Harrison Barnes and his "brand"

[Cycsk]

Nice to hear from you Mrs. Barnes.

[cyclone87]

Let me ask some of your genius Clone Harrison haters. How many Iowa State Basketball games were on national TV. ? OK, how many North Carolina Basketball games were on national TV.... ? How many players on Iowa State's basketball team are NBA lottery picks, or even getting drafted by NBA teams this year. (1) How many North Carolina players are lottery picks (3 possibly 4) or getting drafted (4) - Why shouldn't Harrison create his own brand if he knows he's going to the NBA, he's going to be a lottery pick. How many of you knuckleheads even watch NBA games on a regular basis. Harrison will be one of the first 7 picks in the lottery. Why shouldn't he be proactive in preparing for the marketing blitz after he signs his contract. He is in the drivers seat when determining his future. If you want to place blame on college athletes who leave early for a career in professional sports then blame the NCAA. They are nothing less then "PIMPS" who promote their athletics and players they recruit to bring $ into the universities to jack up enrollment to their schools. School presidents, athletic department, and coaches could care less in the long run except having these big time name athletes to help pay for their salaries. - Wake up and smell the reality of college sports. Harrison is one smart kid preparing for professional sports. All the way to the bank.

I understand this argument somewhat, but these athletes also get a free ride (free education), living expenses covered, a chance to increase their NBA stock and play the game they love. So I don't think they have it "too" bad. In regards to Barnes, his attempt at branding might go over better if he had really been a standout at UNC (he wasn't) and there was a lot of buzz around him, at this point it just comes off as arrogant and desperate.

[mikem]

Totally agree. There is a lot of jealousy from fans on here. And as far as still being hurt about the Skype announcement, people need to be able to separate ISU from the Ames Community.

This is silly...I am still amazed at how innocent and dumb people seem to think Harrison Barnes is...

The simple fact is that HB was the one that INCLUDED the ISU community in his presser. He was the number one player coming out of high school, he needed a big audience for this brand that he is now introducing to the public. How many people do you think would have shown up if he had eliminated Iowa State earlier than the day of his announcement? All of his high school, but there would have been nobody from the university there.

They knew exactly what they were doing when they invited Gary Thompson, the pep band, etc. They KNEW the assumptions that people were making when they did this. They CHOSE to do this to their home town, and mother's place of employment.

Come on, everybody talks about what a intelligent and bright kid he is, if you think that he did not know exactly what he was doing, you aren't being honest.

I don't blame him ONE BIT for going to NC. And, in the end it was better for Iowa State, because it ended that horrible chewey era. But there is no way he deserves a pass for how he announced his college choice. He played people, and got to look even more important on the U as a result.

[Jordanj6502]

This is silly...I am still amazed at how innocent and dumb people seem to think Harrison Barnes is...

The simple fact is that HB was the one that INCLUDED the ISU community in his presser. He was the number one player coming out of high school, he needed a big audience for this brand that he is now introducing to the public. How many people do you think would have shown up if he had eliminated Iowa State earlier than the day of his announcement? All of his high school, but there would have been nobody from the university there.

They knew exactly what they were doing when they invited Gary Thompson, the pep band, etc. They KNEW the assumptions that people were making when they did this. They CHOSE to do this to their home town, and mother's place of employment.

Come on, everybody talks about what a intelligent and bright kid he is, if you think that he did not know exactly what he was doing, you aren't being honest.

I don't blame him ONE BIT for going to NC. And, in the end it was better for Iowa State, because it ended that horrible chewey era. But there is no way he deserves a pass for how he announced his college choice. He played people, and got to look even more important on the U as a result.

Where did this story about him inviting the pep band originate?

I am pretty sure it was a press conference open to the public... If he was in any other town it would be standard operating procedure for a top rated recruit.

It is Barnes' home town too. He invited his community to the press conference. I know this may come as a surprise to some people on this board, but the Ames community is more than just ISU.

