Is this okay as part of college baseball?

I have a problem with someone from the school faculty blasting a student athlete on a message board. What a cowardly thing to do. I wonder if this Prof. has a grudge against this kid, not out of the question. If someone wants to suggest some changes to make it can be done in a more delicate way without completely blasting a young man on the internet. Once that bullet is fired it can't be put back in the gun. Its out there forever.

Short answer from my perspective is boards , especially college ones can get very personal.  IMO if an alumni or general fan makes a suggestion that calls out a specific player, then that is fair game.  An employee of the school however, I believe shows poor decorum, and lacks professionalism by calling out a student athlete by name.

I don't criticize college players on any message board.  In my view (not shared by many fans of college message boards - especially football and basketball), it is 100% inappropriate.

 

I don't even criticize pro players any more.

 

Their job is tough enough - and one thing I've learned is that there's almost ALWAYS a back story as to why the player is struggling - injury, girlfriend, classes, parents, etc...

 

As for a professor/employee of the school/team/pro team?  That is terrible and the school/employer oughta get in that person's face about it.  Disciplinary action would be appropriate in that case in my view.

At one level, it's nice to know at least one professor pays attention to baseball.

 

Apart from that, I don't know how to reconcile public criticism of a college player with my concept of a professor's place in a university community.

 

I'm with JBB on the general dislike of calling out players.  Does anybody think struggling players (at any level) don't know they're on the hot seat?  Does anyone think calling players out might help them perform better or tell the coaches something they don't already know?

It's just sad.

I think he should be fired.  

The two college basketball boards I visit for my alma mater don't allow harshly negative posts against players.  The moderators will delete the post and "scold" the poster.  IMO it's ok to delete the posts because they are still kids, playing "big time" sports.  The mother of one player shows up frequently and puts her perspective on things as well. 

 

So no, it is not ok.  Good luck.     

I just hate criticizing athletes at any level for performance. Even in the pro's. If they're not hustling, not focusing, or not committed ... and it's obvious? OK -- in the pro's. But even then, there's sometimes a back-story. Not always -- and pro's especially, are fair game (otherwise sportswriters would be out of work).

 

But amateur sports?? Nah.

 

Anyone on a public stage has to accept that there are always critics ... but I love the way Jerry Seinfeld dealt with a heckler on one of his shows: He went to her office and heckled her. I'd love to see the professor on the receiving end of forum comments about HIS performance

 

 

Honestly, in a perfect world it should never happen at any level - pro all the way down to LL.  But let's face the reality of the situation in that it does happen. If you're going to play at a high level then you better get used to it and be prepared for it.  I would rather tell them ahead of time and prepare them instead of getting blind sided by it.

 

They are just words and opinions of people who don't know how tough what they do is.  The best thing to do is learn to ignore it or laugh it off.  Even when they cross the line.  It's easier said than done and even in my position as a coach and AD it's hard for me to let it go when I find out people say stuff about me.  But I'm the one who has the most to lose and is under the microscope.  Just like these players except their microscope is much bigger than mine.

 

The natural reaction is to lash back out or protect if it's your kid but the best thing to do is keep your mouth shut.  I can't tell you how many times I've had messages typed out on boards and even email but then just delete whatever it is I wrote because it's the best thing to do in the long run.  One thing we need to understand is that these are not kids - they are adults.  Just like in the other thread about should coaches / doctors call parents if a player gets hurt this is the same situation - they are adults and should understand this is part of being in the spotlight even if it's wrong.

 

Just my two cents.

Who knows, maybe the prof will feel foolish about what he posted and ask to have it deleted. 

I'm conflicted.

 

Why is baseball different from college football?  They get criticized all the time.

 

 

I hope I don't offend anyone here; but, I'm inclined to be blunt on this topic.

 

Many of those who post on college baseball message boards are ignoramuses. As has been suggested by others here, they're frequently completely ignorant of (1) the intricacies of the game, (2) the stresses of the game, (3) the immense challenge of succeeding both academically and athletically in college, and (4) the personal trials and tribulations that often lead to troubles either on or off the field.

 

Admittedly, the vast majority of them are not in a position to know much of the "back story" that is almost invariably present; but, in my opinion, their ignorance of that doesn't give them the license that they frequently take to lambaste the players as they do...particularly when it can be done behind the cloak of anonymity.

 

Finally, I'll take the opportunity to vent against the message board contributor who feels that it's his obligation to go there and reveal the "inside scoop" on why some player isn't playing, has transferred, etc. More often than not, the information he has is, at best, incomplete; and, often, it's substantially incorrect in some material respect. Regardless, he goes online...often excitedly, it seems... and reports what he thinks he heard.

 

Forget that whatever he's reporting is not only incorrect; but, that it also touches on something that every member of the player's family considers private. Forget that it could be something that raises some professional scout's antennae needlessly. This guy just blithely spews whatever he thinks might be the case; as if he's meeting two other rumor-mongers at the neighborhood coffee shop...when, in reality, he's posting it in front of the entire world.

 

Sorry. I have absolutely no tolerance for the ignorant, irresponsible post that might be leveled at an individual player. However, knowing that this is what I'm often going to confront when I go there, I tend to frequent them less and less.

 

 

Who said it was okay there?

 

Just because it's always done doesn't necessarily make it acceptable, right?

 

There are so many issues at hand here, most of which have been addressed.

 

Is there a difference when it comes to the ethical or moral question? Should college athletes in either sport be criticized?

 

Is there a moral difference between general criticism and that of faculty? 

