An Open Letter to Brandon Triche

Dear Brandon:

We read with great interest the excellent article Donna Ditota wrote in the Syracuse Post Standard about what motivates you as a basketball player. We eagerly wait your arrival and can't wait too see you in a Syracuse uniform this winter, doing great things for our beloved Orange.

In the story, Ms. Ditota mentioned you read every blog and internet message board that mentions you and you use any negative comments as motivation. Since this blog is all about honesty we feel there are a few things you need to know before your first semester starts.

Brandon, you are simply not good enough to be play in the Big East. You couldn't even make the main Jordan All-Star game, having been relegated to the regional game, where you won MVP. Let's be honest, DePaul recruits could win the MVP in that game, so don't let that go to your head.

Your jump shot is insufficient and you're a step too slow. You'll never get to the rim in the Big East. You'll never make the all-rookie team, you'll never perform well under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, and you'll never be able to lead a team many have discounted to a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

You'll never be able to find Andy Rautins coming off screens or throw a decent alley oop to Wes Johnson. You won't be able to catch a Rick Jackson outlet pass, execute the pick and roll with Arinze or make a game winning shot.

You'll never be good enough to lead SU to wins over the Hoyas or Huskies, you'll never be able to handle Lousiville's pressure, and the Pitt Panthers will eat you for lunch.

Jay Wright will toy with you, Bob Huggins' pressure schemes will rattle you, and Fred Hill and Norm Roberts will throw their color by numbers coloring books at you. When one of those hits you in that surgically repaired knee it's all over.

You'll never make it son. But the bad news doesn't stop there, when the real world hits things aren't getting any better. You'll never find a cure for cancer, help starving kids in Africa, or convince Brett Farve to stop waffling about his career.

The upcoming year is going to be a disaster and it's all because you can't play. In fact, we're pretty sure that on the playground you get picked after the guy that looks like Woody Harrelson in White Men Can't Jump. You're such a bad athlete you can't even jump over Wesley Snipes unpaid taxes.

So Brandon, please don't take this the wrong way, we're in your corner, we know you'll never be good enough to make John Thompson III cry - but we'll be watching anyway.

Motivationally Yours,

The Three Idiots

Programming note: I will away on vacation all week and I leave you in the hands of Champ. I'll be back next weekend, when things will start heating up around here. With training camps starting and Big East media day around the corner, look for more activity on this silly little blog, I'll be ready to rock and rant.