Horizon League considering Detroit as tourney location?

[motowntitan]

Hey guys,

I didn't realize the Lutheran Youth group was here to work, I just thought it was a big meeting.

Can't give enough credit to the amazing work they did.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/07/16/lutheran-youth-convention-helps-detroit/30251837/

[wh]

"The Lutheran Church wants to be in places where they can speak about and learn about justice, and what it means to be God's people in relationship to justice and love," Bode said. "The gathering is amazing, a way to worship together, to have fun, and experience Detroit ...We're also doing lessons about racism and classism and sexism, and how our values as Christians push against that to seek justice."

Socialist/Marxist indoctrination at its finest. The ELCA should be required to provide a "social justice" hidden agenda warning for unsuspecting parents. What's next - gay, lesbian and transgender ministers?  Oh I forgot, they already have those.

[vu72]

"The Lutheran Church wants to be in places where they can speak about and learn about justice, and what it means to be God's people in relationship to justice and love," Bode said. "The gathering is amazing, a way to worship together, to have fun, and experience Detroit ...We're also doing lessons about racism and classism and sexism, and how our values as Christians push against that to seek justice."

Socialist/Marxist indoctrination at its finest. The ELCA should be required to provide a "social justice" hidden agenda warning for unsuspecting parents. What's next - gay, lesbian and transgender ministers?  Oh I forgot, they already have those.

I see your point.  How in the world are Christians trying  to stand up against racism, sexism and classism and then, even trying to seek justice!!  I can't imagine Jesus being happy about all this!  Oh wait...I was just going to quote scripture but I certainly wouldn't want to offend the capitalists on the board.

[a3uge]

"The Lutheran Church wants to be in places where they can speak about and learn about justice, and what it means to be God's people in relationship to justice and love," Bode said. "The gathering is amazing, a way to worship together, to have fun, and experience Detroit ...We're also doing lessons about racism and classism and sexism, and how our values as Christians push against that to seek justice."

Socialist/Marxist indoctrination at its finest. The ELCA should be required to provide a "social justice" hidden agenda warning for unsuspecting parents. What's next - gay, lesbian and transgender ministers?  Oh I forgot, they already have those.

I see your point.  How in the world are Christians trying  to stand up against racism, sexism and classism and then, even trying to seek justice!!  I can't imagine Jesus being happy about all this!  Oh wait...I was just going to quote scripture but I certainly wouldn't want to offend the capitalists on the board.

Not too sure what Capitalism has to do with anything here. There's certainly a difference between being generous with your own money vs being generous with other people's money.

[StlVUFan]

"The Lutheran Church wants to be in places where they can speak about and learn about justice, and what it means to be God's people in relationship to justice and love," Bode said. "The gathering is amazing, a way to worship together, to have fun, and experience Detroit ...We're also doing lessons about racism and classism and sexism, and how our values as Christians push against that to seek justice."

Socialist/Marxist indoctrination at its finest.

It's not that it's impossible, but you're really going to have to whiteboard this one for me, wh.

[wh]

10 U.S. Cities That Should Be Avoided Like the Plague

http://thingsrated.com/2015/05/15/discover-the-top-10-cities-in-the-u-s-to-avoid-like-the-plague/3/

8. Detroit, Michigan

Once the car capital of the United States, Detroit, Michigan is nothing but a hub for poverty and unemployment. Between 2000 and 2010, the city saw a 25 percent drop in population, with people living there moving to the suburbs. Why on Earth would anyone want to visit a place that the people who once resided there fled?[/b]

[VULB#62]

Easy to see that Detroit is in the top (bottom?) 10 of cities to be avoided.  But it's interesting which cities were considered worse:  #5 - Chicago (murder rate capitol of the country), #4 - Oakland (the next Detroit) , #3 - Memphis (rampant violence; 911 used to ambush cops), #2 - Atlanta and #1 Houston.  #10, BTW, is St. Louis where the MVC has their tournament and #9 is Cleveland.

[a3uge]

Here are some Lutherans that aren't wussies:

http://www.elca.org/YouthGathering/WhyDetroit

Seen many of them walking around the downtown area this week.

My wife is coming back today, with a dozen of our youth and a few other adults.  Sounds like it was a great trip!

