into the challenges of trying to succeed athletically and educationally from that beginning. When I thought about Victor and others (Michael Graham comes to mind), it struck me that they certainly had the basketball talent to succeed (hell, it had gotten them a college scholarship to one of the preeminent educational institutions in America!), but that's never really quite enough. Remember Big John's deflated basketball. Hard work, discipline, a definite focus on academics, among other things, all come to mind as critical for real success. Just as importantly, though, is that you have the good fortune -- or good sense -- not to become enmeshed in outside "activities", no matter what they may be.
Again, not a judgement call, because for many this stuff is easier said than done.
I continue to hope that Vic's having a good life and wish him well. I loved him as a player.
|
|
lb25
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 112
|
Post by lb25 on Feb 7, 2013 13:36:16 GMT -5
All i know from watching him is he could score
|
|
|
Post by mbaguy on Feb 7, 2013 14:19:18 GMT -5
Likely most of the posters here remember Vic. Do you care to share any thoughts about him other than the fact that you're starting a book about him? Personally, I always have wished that he found a place with the program in a coaching/mentoring role to let guys know how difficult not only basketball after college can be but also life in general. He's got to have a perspective that would resonate on some level. I hated when he left for the draft though, by the accounts that I've read, he had little choice. Even that part of his perspective has incredible value today (Greg Whittington). Not that I'm equating Page and Whitt or assuming any similarity. I only mean to say that the educational part is much more important for the majority of the guys that play ball for Georgetown. As an alum, I'd love for all of the guys to realize their dreams of playing professionally but it's just not realistic for most of the guys. As such, the educational aspect of student-athlete should be appreciated while it can be. It's very difficult to try to recapture that opportunity after the basketball stops bouncing. Vic could certainly convey that from personal experience as well as alternate paths in terms of pro ball. I'll continue to hope that he somehow makes it back into the program in some capacity. I think it'd be great for the current guys and for Victor. Sorry, I just started the book last night and don't know too much about Victor Page. I do remember hearing being with family at Thanksgiving 2004 and hearing about the ex-Georgetown player getting shot.
|
|
|
Post by mbaguy on Feb 7, 2013 14:21:04 GMT -5
One of the BEST movies and BEST life quotes ever, IMO
|
|
|
Post by Problem of Dog on Feb 7, 2013 18:48:08 GMT -5
The name still isn't ringing a bell.
|
|
AvantGuardHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
"It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something."
Posts: 1,481
|
Post by AvantGuardHoya on Feb 7, 2013 21:05:25 GMT -5
So this was written by the WUSA-TV reporter Bruce Johnson. Interesting.
|
|
|
Post by Ranch Dressing on Feb 7, 2013 22:15:47 GMT -5
PofDog. Page was a big time player in 1995-97. Hailed from D.C. Was buddies with Terry Fenlon. Game reminded me of Kurt Kaul's. Odd hobby of collecting brooms used in CBA games. Does it come back to you now?
|
|
|
Post by Problem of Dog on Feb 8, 2013 3:57:12 GMT -5
PofDog. Page was a big time player in 1995-97. Hailed from D.C. Was buddies with Terry Fenlon. Game reminded me of Kurt Kaul's. Odd hobby of collecting brooms used in CBA games. Does it come back to you now? You mean the guy from the "Notte di Terrore"?
|
|
|
Post by Ranch Dressing on Feb 8, 2013 9:11:40 GMT -5
Zactlee.
|
|
|
Post by mbaguy on Feb 8, 2013 13:18:54 GMT -5
OK, I Finished the book last nigh(it was a fairly quick ebook)...Here are my thoughts: A) I have ZERO EMPATHY for Mr. Page's current position-Apparently people have reached out to him to return to Georgetown and finish his degree, but he still "Thinks he can play in the NBA" and would rather be delusional about that, and hang around lowlifes and drink and use drugs than move on with his life(he's approaching 40.) B) Do I recognize that he grew up in "difficult circumstances" and has had some terrible breaks? ABSOLUTELY! But, ultimately, one has to take responsibilty for thier own life, and he has not
|
|
Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
|
Post by Elvado on Feb 8, 2013 14:29:34 GMT -5
Thanks. We will all sleep better tonight that you have rendered judgment on Victor Page.
|
|
SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,783
Member is Online
|
Post by SFHoya99 on Feb 8, 2013 14:56:39 GMT -5
Am I weird that I don't take the word of a self-published ebook as 100% accurate?
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Feb 8, 2013 15:02:13 GMT -5
You make it sound like drinking too much, not accepting reality, and not moving on with your life through advancing years is a bad thing!
Geez.
|
|
Big Dog
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,912
|
Post by Big Dog on Feb 8, 2013 15:06:35 GMT -5
Am I weird that I don't take the word of a self-published ebook as 100% accurate? This has me thinking I should be writing a self-published book about Kenny Brunner.
|
|
SSHoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."
Posts: 18,379
|
Post by SSHoya on Feb 8, 2013 15:24:49 GMT -5
No, Michael Tate-Vinson, a psychological thriller . . .
|
|
PhillyHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,016
|
Post by PhillyHoya on Feb 8, 2013 15:29:40 GMT -5
I will not rest until there is a trilogy on Touomou, Dia and Aw.
|
|
Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
|
Post by Boz on Feb 8, 2013 15:55:52 GMT -5
I will not rest until there is a trilogy on Touomou, Dia and Aw. Well, those ARE some pretty good dwarf/elf names....
|
|
lb25
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 112
|
Post by lb25 on Feb 8, 2013 15:57:13 GMT -5
I will not rest until there is a trilogy on Touomou, Dia and Aw. hey J Touomou slapped the floor you knew it was time to play defense
|
|