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Legacy Lasts Forever

B

BUBraves2006

New member
Something that I consider appropriate to bring up right now is something that goes beyond the constant discussions about money and "better" opportunities.

This is about how much loyalty matters to most college basketball fans, especially those who have been following a team for 10, 20, 30+ years. Think about the legends of a program or honestly, any of your favorite teams. Do you really look back and look at those you have the greatest memories of and think primarily of anyone who wasn't around for a long time?

While I recognize that everyone has different things to get out of their life and sports career, the reality is that most guys aren't going to play long pro careers or at all. So, if you're not only thinking about some money (which will be only a small snippet of what you'll make over the course of your life), I think most athletes do want to feel like their careers meant something.

Maybe I'm just a middle aged guy who just had an optimistic opinion of people, but I just have to think there are still people who really care about these things.

Thank you so much to Malevy Leons for deciding to become a Bradley legend and getting two defensive player of the Year awards. Thank you to Jashon Henry for constantly coming back for his team even when he has major injuries. You are a legend as well, even if you weren't a MVC Player of the Year candidate. There are many, many more I could name here.

Money always gets spent and you always want more. Legacy lasts forever.
 
BUBraves2006 said:
Something that I consider appropriate to bring up right now is something that goes beyond the constant discussions about money and "better" opportunities.

This is about how much loyalty matters to most college basketball fans, especially those who have been following a team for 10, 20, 30+ years. Think about the legends of a program or honestly, any of your favorite teams. Do you really look back and look at those you have the greatest memories of and think primarily of anyone who wasn't around for a long time?

While I recognize that everyone has different things to get out of their life and sports career, the reality is that most guys aren't going to play long pro careers or at all. So, if you're not only thinking about some money (which will be only a small snippet of what you'll make over the course of your life), I think most athletes do want to feel like their careers meant something.

Maybe I'm just a middle aged guy who just had an optimistic opinion of people, but I just have to think there are still people who really care about these things.

Thank you so much to Malevy Leons for deciding to become a Bradley legend and getting two defensive player of the Year awards. Thank you to Jashon Henry for constantly coming back for his team even when he has major injuries. You are a legend as well, even if you weren't a MVC Player of the Year candidate. There are many, many more I could name here.

Money always gets spent and you always want more. Legacy lasts forever.
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Well said. This speaks for me.
 
Besides being an excellent all round team player....Leons is a top 5 nicest player to grace the Hilltop!;):mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:
 
Great post 2006! Couldn’t agree more. There will be players that realize money isn’t everything and some will choose to be a big fish in a small pond. Let’s just hope we can get and keep some of them.
another 20 win season from BW and this year was topped off with a post-season win. He’s got us spoiled and expectations are always high. This is a good place to be.
 
Tommy said:
Great post 2006! Couldn’t agree more. There will be players that realize money isn’t everything and some will choose to be a big fish in a small pond. Let’s just hope we can get and keep some of them.
another 20 win season from BW and this year was topped off with a post-season win. He’s got us spoiled and expectations are always high. This is a good place to be.
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I think it's more likely they choose to be a small fish in a P5 pond. I'd love to say to Jizzy James, you could be MVC Player of the year in the future at BU, whereas at Cin he probably will never be a 1st teamer in the big 12.
 
egib52 said:
I think it's more likely they choose to be a small fish in a P5 pond. I'd love to say to Jizzy James, you could be MVC Player of the year in the future at BU, whereas at Cin he probably will never be a 1st teamer in the big 12.
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There will be exceptions. We just need to hope they choose BU.
 
Tommy said:
Zero. I know it was rhetorical, but I wanted to answer it anyway.
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Thing is, how many players do fans really reminisce about, and does it actually change anything for the former players themselves? Unless they are local legends like Crouch, Ruffin, and Sommerville, I don't think it really means much at all. We did just see Patrick come back and get honored and it obviously meant something for him to take the effort to come back and be in Peoria for it. But from a player perspective, very few are going to care.
 
Making the tourney at BU puts you in the category to be reminisced about. Beyond that you need to have been great, or have done something extraordinary like Chris Roberts hitting the shot, or participating in the dunk contest. But Hick's name won't even come up as a 1000 point scorer, will not be honored probably as a team at BU in the future, throwing that away IMO. But it's his decision. Next year could have been really special to a Bradley, as opposed to just average at whatever school he goes to.
 
Agree
most BU HEROES like Hersey, JL, AP, Cellus, Ja’Shon& now Duke are celebrated not just for outstanding play but for their love & loyalty to this program.
How many people remember James Hamilton, Antoine Tisby, Jalen Crawford or Ryan Stipanovivh?
 
yoda said:
Agree
most BU HEROES like Hersey, JL, AP, Cellus, Ja’Shon& now Duke are celebrated not just for outstanding play but for their love & loyalty to this program.
How many people remember James Hamilton, Antoine Tisby, Jalen Crawford or Ryan Stipanovivh?
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Well I do....but I'm not ur average fan. lol I even remember guys like Cameron Rigby, Jay Schell, Roger Suchy, Len Bertollini, Andy Bastock, Jermaine Brown, David Selby, Angelo Flanders, Mike Shaw, Stephen Gabriel, Eddren Mccain. lol i could go on and on
 
Dubl R 1 said:
Well I do....but I'm not ur average fan. lol I even remember guys like Cameron Rigby, Jay Schell, Roger Suchy, Len Bertollini, Andy Bastock, Jermaine Brown, David Selby, Angelo Flanders, Mike Shaw, Stephen Gabriel, Eddren Mccain. lol i could go on and on
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Stephon Gabriel, ah, what could have been. What an athletic freak! I loved when he got on the court!
 
egib52 said:
What happened to him after Juco...I agree I thought he could have been a star
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No idea. I don't think he ever made it back to D1 so there must have been something going on with him because the talent was certainly there.
 
Tommy said:
No idea. I don't think he ever made it back to D1 so there must have been something going on with him because the talent was certainly there.
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Yes, Stephan Gabriel did return to D1. After Bradley (2019-20) he played one season at Hutchinson CC (2020-21) and one season at Highland CC (2021-22). Then he played last season at Western Illinois (2022-23) - https://goleathernecks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/steph-gabriel/20165

He had another year of eligibility for his Covid season, and this LinkedIn web page suggests he stayed at WIU this past year to get his degree. But he does not appear on their 2023-24 roster - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-gabriel-29a0b6272/
 
Da Coach said:
Yes, Stephan Gabriel did return to D1. After Bradley (2019-20) he played one season at Hutchinson CC (2020-21) and one season at Highland CC (2021-22). Then he played last season at Western Illinois (2022-23) - https://goleathernecks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/steph-gabriel/20165

He had another year of eligibility for his Covid season, and this LinkedIn web page suggests he stayed at WIU this past year to get his degree. But he does not appear on their 2023-24 roster - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-gabriel-29a0b6272/
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That's right, I forgot he went to Macomb. Thanks DC
 
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