A Formal Apology to Harvard University. But, Also, GET OVER YOURSELVES!

By Seth Kolloen

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Two months ago when I previewed Seattle University's season, I tried to make the point that SU forward Charles Garcia was among the most athletic players in the country, let alone among D1 independents like Seattle U. In doing so, I made a throwaway joke that has inflamed passions on the Charles River, and even reached ESPN.

My comment was this: Garcia "will be the most talented player on the floor in many of SU's games this year (especially against Harvard)." Because Harvard sucks at basketball. Ha! Mmm, not my best work.

I admit that before I made that comment, I had not actually asked NBA scouts to assess the talent on Harvard's roster, or watched their game tapes, or even bothered to read anything whatsoever about the Harvard basketball program. Instead my joke relied on the fact that HARVARD HAS BEEN SO TERRIBLE AT BASKETBALL THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED IN AN NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME IT WAS 1946 AND THEY LOST TO NYU.

Jeremy Lin

Had I been a better blogger, I would've noted that Harvard has a player named Jeremy Lin who is a pretty talented basketball player--and at this moment a better one than Garcia, as he displayed in Saturday's blowout win at KeyArena over Seattle U.

Lin (according to the Harvard site, his "house affiliation" is Leverett, whatever the hell that means) displayed terrific body control around the basket, and was unstoppable in the open court. Garcia struggled to find rhythm on offense, and committed a silly foul on defense that staunched a Seattle U comeback.

Lin probably could be a decent pro somewhere, and he's getting extra notoriety due to the fact that he's Asian-American and even in post-racial ObamAmerica, a stellar Asian-American basketball player is pretty rare. Although if someone could point out the last decent Norwegian-American basketball player I would much appreciate feeling that despite having an 11-inch vertical I might someday get to the League.

I really would like to see Harvard make the tournament, if only to say that my alma mater--yes, I'm an NYU Violet--was their last tourney loss. But if so, will we have to hear whiny, entitled Harvarders (or whatever) complain about a lack of respect for their basketball team? If so, I suggest that the Crimson can stay home.

Harvarders get plenty of deference in the worlds of business, politics, and academia. Must they really demand it in sports as well? I suppose they must. And, as I was in the wrong, here goes:

AM SO SORRY TO HAVE INSULTED YOUR MIGHTY BASKETBALL PROGRAM AND UNDERESTIMATED THE TALENT OF THE ONE DECENT PLAYER YOU'VE HAD SINCE THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION. PLEASE FORGIVE. WOULD LOVE A JOB AT DADDY'S FIRM. THANKS. LOVE SETH

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Tags: jeremy, lin, charles, garcia, harvard, university, basketball, seattle, snobbery + add tags

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Bulletin Board Material
I printed out your article in October and pinned it on my bulletin board. I had been looking at it every day waiting for Saturday's matchup. 21 points on 8 or 9, whut, whut!!!
Comment by LinIt2WinIt 3 days ago	( +1 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

No, Seth, get over yourself.
Was it really that ridiculous for people to ask that you research the subjects of your throwaway lines, which you yourself admit to not having done? Of course not, and you pretty much say as much here. But you manage to do so sounding like you were entitled to skate by with no one holding you accountable for not having known what you were talking about. Way to manage to sound like the entitled one in a web spat with Harvard alums, Seth!
Comment by The Heckling Society 3 days ago	( --2 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

you are a
douche
Comment by ondal 3 days ago	( --2 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

Seth -
what's up with this? "AM SO SORRY TO HAVE INSULTED YOUR MIGHTY BASKETBALL PROGRAM AND UNDERESTIMATED THE TALENT OF THE ONE DECENT PLAYER YOU'VE HAD SINCE THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION. PLEASE FORGIVE. WOULD LOVE A JOB AT DADDY'S FIRM. THANKS. LOVE SETH" You are kinda a juvenile jerk aren't you? Man up - say you were wrong and that's that. Or stick by your statement and move on. Adding this other stuff only serves to demonstrate that you may have the temperment of a spoiled middle school boy who (possibly?) suffers from some inferiority complex. What - did you not get accepted to Harvard because you aren't a well-rounded person? Perhaps you need to go do something else for a while. You are boring when you write this kind of drivel. And regardless of where you went to school - boring is uninteresting.
Comment by barry 3 days ago	( --2 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

You think THAT'S bad!?
I'm printing out these comments and posting them on the bulletin board in the SunBURN! break room where we will all be able to view it every day
Comment by Steve Winwood 3 days ago	( +2 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

