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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2008 > March > 13 > Entry
In Defense of Stanley Burrell
The only air ball I thought Xavier threw up at Thursday’s Atlantic 10 Tournament — where it sent the Dayton Flyers packing with a 74-65 victory — came in the post-game interview session.
That’s where X coach Sean Miller and his outspoken senior, Stanley Burrell, clarified — and more or less apologized — for some of Burrell’s pointed criticisms of the league for voting no Musketeer players to the A-10 first team.
I wish they wouldn’t have said a thing.
Except for calling a couple of rival players out by name, I think Burrell was right on the money. Xavier is 27-5, one of the best ball clubs in the nation. It truly plays as a team and it is led by Drew Lavender.
The 5-foot-7 senior belonged on the first team.
Miller emphasized Burrell’s respect for other players in the league and Burrell said he regretted calling out a couple of league honorees by name.
I think he was sincere about that.
As for Dayton folks thinking he’s dissed Brian Roberts, I think that’s mostly a tiff manufactured by some. I think his comments have been twisted to mean more than they actually did.
After Burrell left the postgame media session, he and I talked in private. I believe he was sincere when he commended Roberts. I also watched when the game ended. He sought Roberts out and embraced him for a long time.
As for the rest of his public mea culpas, I think he was “encouraged” to do that by those above him in the program.
Away from the cameras, he stuck to his guns and said he thought it was “kind of ridiculous” that Xavier didn’t get “at least one guy on the first team.”
“Being a leader of the team, I had to stand up for my guys,” he said. “If I came into the locker room and hadn’t said anything, that makes me a terrible leader.”
I think he’s a fiery leader and, for the most part, I think he was dead on in his criticism.
As for the Flyers fans who have made him Public Enemy No. 1 — especially some students who rode him throughout Thursday’s game with “Just shut-up, no one wants to hear you!” — I think they’re off base.
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Comments
By Ginita Jones
March 19, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
I dont even know what this whole article is about, but Stanley DeWayne Burrell is my cousin and I love him!By Tom
March 18, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
That Burrell is a classy player. After Roberts nailed a shot in his face, Burell comes back down and gives him a forearm shiver to the chest. Thats classy Arch. And he wonders why there were not any x players on the first team.By jack
March 17, 2008 3:15 AM | Link to this
I don’t think any of the Musketeers belonged on the 1st team. Look at Lavenders late season swoon.By Rudy
March 14, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
The Flyers could have used a vocal leader during their late season swoon. Maybe they’d be playing in the NCAA tourney instead of (maybe) the NIT if they had a leader like Stanley Burrell on the team.By Jim
March 14, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
I’m not sure how anyone can defend Burrell. It isn’t just the recent comments he’s made, you have to look at the overall body of work. SB has been a classless hot dog on and off the court his entire 4 year college career. His recent comments are just an extension of that. It is possible to be a leader while doing it with class.By Flyer-FAN
March 14, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
CMM, How shameful is it that you have to point out a one-word critisim to deflect the obvious - you don’t want to hear the truth. Get over it Flyer fans, Xavier is killing us as they have for some time. We either need to strap it up or accept our fate.By cmm
March 14, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
How disappointing that a journalist of your stature would use the word “accept” in place of “except”.By cmg
March 14, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
How disappointing that a journalist of your stature would use the word “accept” in place of “except”.By Mike
March 14, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this
Not much to add. Tom was right on with his commentary. He took the emotion out of the equation and correctly identified Stanley Burrell as a leader. You need leaders to win basketball games…