One of my fondest memories as an undergrad at Northeastern was when Jose Juan Barea debuted at the Fleet Center in 2007, as the Dallas Mavericks’ second backup point guard. Northeastern locked down hundreds of balcony seats and gave tickets away to students, along with shirts with Barea’s name and number on the back (another great move, put together by the departing Ed Klotzbier).When Barea hit the floor in the fourth quarter, the whole section of students exploded. He played seven minutes, scored five points, and the Mavs beat the Celtics, 109-95.

Now, four years later, Barea started two games in the NBA Finals this week after playing the season behind Jason Kidd, arguably the all-time greatest point guard in basketball history.

It’s a hell of an achievement no matter where Barea went to school. But in his needlessly provocative, rambling and mostly incoherent column (“Is better worse?, May 26”) writer Ryan Cloutier really missed the mark by suggesting that it all “actually doesn’t mean anything.”

While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, Cloutier should’ve tried using more facts to back up his points, rather than resort to painting a condescending portrait of bro-dom. The real “promising light at the end of the tunnel” will come if he finds a sword and follows his own advice.

–Ricky Thompson is a Northeastern graduate, class of 2008, and former editor-in-chief of The Northeastern News.