2008 Woodie Awards
Give Del Negro, Paxson a chance
Andrew Smothers
Issue date: 6/16/08 Section: Sports
You're right. Vinny Del Negro is no Phil Jackson. Nor is he Red Aurbach, Greg Popovich, Mike D'Antoni, or Doc Rivers. At this point in time, he has as much professional coaching experience as you and I do. But let's at least give him a chance.
Chicago sports broadcasters have lambasted GM John Paxson's hiring of Del Negro from the moment it was reported, saying that Del Negro is just a petty consolation prize from the D'Antoni sweepstakes, which the Bulls lost to New York. After stealing two of the Knicks' draft picks in exchange for the mobile mass that is Eddy Curry, it's about time the Bulls gave something to the Big Apple, anyway.
The Chicago media has ripped owner Jerry Reinsdorf for being too cheap to pay a "real" coach. They've ripped Paxson for spending 52 days in search of a new coach and "settling" for Del Negro. And they've ripped Del Negro for having less coaching experience than my sixth grade gym teacher.
What everyone is forgetting is that the Bulls have tried practically everything since Michael Jordan packed up his North Carolina practice shorts and took his dynasty with him. They've tried a college coach in Tim Floyd. They've tried a former player with assistant coaching experience in Bill Cartwright. They've tried a successful former head coach and player in Scott Skiles. They tried a longtime assistant in Jim Boyland. None of those worked out. So why not try a fresh face? Why not at least trust Paxson's judgement here?
The media said that Reinsdorf and Paxson botched the D'Antoni and Doug Collins negotiations and made a mockery of the coaching search. But why would a franchise want a coach obviously only in it for the money like D'Antoni, or someone who says one week that there was no bone in his body with a desire to coach and then says he wants to lead a team the very next week, as Collins did?
At his introductory press conference, Del Negro acknowledged his inexperience but welcomed the challenge of learning on the job.
Chicago sports broadcasters have lambasted GM John Paxson's hiring of Del Negro from the moment it was reported, saying that Del Negro is just a petty consolation prize from the D'Antoni sweepstakes, which the Bulls lost to New York. After stealing two of the Knicks' draft picks in exchange for the mobile mass that is Eddy Curry, it's about time the Bulls gave something to the Big Apple, anyway.
The Chicago media has ripped owner Jerry Reinsdorf for being too cheap to pay a "real" coach. They've ripped Paxson for spending 52 days in search of a new coach and "settling" for Del Negro. And they've ripped Del Negro for having less coaching experience than my sixth grade gym teacher.
What everyone is forgetting is that the Bulls have tried practically everything since Michael Jordan packed up his North Carolina practice shorts and took his dynasty with him. They've tried a college coach in Tim Floyd. They've tried a former player with assistant coaching experience in Bill Cartwright. They've tried a successful former head coach and player in Scott Skiles. They tried a longtime assistant in Jim Boyland. None of those worked out. So why not try a fresh face? Why not at least trust Paxson's judgement here?
The media said that Reinsdorf and Paxson botched the D'Antoni and Doug Collins negotiations and made a mockery of the coaching search. But why would a franchise want a coach obviously only in it for the money like D'Antoni, or someone who says one week that there was no bone in his body with a desire to coach and then says he wants to lead a team the very next week, as Collins did?
At his introductory press conference, Del Negro acknowledged his inexperience but welcomed the challenge of learning on the job.
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