Woeful Basketball News

So…. The University of Dayton basketball coach, Oliver Purnell, is leaving and going to Clemson. This news saddens me, but for a reason you would never guess.

You know how there are certain jokes you never tire of that annoy everyone else? For instance; whenever someone (even someone on TV) says “hearing aide” I always, ALWAYS say “what?”… well, a couple of years ago Coach Purnell did a PSA extolling the virtues of reading and education, wherein he encouraged us all to visit the “Li-berry“.

I’m not sure which is scarier, his (mis)pronunciation, or the fact that the local stations aired it (for months) anyway. Sooo… every time his name is mentioned on the news, the commentary goes something like this:

Sportscaster: Flyers’ coach Oliver Purnell held a press conference today…
Me: Down at the Li-berry.

You get the idea. With his departure, I will now be deprived of this simple pleasure or, at best, cut back from almost daily to just the occasional obligatory “Former Flyers’ head-coach” mention.

It’s really quite sad.