Exposure? Maybe back when players wore canvas shoes, but in the era of ESPN and the internet, no.
But what about the original claim by Boeheim, who has never won an ACC tournament game, that there isn’t much talent around Greensboro in the first place?
I put together an all-time starting five from the Triad: Chris Paul, Lou Hudson, Bob McAdoo, Danny Manning, and Curly Neal. (Shout out to my favorite current Tar Heel, Theo Pinson, and my friend Wayne Robinson).
Let the list cover the state of North Carolina and it quickly gets very long and very deep (including a strong candidate for college GOAT, David Thompson, and overall GOAT Michael Jordan).
Anyway, Sydney and I went to the semis last night in Brooklyn. It was exciting to emerge from the subway and see that cool new arena, and the Barclays Center was a nice place to watch a ballgame (at least until the Tar Heels hairballed up that fat lead). I didn’t even mind taking out a mortgage to pay for our hot dogs and beers, but the overall vibe had no more to do with ACC tradition than the pre-expansion players from Louisville and Miami who were inducted at halftime as league legends. It felt sterile and corporate and deracinated.
I am not at all unbiased. As a GSO native and life-long ACC basketball fan, I believe deeply that the tourney should be held in our coliseum with great regularity. North Carolina is the geographic center of the conference, and has more schools in the league than any other state. Greensboro is a great host, and tradition matters, and, too, I have won exactly as many ACC tourney games as Jim Boeheim.
Thank you Mayor Cone! Although last nights UNC vs Duke game had the energy of an ACC tournament, many of the other games have been less than energized. I have enjoyed being in NYC this weekend but will choose another time to return rather than next year's ACC tournament.
I must say, Mr. Boeheim s comments have certainly helped GSO's position as the best place to host this championship. Now if we can just get our knucklehead legislators to repeal HB2 so we can get back to more important business and to showcase our great State and City again.
Does the transitive property of knuckleheadedness apply to those who made campaign contributions to the supporters of HB2?
What was more disappointing was watching a second round game (UNC -Miami) in a half empty gym. When was the last time either of those teams played in a half empty gym? Even the Syracuse fan i spoke to in the bathroom line was embarrassed by BoeheimS comments. Let's move back to GSO!
And as has been pointed out on FB, NY media coverage has been underwhelming.
As evidenced by the under attended earlier games and the under reported event in New York press, the tournament should be played MOST of the time where MOST of the fans are and MOST of the media is engaged. Unfortunately, with our legislators lack of knowledge of "transgender" and unwillingness to work for the good of the state, we probably will not see it return soon.
John asked me to add a couple of names to his list: Walter Davis and Jerry Stackhouse.
Seriously, I rebutted this before you wrote it. You've given us no reason why it is to the advantage of the ACC to remain in Greensboro">.
"For you see, my friends, as much as you dislike what I'm telling you, when Greensboro's leaders can give us reasons why Boeheim is wrong then we'll also have the reasons we need to keep the ACC tournament in Greensboro all the time and not have to share it with Atlanta or any other city."
But as you can see above, Ed Cone couldn't do it either.
Such is the problems of putting all of one's eggs in a single basket.
I disagree that casual dismissals of a basketball coach's flippant remarks demand research and evidence, and as anyone paying attention to this well-worn topic knows, arguments on Greensboro's merits have been made many times in many places, but this brief rant does conclude with some actual reasons GSO should host: "North Carolina is the geographic center of the conference, and has more schools in the league than any other state. Greensboro is a great host, and tradition matters..."
Ed Cone, you disagree, but like Greensboro's leaders can give us the reasons we need to keep the ACC tournament in Greensboro all the time and not have to share it with Atlanta or any other city.
"Well if HB 2 has taught us anything, it's that rhetoric, fan loyalty, and lame excuses will not save Greensboro from economic ruin. The Greensboro Coliseum and downtown performing arts center could sell out 365 events a year and the rest of the city could still starve to death. Don't believe me? Ford Field in Detroit (Founded just 15 years ago) is currently doing a $100 Million Dollar upgrade while the City of Detroit rots away around it.)"
I'm decades ahead of you, Eddie.
And Biff never made it past 2015.
add Brendan Haywood to the GSO team.
UNC national champs. 3 starters from North Carolina, including Theo Pinson from Greensboro.
Agreed, it should be here but not until we get our politics right. No candy till you eat your veggies.