Oliver twisting in the wind
The No. 1 team in the area has been without its coach for eight games.
Curie’s Mike Oliver has been suspended since late January. Chicago Public Schools removed him from his security position after an allegation of a physical altercation with a student.
Oliver is extremely frustrated but has remained patient and believes that CPS will clear him when it finishes investigating.
“People [at Curie] have told me the investigators came out, looked at cameras and stuff, but that was it,” Oliver said. “I’m just sitting at home. I’m out in limbo, and I don’t know anything. I’m not sure where the investigation is going to finish.”
Oliver met with Rev. Jesse Jackson last week and said the Rainbow PUSH Coalition has been supportive.
“There is some stuff they are planning with some local pastors,” Oliver said. “There could be something big. We are just trying to see where this goes next week.”
The Condors picked up a big victory at Oak Forest on Saturday and have one more major showdown before the playoffs Wednesday at No. 5 Notre Dame.
“It is a tough situation, but we have to keep our heads on track,” Condors senior Savieon Williams said. “We know what the big prize is, and we have to focus on that, winning the state championship.”
The incident is alleged to have happened during Oliver’s job as a security guard at Curie, not as a coach, and it involved a student who isn’t on the basketball team. Several parents of basketball players held a rally Feb. 7 in support of Oliver, demanding answers from CPS.
“No one is communicating from
CPS,” Oliver said. “Why do I have to make a spectacle of this? I just want a fair investigation.”
Oliver, a Curie grad, led the Condors to the Class 4A state title in 2015-16. He previously was suspended by the IHSA in 2016 and by CPS in 2014 after an eligibility scandal.
Oliver has compiled a 542-133 record in 27 seasons.
“I’ve worked for CPS in security for 27 years, and I’ve never had an allegation against me,” Oliver said. “I’ve never even had a writeup from a principal or a parent conference.”
Super 25 addition
Indian Creek (30-0): There has been a revolving door at the bottom of the rankings for the last few weeks. Are the Timberwolves as good as Fenwick, Benet, Hinsdale
South or Niles North? Probably not. But those teams all have had multiple weeks in the Super 25. If a perfect regular season doesn’t get a team into the rankings, what will?
Dropping out
Fenwick (23-7): The Friars lost to Loyola at home last week. There’s no shame in that, and clearly they will be a major factor in the playoffs.