Royce White on WCCO--Impressions?

With Tubby recruiting the 10's and Jirsa ( I think ) checking out JUCO players it would seem to be an indication they're not expecting Royce to return. Unless, there's someone else leaving we don't know about.

The Gophers recruiting 2010 kids is neither an indication that they're not expecting Royce to return nor that there is someone else leaving. You should never stop recruiting. A lot can change at any moment. Oversigning is not a crime and happens (not to mention there are two current 2010 'openings' as of today).
 


Question(s) here

What 'hard hitting' questions should Max have asked, and more importantly, what purpose would they serve? There is really no need to interigate the kid any further. The only relevent question is what are your plans going forward?? This could have been a 3 minute interview.
 

Question(s) here

What 'hard hitting' questions should Max have asked, and more importantly, what purpose would they serve? There is really no need to interrogate the kid any further. The only relevant question is what are your plans going forward?? This could have been a 3 minute interview.

Perhaps an internship with Isaiah Rider is in his future
 

What 'hard hitting' questions should Max have asked, and more importantly, what purpose would they serve? There is really no need to interigate the kid any further. The only relevent question is what are your plans going forward?? This could have been a 3 minute interview.

Any journalist worth his salt would have asked him:

1. Do you regret quitting last week in light of the conclusion of your court case this week?

2. What exactly did Coach Smith and Maturi tell you about your status? Did it change over time? Was it gray or extremely clear?

3. Now that all the court cases are closed and you can speak freely, can you tell us if you have or plan to apologize to your teammates? Do you think you owe them an apology?

4. Do you feel that, in light of what has happened, you would do things differently with the campus police (i.e., cooperated from the beginning)?

5. Do you think you deserve another chance to play at the U of MN?

6. Is there any more to the suspension other than what the public knows about?

Royce White did not have to go on the radio to be interviewed. Since he did, these questions are fair game. Under adversity - tough questioning - you get a better picture of who someone really is. Getting lobbed softballs only really shows you he can deal with someone kissing his ass. And we already knew that........
 


It seams as though last week the defense was trying to work out a plea deal (similar to what was arrived at this week?), but the prosecution was playing hardball. In the meantime, Royce quits the team and leaves school. Yesterday, they were able to work out a plea deal. Did the prosecution's tune change because of the "punishment" Royce inflicted upon himself by leaving basketball (for the time being). Is that the pain they wanted him to feel?
 

There are far too many holier than thou folks on this board. Royce didn't stab someone... yes, he made some mistakes and guess what? He paid the price by missing his entire freshman season!

If Royce somehow lands back on the Gophers next year, I hope the holier than thou crowd stops following the Gophers out of protest. Royce has paid for his sins... time to let anger go. If he makes more mistakes, he will pay the price as he already has. This is not a distraction unless you make it one.

This isn't directed at a specic post, just the prevailing mindset on the board.

While I agree it would be good to see him back next year if all parties are in agreement AND he stays out of trouble, could he just once actually apologize to his teammates, coaches, shool, etc.? Could he just once publicly acknowledge he made mistakes and act sorry for that?

Until he actually shows remorse and personal accountability, I think we're kidding ourselves about his prospects with the future of this program.
 

Jake- Those questions may have been fair game, maybe not. Depends on what was agreed to prior to the interview. Most of what you asked have either been answered already or would be follow ups of what are you going to do next.
 

He doesn't need to publicly apologize to any of us. We don't know what he has said to his team, Tubby, Joel, etc. and it isn't anything we need to know. Royce can move on with his life and if he wants to come back to the Gophers a new line of questioning can be opened. No need to answer every question multiple times.
 



Have we heard any of this before (smooth talker) from Royce (think summer blog on GopherHole)? As a lot of folks pointed out immediately back then -- before Royce had even gotten himself into trouble at the U -- actions speak louder than words. And by golly, his actions later on did speak volumes.
 

Jake- Those questions may have been fair game, maybe not. Depends on what was agreed to prior to the interview. Most of what you asked have either been answered already or would be follow ups of what are you going to do next.

Can you link me up to the Q & A on the ones that have been asked-and-answered. Please don't link to some GopherHole speculation. I don't believe I've seen these questions asked, let alone answered.

