Kjel | 3:15 a.m. May 31, 2009
His family is incrediable. I know his mom and dad and his sister Ruffles. Their whole family story is incrediable. That is why he is a winner. Stay strong Lance and say hi to Ruffles from kjel.
Dave | 7:14 a.m. May 31, 2009
It would be cool to read the facts about Rick "the fat man on the hill."
Jeffrey | 8:50 a.m. May 31, 2009
Nice article. You have just put a new book on m list.
Comments continue below
Tad | 9:43 a.m. May 31, 2009
"post-traumatic disorder aggravated by three years playing under coach Rick Majerus."


What? Is this for real?
tlll | 10:02 a.m. May 31, 2009
I'm always amazed at the ability of the 'higher' educated to make potentially life-altering assumptions. This professor is getting paid to read, analyze, and *gasp* research resources of the papers turned in by the student. He assumes that an athlete cannot write and evidently never bothered to check the paper written by Lance. It took a follow-up letter by Lance to correct this professor's error. So many people think that the professor/doctor/etc is always correct, but it is not the case. Kudos to Lance for following through and making sure he received the credit he deserved for the work that he did.
nostradomis | 10:29 a.m. May 31, 2009
Great story about a remarkable young man. As far as Majerus goes it seems many college coaches are lunatics, pushed there by the extreme pressure of that envirnment. Doesn't have to be, there are some great college coaches who the players look back on as mentors. I know Keith Van Horn, and Andre Miller still keep in touch w Rick and ask his advise concerning important career decisions. It sounds like Lance takes his part of the blame for a tough situation.
Bball | 11:10 a.m. May 31, 2009
Since I play basketball etc I'll be purchasing his book just to get a grasp of what he has to say about Majerus.

As for Allred, it's great to see a kid challenge his Professor, so many kids give up thinking the Professor knows more, its always best to challenge the folks in education, some have ego's that need to be deflated!!!
Ing | 1:20 p.m. May 31, 2009
There's a good reason for the assumption that scholarshipped college athletes can't (or won't) do good academic work.

They usually don't. (Or won't.)

Key word: usually.

This particular professor made his assumption wrongly, but I can understand how and why it could happen.

I taught college English for 3 years and graded for 2 world history courses, and I've seen the reason behind the stereotype firsthand.

To this day I think about a certain final paper that I KNOW a certain athlete could not have written, but I had no way to prove it (and having an entire semester of the guy's true writing ability to back up my assessment apparently wasn't enough), so he got the grade anyway. I've seen more than one failing athlete mysteriously disappear from the class roster only days before final exams.

If the system says you don't have to do academic work, and you don't want to anyway, how many of us really would?

ANYWAY...

Lance Allred sounds like one heck of an interesting and intelligent dude. I wish him well.

I might just have to go find his book.
grain of salt | 2:37 p.m. May 31, 2009
I'd take anything Lance says with a large grain of salt. He is a little nuts.
get it right | 2:47 p.m. May 31, 2009
Rick didn't "run out of town" right after the "news" that he yelled at his players broke. He retired to take care of his health problems and his mom's health problems. Give the man some respect, Sorenson! Fact is, Majerus, like zillions of other coaches before him, yelled at his players. Too bad for Rick that he lived in a time when that became socially unacceptable. Lance called him on it and has become a darling ever since.
re get it right | 4:13 p.m. May 31, 2009
Finally someone says what ive been thinking for a long time Majerus loved his kids and sometimes used yelling at his players to better them it worked on alot and failed on a few also. Majerus did nothing but help U of U basketball. Go Utes
two questions | 4:40 p.m. May 31, 2009
Is this guy related to the all-stater Keith Allred of Pleasant Grove from many years ago?

Number two, did the professor in the history class have athletes who had plag. and cheated? I have had that happen many times. I side with the prof. but I am glad the matter got straightened out and the truth came to light. Prof. shot first without asking questions.

Sounds like an interesting guy.
Growth | 4:42 p.m. May 31, 2009
Time to grow up a bit. Get over it.
If I wrote a book everytime someone was rude to me I would neve leave the computer.
There's not one thing remarkable here, unless someone actually buys a copy.
samhill | 5:47 p.m. May 31, 2009
To "Growth@4:42", judging only from your response to an article that describes someone who, for his age, shows really remarkable growth, I would say your advice REALLY needs to be self consumed.
702 | 5:53 p.m. May 31, 2009
My engineering professor at the U accused me of cheating some years ago and I was furious, I can relate to Lance story. Hopefully, Lance story will teach college professors about making "educated judgements" with regard to cheating or Plagiarism.

Thank you for an inpiration story
Growth? | 6:11 p.m. May 31, 2009
Funny. This kid has had a very interesting life. Much more interesting that the average Joe (or Joanne). Good for you, Lance.
Re: Growth | 6:30 p.m. May 31, 2009
LoL @ Growth 4:42 pm. I've read the book. Heck, I'm in the book. And there's very little about Rick Majerus in there. Maybe 10% of it deals with Lance's time at the U of U.

