Thursday, July 14, 2011

Family Comes First

The Maryland Diamondback has reported the sad news that PG Natasha Cloud, who just completed a very successful rookie season as a Terp, will be transferring to a school closer to her home outside Philly because of illness in her family.

One of Natasha's sisters has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, while their father continues to "struggle with dementia" that may be "leading to Alzheimer's disease." So this is certainly a time for Natasha to put family first. And it goes without saying that Coach B, as the Diamondback notes, is fully supportive of Natasha's decision to move back home.

Natasha will be seeking a "hardship waiver" from the NCAA. Normal rules require a transferring player to sit out a season at her new school before she may play. With a hardship waiver, Natasha could play right away. We hope and we expect that this waiver will be granted, since it's clear that Natasha's decision is not motivated by basketball considerations, but is all about her being there for her family.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Natasha and her family. We will miss her very much.

Photo Credit: University of Maryland

6 Comments:

At 2:36 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I asked via this secton last week if anyone knew why Cloud was leaving Md....of course the comment was deleted, why? I have no idea since it wasnt "Coach Bashing"....but its still ok to "bash" players (see June 9 comments as example). Absolutely ridiculous. This is a "comment" section....definition of 'comment' is: a remark, observation or criticism. Dont allow comments if you are going to delete the ones you dont agree with or dont want others to see.

 
At 4:04 PM, Blogger BasketCases said...

Dear Anonymous,

Apart from the fact that your “comment” was inapposite (it was a question about a Maryland player on a post about the Mystics), Natasha’s situation was not public information at the time you asked your question. So we chose not to blog about it out of respect for Natasha’s privacy and that of her family. We also did not want our blog to become a vehicle for speculation about what is a personal family matter, which is why we deleted your question.

As for your opinion that our comment policy is “absolutely ridiculous,” it might be worthwhile for you to consider that you are commenting on OUR blog. This is not a message board. That gives US the right to allow comments or not allow them, or to delete any comments added to OUR work product if we so choose. This is OUR choice, no one else’s. Some bloggers don’t allow any comments on their blogs at all, some don’t allow anonymous comments, and others moderate comments in advance. We choose to make it easy for readers to comment, but that does not mean we will allow OUR blog to be turned into something we don’t want it to be. If you are unhappy with OUR blog, you could simply stop reading it.

Finally, and most important, we cannot believe that you took the time to post a fairly lengthy “comment” -- criticizing us – without including so much as a single kind or sympathetic word about Natasha and her family.

--BC

 
At 5:39 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, really, it's the basketcases blog and they can delete whatever they want to. Please don't be so silly. Iove this blog and being able to comment.

My thoughts are with cloud and her family. She has such a bright personality. I am sure she will be very missed by her teammates.

 
At 7:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wishing the Cloud family comfort in their support of one another in this very trying time. So much for a young person to handle-and I hope Natasha knows she will always be part of the Terp family. And I don't say that lightly...The Terp Nation is large and caring.

 
At 10:50 AM, Anonymous Lacey said...

My thought and prayers are with Natasha and her family. I was a only caregiver for several years for my mother who has Alzheimer's. Unfortunately it is hardest on the family. Friends of the family, don't wait for and will keep up with you.them to ask for help, just offer it. Best to you Natasha in your future and I will really miss watching you play.

 
At 10:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is shocking and sad, we had really enjoyed seeing Natasha play and she seemed like a great young person. I'm sorry she and her family are facing such serious illnesses. We'll definitely miss seeing her this fall and winter, but its laudable that she is going home to be closer to her family and help out.

 

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