Oscar was in the WSJ today talking mainly about his early years growing up...he also briefly mentioned his experience at UC, referring to the all white environment on campus and on the team and of course the discrimination that he faced. Wouldn't begin to challenge anything he said but I wish he would think about the impact he has on UC when he does this. Couldn't he at least mention, in addition to the no doubt very real issues he faced, the fact that UC was trying to integrate and that's why they brought him in? We always come off looking bad when Oscar's experience is talked about but we were ahead of many, many other schools (not all, or course) in terms of black athletes and students. Clearly what took UC from a good basketball school in the post-war period to a great program was our relatively early recruitment of black athletes. Not looking for UC to receive a ribbon or anything but maybe some balance. On the way home tonight I'm sure I'll hear some progressive genius from Ky calling in to sportstalk talking about how awful UC was to Oscar when the entire SEC didn't have any black players until nearly 1970.

I did not hear Oscar's interview in the WSJ. However, in his book he discusses discrimination not at the hands of UC, but harassment from opposing fans and hotels the team tried to stay within. He mentioned wishing UC had done more to alleviate these issues. So, is he now claiming UC was discriminatory against him? I know he turned down IU, since he felt their coach was a racist.

Good post, but I think you're wrong about the last sentence. I doubt too many hicks from Kentucky even read the Wall Street Journal.

(08-07-2015 02:15 PM)Brian_Johnson Wrote:  Good post, but I think you're wrong about the last sentence. I doubt too many hicks from Kentucky even read the Wall Street Journal.

I will edit the hick piece out...I am a pretty big hick myself.

I understand your concern, but I also believe most people realize it was a very different time in the nation's history. We can only imagine that Indiana University would be proud to have his retired jersey hanging in Assembly Hall today; but their snub, and UC's scholarship offer meant he became the greatest collegiate player of all time, doing it in a Cincinnati jersey and blazing a path for many others.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/oscar-robert...1438702944

I find it so interesting that every time Oscar tells the brutal truth about his upbringing and experiences, UC fans and Cincy residents see him as damaging while readers and people who meet him who are not from the area or fans see his story as inspirational. Look at the comments after the story (at least the first few) and note that not one negative word is said about Cincinnati -- the city or the school. Nothing Oscar says about those years reflects on anything going on at UC today. Any kid, adult, athlete or fan that thinks that is just flat silly. To try and downplay the effect the transition from a fairly racially supportive (even if extremely poor) environment to the discriminatory but supposedly more enlightened college/big city life is to show a complete lack of understanding of being "Negro" during that time in the US. The greatest testament to Cincinnati and UC -- and one that everyone should be able to see easily -- is that with all of his money, fame and notoriety, Oscar could have lived, raised his family, retired, started his businesses, lived his life ANYWHERE in this country or world yet he CHOSE TO STAY in Cincy.

Anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that Oscar's story is not unique for any Black athlete of the time at a multi racial school. Look at the story of Texas Western in hoops or Sam Cunningham and USC going to 'Bama in football just to name two high high profile examples. Oscar overcame. Poverty, discrimination, being away from home, divorced parents. So many of the excuses that people and kids use today to justify poor behavior and quitting, this legend "let it run off his back" and went out and succeeded. That's the lesson. If you give power to your hurdles and challenges you lose. If you put your head down and work through them you win. Period.

He can't be asked, nor should he be asked, to sugar coat or offer balance or sweep it away because UC was trying to do better. Like him or not, celebrate the man for what he did and what he overcame and enjoy the positive press he brings to Cincinnati and UC.

Whew... sorry. Stepping down off my soapbox. Please return to your regularly scheduled reading.

Well said, Cal 1362.

(08-10-2015 08:12 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  Well said, Cal 1362.

x2

I prefer to look at it as a positive reflection on UC. My assumption is that it was the education he received at UC as well as the life experiences and lessons at the university that helped mold him into the successful, intelligent, well spoken person he is today.

(08-11-2015 09:43 AM)Leojrellim Wrote:  I prefer to look at it as a positive reflection on UC. My assumption is that it was the education he received at UC as well as the life experiences and lessons at the university that helped mold him into the successful, intelligent, well spoken person he is today.

It's important to remember also that everything Oscar said in his interview with the Wall Street Journal was filtered through a writer and at least one editor. He may have qualified and expanded on various of his statements, and such additional remarks, if any, were excised out owing to column-inch space constraints and so on. I think his regular attendance at UC's basketball games over the years and his willingness to step up as an interim coach following Huggins' departure says a lot more about his feelings for his Alma Mater than any single article in a newspaper.

I was freshman during Oscar's senior year at UC, and I remember seeing him on the court and around campus. If memory serves, he drove some kind of ramshackle green car. I was also privileged to attend the ceremony when they retired his number at the end of the school year.

(08-10-2015 11:18 AM)Cal1362 Wrote:  Whew... sorry. Stepping down off my soapbox. Please return to your regularly scheduled reading.

After that one, stay the hell on that soapbox great stuff...