Also, some interviewers wouldn't agree to an interview if those questions were not fair game. But ol' Maxie don't have no standards like that thar.
 

It seams as though last week the defense was trying to work out a plea deal (similar to what was arrived at this week?), but the prosecution was playing hardball. In the meantime, Royce quits the team and leaves school. Yesterday, they were able to work out a plea deal. Did the prosecution's tune change because of the "punishment" Royce inflicted upon himself by leaving basketball (for the time being). Is that the pain they wanted him to feel?

I think, after Royce withdrew from the school, there could have been less pressure for the prosecution to make something out of it as Royce is no longer as relevant and of high-profile.

I think the UMPD made a terrible mistake by prematurely announcing or leaking that Royce was the sole suspect or something to that effect. It turned everything more difficult for the U and Royce. Not saying that Royce is an innocent victim. But, after all that media attention, all the people involved in the whole thing had to cover their asses. With the pressure down, oh well...
 

I'm sure Royce was looking for the sign up sheet that said there were going to be interviews and tough questions about your past, present, and future, and bring your attorney along for good measure. Mike Max likes Royce, still hosts the Tubby Smith show, and probably was happy to kiss a little ass to get the interview with Royce.
 



I don't knoow the Q&A, but he addressed how he was a distraction to his teammates and how much he respects Tubby in the Strib article this morning.

He is no longer on scholarship. The only thing he owes anyone at this point is the 50 hrs comm service. If he wants to rejoin the team on scholarship for next year then some questions like 'what has changed, why do you deserve a second chance yada yada yada' would be pertinent.

I'm not suggesting that there were any prearranged questions, but it wouldn't be unheard of if that was the case.
 

I don't knoow the Q&A, but he addressed how he was a distraction to his teammates and how much he respects Tubby in the Strib article this morning.

He is no longer on scholarship. The only thing he owes anyone at this point is the 50 hrs comm service. If he wants to rejoin the team on scholarship for next year then some questions like 'what has changed, why do you deserve a second chance yada yada yada' would be pertinent.

I'm not suggesting that there were any prearranged questions, but it wouldn't be unheard of if that was the case.

Just listened to the interview. Still think he has made some very stupid decisions and would have liked to have had Maxie ask him if he regrets dropping out last week. I actually thought Maxie did a better job than kitten-ball lobbing and will speculate that there were no prearranged parameters for the interview. Someone above mentioned he does the Tubby show and I will concur that many journalists tend to cater to folks with whom they have a "relationship."

I can understand why Royce came across to many as sympathetic. And I actually heard him - quite indirectly, however - take some of the blame for all of this. He kept saying he would "watch himself" at all times, etc. Somewhere between "my bad" and "they're out to get me." I would also agree that for a 19 year old kid, he was quite composed - despite the fact that this was largely a softball interview.

My conclusion is that the situation is very, very sad. And I will stick with my view that he has done some very stupid things to get here. I just don't understand why he quit last week. His Fortune 500 company is probably a few years off yet.......
 

I agree that it is very sad, and he has made some big mistakes. I think it is best for him to put the documentary on hold, get a job, lay low, stay in shape, and re-enroll next year with a promise that he understands the incredible opporunity he has to get a free education at an elite academic instituion and will work as hard off the court as on it. And then do it.
 

I agree that it is very sad, and he has made some big mistakes. I think it is best for him to put the documentary on hold, get a job, lay low, stay in shape, and re-enroll next year with a promise that he understands the incredible opporunity he has to get a free education at an elite academic instituion and will work as hard off the court as on it. And then do it.

I couldn't agree more with what you say. Particularly, to paraphrase you, that he should shut his damned trap. That has been my contention all along, that keeping his mouth shut would serve him best. Who in their right mind would take questions on the courthouse steps before a case is settled? Stupid. (The lawyer should have been fired for allowing that, by the way.)
 

Cliffs

White gets caught shoplifting, gets a misdemeanor charge, supposedly has a suspension of a few games which he serves

During this suspension he's in a dorm where a laptop is stolen. Seems pretty clear either he didn't have anything to do with it or at least the campus police have 0 evidence to link it to him but charge him anyway and then drag their feet on the case

Team suspends Royce indefinitely for something its pretty clear he'll be cleared of

Somehow these situations lead to all the anger on this board towards him. Why? He's paid for every dumb thing he's done, maybe more than most would. Don't know all the facts at DLS but when I went there I had classmates that regularly cheated on tests and homework and I'm guessing most schools have the same. Either he did something really blatant or he simply got caught and got booted because the school wanted to make an example of him because in my time there a few kids got caught but none expelled.

