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Message
re: Horrible/stupid/uneducated question about Wally Pontiff
Posted on 7/26/08 at 10:04 am to jlsutiger
Posted on 7/26/08 at 10:04 am to jlsutiger
jlsutiger,
I don't really pray that often, but I will pray for you. That's deeply disturbing that you not only actually might feel that way, but would also think it appropriate to spew your ignorance on a public forum. I hope that you resolve whatever is eating you inside and turning you into a toxic person.
I don't really pray that often, but I will pray for you. That's deeply disturbing that you not only actually might feel that way, but would also think it appropriate to spew your ignorance on a public forum. I hope that you resolve whatever is eating you inside and turning you into a toxic person.
1
Posted on 7/26/08 at 10:16 am to jbirds1
quote:
why exactly was Wally Pontiff loved so much.
jbirds,
If you met Wally for even a moment, his down to earth demeanor and genuine humility stayed with you. When he played baseball (whether at LSU or Jesuit or any other time), he seemed to play with a heart that could propel a normal guy like you or me to uncommon heights. He made you feel like you could be a champion in your own life because he was just a regular guy like you. He pushed himself to greatness but never acted like he was better than anyone.
I went to high school and elementary with Wally and my mom taught him, but he was older and I never really knew him. I met him maybe twice in my life and that was only for a few moments. But I don't think you have to sit down with someone for days on end to realize when they are special and can make an impact on so many people. Wally made that impact before he passed away, and that's why it was so sad. The community didn't want to let go of that feeling. It was the feeling that maybe they could be better than what they see in the mirror every morning. Wally was many things to many people: an uncommon baseball player, a leader, a diplomat, and a representation of what it means to be a Tiger. But I think to all people, no matter how much or little they knew him, he was an inspiration.
I think that's why people love him so much. And deservedly so.
Posted on 7/26/08 at 10:19 am to DrumMajor01
Posted on 7/26/08 at 12:45 pm to Lakefront-Tiger
quote:
And not a single one of them would have a problem with this, just a jerk-off like you.
It's about heart, not Todd Walker's average, or Hawpe's doubles record.
Go here sometime LINK, and may God have mercy on your awful soul.
Geez, you are kinda blowing my comments out of proportion. I just don't think ANY lsu players deserves his number retired SOLELY b/c they die. If Wally was alive his number would NOT be retired and you would laugh at the suggestion. And Wally had no more "heart" than many other LSU players who don't have their number retired. Plain and simple, he was not deserving, and dying doesn't change that. It sucks that he died young, but LSU shouldn't go retiring numbers of every LSU athlete that happens to die young.
Posted on 7/26/08 at 12:50 pm to jlsutiger
Posted on 7/28/08 at 2:36 pm to TigerBait1127
come on, I can't be the only guy that believes Pontiff's number should not have been retired just because he died untimely.
Posted on 7/28/08 at 2:40 pm to jlsutiger
quote:
LSU shouldn't go retiring numbers of every LSU athlete that happens to die young.
Signed,
Alex Box
Posted on 7/28/08 at 2:44 pm to Pinchdatail
quote:
Signed,
Alex Box
I'm sorry, I didn't realize Wally Pontiff was a war hero who died fighting for our country. Nevermind, I now think he is deserving of having his number retired.
Posted on 7/28/08 at 2:46 pm to jlsutiger
quote:
come on, I can't be the only guy that believes Pontiff's number should not have been retired just because he died untimely.
Did you know Wally was not the only baseball players who died to have his number retired ? The very first one retired by Skip was a kid that died from one of his early teams. Numbers are retired for any number of reasons, not just talent.
Posted on 7/28/08 at 2:54 pm to LSU77
quote:
The very first one retired by Skip was a kid that died from one of his early teams
right, that guy was a cop who died in the line of duty. At least its a compelling reason for retirement of his number (although I still don't agree with that).
quote:Apparently only w/ LSU baseball(#15 (not skip's) & #31). All LSU football and basketball numbers retired are based on pure talent. There may be a few programs around the country who have retired numbers based on someone's death (Cole Pittman I believe at Texas, can't think of any others) and my point is that I don't agree with it. It should be based on merit, not on sentiment (especially when the player was an average player).
Numbers are retired for any number of reasons, not just talent
Posted on 7/28/08 at 2:59 pm to jlsutiger
I'm gonna have to come to jlsutiger's defense. I understand what he's saying and partially agree with it. I don't think he intends any disrespect towards Wally or the kind of person he was.
Retiring a players number is (or should be) an acknowledgement based solely on the players on-field accomplishments. Wally certainly never accomplished the type of career on the field to warrant the retiring of his number.
However, no one can deny the off-field impact Wally had on LSU and those that came into contact with him, directly or indirectly. And those accomplishments are certainly worth recognizing in some way and if LSU wanted to do something to recognize them, then there would have been other more appropriate ways to do so, such as naming the locker room after him or putting up a plaque on the stadium wall. This would have been no less a gesture of appreciaton and recognition than retiring his jersey.
