Biruta Pic/Blog

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Hey guys,

Thanks to Gil and Mike Laprey's permission, we are launching a picture blog from Mr. Biruta, with updates daily, on our site. Go Rams!

http://rhodeislandrams.com/blog/

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 10 years ago

Very nice! Will definitely check this out throughout the trip.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Wow, nice collaboration effort with the Athletic Dept!!

Ben · Unread post by **Ben** » 10 years ago

SWEET.

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Gotta like this kid. Check out Gil's chat with us from moments ago:

http://rhodeislandrams.com/getting-to-know-gilvydas/

RoadyJay · Unread post by **RoadyJay** » 10 years ago

Good stuff, Jim!

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 10 years ago

So good. Thanks

My favorite part...

Jim: You must think the world of Coach to sit out a year. Very cool.

Gil: The only reason i came to URI was the coach! Make it known please.

Jim: You seem to have a great team, good people and players both.

Gil: Honestly, I’ve been around many teams in many countries. I have never been around such great group of guys. I can compare them to so many teams. I truly mean that this group of guys is the most special. There are none with ego. Everybody is selfless and cares about the common goal the most.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 10 years ago

Great endorsement for Dan, not exactly a great endorsement for the school.

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

I didn't take it as a knock on the school though.

He played for Hurley before and he knew he wanted to be with Hurley again. That's not anti-URI, just REALLY pro-Hurley.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 10 years ago

Thanks to Jim.....a first class interviewer !

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 10 years ago

yup love the loyalty from Gil to DH

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Hey that's one reason we were so excited to get Hurley right? So that players would come here for him?

Anyway another tidbit I learned from Mr. Biruta? He prefers to be called Gilvydas, not Gil

Ben · Unread post by **Ben** » 10 years ago

I love Gil's openness and honesty about why he came here. (Let's face it... it had been almost a decade and a half of nothing at URI.) The important thing to me is that he says that now that he's here, he's in one of the best team environments that he's ever been in. He likes it here and doesn't regret his choice. By extension, this says nice things about where the program is and where it's headed. I don't care that he would not have considered URI without Hurley. At the time, I wouldn't have either if I were a good prospect. It's all about now and the future. I love it.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

It also brings home the point, that unless you're Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, or an elite
power, college basketball is all about the coach, not the school.
When URI has had Kraft, Penders and Harrick, we were good.
When we had mediocre coaches, we were mediocre or worse.
Butler will show how important Stevens was. Drew, Few, Smart, are their respective programs,
not their schools.

Ben · Unread post by **Ben** » 10 years ago

Exactly, Rod.

The key is making the most of the time you have with a coach like Hurley. And, THEN... hire the right replacement if he moves on to keep momentum going. See Xavier for exhibit A.

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 10 years ago

Yeah I dont get those that have any issue with his answer. It shouldn't be surprising to hear that people would rather play for Hurley then our previous regime.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 10 years ago

Ben wrote:I love Gil's openness and honesty about why he came here. (Let's face it... it had been almost a decade and a half of nothing at URI.) The important thing to me is that he says that now that he's here, he's in one of the best team environments that he's ever been in. He likes it here and doesn't regret his choice. By extension, this says nice things about where the program is and where it's headed. I don't care that he would not have considered URI without Hurley. At the time, I wouldn't have either if I were a good prospect. It's all about now and the future. I love it.

Agree with this. When Biruta announced he was transferring, URI was mentioned as a possibility because of Hurley, but Maryland was the popular guess. Not bad beating out an ACC team, regardless of the reason. And yeah, it's Gilvydas or Biruta.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Dan still gets away with calling him Gil in interviews and such, but yeah, Gilvydas or Biruta it is!

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 10 years ago

ATPTourFan wrote:Dan still gets away with calling him Gil in interviews and such, but yeah, Gilvydas or Biruta it is!

Well after the last coach, I'm sure this one calling him Gil is ok with him.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Right behind Biruta's head, you can see BlueMan and ATPTourFan (as well as another anonymous member of KeaneyBlue) in 205 Row C.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

Way over on the right, you can see Don Kaull (orange shirt) and me, talking.
I sat behind him waiting for my crew to catch up.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 10 years ago

i'm right over the scorer's table kinda blocked out

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 10 years ago

I hope 206 is available tomorrow night, when I make my pick. That's a good section to see
the bench and our second half offense.