Reports from our Pastor and youth say that they had a great trip and very pleased with downtown Detroit.  They got to see the troubled parts of Detroit as well and did hours and hours of work serving folks in the poorer parts of town.  No doubt a life changing experience.

Had the same report from our church last Sunday - the kids seemed to enjoy downtown Detroit.

Downtown Detroit is safe. Downtown Chicago is safe. Downtown Indianapolis, Cleveland, St Louis, Milwaukee, etc are all safe. There's troubled areas of any large city, and as much as I don't like the Horizon League's decision, you're going to be safe if you visit downtown Detroit this March.

[vu72]

10 U.S. Cities That Should Be Avoided Like the Plague

http://thingsrated.com/2015/05/15/discover-the-top-10-cities-in-the-u-s-to-avoid-like-the-plague/3/

8. Detroit, Michigan

Once the car capital of the United States, Detroit, Michigan is nothing but a hub for poverty and unemployment. Between 2000 and 2010, the city saw a 25 percent drop in population, with people living there moving to the suburbs. Why on Earth would anyone want to visit a place that the people who once resided there fled?[/b]

Fair question--sort of. As 62 pointed out, cities like Chicago  and Memphis  rank lower.  Here's the point:  Do you really think Chicago would give us the time of day if we wanted to move our tournament to their fair city? If so, would they hold the tourney on the near west side?

Detroit will be bending over backwards to improve their cities image.  We won't be in any danger in this part of town.  I am actually thinking of making the trip from Dallas.  Detroit will be putting on the dog!

[wh]

Packing heat encouraged by Detroit police chief:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/21/packing-heat-in-detroit-motown-residents-answer-police-chief-call-to-arms/#

[motowntitan]

Fair question--sort of. As 62 pointed out, cities like Chicago  and Memphis  rank lower.  Here's the point:  Do you really think Chicago would give us the time of day if we wanted to move our tournament to their fair city? If so, would they hold the tourney on the near west side?

Detroit will be bending over backwards to improve their cities image.  We won't be in any danger in this part of town.  I am actually thinking of making the trip from Dallas.  Detroit will be putting on the dog!

Correct.  If you do plan on coming, I would recommend just staying at the Greektown Casino.  You can park for free the whole time and take the people mover to and from The Joe.
I will be on closer to tourney time to provide other suggestions.

[StlVUFan]

Packing heat encouraged by Detroit police chief:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/21/packing-heat-in-detroit-motown-residents-answer-police-chief-call-to-arms/#

Eligible citizens can meet the state's training requirement in eight hours

8 hours to essentially play the role of a policeman?  That sounds woefully inadequate to me.

[agibson]

Maybe this was kicked around elsewhere.  But, the final schedule seems to be:

1st Round Saturday
2nd Round Sunday
3rd Round, Semi-Final, Monday
4th Round, Final, Tuesday

Do we expect the first round to be play-in games again, with some teams given byes through to the Semi-Final?

I didn't expect the Monday games!  I think I'd have preferred a format like:

1st round Friday
2nd round Saturday
3rd round Sunday
4th round Tuesday (only because I knew that was contractually obliged)

I suppose that for me, personally, it'll depend on the details of seeding and scheduling.  What time our game Sunday will be, if any.  Whether I'm willing to go by myself without the family, etc.

[a3uge]

If it's still a double bye format (which dear lord it BETTER be), the 3-9 seeds would have to win 4 games in 4 days to win the championship. I think that helps out the 1 and 2 seeds quite a bit.

The Monday game makes sense if it's in the same location. No reason to force people to buy an extra couple nights of a hotel room for 0 games. The obvious downside is that it's still Detroit and the semi and final games are on weekdays. I'd have to take 3 days off work if I wanted to see the 2 games.

Sent from my XT1095 using Tapatalk

[historyman]

Let's re-emphasize this.

Downtown Detroit is safe. Downtown Chicago is safe. Downtown Indianapolis, Cleveland, St Louis, Milwaukee, etc are all safe. There's troubled areas of any large city, and as much as I don't like the Horizon League's decision, you're going to be safe if you visit downtown Detroit this March.

[agibson]

Let's re-emphasize this.

Downtown Detroit is safe.

Responding to the discussion a month+ ago, I guess?