Better yet, LSU could have done what Ole Miss did with Chucky Mullens # and reserved it for the player who most represents Wally's work ethic and value to the team, thus becoming a most cherished and highly desired goal to strive for.
Personally, I think that is what Wally himself would have wanted.
Retiring a players number is (or should be) an acknowledgement based solely on the players on-field accomplishments. Wally certainly never accomplished the type of career on the field to warrant the retiring of his number.
However, no one can deny the off-field impact Wally had on LSU and those that came into contact with him, directly or indirectly. And those accomplishments are certainly worth recognizing in some way and if LSU wanted to do something to recognize them, then there would have been other more appropriate ways to do so, such as naming the locker room after him or putting up a plaque on the stadium wall. This would have been no less a gesture of appreciaton and recognition than retiring his jersey.
Better yet, LSU could have done what Ole Miss did with Chucky Mullens # and reserved it for the player who most represents Wally's work ethic and value to the team, thus becoming a most cherished and highly desired goal to strive for.
Personally, I think that is what Wally himself would have wanted.
Posted on 7/28/08 at 3:28 pm to MiketheTiger69
quote:
Retiring a players number is (or should be) an acknowledgement based solely on the players on-field accomplishments.
Using that standard, why would you retire Bob Pettit's number? He got us to a Final Four, but he wasn't Pete Maravich. His fame came after LSU. What about Shaq? Same as Pettit, except he never got us to a Final Four. You want to retire Big Baby's number?
Posted on 7/28/08 at 4:07 pm to JPLSU1981
quote:
Isn't it interesting how people tend to idolize others much more when they're dead?
It tends to be so when the deaths are untimely or if the person is young. As you adroitly pointed out JFK's legacy benefited from his untimely death. The same case cannot be made for Richard Nixon who died as an older man.
But on subject. Wally was a good decent kid who loved LSU and gave his all to the baseball program. Hard to find any negatives in Wally's abbreviated life.
Posted on 7/28/08 at 4:09 pm to calitiger
quote:
He was a Blue Jay. Enough said. RIP Wally.
Go jays!!!!!
:yack:Posted on 7/28/08 at 5:42 pm to DrumMajor01
quote:
Horrible/stupid/uneducated question about Wally Pontiff
jlsutiger,
I don't really pray that often, but I will pray for you. That's deeply disturbing that you not only actually might feel that way, but would also think it appropriate to spew your ignorance on a public forum. I hope that you resolve whatever is eating you inside and turning you into a toxic person.
Posted on 7/28/08 at 5:53 pm to Pinchdatail
quote:
Using that standard, why would you retire Bob Pettit's number? He got us to a Final Four, but he wasn't Pete Maravich. His fame came after LSU. What about Shaq? Same as Pettit, except he never got us to a Final Four. You want to retire Big Baby's number?
Pettit was an All-American and is a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, being named as one of the 50 All-Time Greatest players. He was to LSU in his day what Shaq was. Pete and Shaq's achievements speak for themselves. If one goes on the merits of on-field/on-court achievements, then Big Baby is more deserving of having his number retired than Wally.But Big Baby does not deserve it either.
Someone who does deserve the honor is Glenn Dorsey and Seimone Augustus. Everybody knows that these two were every bit the kind compassionate people and team leaders that Wally was but based on that alone, their numbers should not be retired. It was their athletic accomplishments that made them great.
The whole idea of retiring someones jersey is to acknoledge and pay tribute to that person and their accomplishments in the arena. There are plenty of other ways to pay tribute to someone for their contributions and value to the team, university and community such as what Wally did adn justly deserves. To retire his number for anything other than what he accomplished on the field cheapens the meaning to those who deserved it. That's why so few are retired.
As stated on here before, LSU has had many athletes die young, even some still in school. And it is a safe bet to say that most, if not all, had some kind of positive effect on their teammates, friends, family and the community. But their tragic deaths do not warrant any special commemoration of their athletic career other than to have a special place in the hearts of LSU fans or perhaps a common memorial plaque.
Posted on 7/28/08 at 6:17 pm to Rouge
quote:
normal guy, but his aura skyrocketed b/c of his untimely death
Indeed.
He also tended to spout off at the mouth quite a bit. Most of the statements endeard him to some, while others made him look the opposite.
This post was edited on 7/28/08 at 6:19 pm
Posted on 7/28/08 at 9:02 pm to LSUTANGERINE
quote:
He also tended to spout off at the mouth quite a bit.
Yeah most people around here have conveniently forgotten this.
Posted on 7/28/08 at 9:33 pm to CEAUX KNOWS
quote:
Wally was far more than an LSU baseball player. Our university as well as our world is in desperate need for more like him.
GOD BLESS YOU WALLY!
Posted on 7/28/08 at 10:18 pm to emigretiger
Please explain what makes GW Bush a traitor. I would like to hear your reasoning.
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