"Dave Reynolds’ view of the Missouri Valley" by The Peoria Journal Star

[45otseoj]

Was this a "tongue-in-cheek" comment?

Didn't mean any disrespect. FVV struggled in the first half of the semifinal game. By the time he got rolling the game was out of reach. He also put up great numbers against an inferior Bloom team. A previous poster made the assumption that FVV is a household name in Peoria with basketball fans. Dave Reynolds knows who he is, but to be on Peorians' radar you have to be a Bradley recruit, a B1G recruit, or beat the top dog (Simeon right now). Also realize that the 4A system waters down the high school basketball landscape in the state. Only 1 team in the Peoria area plays 4A. You're getting a good one, but FVV's weekend in Peoria isn't on the Mount Rushmore of epic State Finals performances (Derrick Rose, Eddy Curry, Shaun Livingston, Darius Miles, etc.). But I'll repeat: You're getting a good one.

[ShockTalk]

Didn't mean any disrespect. FVV struggled in the first half of the semifinal game. By the time he got rolling the game was out of reach. He also put up great numbers against an inferior Bloom team. A previous poster made the assumption that FVV is a household name in Peoria with basketball fans. Dave Reynolds knows who he is, but to be on Peorians' radar you have to be a Bradley recruit, a B1G recruit, or beat the top dog (Simeon right now). Also realize that the 4A system waters down the high school basketball landscape in the state. Only 1 team in the Peoria area plays 4A. You're getting a good one, but FVV's weekend in Peoria isn't on the Mount Rushmore of epic State Finals performances (Derrick Rose, Eddy Curry, Shaun Livingston, Darius Miles, etc.). But I'll repeat: You're getting a good one.

Fair enough, @45otseoj:. I really wasn't making the assumption you thought I was, but being playful with our Bradley brethren (and others in Illinois) in respect to one of our posters comments that the Peoria writer didn't mention FVV, a very quality Illinois player who played in Peoria at the state tourney.

That said, we on these boards don't expect the rank and file fans to know much of anything about their own recruits, much less someone elses. On the other hand, we on these boards do generally know something about the top recruits in our respective states, particularly if they are All Staters. So the little jab was directed at them.