But, probably important to emphasize. And consistent with everything I heard from the ELCA youth gathering this summer.

Maybe I can use this as an excuse to go, even if my family can't make it. My wife might buy, "I need to redeem Detroit in the minds of Valparaiso basketball fans!".

[historyman]

Let's re-emphasize this. Downtown Detroit is safe.

Responding to the discussion a month+ ago, I guess? But, probably important to emphasize. And consistent with everything I heard from the ELCA youth gathering this summer. Maybe I can use this as an excuse to go, even if my family can't make it. My wife might buy, "I need to redeem Detroit in the minds of Valparaiso basketball fans!".

I'll be going and enjoying the tournament while many will be sitting at home wishing they were there. It's a great chance to finally meet many of the fans of the other teams who after 8 years (9 years by the end of the season) we really don't know as well as some from ORU, UMKC, IUPUI, etc. It's the tourney the ex-Summit/Mid-Con Valpo fans have always wanted.

[blackpantheruwm]

I'll be going and enjoying the tournament while many will be sitting at home wishing they were there. It's a great chance to finally meet many of the fans of the other teams who after 8 years (9 years by the end of the season) we really don't know as well as some from ORU, UMKC, IUPUI, etc. It's the tourney the ex-Summit/Mid-Con Valpo fans have always wanted.

I would hope after eight years I've thoroughly annoyed you guys.

[StlVUFan]

I'll be going and enjoying the tournament while many will be sitting at home wishing they were there. It's a great chance to finally meet many of the fans of the other teams who after 8 years (9 years by the end of the season) we really don't know as well as some from ORU, UMKC, IUPUI, etc. It's the tourney the ex-Summit/Mid-Con Valpo fans have always wanted.

Couldn't have said it better myself.  Definitely looking forward to it.  Might even start shopping for a hotel soon.

[frontrowfan]

Agree..one of the best things about traveling to the Quad Cities and Tulsa was the opportunity to meet the fans from the other teams and the commaraderie that occured among the Valpo traveling fans.  I already have booked my hotel and planned my PTO

[IndyValpo]

http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/hl-ready-for-motor-city-madness

My favorite part is where Kampe continues to insist that this is a neutral site....

[wh]

http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/hl-ready-for-motor-city-madness

My favorite part is where Kampe mcontinues to insist that this is a neutral site....

There is a rumor that Kampe learned the art of self promotion from Donald Trump. Oakland is going to have a "UGE" season. 

[agibson]

http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/hl-ready-for-motor-city-madness

My favorite part is where Kampe continues to insist that this is a neutral site....

Olympia has set an attendance goal of 35,000 for the four days, and 8.500 for the championship game. An ambitious and high bar.

"Not lost on us is we now have two member schools there,'' LeCrone said of Detroit and Oakland. ``Would we do this if we didn't have two member schools there? I don't know, maybe not."

[elephtheria47]

35,000 is a pretty lofty goal...

...I wonder how much the Horizon League is paying Olympia to be putting this thing together.

It's been a few years since a Horizon League team has won a game in the tournament. They won a game in the NCAA tournament ($$$$ for the league) every year between 2005 and 2011. I wonder how the league coffers are doing, and if they WANT this to succeed or NEED this to succeed?

I like the fact that the fans already know where the tournament will be hosted for the next 5 years and can plan accordingly. I like that the tournament will be played in a same type of arena that the NCAA tournament games are played in (should take less time getting used to an arena = greater chance of coming out strong = greater chance of winning)

However, if Valpo, for example and I'm not saying this will happen, wins the league by 5+ games, we are feeling there's a pretty good chance of winning the conference tournament and that we're going dancing. How many Valpo fans will take the time off work and spend the money to go Detroit when there's a good to great chance that Valpo will be playing in the NCAA the week after? Especially if Chicago/Indy is hosting opening site games that year? Or on the flip side, how many fans would go if some other team dominated the league?

Great concept in theory and I applaud the Horizon League for trying this, just curious to see how it actually plays out. 35,000 is a lot of people....

[wh]

There were a lot of school age kids (including 3 of my grandsons) at last season's championship game at the ARC. I know for a fact that my 2 daughters would not let my grandsons attend a game 5 hours away on a week night with school in session. That also means that my daughters and hubs won't be there either.