 

My gut is that these guys should not be criticized (generally.) However, I don't see the initial comment (Player X should be benched for the good of the team) as being that out of line from the general public. I do think college faculty should refrain from making such comments for the impact it can have on student-professor relationships.

 

That being said, I may be overcompensating. I know I've been the brunt of personal commentary on baseball boards (I've lurked on the ones applicable to what I officiate for years, out of morbid curiosity.) I really don't take anything personally--it's kind of humorous, in a way. I also know I'm probably better prepared to see that (well, obviously, since I find it entertaining) than a lot of college athletes--or maybe I'm overcompensating in my assessment of them.

Officiating?!!!  

 

We all know that officiating is the number one cause of losses! Those of us whose teams have lost at one time or another reserve the right to lambaste those calls that were obviously incorrectly made against our teams!!

 

You forgot the part where you tell complaining opposing posters that bad calls are all part of the game.

The most despicable thing I've seen was a majority of 90,000 USC football fans booing the seniors as they were introduced on Senior Day. It was during the Ted Tollner era when USC lost eight straight to UCLA.

 

Most have weighed in on how I feel about calling out college kids. Many of the fans don't understand there could be events in the kid's life affecting his play. But the bottom line is they're not pros. That a adult professor would call out a student-athlete from his own school is unprofessional. He should be reprimanded.

Last time I checked, the Golden Rule has not been repealed-

 

          "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".  

 

Pretty simple but would seem to answer all of the questions on behavior.

I still favor free speech in this country.  I am against what the professor has posted and wish people showed more class in this country.  People have a need to tear other people down and that is a shame.  When my son was in college, there were professors who posted.  They were great supporters of the sport and the players however.  Always supportive and never anything negative.

 

As far as singling out players, I don't believe it is appropriate for amateur ballplayers.

I'm glad the parent spoke up.  These are young adults trying to get an education and compete in a very humbling sport.  Of all people, professors should be taking the high road to understand the challenges these young men are going through, and the hard work they put into it.  Hurtful comments by a college professor have no place on a college message board.  Let the coaches coach, and teachers teach.  Seriously, this is common sense stuff.  The older I get the more I realize common sense isn't that common. 

oops
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/

 

 

First, those parents need to make sure that their son avoids that Professor's class.  No, I don't think it appropriate and wonder if there might be other reasons a professor went out of his way to single out one player.  I know when I was in college one of my professors and a couple of wrestlers had great disdain for each other and eventually, both wrestlers dropped that class.  I never knew why they didn't like each other but it was clear to the class. 

 

My daughter plays in college and it is not uncommon to see a few professors in the stands.  In fact, her math professor never misses a game.  Most of the girls have gone through his class and he is really a nice guy.  He had a daughter play years ago and typically brings a colleague or two to the game.  I know the girls like seeing him and the other professors attend games.  IMO, that type of support is great for the university faculty.  Too bad there is just the opposite example out there. 

You beat me to the punch. I was about to post this very link. Inappropriate and classless, yes. However, does anyone take a board like that too seriously? If they do, there are other problems. It makes it hard to take the prof seriously.

I've got an idea.

 

Let's find all of the examples of mean-spirited, callous, ill-informed message boards we can, so that we can rationalize that it's somehow okay to be mean-spirited, callous, and ill-informed,..in full view of the world...anonymously, of course. ...and, while doing so anonymously, naming the names of those chosen to be chastised.

 

After all, it's done all the time, right? How can all of those boors be wrong?!

 

 

 

When I played college ball each year a list would get passed around the locker room of jock friendly and anti jock professors. It would include classes that were easy electives to take in season and professors who were good about missed classes. The list included professors that should be avoided because they hated "smelly jocks."

 

There are professors and teaching assistants who are very resentful athletes may have been accepted by standards that wouldn't get a typical student accepted. I remember reading about the outrage when Kevin Love (basketball) was recruited by UCLA. Apparently academically he was near the NCAA minimum requirements.

IMO, I think it is totally inappropriate and extremely unprofessional, especially given his position in the University.
Makes me wonder whether thee schools Head Coach, Athletic Director, and the Head of thee University are reading these boards, or are even made aware of such posts going on College Boards. And, if not, whether or not they should be made aware of them.
As to whether Professors can dislike a student / athlete... probably. Whether they would carry it to such extremes... possibly. Is this fair... no! Should this be chalked up to a Life Lesson, of dealing with difficult people... likely. Should this serve as further motivation, to quiet the Peanut Gallery, and let their efforts and performance do their talking... Absolutely!

       
       


Maybe has not heckled thee Professor, but maybe "challenged" him in class, or leans to thee opposite opinions of thee Professor...

There are "Professors" who are bookworm geeks and were always picked last in gym class.  They get their "revenge" on student athletes when they become professors.  Best advice -- stay away. 

"They are just words and opinions of people who don't know how tough what they do is.  The best thing to do is learn to ignore it or laugh it off.  Even when they cross the line.  It's easier said than done and even in my position as a coach and AD it's hard for me to let it go when I find out people say stuff about me.  But I'm the one who has the most to lose and is under the microscope.  Just like these players except their microscope is much bigger than mine."



How's that saying go... Something about ~ Those who can, Do & Those who can't, Teach!
I'd be willing to bet thee Professor was never even an athlete!

Any chance the OP is wrong that it is a professor?  Not hard to put someone else's name in a post, then post a little later with info that "backs up" the original post. 

 

Signed, Manti Te'o