[mikem]

Where did this story about him inviting the pep band originate?

I am pretty sure it was a press conference open to the public... If he was in any other town it would be standard operating procedure for a top rated recruit.

It is Barnes' home town too. He invited his community to the press conference. I know this may come as a surprise to some people on this board, but the Ames community is more than just ISU.

His community??? Seriously??? Wow! I am dazzled by the ability of some folks to do all that they can to defend the kid.

I don't care that he went to UNC. I don't care if he would have went to any other school.

But, to try to absolve him from being resposible for the disappointment that many Ames people STILL have towards the way he did his announcement is totally ridiculous. He KNEW exactly what he was doing.

Iowa State is a very very very big part of the Ames community. He knew what he was inferring when he announced HIS public rally.

IF you are saying that you believe that he is Forrest Gump dumb, and clueless, then I will take it all back. BUT EVERYONE who has ever interacted with him says that is not the case.

Again, I am glad he left, it helped us get rid of that disaster, chewey. I hate UNC, so I was even happier to see him fail in the tournament.

But to try to give the kid an out with this same tired ******** that Iowa State is not Ames, especially the way he did the conference on network tv, then you are as insincere as he was...

[Jordanj6502]

His community??? Seriously??? Wow! I am dazzled by the inability of some folks to do all that they can to defend the kid.

I don't care that he went to UNC. I don't care if he would have went to any other school.

But, to try to absolve him from being resposible for the disappointment that many Ames people STILL have towards the way he did his announcement is totally ridiculous. He KNEW exactly what he was doing.

Iowa State is a very very very big part of the Ames community. He knew what he was inferring when he announced HIS public rally.

IF you are saying that you believe that he is Forrest Gump dumb, and clueless, then I will take it all back. BUT EVERYONE who has ever interacted with him says that is not the case.

Again, I am glad he left, it helped us get rid of that disaster, chewey. I hate UNC, so I was even happier to see him fail in the tournament.

But to try to give the kid an out with this same tired ******** that Iowa State is not Ames, especially the way he did the conference on network tv, then you are as insincere as he was...

He grew up in Ames. It definitely is his community. A highly sought after and top rated high school recruit holding a press conference at his high school, where he won 2 state titles for his home town... and inviting the community to join him if they so chose...

Yep, he sounds like a completely insincere jerk...

Why does the fact that he lives in a college town change what would normally be considered standard operating procedure? If he had been a star at Fort Dodge or Mason City would his press conference be such a big deal?

[mikem]

He grew up in Ames. It definitely is his community. A highly sought after and top rated high school recruit holding a press conference at his high school, where he won 2 state titles for his home town... and inviting the community to join him if they so chose...

Yep, he sounds like a completely insincere jerk...

Why does the fact that he lives in a college town change what would normally be considered standard operating procedure? If he had been a star at Fort Dodge or Mason City would his press conference be such a big deal?

Sigh, and when I read through the batch of threads when he initially skyped roy...**** like this was the common response...

Where are you from? where did you grow up?

[Jordanj6502]

Sigh, and when I read through the batch of threads when he initially skyped roy...**** like this was the common response...

Where are you from? where did you grow up?

Born and raised in Ames.

[mikem]

Born and raised in Ames.

I kind of thought so. It's cool, like I said, his not going to Iowa State has helped the program immensely more than had he gone here.

He was concerned about that brand name going back to high school. He knew what he was doing, I just don't get why the folks from Ames, and the folks that followed his every move, can't just admit that.

I don't get why it is so bad for the followers to just say what is pretty evident. 100 people at the gym for the announcement would have looked bad on ESPNU. The few hundred that were there, and the noise they produced for the cameras, made it look a lot better for him.

There really is nothing wrong with admitting that, I have no idea why his followers seem so panicked to do so...He's a smart kid, and the fact that he introduces his "brand" monicker a week after declaring for the draft should tell you that he has always been conscious of what he was going to do.

