BREAKING: Former Miner Myron Strong Talks to Miner Rush About His Dismissal by UTEP's Tim Floyd
by Adrian Mac on Aug 12, 2010 9:20 PM MDT
in UTEP Miners Basketball
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PrintIt's been a whirlwind of a day. I was able to talk with former Miner Myron Strong about his dismissal from UTEP's basketball team earlier today. I offered Myron the opportunity to use this site as a forum to let the fans know his side of the story and he decided to do so.
Tomorrow, we'll take a step back, take a deep breath, and properly assess the insanity of what occurred today at UTEP. Tonight. I thought it was only fair to give a former Miner, a guy we all cheered for and supported, a chance to tell us, in his own words, what happened to lead to his dismissal from the team. Some of Myron's comments are very surprising and even shocking. Myron was very candid, and he touches on a lot of significant issues to Miner basketball.
Like always, I welcome any feedback from the Miner Nation on this issue.
Miner Rush: What happened to lead to your dismissal? Can you describe what went down in your own words?
Myron Strong: First all, Tim Floyd stereotyped me from Day 1, not knowing anything about me. The reason I was supposedly kicked off the team was due to a violation of dorm rules. I wasn't supposed to be in the dorms so they say, but to my understanding I only couldn't live in the dorms. The coaching in college isn't fair to me. You know coaches are gonna bring in who they want to bring in. I only failed one drug test at UTEP. The first couple days Tim Floyd came to UTEP he tested our squad and the majority of the team failed.
He told me he had a guard who he wanted to bring in so he used any excuse he could to get rid of me. You can ask anybody who knows me or has ever been around me about me as a person and they will tell you I'm a good person and since day 1 Tim Floyd judged me to be this bumb basically.
Miner Rush: You claim a majority of the team failed a drug test. Can you elaborate?
Myron Strong: As far as the drug test, I'm not giving any names but if I got kicked out because of that, that's just plain out wrong because I wasn't the only person who failed. He wanted me out so he did anything in his power to do so. My senior year at that. I never wanted to leave UTEP and plus I failed a drug test months ago, so why am I now all of a sudden off the team? I don't get Tim Floyd at all. He's trying to basically ruin my image
Miner Rush: How were you told that you were no longer a part of the team?
Myron Strong: I received a call from Tim Floyd discussing a possible drug violation which I'm clearly not guilty of. I really don't think it was fair at all. Tim floyd told me out of his own mouth in a meeting I had with him that if he even heard my name in anything that he was gonna put me off. I figured that I was gonna get put off either way he could of possible found. So basically I'm out of UTEP because I was at the dorms from my understanding.
He came straight to UTEP talking badly about Derrick Caracter and Arnette Moultrie as a person and player to us which was very inappropriate. He told them not to try out for NBA or they will not have a scholarship. That is the reason Arnette left.
Miner Rush: Can you elaborate?
Myron Strong: Our first meeting as a team when Floyd came, DC wasn't present. He said DC wasn't gonna be nothing in life and that he not gonna make it to the NBA basically mad because he was leaving. He told Arnette that if he went and worked out for any teams that his scholarship at UTEP was gonna be gone. That's the reason Arnette left.
MR: Are you surprised that Coach Floyd would tell a reporter about these alleged drug violations? Do you think it was appropriate for him to do so?
Myron Strong: No I don't think that was appropriate at all. I would suggest the NCAA look back into his allegations at USC because I'm sure he broke many rules like most coaches in college basketball does. I'm not saying all coaches but most. They preach to us to do the right thing but they are the ones breaking the rules. we players basically get used by coaches so they could benefit financially. And what are we left with? Nothing at all and they just move on with their lives leaving us with stressful situations like new coaches coming in. If I could do it over I probably wouldn't have ever signed with UTEP and I knew when Floyd came in there were gonna be problems
Miner Rush: I read you are thinking about playing for Victory University in Memphis. Is that the plan?
Myron Strong: As far as next year I will play at Azusa Pacific in California or Victory U, I haven't decided yet.
Miner Rush: Is there anything, any comment you'd like to make to UTEP fans?
Myron Strong: I would have loved to play my last year at UTEP I love that enviornment and the fans who supported us.
I understand there are two sides to every story. I gave UTEP a copy of the Strong interview and asked for comment, but have not yet received a response. Of course, if the athletic department has a comment, I will gladly post it here. For now, we for the first time have some insight on a variety of issues.
Myron, first of all, claims that a majority of UTEP basketball players failed a drug test, not just him, but that he is the only Miner to be dismissed because of it.
Then, he claims that Tim Floyd told Arnett Moultrie that if he tried out for NBA squads that he would lose his scholarship with the team. Again, Strong claims Moultrie was told he would lose his scholarship merely if he tested the waters, not if he hired an agent.
He also claims that Tim Floyd insulted former Miners Derrick Caracter and Arnett Moultire in the presence of the current team in a way the players felt was inappropriate.