Shoplifting is dumb and he got charged, publicly roasted, and suspended.

Then he seemingly got screwed by the whole laptop situation. I just don't get why so many of you seem to hate the kid. He did his time and I'd love for him to be back at the U. Message Boards blast instate kids that go elsewhere but this kid has TC tatted on him yet you can't wait to get rid of him because of a misdemeanor???!!!! Man I hope all of your kids are perfect since you hold these guys to such high standards.
 

I just don't get why so many of you seem to hate the kid.

I don't think people here "hate" him. I compare how TM and RW have handled their respective situations. One guy keeps his head down and his mouth shut, the other can't seem to stay out of the news and cannot keep his trap shut. Had RW taken the tact that TM has taken, there would be far less vitriol for his actions. Few people like the "look at me! look at me!" type very much, particularly when they are in trouble and, as a result, decreasing the value of their investments (read: season ticket purchase).

It <b><i>is</i></b> that simple.
 

Few people like the "look at me! look at me!" type very much,.


I think this is quite true. I am old enough to remember the tremendous hate directed at Cassius Clay later to become Muhammed Ali when he declared "I am the greatest." We want our sports figures to be humble.
 

It's because he's black isn't it?

Easy charge to make when you have nothing else. I am one of the leading advocates in GopherHole for having our white, privileged, and underachieving QB from the Twin Cities suburbs take a seat at the end of the bench, and giving the Gopher QB job to a black, inner city, and scholastically challenged kid from Indianapolis who stays out of trouble, appreciates the opportunity the U is giving him, and is not addicted to reading about himself in the newspapers and watching himself on TV.

It is all about having standards and living up to them in every aspect of your life. There can be no excuses and no compromises. If a person screws up there has to be a penalty to be paid. This is just as true when they are five years old as when they are eighteen years old and the world is at their feet. Royce White is headed down the wrong path in life because he has seldom been held accountable for his actions. The fact that he portrays himself as the victim through everything that has happened to him is proof that he just doesn't get it. God help him, because he is going to need it. Gopher fans who only want him for his basketball talent will never be there for him. There is more than enough evidence of that.
 

Easy charge to make when you have nothing else. I am one of the leading advocates in GopherHole for having our white, privileged, and underachieving QB from the Twin Cities suburbs take a seat at the end of the bench, and giving the Gopher QB job to a black, inner city, and scholastically challenged kid from Indianapolis who stays out of trouble, appreciates the opportunity the U is giving him, and is not addicted to reading about himself in the newspapers and watching himself on TV.

It is all about having standards and living up to them in every aspect of your life. There can be no excuses and no compromises. If a person screws up there has to be a penalty to be paid. This is just as true when they are five years old as when they are eighteen years old and the world is at their feet. Royce White is headed down the wrong path in life because he has seldom been held accountable for his actions. The fact that he portrays himself as the victim through everything that has happened to him is proof that he just doesn't get it. God help him, because he is going to need it. Gopher fans who only want him for his basketball talent will never be there for him. There is more than enough evidence of that.


Call a spade a spade please. Its called the acceptable negro aka if he doesn't talk too much, wears the right clothes, or doesn't have the tats and crazy music he is fine. But if you put any of those characteristics too much in your face it is no longer acceptable.
 

oleboy41

Cliffs

White gets caught shoplifting, gets a misdemeanor charge, supposedly has a suspension of a few games which he serves

During this suspension he's in a dorm where a laptop is stolen. Seems pretty clear either he didn't have anything to do with it or at least the campus police have 0 evidence to link it to him but charge him anyway and then drag their feet on the case

Team suspends Royce indefinitely for something its pretty clear he'll be cleared of

Somehow these situations lead to all the anger on this board towards him. Why? He's paid for every dumb thing he's done, maybe more than most would. Don't know all the facts at DLS but when I went there I had classmates that regularly cheated on tests and homework and I'm guessing most schools have the same. Either he did something really blatant or he simply got caught and got booted because the school wanted to make an example of him because in my time there a few kids got caught but none expelled.

