For a promising athlete, the decision on whether to remain in college or depart early before earning a degree, in pursuit of pro sport riches, is an intensely personal and private endeavor — and not a subject fit for whimsical debate in Internet forums. It may well be the case that today Joe Finley (first round, ‘05) is in his hockey development absolutely ready to commence a career in pro puck. Nonetheless, that is a decision for him to make, perhaps in consultation with his family. We would do well to keep our worthless opinions on the matter to ourselves.
However . . . were he interested in outside opinion on the matter, and specifically, solicitious of the views of a set of sometimes respected bloggers who monitor the state of his drafting organization, we’d offer the reflection that his prowess as a purveyor of intense pain is one that would be well directed, shift after shift, at the Penguins’ crybaby captain. Beginning yesterday.
To amplify this general viewpoint, we’ve devised a table of pros and cons related to the decision. We’ve assigned value checks to an array of priority criteria, and we’ve tallied them. Tell us if you would have arrived at a different recommendation.
| Evaluative Criteria | Senior Year, U of North Dakota |
Pro Hockey in Hershey, PA |
| Temperate winter weather |  |
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| Writing papers, taking exams, rising for morning classes | |
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| Proximity to clustered living by hard-bodied, experimentally inclined women under the age of 22 | |
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| Keggers | |
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| The Ralph vs. Giant Center | |
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| Called Up to Skate on a Sheet with Ovechkin | |
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| Thursday (sometimes Wednesday) Starts to Weekends | |
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| Ditching Mandatory, Full-Face Shields, Immersion in Fighting Friendly Culture | |
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| Booze-Induced, Care- and Consequence-free Hookups | |
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| Playing for the Jacks Adams-winning Coach | |
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| Chance, if Called Up, to Bloody Crosby | |
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| Having John Walton Narrate Your Beatdowns of Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins for Central Pa. Radio Listeners | |
Recommendation: Go pro, Joe!
17 Comments
you should put chance to beat the snot out of Blake Wheeler on there.
Having seen him play first-hand a few times this year, I’d say he is certainly capable of turning pro.
This is a sound analysis, covering all relevant criteria.
What about Mascot? Racially-Charged Native American vs. Angry Ursine?
Advantage: Bears
pepper, applying your own keen analytical accumen in this matter, the kind sentiment is appreciated.
I miss college…
I am herby announcing I am going pro from College to Mass Media!
“Proximity to clustered living by hard-bodied, experimentally inclined women under the age of 22″
maybe we should remove “hard bodied” from that description. It is my observation that the slimmer, trimmer, more fit women migrate to southern schools rather than remaining in sub zero temps for the majority of the school year. Having never actually set foot on UND campus, I could be completely wrong.
But yeah, College is amazing, and I often regret graduating in 4 years. Those super seniors are smarter than they appear.
Judging from the stories that came out of the W/S Pens and their off ice behavior, you could say that some of the pros for college can apply equally to playing in Hershey.
In all seriousness, I would rather see him stay. I like the flexibility of stashing these guys for 4 years in the NCAA and see where they are from there.
Plus, there ARE hard-bodied nubiles in ND.
Wait. Some of those keggers and free hookups and experimentlly inclined women are in Hershey too…I’ll introduce you to some of them.
There has to be at least one check in Hershey’s column for that.
Woah, whoa, whoa! Have you seen The Ralph? There should be 10 checkmarks on the college side, and a negative checkmark on the Hershey side. Don’t feel bad, it would be the same if The Ralph was compared to any other hockey arena on the planet.
In all seriousness, I’m happy to see Joe return for one more year. Hopefully he will teach the young guys a thing or two.
go visit the ralp and then you will have that with 10 checks vs 1 check for hershey. nicest arena in the world, juts ask the great one what he thought about it, joe will sign as soon as the sioux win #8 led by big joe, more woman and more kegs and less traveling on crappy ass busses
go joe and sioux
Like the two previous said. You obviously have NEVER EVER been to the Ralph Engelstad Arena. To say that Hershey’s arena is in league is laughable.
I suggest that the entire OFB team make a little road trip to Grand Forks next year, witnees a Fighting Sioux Game at the Ralph and post a little blog about how they have been enlightened.
The RALPH is right up there as the nicest arena in all of sport.I about fell out of my chair to see only 1 check mark for it.Go there yourself and then comeback and put 5 marks where it belongs.Being a season ticket holder I’m tickled pink Big Joe is coming back.
As a UND alum and a Hershey Bear season ticket holder, I can honestly say that if the Ralph is a one the Giant Center has to be a negative five. Honestly you have to experience the Ralph to believe it. Oh and they weren’t that hard bodied when I went there.
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