Interesting article

[skysdad]

and I agree, OFC

Former Duke star Grant Hill said he doesn’t feel like Grayson Allen has achieved the same level of “villainy” as former Duke star Christian Laettner.

“No. No, I don’t think so. I think the difference between a Christian Laettner and a Grayson, I mean, Christian embraced that. Christian embodied sort of that villain role,” Hill told Sports Illustrated. “Grayson’s a good kid. He’s had some incidents that have occurred and you know, I think everyone is just now ... all of a sudden he’s sort of thrusted into that role. The interesting thing with him though is that he plays with a lot of aggression. He plays hard. He attacks the basket with sort of reckless abandon. And much like Christian. You know Christian endured a lot of abuse from the visiting crowd.

“But he liked it and actually he thrived in that environment,” Hill said. “And I knew when [you] see people yelling at Christian that he was going to go out there and put up big numbers.”

Author

 

[Mac9192]

Laettner, the greatest Blue Devil of all time. Period

 

[OldasdirtDevil]

I respect his opinion, but I don't agree with Grant. Yes, Christian was despised by many fans, and a lot of players...because he was an absolute killer on the court...the best clutch player I've witnessed at the college level, the best Blue Devil I've ever seen, and one of the greatest college players of all time. That said, Laettner had the respect of many. The Duke basketball team of the Laettner years was treated like a group of rock stars, and teenage girls swooned over them...especially Laettner with his incredibly good looks.
All that happened 25 years ago before fans, and media turned into ridiculous hate mongers.

The vitriol and hatred that has been spewed on Grayson Allen is on another level. The media, and ESPN especially, have went after Grayson's soul. No penalty is harsh enough for Grayson, any opponent practically cheered if they attack Grayson...because he deserves it...no matter what.

Think about it, some fans and opposing players went after Laettner, but the media didn't question his mental sanity, or demand that he was suspended for 10 games, or a whole season, or kicked off the team. Every damn play wasn't analyzed ad nauseam trying to find an infraction, or proof that Grayson is an out of control monster. ESPN used every single opportunity they could to rip Grayson a new one.
Just imagine if Grayson did the 'Laettner stomp' now, 25 years later, what hell would break loose. He would be suspended for an entire season, and if he wasn't they would demand K's head on a platter.

Laettner was never dragged through the coals by the media like Grayson. And being abused by reporters and the medial has far more consequences than being despised by fans and opponents...because that is expected, but when so called responsible adults attempt to destroy a player just for their own ratings it's beyond the pale. And none of them gave one **** about doing it to him.

And yes, Grayson got it started by his antics, but his crimes were never to the level of the punishment that has been heaped upon him. And it never ends...it's still going on.

Oh, and I've added a link here for just one article to back up what I said about how the Duke team was treated back then (and Laettner too). Oh, and if you'll notice this article is April 2 1992, which is 4 days past the Kentucky game in which Laettner 'stomped' Aminu. Not one mention about it in the article...nada...zero...nothing. Laettner, and the Duke team is treated as royalty. Do you think they could write an article about Grayson without spending 75 percent of the article talking about his tripping, or whatever? We live in a different world. Nowadays the media, also including social media, is unforgiving.

OFC

 

[germantondevil]

I respect his opinion, but I don't agree with Grant. Yes, Christian was despised by many fans, and a lot of players...because he was an absolute killer on the court...the best clutch player I've witnessed at the college level, the best Blue Devil I've ever seen, and one of the greatest college players of all time. That said, Laettner had the respect of many. The Duke basketball team of the Laettner years was treated like a group of rock stars, and teenage girls swooned over them...especially Laettner with his incredibly good looks.
All that happened 25 years ago before fans, and media turned into ridiculous hate mongers.

The vitriol and hatred that has been spewed on Grayson Allen is on another level. The media, and ESPN especially, have went after Grayson's soul. No penalty is harsh enough for Grayson, any opponent practically cheered if they attack Grayson...because he deserves it...no matter what.

Think about it, some fans and opposing players went after Laettner, but the media didn't question his mental sanity, or demand that he was suspended for 10 games, or a whole season, or kicked off the team. Every damn play wasn't analyzed ad nauseam trying to find an infraction, or proof that Grayson is an out of control monster. ESPN used every single opportunity they could to rip Grayson a new one.
Just imagine if Grayson did the 'Laettner stomp' now, 25 years later, what hell would break loose. He would be suspended for an entire season, and if he wasn't they would demand K's head on a platter.