Shoplifting is dumb and he got charged, publicly roasted, and suspended.

Then he seemingly got screwed by the whole laptop situation. I just don't get why so many of you seem to hate the kid. He did his time and I'd love for him to be back at the U. Message Boards blast instate kids that go elsewhere but this kid has TC tatted on him yet you can't wait to get rid of him because of a misdemeanor???!!!! Man I hope all of your kids are perfect since you hold these guys to such high standards.

Actually, I believe it is now three misdemeanor convictions since he enrolled.

Disorderly conduct - Misdemeanor
Theft - Petty Misdemeanor
Trespassing - Misdemeanor

http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/CaseSearchResults.aspx?SearchLinkIndex=1


2. I for one do not hate the kid. I wish him luck in the future.

3. Time for all parties to move on.
 

Royce is more well spoken to a lot of professionals that I work with. I'm impressed. Yes, he has made mistakes and handled things poorly. However, you cannot deny that he is extremely intelligent. He will be successful someday. Hoops or otherwise.

I have heard some of the current players speak before and I always think, man, if they don't make it in hoops they will not have many options if they don't finish their degree.

Not Royce.

Yes, you can.

He is a common theif, and assaulted an officer.

Extremely intelligent? Indeed.
 

Yes, you can.

He is a common theif, and assaulted an officer.

Extremely intelligent? Indeed.

Do mall cops qualify as officers? I could be wrong, but the surveillance video made it look like a guy in street clothes sprinting at Royce. I don't know about you, but if some guy in street clothes that I didn't know was sprinting toward me in a parking lot I would have done the exact same thing, I'm not going to let the guy attack me without defending myself.
 

GOTR

Do mall cops qualify as officers? I could be wrong, but the surveillance video made it look like a guy in street clothes sprinting at Royce. I don't know about you, but if some guy in street clothes that I didn't know was sprinting toward me in a parking lot I would have done the exact same thing, I'm not going to let the guy attack me without defending myself.

:D

Normally true, but in that you just stole a pair of jeans and are fleeing the scene of the crime, it puts a different light on you defending yourself from "some guy".

The judge ruled accordingly.
 

:D

Normally true, but in that you just stole a pair of jeans and are fleeing the scene of the crime, it puts a different light on you defending yourself from "some guy".

The judge ruled accordingly.

Fair enough. I'm just pointing out that he wasn't out looking for a fight, but I think this whole topic has been covered enough and it's pretty clear where most people stand, so I'm not going to comment on it anymore. I for one hope he will be back, but we'll see what happens.
 

What's wrong with having some standards? Royce has been given a 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances during his BB playing days. History tells me he's more likely to embarrass the program further. Not worth the chance given his long, detailed history. There wasn't one single incident. There were several issues and the sum is too much for me to look past.

Let the Binghamton's of the world take a chance. They've shown that selling your soul will eventually come back to bite you in the butt.

Is Royce a bad person? Don't know, but his many transgressions suggest he's more trouble than he's worth.

I see way too many similarities between Royce and Whaley. Some people just don't learn. I'd rather lose with dignity than win with scumbags. Not everyone feels that way and that's fine but Royce just fits the profile of a constant thorn in the side. I don't want to be Wisconsin when they gave Booker Stanley 3 chances. I stand by Tubby and Maturi with their decision. Royce has to prove he's worthy of being let back on the team. He hasn't as of yet.
 

GOTR

Fair enough. I'm just pointing out that he wasn't out looking for a fight, but I think this whole topic has been covered enough and it's pretty clear where most people stand, so I'm not going to comment on it anymore. I for one hope he will be back, but we'll see what happens.

No problem.

I trust Tubby to do the right thing, whatever that might be.

:cool:
 

Fair enough. I'm just pointing out that he wasn't out looking for a fight, but I think this whole topic has been covered enough and it's pretty clear where most people stand, so I'm not going to comment on it anymore. I for one hope he will be back, but we'll see what happens.

He wasn't looking for a fight? When I read thoughts like this, I get the impression that you are implying that he is somehow a victim here. Not sure if that is your intent or not. He created this entire mess by stealing and trying to get away. In absolutely no way is he a victim here. He is 100% responsible for his actions including assaulting a security officer who was only doing his job.
 




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