I will always love Rick Majerus....

[Goatnapper'96]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/...n-slu.html.csp

Rick Majerus is an enormously interesting human being. At his peak he was, IMO, a true genius. As geniuses frequently do, he really seems to struggle getting along with slobs that comprise just the rest of us. When he was really grooving he was utterly possessed with his pursuit of perfection, well that and a cheeseburger but it was his foibles and shortcomings that brought the man alive to me. I like sports. In comparison to other endeavors it is probably the one that I feel most comfortable recognizing a genius.

I love the attached article. It highlights the extreme complexities that is Rick Majerus. The insecurities, difficult to get along with, the loneliness as a result of that and how he reaches out to shower such immeasurable compassionate good often upon strangers, and then uses their pictures to adorn his habitat - his "family" in the twisted way that a lonely genius must have. I think the state of Utah was blessed to have such an interesting genius in their midst for a decade and a half.

Rick and the Mormon community of Utah were very mistrustful of each other. He was never home amongst them and there was never mutual love. With specific individuals he was able to connect and to those he displayed that fierce loyalty that I find so amazingly endearing about the man. While I like to needle SeattleUte that the self-righteous pharisitical nature of mormon culture is what drove the ALUF to turn on Rick, this article makes it clear that Rick probably struggles to just get along with most people. I just like to play up the mormon angle for the fun of it with my favorite dickhead. I did find his jab at Jimmer to be one of his weakest jabs at the BYU. There is something about petty jabs that just lose their poignancy when the roles are majestically reversed. Jimmer is the darling and Rick is a fat guy that only those of us in our mid 30's or older remember and appreciate.

I hope he gets one more good national run in with the Billikens before he hangs it up for good. I want to see one more undertalented team of overachievers frustrate the hell out of some "elite" program. Dear God, if you love me, or just like me a little bit or even just tolerate my sorry ass, let it be Kentucky....let it be Kentucky!

[Clark Addison]

I agree with a lot of this, which is why I have been puzzled about his performance with St. Louis. I always thought that Majerus could take a church ball all-star team to the second round of the NCAA tournament, yet he hasn't seemed to have much success there.

I don't follow him enough now to tell if I over-estimated him from what he did at Utah, or if he has just lost the fire.

[Goatnapper'96]

I agree with a lot of this, which is why I have been puzzled about his performance with St. Louis. I always thought that Majerus could take a church ball all-star team to the second round of the NCAA tournament, yet he hasn't seemed to have much success there.

I don't follow him enough now to tell if I over-estimated him from what he did at Utah, or if he has just lost the fire.

I don't think he is the same. Mostly, I think he really struggles to recruit because he is just so damn difficult to get along with. But I have not followed his happenings with the Billikens close enough to really have any idea. I did chuckle at his grumblings about the rules impacting elgibility at a religious school.

I think JazzyUte's blog about the demise of Ute hoops is accurate. After Andre Miller graduated, Utah was never dominant again. They had a couple of decent first round tourney wins because Rick was such a genius, but the talent level and continuity just slipped a bit more each year. Rick's issues got the best of him. He is just too insufferable a human to be around to enjoy that type of success anymore. The Good Doctor Hill was obviously a genius when he pulled the plug on the Rickster as Utah re-blossomed like a desert rose thereafter.

[scottie]

His main problem at SLU has been he's yet to sign KVH, Miller, Doleac, Jensen, and Mottola types of players all at about the same time.

[Art Vandelay]

Interesting read. thanks for posting, Goat.

Am I the only one who would prefer to read a feature length article written by Colonel Jessup Sgt. Napper, than by most any other writer? Goatnapper is one of the many talented writers that frequent CUF. I truly am envious of many posters literary talents.

[SeattleUte]

He had assembled a team that could have challenged for the NC, Bogut, etc. Giacoletti won 29 with that team, and took it to the Sweet 16. But Majerus kind of screwed that up by running off his best point guard, who was a good kid (Jackson). Jackson was the first really good player he lost to attrition, and that may have been the beginning of the end for him.

On one hand, it may be exaggerating and denying a complete picture to say his teams declined after 1999. Even Coach K has had his periods of down years and struggle, and rebounded strongly, as it appears Majerus was in a position to do. But the faked heart attack and what happened later with USC showed all was not well with him personally. I think he has basically self-destructed. His health can't be great, wich must inhibit him a great deal at SLU. He cut himself on a scorer's table and is still not over it.

