[NU Sports] Must-read

[Eric C West]

Yes, fake urban legends are often as hard to get rid of as kudzu, especially when lazy "reporters" need something to punch up their blog.

Even though I know it will have the same effect as talking to a brick wall, I will yet again offer the following (completely verifiable) facts:

1. Only the Office of Admission makes admission decisions, including for athletes.
2. The Office of Admission doesn't even have contact with current coaches; they certainly wouldn't talk to prospective ones, nor would they serve on an "interview committee" for one.
3. No one in the Office of Admission would ever make a spot decision based on a non-applying student's "résumé," whatever that word is supposed to mean in this context.
4. They certainly wouldn't give such an admission decision to an outsider who wasn't even the student.

I happen to know these things because I worked in the Office of Undergraduate Admission for four years, but they aren't exactly secrets. No doubt Amaker was a bit turned off that recruiting at NU was more difficult than at other places, but the story as told in the blog is simply 100% false. It's also quite insulting to Hurley and Laettner, implying that they are somehow world-class morons. (Speaking completely unofficially, and with no facts to back me up, your grades don't have to be all *that* great to be admitted as an athlete to NU.)

Roy (and Aaron, and anyone else), it's your right to continue to be skeptical if you choose to, but why don't you apply the same skepticism to the story itself? Why not look for even a shred of tangible evidence regarding the origin of the story (which might exist), let alone evidence that it's true (which doesn't exist, because it's not true)?

I can only guess at the answer: the story is fun to tell, and re-tell, and "report" on lazy newscasts, and maybe put on Wikipedia from time to time. Truth isn't always nearly so fun.

That's my last word on this subject...at least for another twelve years.

Eric West
e-west at northwestern.edu


-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Roy S. Lamberton
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 6:52 AM
To: 'Alan Abrahamson'; 'Northwestern Wildcats'
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Must-read

But there is that Amaker story again....

rsl

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Opinions expressed above are mine alone and are not those of any organizations of which I am a member.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate.
Computer Applications & Support Associates Coach Roy's Random Thoughts - http://coachroy.org
--------------------- Also ---------------------- "Commissioner" Delaware American Legion Baseball Director Media Relations - Little League
  Senior League Softball World Series
CTR2 USN (67-70) - CTRCS USNR (Ret) (64-67/70-95) Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968 Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports) =================================================
There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure - Dwight D. Eisenhower =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  = If we become a country in which we say, 'Please, tell me how to live,' We're Doomed!"
                   -- Pete Hamill, "Prohibition"
===========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========



-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Alan Abrahamson
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 4:07 PM
To: Northwestern Wildcats
Subject: [NU Sports] Must-read

http://tobaccoroadblues.com/2012/03/13/the-last-wallflower/

But for nary a word on Kevin Coble, it pretty much sums up the Northwestern basketball experience.
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