Rhody74 · Unread post by **Rhody74** » 10 years ago

Gilly the Kid! Love it ....

http://rhodeislandrams.com/gilly-the-kid/

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

They call him Gilly the Kid! Tonight's blog with URI's Gilvydas Biruta is posted:

http://rhodeislandrams.com/gilly-the-kid/

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Rhody74 WOW you're fast! lol

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 10 years ago

That's cool, I never connected Biruta's number to Karnisovas before. He was part of my favorite Seton Hall teams, with Danny and Terry Dehere and Jerry Walker.

And yes, if you haven't watched The Other Dream Team, I highly recommend it. Most people at least remember the uniforms once they're reminded of them.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 10 years ago

ATPTourFan wrote:Right behind Biruta's head, you can see BlueMan and ATPTourFan (as well as another anonymous member of KeaneyBlue) in 205 Row C.

I'm just to the left of Biruta's mouth, in the last row of 105, with the Rhody hat on.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

The Other Dream Team is available on Netflix streaming, so I plan to watch it this week!!

Ben · Unread post by **Ben** » 10 years ago

Shows how out of the loop I am... Biruta it is.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 10 years ago

Gilly the kid nice !!

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 10 years ago

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

You rock, Gilvydas!!!

Latest daily installment from Biruta on rhodeislandrams.com is up!

http://rhodeislandrams.com/711/

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Grabbed a few quotes from Gilvydas after today's game:

http://rhodeislandrams.com/category/greetings-from-gil/

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Pictures and new content from Gilvydas just updated:

http://rhodeislandrams.com/category/greetings-from-gil/

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 10 years ago

Great job with this blog, RhodeIslandRams. Kudos to Gilvydas for a great game and good luck in the upcoming season.

Also, wow factor for both photos! Imagine driving around Lake Como!

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Thanks OB. The content is a bit 'soft', but I hope the friendships we build early will make for some great content when the games count.

I want to thank Mike Laprey for being open to working with us while we are a small player, and of course Gilvydas and you guys on the forum. It will be a great season and future for the Rams!

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Glad it was Gilvydas who became the one to contribute to this blog. The more I read/hear from him the more he becomes my favorite player.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 10 years ago

Nice gondola ride like the Venetian !!

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 10 years ago

RhodeIslandRams, if anyone had thought about it sooner, we could have had a fundraiser and sent you on the trip. Then the quality of the photos, reporting, insight, trip and game color would have skyrocketed!

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

OB I have never been to Italy...would have been hard to say no if that situation came up! Am I the only full Italian Rhode Island native never to go?

My wife, who is not Italian, lived there as a teen because her Father was stationed at an Air Force base there.

Gilvydas and I started chatting on Facebook, and he was very polite and clearly had the fire and drive, so I asked him first to contribute. Then I went to Mike Laprey for permission.

The real fun for me will be if/when the team comes to Tucson in November. I cannot wait.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 10 years ago

By all means, save up the money and go before you get too old to tackle the hills, rent a car and hit the roadways. The Italians drive crazy fast, but they do follow the rules and are good drivers. And then there is the food and the wine. And beautiful and refined women everywhere.

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Last Italy Blog for now...3-0 and lots of bonding!

http://rhodeislandrams.com/category/greetings-from-gil/

Rhody74 · Unread post by **Rhody74** » 10 years ago

3 wins is 3 wins, no matter the competition. But I love to see how this team is bonding. I'm sure there'll be some adversity, especially while they're still learning, but the bonding will help them through it.

reef · Unread post by **reef** » 10 years ago

My money is on the 57 yr old Parisi to put one in Gilly The kids mug !!!

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Gilvydas is READY.

First practice is tomorrow.

Grabbed a few words tonight from the big man:

http://rhodeislandrams.com/it-is-time/

RoadyJay · Unread post by **RoadyJay** » 10 years ago

Hey Jim, getting an error when following the link:

"You do not have permission to preview drafts."

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Thanks RoadyJay! Should work now

BTW...practice starts TOMORROW! IT is TIME!

RhodeIslandRams · Unread post by **RhodeIslandRams** » 10 years ago

Quote from Gilvydas today....updated our last blog..be sure to read below the picture:

http://rhodeislandrams.com/it-is-time/

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

BIRUTA!!! Favorite player!!