A live announcement to skype roy was a part of that. No crowd at said announcement would have looked bad. He manipulated the community, and he has now been rewarded.

Again, it's OK to admit that. I don't know why you guys are so afraid to even approach candor...

[Jordanj6502]

I kind of thought so. It's cool, like I said, his not going to Iowa State has helped the program immensely more than had he gone here.

He was concerned about that brand name going back to high school. He knew what he was doing, I just don't get why the folks from Ames, and the folks that followed his every move, can't just admit that.

I don't get why it is so bad for the followers to just say what is pretty evident. 100 people at the gym for the announcement would have looked bad on ESPNU. The few hundred that were there, and the noise they produced for the cameras, made it look a lot better for him.

There really is nothing wrong with admitting that, I have no idea why his followers seem so panicked to do so...He's a smart kid, and the fact that he introduces his "brand" monicker a week after declaring for the draft should tell you that he has always been conscious of what he was going to do.

A live announcement to skype roy was a part of that. No crowd at said announcement would have looked bad. He manipulated the community, and he has now been rewarded.

Again, it's OK to admit that. I don't know why you guys are so afraid to even approach candor...

I know full well he was concerned with his image back in high school... The only thing he did that could be considered manipulating the community is how long he took to make his decision. But then again, the final school he visited (albeit unofficial) was Iowa State, IIRC. I was also inclined to believe him when he said he hadn't decided until the final days.

He would have had a large crowd regardless of Iowa State being in his final schools. Not as big, but still a significant sized crowd. It was kind of a big deal at the time.

I just don't understand why Iowa State fans bash the kid for having a press conference, and having fun with it (skype)... It was one of the most important days in his life up to that point. Let him do it how he sees fit.

Whatever though... people have their opinions and nothing will change that. I probably give Harrison more slack than others but I just see the whole thing as no big deal in the grand scheme.

[CyAggie]

No problem with him having a large crowd and announcement to go. I have no problem at all where he went. Each person needs to make what they feel is the best choice. No one needs to agree, but they should respect his choice.

How he made it to do the announcement (yes if he is as smart as it seems, he had to be aware, or was receiving very bad pr advice and I am in this field).

Inviting high ranking ISU representatives or vips with personal invitations, playing the ISU angle all the way to keep the crowd (direct invitations to ISU fans, pep band playing ISU fight songs-not sure if it was Ames HS or ISU band).

Even if totally innocent, it spiraled and there are some fans who wish HB every success and a long career, but still wish he might recognize he made a few mistakes in the announcement process. (A polite way of describing the feelings many might have.)

[RayShimley]

Enough of this separating Ames from ISU ********. Without ISU, Ames is smaller than Nevada, Harrison's dad doesn't come here to play basketball, and Harrison's mom doesn't have a job. There is quite literally no HB without ISU. No one gives a **** about Ames without ISU and you are delusional or an Ames Highschooler if you think different.

[HawkHater247]

Barnes can suck it. Being from Iowa, of course I'll wish him well. But I will in no way follow his career or root for him. Let alone buy his "brand." Out-of-towner Royce White will have my following and jersey sales. I would take Royce over an overrated HB any day. Royce did twice as much for this program that HB coud have. F HB

[GMackey32]

Using the "Harrison is a lottery pick so he should create his own brand" excuse is stupid since there are a number of lottery picks each year. There have been a number of lottery picks that turn into busts so just because he is a lottery pick doesn't mean he's going to be a superstar.

[CloneFan65]

Where did this story about him inviting the pep band originate?

I am pretty sure it was a press conference open to the public... If he was in any other town it would be standard operating procedure for a top rated recruit.

It is Barnes' home town too. He invited his community to the press conference. I know this may come as a surprise to some people on this board, but the Ames community is more than just ISU.

Exactly! Why is it so hard to understand that, although ISU is by far the biggest employer in Ames, the community of Ames is separate from the university? It really is almost like two completely separate towns.