It's been a long day in Utepia. Today I intended to spend the day berating Memphis for actively recruiting Trevor Mbakwe. It was supposed to be a slow, summer day, one where we could talk a little football and continue our countdown to September 4, 2010. For the first time in a very long time, I really wish today had been a slow news day.
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Good god, what a baby.
Why take things to a public forum?
You can’t just say:
“I appreciate all the support from the fans and I thank UTEP for the opportunity for giving me the opportunity to play the game I love. This is just a minor bump in the road, but believe me I’ll land right back on my feet.”
Myron, you are coming off as a guy with an obvious axe to grind. “Oh, but he failed a drug test too!” Ha ha ha ha
I hope we never hear from you again after today. You will not be missed.
"Fuck Tom Hicks. There is no aspect of my baseball universe that man hasn't shit on."
"and to Adam J. Morris and the Lone Star Ball regulars; go fuck yourself."- cmkelly29
by TooLegitToQuit on Aug 12, 2010 11:14 PM MDT reply actions
Ur definitely not so legit
How naive can you be? I’ve been a Floyd supporter this whole time and I’m glad that we have him, but don’t you think things are starting to get a little fishy around here? Moultrie Leaves, Strong gets dismissed? Regardless, obviously the rush went out and asked for Myron’s story not the other way around. That’s the only reason you are even able to leave your little 3rd grade comment. There have been things that have happened with this program over the last months that left us, the public, wondering what’s going on. Then, we hear it from the horse’s mouth and that’s your reaction?? You’re an idiot, and you’re the one that might as well stay off the public forum.
I wish Myron the best, whether or not he broke any team rules. He definitely helped us out last year in some crucial times, so his 3.1 ppg will be missed. Also, for the sake of the team and UTEP, I hope Floyd isn’t what he is starting to look like. If he is, it’ll show this year. You can’t go and badmouth guys you don’t even know. Especially when the people you’re talking about them to are the guys that shed blood, sweat, and tears with them. It’ll be a no discipline, no unity, Barbee team all over again.
by asalom on Aug 13, 2010 1:53 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
What exactly is 3rd grade about my comment?
And what exactly, makes me an idiot for telling Myron Strong to stop airing dirty laundry?
That’s obviously the way he goes about his life, always blaming somebody else for his actions. Never taking responsibilty.
Moultrie left because Floyd didn’t want him, because Moultrie never mentioned the Team or Winning. It was all about him.
Myron Strong will leave no ripple down effect on this program whatsoever.
"Fuck Tom Hicks. There is no aspect of my baseball universe that man hasn't shit on."
"and to Adam J. Morris and the Lone Star Ball regulars; go fuck yourself."- cmkelly29
by TooLegitToQuit on Aug 13, 2010 9:02 PM MDT up reply actions
I say your an idiot
Because you make unfounded claims like “that’s obviously the way he goes about his life….always blaming someone else”. I’m sorry do you know Myron? I don’t think so, so for you to make a claim like that is idiotic. Not to mention, Myron has admitted his mistake, but it doesn’t change the way the situation was handled. That’s on Floyd, and there’s no pointing the finger anywhere else.
Yes Myron being kick off the team isn’t going to be the biggest deal. His numbers can be replaced. But if the team, as a whole, feel the way that Myron does, this squad is going to be in some deep trouble come basketball season. That would be a great disappointment considering the amount of talent returning. Again, the only one to blame would be Floyd.
Again, I hope for the sake of the players, and UTEP that Floyd is just a “victim” again of someone badmouthing him. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Myron crapping all over Tim Floyd in the public media is all I need to know..
about him. Instead of keeping his mouth shut and going about his business, he goes to social media outlets and craps all over the UTEP program.
Blaming Tim Floyd for his dismisall, ha ha ha ha, “Tim Floyd had it out for me from Day 1.” Ha ha ha ha ha
You sir, are idiotic.
"Fuck Tom Hicks. There is no aspect of my baseball universe that man hasn't shit on."
"and to Adam J. Morris and the Lone Star Ball regulars; go fuck yourself."- cmkelly29
by TooLegitToQuit on Aug 14, 2010 1:15 PM MDT up reply actions
hahaha
You just keep talking out of your ass. I was wondering what that muffled sound was. Again, the rush went to Myron, not the other way around. Also, wasn’t it our 56 year old former major program and NBA coach who went to Dan Wolken to let him know what Strong did? Yeah that’s what I thought. Not to mention these quotes from Strong…“I never wanted to leave UTEP”…“I would’ve loved to play my last year at UTEP”…“I love that program and all the fans who supported us”. Who is crapping all over UTEP?? I think it’s you who is crapping all over yourself with all these ridiculous comments.
Floyd is no Haskins!!!!!
I’m Glad Strong got an opportunity to speak his peace. Floyd will not be the savior everyone is hoping for. He has too many demons and apparently no respect for his players. I want to know how many players failed the drug test? How come all of them weren’t thrown off the team. He ran off Moultrie and talked smack about Character a player he barely even knew. I wonder how much respect the current Miners have for this cheat? Just when I was getting my hopes up for this years team it looks like it’s going to be a rebuilding year again. He didn’t need to come in and start all over again the pieces were in place. This years team could have done some damage. Good Luck Strong you will be missed!