Laettner was never dragged through the coals by the media like Grayson. And being abused by reporters and the medial has far more consequences than being despised by fans and opponents...because that is expected, but when so called responsible adults attempt to destroy a player just for their own ratings it's beyond the pale. And none of them gave one **** about doing it to him.

And yes, Grayson got it started by his antics, but his crimes were never to the level of the punishment that has been heaped upon him. And it never ends...it's still going on.

Oh, and I've added a link here for just one article to back up what I said about how the Duke team was treated back then (and Laettner too). Oh, and if you'll notice this article is April 2 1992, which is 4 days past the Kentucky game in which Laettner 'stomped' Aminu. Not one mention about it in the article...nada...zero...nothing. Laettner, and the Duke team is treated as royalty. Do you think they could write an article about Grayson without spending 75 percent of the article talking about his tripping, or whatever? We live in a different world. Nowadays the media, also including social media, is unforgiving.

OFC

Agree with this. Laettners hatred was more out of respect than anything else. Everybody hated to see him walk into the arena because they was no doubt he was going to hang 25 pts and 12 boards on you not to mention he was going to knock down the game winning shot if need be and there was not a damn thing you could do about it but watch. Everybody hated Laettner , but all the prime time TV promoters loved him and Duke because when they covered one of there games the ratings were out of the roof.

Graysons hatred has been ridiculous with ESPN and every other social media base that has hammered on this kid. I had mentioned several weeks ago that after the tripping incident, I had guys that I work with that choose not to follow sports coming up to me and asking me if someone for Duke had committed some sort of heinous crime. It was on every news outlet and they made it sound like he had committed a felony of some sort. Even down to the local news was ridiculous.

 

[dbav]

I would say it is because Grayson hasn't achieved the same success. People hated Laettner because he was who he was, but he may have been the most successful college basketball player of all time as far as postseason success. Allen was crucial to an NC, but he hasn't had the same sustained success that Laettner had, and his personality isn't as "loud" in my opinion.

 

[Laettner]

Totally agree Grayson faced more intense hate due to social media & 24 hour sports news cycle. If Laettner played today, ESPN would have vilified him to the level of OJ for ratings/clicks. Greenburg was seriously dissecting Grayson's mental health for weeks on end during segments.

Like Grant said though, Laettner embraced the hate, Grayson cannot.

 

[DukeDenver]

The world is very different. It used to be you plopped down in front of a screen in one or two locations at home for at most 2-3 hours per day, usually in one sitting. Now I'm locked in all day long. I read and post about sports like it's my second job. Thank goodness for the summer lull, or I'd never see my family, ha. Grayson and others become memes. They trascend personhood, becoming symbols of momentary actions. It's really unnatural.

 

[timo0402]

Totally agree Grayson faced more intense hate due to social media & 24 hour sports news cycle. If Laettner played today, ESPN would have vilified him to the level of OJ for ratings/clicks. Greenburg was seriously dissecting Grayson's mental health for weeks on end during segments.

Like Grant said though, Laettner embraced the hate, Grayson cannot.

I think this is the big thing- Grayson was an AA last year and arguably should have been the ACCPOY. Coming off a national championship where he was a hero, he's definitely had success. However, unlike Christian or JJ he doesn't have the personality to use that to fire him up. And that is ok! It's just not who he is. He's been dragged through the mud, had the media bus drive over him, back up and drive over him ten times over. What he's endured isn't even in the realm of being fair.

 

[dukiejay]

Hard to say much more than OAD....well done, sir.

Laettner would need a 24-hour security detail if he played today.

 

[hart2chesson]

I think 20+ years ago maybe an ESPN personality gets the axe if they say Christian "should be knocked out by an opposing player." Somehow now, and VERY SADLY, thats deemed acceptable.

OFC

 

[Mac9192]

I think 20+ years ago maybe an ESPN personality gets the axe if they say Christian "should be knocked out by an opposing player." Somehow now, and VERY SADLY, thats deemed acceptable.

OFC

He's white and plays for Duke

 

[gottagonow]

Hard to say much more than OAD....well done, sir.

Laettner would need a 24-hour security detail if he played today.

This times 1000

 

[hart2chesson]

He's white and plays for Duke

Spot on.....

OFC

 

[DukeDenver]

He's white and plays for Duke

There must be a one white guy at a time rule, because Luke Duke is flying under the radar.

