Sick dude, you must feel really tough. A group of D1 basketball players who rarely see the floor are trying to make the best out of their college experience by coming up with hilarious bench mob stunts, and you have to go out of your way to put them down. Before his game against Monmouth University, a small New Jersey college now famous among sports fans for its basketball team’s bench celebrations, Iona head coach Tim Cluees stated, “Are they on the team? I didn’t know if they were on the team or wearing uniforms as cheerleaders. I’ve never seen them on the court doing anything, so to me, they’re not basketball players” (Source: ESPN). Are you serious man? Does putting down four bench players just trying have fun make you feel better about yourself? These guys bust their asses during practice every day (making them basketball players, not cheerleaders) and show support for their teammates by performing hilarious celebrations that give the sporting community a reliable source of entertainment. What’s so wrong with that? Would you rather them sulk on the sidelines over their lack of playing time or quit the team and get drunk at a frat house every Saturday?

By the way Tim, everyone (well except maybe the old the farts down at the NCAA) loves the Monmouth bench mob. Their creative antics have earned them countless shout outs on Twitter, numerous appearances on SportsCenter, a special feature on CBS, and admiration from just about every college basketball fan in the country. You’re pretty much alone on this one, Tim. You and a very small minority of people who hate fun are against the Monmouth Bench Mob. Well I have some news for you fun haters, the bench mobs are here to stay. Monmouth University has received an enormous amount of attention from its basketball team’s benchwarmers, who make watching MAAC basketball just as fun as watching the PAC12 and Big Ten. The Monmouth University administration is loving the attention and is doing everything they can to harness its advantages. Other small schools are sure to be taking note. The MU Hawks will certainly not be the last team in college basketball to have a bench performing outrageous celebrations. And you know what, I hope the very next team is in your conference too, Tim. Hell, I hope every team in the MAAC starts doing crazy bench stunts just to piss you off.

From the “Trophy Fish” and the “Lost Contacts” to the “Sistine Chapel” and “The Human Scissors”, the Monmouth bench mob defines what is great about college basketball. It showcases the energetic nature and creativity of college kids, while also displaying the deep emotion these kids feel for their teammates. Its great for the sport and great for emphasizing teamwork in general. You should be ashamed of your comments Tim, and even more ashamed that it led to a bench clearing scuffle after your game. Note to all college basketball coaches: Don’t be like Tim (or Rick Pitino).

– The Mandime

You can read more about the scuffle here: http://espn.go.com/mens-college  basketball/story/_/id/14579908/iona-gaels-monmouth-hawks-fight-game