Ridiculous.
http://www.woodenaward.com/ All Charles Garcia can do is score. He's way too soft and he turns the ball over like he doesn't give a damn where it's going. You seem to be mistaking size for athleticism. Yes, he is taller than many of the players on Harvard's team, excellent analysis; if you were to take his stats at a combine for leaping and quickness, two major components of athleticism, how close do you think he'd come to Jeremy Lin? The answer is not very. I don't understand what prompts you to be so immature and disrespectful in your posts. Even in an attempt to be humorous, it's just in bad taste. I'm sorry that you have an inferiority complex after having graduated from what is still an excellent school, but there's a reason Harvard gets respect in the world of "business, politics, and academia." Harvard didn't demand respect, just common courtesy and professionalism. Now Harvard is laughing at your sad lack of dignity and intellect for having made an ass of yourself twice now. Do some research before you take ridiculous potshots at other teams, especially ones that are in fact more talented than yours.
Comment by -- 3 days ago	( 0 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

Apology
Not much of an apology Seth; not much of an admittance of poor journalism or integrity; not much respect where respect is due; not much recognition of higher education. On the other hand, plenty more stereotypical nonsense and infantile drivel - oh and great grammar and use of ALL CAPS. Very mature
Comment by Knice 3 days ago	( --1 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

HOWDYA LIKE DEM WICKED PISSAH APPLES?
Personally, I thought this post was quite funny. He's a blogger, guys. Harvard sucks at basketball (a lot, and for a long time, and that's common knowledge) so he made a little joke. And then he turned out to be wrong because it just so happens Harvard's historically weak hoops team has a good player this year. If "Harvard is laughing at (Seth's) sad lack of dignity and intellect" as the commenter above suggests, I suggest "Harvard" get a hobby. It's a blog. Seriously.
Comment by Andrew 3 days ago	( +2 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

dude
this is a pretty funny post. come on, he's firmly tongue in cheek here. it's a well-written humorous and respectful response to a silly completely understandable situation. the pro-harvard posters on here come off pouty and entitled.
Comment by Steve 3 days ago	( +2 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

Steve...
...I think you also go by the name of "Seth" in real life.
Comment by B 3 days ago	( 0 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

Both NYU and Harvard have entitled dbags
"Would love a job at daddy's firm"...this is quite an interesting statement coming from a NYU man. Last time I checked NYU probably has more wealthy kids who go to daddy's firm than any school in the country, including Harvard.
Comment by JRM 3 days ago	( 0 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

The joke's on you.
Now we all know why the PI folded. You're a shitty "journalist" Seth.
Comment by E 2 days ago	( --2 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

RE: The joke's on you.
I missed the part where Seth claimed to be a "journalist"--he's a sports blogger, and there's a world of difference, fellas. Y'all need to douchechill.
Comment by Audrey Hendrickson 2 days ago	( 0 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

Leave the guy alone
Seriously this is a "completely understandable situation"! The "situation" is incredibly poor journalism followed up by even poorer journalism. Sadly it is "completely understandable" because there is a severe lack of informed, quality journalism today.
Comment by Seth (Oops, I mean Steve) 2 days ago	( 0 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

Think before you talk
You really should consider thinking and researching before writing. The way you simply don't care about the validity of what you say devalues your credibility and your writing. This is evidenced by the very fact that you had to write this response. The only person here who looks entitled is you, by implying that you are entitled to not do any research on account of the value you give to your own opinions.
Comment by Harvard Student 2 days ago	( --2 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

A disgrace to journalism...
Seth, good to know that second-rate education at NYU did you well. You are an absolute joke of a sports blogger. One day you will get over your rejection from Harvard. In the meantime, do some homework before criticizing a team with an 11-3 record!
Comment by Daddy 1 day ago	( --1 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

.
Hey guys, just letting ya'll know, this is a blog post - these things don't go out over the AP newswire or anything. There's no team of researchers crowded around a computer screen in some back room at BBC headquarters wiping the sweat off their foreheads with already-damp handkerchiefs in anticipation of the newest SunBreak blog post by Seth. It was a throwaway joke. On a blog. If you're worried about the journalistic integrity of these things, you can help me get in contact with edwardnbella4evr42.blogspot.com's ombudsman; that hussy made some really out-of-line comments about Harry Potter and I'm pretty steamed about it. That being said, Seth, I'd like to meet the guy who wrote all of those jokes about Harvard kids being rich and entitled for you. I'm working on a stand up act that I call "The many and varying differences between white people and black people." It's a bit of an homage to my earlier work, "Things that annoy me about marriage." My mom says it's great!!!!!
Comment by Snarf 21 hours ago	( +1 votes) ( report abuse ) ( )

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