 

[TRU CANE]

I don't know. Leattner was called a homosexual by a whole stadium and that rumor stayed around for a long time. May not seem like a big deal to some now but during that time it was a very hurtful thing to say about somebody who wasn't and I think Leattner even indicated he was very hurt by it.

 

[Mac9192]

I don't know. Leattner was called a homosexual by a whole stadium and that rumor stayed around for a long time. May not seem like a big deal to some now but during that time it was a very hurtful thing to say about somebody who wasn't and I think Leattner even indicated he was very hurt by it.

If he was, he never showed it. Grayson looks like he's been grounded by his parents

 

[TRU CANE]

If he was, he never showed it. Grayson looks like he's been grounded by his parents

Lol

 

[ScheyerIsOnFire30]

There must be a one white guy at a time rule, because Luke Duke is flying under the radar.

Luke is getting a get out of jail card due to Grayson. He is hated because of how good he is, but most haters are putting all their chips into the grayson hate. Trying to think of who was more hated when Paulus and Scheyer played together....leaning Paulus.

 

[Mac9192]

Luke is getting a get out of jail card due to Grayson. He is hated because of how good he is, but most haters are putting all their chips into the grayson hate. Trying to think of who was more hated when Paulus and Scheyer played together....leaning Paulus.

I agree with you about the Luke comment. Paulus and Scheyer were made fun of, it's pure hatred against Grayson, and it looks to be too much for him to handle

 

[DukeDenver]

I agree with you about the Luke comment. Paulus and Scheyer were made fun of, it's pure hatred against Grayson, and it looks to be too much for him to handle

He gets pure love in front of the home crowd, which must be nice. He needs to start having fun and stop playing angry all the time. You can have passion and yell but not be angry or negative.

 

[ScheyerIsOnFire30]

I agree with you about the Luke comment. Paulus and Scheyer were made fun of, it's pure hatred against Grayson, and it looks to be too much for him to handle

Once we get into March Madness and if Grayson continues to be irrelevant, you will see the rest of America wonder who that other white guy on Duke is and then the hate will grow x1000

 

[LongTimeDukeFan]

I respect his opinion, but I don't agree with Grant. Yes, Christian was despised by many fans, and a lot of players...because he was an absolute killer on the court...the best clutch player I've witnessed at the college level, the best Blue Devil I've ever seen, and one of the greatest college players of all time. That said, Laettner had the respect of many. The Duke basketball team of the Laettner years was treated like a group of rock stars, and teenage girls swooned over them...especially Laettner with his incredibly good looks.
All that happened 25 years ago before fans, and media turned into ridiculous hate mongers.

The vitriol and hatred that has been spewed on Grayson Allen is on another level. The media, and ESPN especially, have went after Grayson's soul. No penalty is harsh enough for Grayson, any opponent practically cheered if they attack Grayson...because he deserves it...no matter what.

Think about it, some fans and opposing players went after Laettner, but the media didn't question his mental sanity, or demand that he was suspended for 10 games, or a whole season, or kicked off the team. Every damn play wasn't analyzed ad nauseam trying to find an infraction, or proof that Grayson is an out of control monster. ESPN used every single opportunity they could to rip Grayson a new one.
Just imagine if Grayson did the 'Laettner stomp' now, 25 years later, what hell would break loose. He would be suspended for an entire season, and if he wasn't they would demand K's head on a platter.

Laettner was never dragged through the coals by the media like Grayson. And being abused by reporters and the medial has far more consequences than being despised by fans and opponents...because that is expected, but when so called responsible adults attempt to destroy a player just for their own ratings it's beyond the pale. And none of them gave one **** about doing it to him.

And yes, Grayson got it started by his antics, but his crimes were never to the level of the punishment that has been heaped upon him. And it never ends...it's still going on.

Oh, and I've added a link here for just one article to back up what I said about how the Duke team was treated back then (and Laettner too). Oh, and if you'll notice this article is April 2 1992, which is 4 days past the Kentucky game in which Laettner 'stomped' Aminu. Not one mention about it in the article...nada...zero...nothing. Laettner, and the Duke team is treated as royalty. Do you think they could write an article about Grayson without spending 75 percent of the article talking about his tripping, or whatever? We live in a different world. Nowadays the media, also including social media, is unforgiving.

OFC

OAD -- I think you are seeing a cumlative effect with Grayson. When the next kid from Duke comes along, he will have to added impact of Laettner, Wojo, Redick, AND Allen. It will always be getting worse for the next kid -- IMHO.