Stay with us Troy Murphy
By BRIAN CHURNEY
Sports Writer
Don't leave Murph
Somewhere David Haugh is laughing
And somewhere anti-Irish fans shout
But there is little joy at Notre Dame
For the Irish were left out
Rather than just pick the team whose credentials were the best
They chose a team that beat Princeton, but was in the Mountain West
So Cinderella's left at home, no Invite to the Dance
But fear not, Domers, next year is another chance
Don't wallow in your sorrow. Don't shed a single tear
Just dream of Murphy, Graves, and Humphrey and what may be next year
Of course before next year begins there's a battle to be fought
Will Murphy leave and go pro — or will he stay, as he ought?
So here's a little letter, some advice I hope you'll take
About the choice fans all hope that you decide to make
Stay in school Murphy, and shun instant fortune and fame
Make no mistake you should come back
to good ol'Notre Dame.
Dear Mr. Murphy,
Players of your caliber are rare, especially at schools where football mediocrity often outranks basketball success. It's been a pleasure for we who had to endure the MacLeod years to watch you play and return respect to a basketball program that sorely lacked it only two years ago.
As adept as your skill is though, it's the almost childlike love for the game that you display on the court that makes you enjoyable to watch. You capture the spirit of college basketball.
I know that you've never explicitly said that you're considering leaving us for the NBA after this season, but you have commented that it's not out of the question. I sincerely hope that you rid yourself of any consideration for your teammates, your fans, your school, the thousands of Domer kids that hope to be Troy Murphy some day and for Troy Murphy. Stay for yourself. You're one of the best players in the entire country right now. You're a front-runner for next year's awards. You potentially can achieve what only three players have previously in Big East history, winning player-of-the-year two years in a row.
You can establish yourself as one of the greats in Big East history.
Aside from simply personal achievement, you appear to have so much fun playing, a joy that's a rarity in the money-driven NBA. Ask Corey Maggette if he regrets giving up a chance to be the best player at Duke and enjoying March Madness for being a bench player in Orlando and enduring a losing season.
You can't go back to college. The NBA will be around for years to come. You could cost yourself millions. The rookie salary scale increases in value as your draft position becomes higher. While this year you look to be a mid-first-round pick, next year you could be a high-lottery pick. Thus, the riches of the NBA may be greater the longer you wait.
You certainly could succeed in the NBA. That doesn't take away the fact that you simply aren't ready. Another year of college will help you increase your size and strength, preventing opponents from brutalizing you on defense. Is it a coincidence that your worst games were against teams that had big, physical post players that could assault you each trip down the court?
Learn this lesson in college and still dominate the game or learn it inthe pros and try to shake the disappointment label. Would you rather be Antawn Jamison, who has become a good player only after struggling for a year, or Tim Duncan who immediately made an impact?
Stay for your teammates. You once said that one of the reasons you came here was because you and David Graves wanted to build something together. You've begun to do that. But just as an architect doesn't abandon his design in mid-form, you shouldn't abandon your program. Don't leave your teammates on the cusp of respectability.
Stay for the selection committee that shunned us. Give them no reason to be able to do so next year. Earn some redemption.
Stay for Ryan Humphrey who waited an entire year to play with you in hopes of alleviating the triple teams you draw. Stay for the Domer basketball fans who can smell the successes that our fathers enjoyed and now want to taste it.
Stay for Notre Dame. We haven't had a basketball player leave early for the draft since Adrian Dantly over 25 years ago. That's something that even Duke can't say anymore. We take pride in ourselves here for doing things the right way. Don't open the doors for future players to leave early.
Most importantly, stay for those kids that bounce in their chairs dreaming of being you. I can remember the despair I felt after Rocket Ismail announced he was leaving early for the draft. I urge you not to make anyone feel the same. Let the Dome continue to gleam brightly for kids, as a symbol of what should be, not what always is.
I know the risk of injury is great. Take out an insurance clause if you're too worried. Don't let fear make the decision for you. Decide what's best for Troy Murphy next year. And what's best for Troy Murphy is to stay in school.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Sports Stories for Friday, March 24, 2000