Saying there's nothing remarkable about:

1. The first deaf person to reach the NBA.

2. Stories of growing up in a polygamous clan.

3. Dealing with OCD and PTSD while under a coach notorious for his brutal coaching style.

Those three things alone make for an interesting book, but there's more here. Harper Collins is excited about "Longshot", and some folks are saying it's a natural for a movie.

Perhaps overcoming long odds is not that interesting to you. If so, go read a book about George W. Bush or the Kennedy family. For the rest of us, this story is inspiring.
RE Growth | 8:45 p.m. May 31, 2009
Hmmm.... Get over it? He did! Perhaps you need to reread the article. To me, his bio alone is impressive--scholarly athelete, chooses to get a new start at a new college in his senior year (gutsy call in my book), puts up some great numbers, plays pro-ball on two continents, and becomes the first deaf player in the NBA. You question sales. People ARE buying the book. His numbers on Amazon just now look good. Good luck in your life, Growth, and I look forward to an inspriational book from you, chonicling your unique story. BTW, I don't know Lance in any other way than this article. I look forward to reading his book. And I am a Rick Majerus fan.
Reader | 10:40 p.m. May 31, 2009
I am going to read it! Amazing story.
gdog3 | 3:16 p.m. June 3, 2009
RE Tad: Yes it is for real. If you really knew what Rick did to Lance, then you can see the post tramatic stress issues. Lance has been through many challenges and Rick put him down explicitly for them. Try and consider what quotes have been made over the years from former players of Fat Rick on Lance Allred. Mocking Lance for being hard of hearing and having a fundamentalist Mormon background are a few. Look into it Tad!!
gdog3gtb | 3:23 p.m. June 3, 2009
Mr. Growth seems limp to me. Lance has accomplished great things. I give him my respect to him at this time.
Pathetic | 3:23 p.m. June 3, 2009
Any chance to take a shot at Majerus you do so dont you Sorenson. Grow up, Rick may have been a little rough around the edges (lots of edges on that man) but he did what his job title told him to do: WIN GAMES! Show him some respect! He has more than earned it.
As for Lance, congratulations, but I hope you dont handle others situations in your life as you did the UofU basketball one. If you cant take a little heat, get out of the kitchen.
Oh, and btw... all great coaches are a little rough with their players, if they werent, they wouldnt get the best out of them. Name some top coaches in this world and you will see that they all demand respect and arent exactly the nicest of guys.
Anyways, good for you Lance, but your book is a waste of paper in my opinion
Lance | 4:45 p.m. June 3, 2009
Lance lead the Idaho Stampede to a D League Championship two years ago. This is the only championship that the stampede have. Lance was a very big part of the Stampede having the home court advantage through the payoffs although he ended up going to Cleveland right before the playoffs. I loved watching, Lance play for the Pede and his story is a great story.

As for The fat man RM he is still the best coach to ever coach at any level in Utah and I hate the U!!!
East Alum | 11:10 a.m. June 5, 2009
Lance was 2 years older than me at East High, and was the consummate gentleman even in a high school environment. Shy, humble, and a great friend - never pretentious. I'm glad to hear of his success through all the hardship, since I'd lost touch with him. All the best, Lance!
Utah Mann | 10:52 a.m. June 7, 2009
Congratulations Lance! I was upset when you left the U, but it looks like thing worked out for the best for you. You are a class act. I will be picking up a copy of your book. Congratulations and go UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dag | 7:38 a.m. June 9, 2009
Nick Jacobsen said the stuff with Majerus never happened.
Repy Pathetic | 1:30 p.m. June 13, 2009
I agree Majerus was a brilliant coach, but second best in Utah at any level. The best coach to coach in Utah was Jack Gardner. He is in hall of fame, final four at Utah twice, and once at Kansas St. Lance Allred is a nice story, we should all admire people who are individualists, who march to their own beat, and at the same time do not waste their time attacking others. This country needs a lot more people like that.
Bob2 | 3:58 p.m. July 10, 2009
Ever since I heard of Lance Allred I heard stories about a young man who was very difficult to deal with, a little bit of a fabricator and a "poor me," control drama. I also understood that Majerus was determined, by hook or crook, to get the best out of him, as he had done with many 1 or 2 (or less) star recruits. Which he did. Time and again. There has been nothing like Utah basketball under the fat man since he left and I for one, really miss it.
TomC | 8:48 a.m. July 18, 2009
I read the book and could not put it down. I swear I read it in a day and a half.
I am so excited to hear about people who do not give up and roll with the punches per say.
I look forward to seeing Lance do his stuff with King James and win the biggest title out there in basketball.
SW | 11:44 a.m. Aug. 24, 2009
PART 2
And Mr."Get IT Right" Rick deserves NO respect! You've got it wrong. I have no problem with couches yelling. I've even defended coaches in the past against wining parents But this was attacking them personally. He made him a target to scare the heck out of the rest of the team. I was even told that by senior players that, that was his way to scare other players into working hard. The target becomes the sacrifice.
This isn't couching. It motivated no one. It was just plain cruel.

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Former Utah basketball player Lance Allred, who is hearing impaired, recently released an autobiographical book titled "Longshot."

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