Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim criticized Greensboro, North Carolina, for being a place of "no value" when it hosts the ACC tournament in a post-game conference after the Orange's 62-57 loss to Miami. The conference has expanded their tour of stops for the annual men's basketball tournament, and it's taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York this season. The city hasn't taken too kindly to the remarks. After the City of Greensboro's Twitter account tossed a little jab about losing in the early rounds, their Minor League Baseball team fired back with a theme surrounding it.
What did Jim Boeheim say about Greensboro?
"There's no value in playing in Greensboro. None." Those were the words Boeheim used to discuss his displeasure with having the basketball tournament where the ACC's offices are. He backed up his claim by saying recruiting and media coverage is improved by playing in arenas located in New York City and Washington, D.C. He also noted that by playing at Madison Square Garden, that was what propped up the Big East Conference as being the premier men's basketball conference in the past.
It should come as no surprise that Greensboro's reaction was less than favorable. Here's what the City of Greensboro responded with on social media, although for clarification purposes Syracuse lost in the second round to Miami.
.@AdamZagoria @ACCSports We kindly disagree. But I guess you can lose in the 1st round anywhere. At least it's a quick ride home.
— City of Greensboro (@greensborocity) March 8, 2017
Greensboro's baseball team also responds to Boeheim
The Greensboro Grasshoppers, a minor league baseball team for the city, will also be hosting the "Jim Boeheim (No) Value Night" on April 11th.
The deal gives anybody with a valid ID showing they live in Syracuse, NY, free entry into the game, $20 worth of concession items, and they'll be able to meet a "bat dog" named Miss Babe Ruth. Grasshoppers team president Donald Moore says that Boeheim will be extended an invitation to the game and will be hailed as the "Whine of the Game." He later states that despite giving him a seat, "his presence will bring us no value. None."
Considering Syracuse to Greensboro is roughly a 10-hour drive, it'll be hard to see many northern residents making the trek down to a free minor league game.