Monday, March 06, 2006

CAA Tournament: Low-lights

George Mason's senior point guard Tony Skinn is a player with a style I've never particularly liked. Am I surprised by his low blow -- punching an opponent below the belt -- in yesterday's semi-final action at the Coliseum? No, not all that much. For the details of this story, read Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist Paul Woody's account of how Mr. Skinn embarrassed his school yesterday and what his coach did about it.

"...Some things are bigger than a basketball game, though, and George Mason coach Jim Larranaga acknowledged that last night.Two hours after George Mason had lost a semifinal game in the CAA tournament to Hofstra, Larranaga recommended to George Mason Athletic Director Tom O'Connor that senior point guard Tony Skinn be suspended for the Patriots' next game."

Kudos to Mason's coach, Jim Larranaga, for doing the right thing with Skinn, right away. That, in marked contrast to what Va. Tech's football coach, Frank Beamer, did last season with his badboy ex-quarterback, Marcus Vick, when Vick deliberately stomped on an opponent's leg and stayed in the game, nonetheless.

3 comments:

Jason Kenney said...

Actually, it's George MASON, but still a good post.

F.T. Rea said...

Jason: Oops! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I have to say that Tony disappointed Mason alumni on several levels with that cheapshot. First, it was just wrong. Second, the game was winnable. Third, it's embarrassing for our at-large prospects.

Maybe Coach L. can take him by Maymont for a few rounds with the other 2 bears...