Billiken Dad Rips Majerus on Message Board, But At Least He Didn't Threadjack

Came across a delightful little story today from the venerable Gary Parrish at CBS Sportsline. Apparently Tommie Liddell III, a guard for Rick Majerus' mighty St. Louis Billikens, hasn't been playing so hot under his new coach. So his father, Tommie Liddell Jr. decided to blast on Majerus at the warmest of support groups, a fan message board. Here is the post from the marvelously inconspicuous TDell at the Billikens.com board.

thetorch where did you play college ball, probably no where. This is a new coach with a new system, everybody's saying how good of a coach Majerus is, I dont see it anybody can run around and set screens you dont have to have talent to do that. Majuerus doesn't want any fancy stuff just plain basketball. Tommie played well his first two years now all of a sudden he's not, its not Tommie it's the coach. I'd rather have Sodie.

That was in response to this post by a man known only as "The Torch"...

Tommie Liddell III - Half the player he was in his first 2 years. Committed a handful of dumb TOs. From the point or wing position doesn't matter, he doesn't know what he is doing on offense. He had several Isos run for him and he only took a couple of them. Playing nervous, half speed, and is afraid to make mistakes or take poor shots. This isn't something that will just click on. We are in trouble if Tommie doesn't get some confidence and start dictating the offense.

TDell then did some good-old fashioned backtracking once he started taking heat for the comment...

I never talked to Bernie about that post, he doesnt know who posted it. My buddy who is ESTLALUMNI on this board couldnt remember his password so I let him use mine.I did read it I didnt think it was a big deal. Lets get one thing straight Tommie loves Majerus what ever I post on here those are my thoughts. Do you guys remember I said I would never post anything negative unless someone else posted it first. That guy Bernie I dont know him and I never talked to him

I know what you're thinking. St. Louis has an active message board? Seriously though, the real issue is why the hell a player's dad is on a message board of his son's team. Why can't parents just learn of their child's ridicule the conventional ways: black eyes and homosexuality. As Parrish astutely points out, some people on these message boards are highly biased and irrational. Their anonymous screen name is like a Never Leave the House Free Card. Ripping apart the cool jocks they never were from the privacy of their own home and not having to face the consequences (completely unlike bloggers, who are noble, upstanding citizens). Most parents can't take any criticism of their kids, let alone daily lambasting from the harshest of individuals.

But what interests me most is that this seems like a fascinating development for 21st Century Soccer Dads across the country, nay, the globe. Rather than save your deranged complaints about your son's squandered talent for some uninterested parent next to you, do it under an (almost) anonymous handle at the only place people actually care about the St. Louis Billikens, a message board. Not sure if this tactic of the devastatingly overbearing parent is more efficient than the conventional method of beating the piss out of a rogue coach, but man is technology crazy!

Anyway, it all got me thinking, what are some other message board shenanigans we might see this year...

DPaul3- greg's defense is fine, it's his opponents fault. in high school they were learning things like crossover moves and developing quickness while greg was playing football. cuz of all the hits he took, he can barely see the color orange anymore.... and his ankles are fine... i mean, that's what i heard at least.

RHeyt42- theo could never remember where he put his drugs so josh let him use his back seat... let's get one thing straight, josh hates drugs.

wimpyKU- billy coached good at his other teams. its lexington, not billy. all they want is winning basketball. i, er, he'd rather have college station.

durhamdick4- everyone is sayin how duke was so overrated last year but neone can say that...baby... all u need is a internet connection and you can critisize them, it takes no talent... (baby)... a real analyst uses catch phrazes and screams like a toddler... dipsy do... coach k can flat out coach... where did you ever coach? probably nowhere... dunkeroo.