All of his 3.1 points per game...
"Fuck Tom Hicks. There is no aspect of my baseball universe that man hasn't shit on."
"and to Adam J. Morris and the Lone Star Ball regulars; go fuck yourself."- cmkelly29
by TooLegitToQuit on Aug 13, 2010 1:24 AM MDT up reply actions
Not sure about all of this
Words get twisted so much when angered that who really knows who said what and when. But that is showing good senior leadership failing a drug test which it sounds like it is a mandatory test so why even chance it? Maybe since 3.1 ppg is bad in a subpar CUSA league and there is no future in basketball so why not have fun. Maybe a “rehab” stint at some spare college in Memphis will be good for this guy. I’m quite sure they can replace a 3 pointer per game easily.
He may be easily replaced
But what about the rest of the team. Granted, words get twisted, and who knows what is the complete truth, but come on, Myron can’t just be talking out of his a**. This can’t be some completely fabricated story to get back at Floyd. And yes, maybe failing a drug test isn’t good leadership from a senior, but what kind of leadership is it if he failed that months ago and is now getting kicked off the team. More than that what kind of leadership is to apparently allow other guys the opportunity to stay even though they’ve failed drug tests. This is the coach we’re talking about here, and these are still 19, 20, and 21 year old college students. So who is supposed to be the leader? Obviously, Myron isn’t completely innocent here, but at the same time this was apparently very poorly handled by Floyd, and completely unprofessional. Something that should be expected out of such a highly “respected” coach.
Wow....
A lot of people are ready to throw Coach Floyd under the bus and believe without question what Myron says? We are talking about a kid who got kicked off of the team. Do you think he is going to stand up and say “my bad, it is my fault. Here is what I did wrong.”? Heck no, he is going to do everything he can to make it look like Floyd is the bad guy and do his best to make himself look like the victim. Did anyone think that maybe Coach Floyd is cleaning house and getting rid of the riff raff? There is still another side of the story. How about we hold off judgement until the whole story is out there. Where are the outcries from players who haven’t gotten kicked off of the team in support of the innocent guys who have? Why didn’t Myron have anything to say or support Moultrie before now? Why isn’t anyone standing up to support Myron? Sorry, to me it seems like a lot of what Myron is saying is self serving. The kid is still going to want to play ball some where after this so he has to do what he can to make himself look alright.
Great Point, Dru.
There are two sides to every story. And, the intent of this post wasn’t just to blindly endorse Myron’s comments. That was not my intention, but Myron wanted to offer his side of the story, and I thought it was only fair to allow him to do so. I don’t think UTEP will have any further comment, sadly, so this should be how it all ends. Coach Floyd did do an interview with ABC 7 KVIA on Thursday, before this interview was posted I believe, where he answered several key questions on the whole event.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
I'm not throwing Floyd under the bus
He went through what he went through at USC, he comes here and there have just been some questionable things happen. And you may be right. It could just be a bunch of self saving garbage so he doesn’t look bad. But why??? He is going to play ball somewhere else so why would he make such a deal? Also, I think the answer to why others aren’t supporting Myron is cause they dont want to get kicked off the team also. The other question is though, why isn’t the team or anyone else supporting Floyd?
Gone for one weekend...
And my UTEPia blows up, what gives?! Hard to know where the facts begin and fiction begins, however all I’ll say on this subject is the following:
1. Myron needs to grow up and take onus for his actions versus the diversionary tactics he seems to display.
2. CTF and company need to be better prepared and handle business better. There will always be the potential for issues, but it’s how they are handled, or perceived to be handled, in and out of the public eye that’s most important.
Finally, I’m all for ‘cleaning house’. In fact I’d go as far as saying that I expected there to be more than what we’ve seen thus far. I say this as I always believed that Barbee ran a very undisciplined program akin to having the “inmates running the asylum”. He’s more of a players coach than an institutional coach. Although both are admirable qualities in a coach, in the end, these young men require guidance, mentoring, leadership and personal development. IMO, Barbee has always failed miserably in this department.
You leave us alone for a weekend and we burned the house down
It was a truly surreal few hours. Dismissal, Insults, Retaliation, Accusations, and I think it might have been the first time UTEP had a major story truly spread over Twitter. Chip Brown’s coverage of the conference realignment showed us all the power of Twitter- and the Miner Nation saw a taste of it on Thursday and Friday. And, of course, the whole ordeal really started with Facebook. It will be interesting to see if UTEP looks at a new social media policy for players and coaches…
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Look like Floyd been talking to Rick Pitno about Caracter. NCAA coaches only care about winning they don’t care about all the young men coming out of school who is not going to make the pros. Anytime a young talented player wants to go make some money. Some of those cheating coaches starts to degrade them for their own purpose(money)
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