[TripletDaddy]

Why did he mention Jimmer and BYU? I assume the article only provided a partial quote.

[Goatnapper'96]

His main problem at SLU has been he's yet to sign KVH, Miller, Doleac, Jensen, and Mottola types of players all at about the same time.

I don't buy that. He took two teams to the Sweet 16 before any of those kids had gotten to SLC and he won two first round games after Miller had graduated, given he had Jensen and Mottola on one of those teams but Mottola was injured. I also think that while Al Jensen was a good player, I am not so sure he would have been such under different style coaching. I think the others would have been great under anyone.

[Goatnapper'96]

Why did he mention Jimmer and BYU? I assume the article only provided a partial quote.

To explain why his own team sucks. While I love the guy, it is obvious that his shortcomings are getting the best of him and like most genius he is getting bitter about it. He lost his best two players to violations of the USL honor code and without them his team sucks. He said "if you took that Jimmer Burdette kid, or whatever his name is, from BYU you would have...."

[scottie]

I don't buy that. He took two teams to the Sweet 16 before any of those kids had gotten to SLC and he won two first round games after Miller had graduated, given he had Jensen and Mottola on one of those teams but Mottola was injured. I also think that while Al Jensen was a good player, I am not so sure he would have been such under different style coaching. I think the others would have been great under anyone.

Not sure what you don't buy. My point was I don't think his recruiting at SLU has come anywhere close to what it was at Utah, but I really have no clue at all what he's accomplished recruiting-wise at SLU.

[TripletDaddy]

To explain why his own team sucks. While I love the guy, it is obvious that his shortcomings are getting the best of him and like most genius he is getting bitter about it. He lost his best two players to violations of the USL honor code and without them his team sucks. He said "if you took that Jimmer Burdette kid, or whatever his name is, from BYU you would have...."

That is what I thought, but it seems like an odd strategy. He is basically saying, "I haven't recruited a very good team because we only have 2 good players."

Obviously Majerus does not have a contractual obligation to downplay losses.

[MartyFunkhouser]

I will always be a Rick Majerus fan. I still hope for the day when the Utes retire his sweater at the Huntsman Center. I expect Rick Majerus to grab the microphone, make a crack about magic underwear, and proclaim that he is once again "King of the fucking hill."

[UteStar]

It has kind of been mentioned...but I think Rick's downfall at Utah and afterward can be attributed to a couple of things:

His attitude: Though he was never easy to get along with, it seemed to worsen every year. By 2000, he was very difficult for coaches to be around and for players to be around. In the mid-1990s, though still somewhat difficult, he was still tolerable and even a bit enjoyable to be around off the court in interviews, talks, etc. But that changed every year.

Recruiting: He became more hands off as the years progressed. On top of that, he lost his instate recruiter in Judkins. On top of that, he really didn't have much interest in recruiting. He let his name do his recruiting which worked, sometimes...and didn't most of the time.

Relationship with Boosters and Athletic Department: He stopped doing many of his 'pep' talks with those with money. He stopped really doing much with any of the donors and very little in the athletic department. He did about 1% of what Boylen is doing.

Majerus can still coach...but if he is not contributing in the recruiting and not contributing to the University (whether it be Utah or St. Louis), he starts losing games and losing the support of the boosters and the department. I miss the Rick of the 1990s.

[DrumNFeather]

I will always be a Rick Majerus fan. I still hope for the day when the Utes retire his sweater at the Huntsman Center. I expect Rick Majerus to grab the microphone, make a crack about magic underwear, and proclaim that he is once again "King of the fucking hill."

Yeah. It's unfortunate that there is no recognition of his time at Utah on display in the HC...lord knows the team doesn't look anything like any of the teams he had.

I hope this all ends well for Majerus. I'm sure the Gordon Monson's of the world are quite satisfied that he has not had the same amount of success at SLU that he had at Utah.

[Top Ute]

I will always be a Rick Majerus fan. I still hope for the day when the Utes retire his sweater at the Huntsman Center. I expect Rick Majerus to grab the microphone, make a crack about magic underwear, and proclaim that he is once again "King of the fucking hill."

Most Utah fans, when professing their fondness for Majerus, rattle off his accomplishments as coach. Of course, such recollections wouldn't be complete without the portion of our fan base that are self-loathing Ute fans (ie, wanna-be Zoobs) doing their part to suck up to their BYU buddies by emphasizing the lesser qualities of Majerus the person.

We get it: Maji is loud, profane and blashemous. You forgot to add scatalogical. Find another topic already.