Atlanta Braves Thread XI (Gary Sheffield edition)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#11,303
#11,303
Many years ago a female co-worker set me up on a blind date. We’ll call this blind date Becky. The meeting went well initially as Becky turned out to be an exceptionally attractive blond.

Unfortunately, she spent most of our date talking about the guy she dated previously. It soon became evident that she was still hung up on him. Clearly, I was not going to get a legitimate chance to win her favor until she overcame this lingering infatuation with her ex.

I didn’t know how long the infatuation would last but I was unwilling to wait, so I moved on. Ultimately, I decided I’d rather be with someone who appreciated me than with someone still pining for an ex.

I imagine Cuonzo Martin can relate to that story. He gladly accepted a blind date with the University of*Tennessee*basketball program, a very attractive job. As time wore on, however, he realized that a large segment of the fan base, like my blond acquaintance Becky, was still hung up on an ex – a fellow named Bruce Pearl.

I suspect Cuonzo has grown weary of hearing what a colorful character Pearl was … how he led the program to a No. 1 ranking and an Elite Eight … how he made basketball fun … how he had the Vols on track to make a Final Four someday … yada, yada, yada.

Marquette*has an opening for a head basketball coach, and is showing interest in Cuonzo Martin. It isn’t as attractive a job as Tennessee but he must be asking himself this question: Do I want to stay in a relationship with someone still pining for an ex or should I move on to someone less attractive but more inclined to accept me for who I am?

Obviously, Cuonzo Martin’s situation with Tennessee is far more complicated than my situation with Becky.

I invested a few hours in Becky; Cuonzo has invested three years in Tennessee basketball.

I didn’t have to uproot my family and move to another section of the country to pursue a new relationship. Cuonzo Martin will.

I walked away from Becky knowing she was 100 percent committed to her ex. The fact 17,000 fans showed up regularly at Thompson-Boling Arena this season suggests that a large segment of the Vol Nation has moved past Bruce Pearl and is strongly behind Cuonzo Martin.

Becky wasn’t paying me $1.3 million to date her. That figure could hit $2 million once Cuonzo’s contract is sweetened in the wake of this year’s Sweet 16 run.

Clearly, there are some compelling reasons for Cuonzo Martin to stay in his relationship with Tennessee. Still, I could understand if he chooses to leave.

After all, 36,000 of Becky’s friends never signed a petition suggesting she get back together with her ex.
Click to expand...

Scout.com: Cuonzo and Marquette
 
#11,304
#11,304
Notorious B.E.N said:
What is the code? Fighters only fight fighters?
Click to expand...

Pretty much. A professional goon who has no other skills like Clune isn't supposed to start beating the crap out of a rookie who's I believe literally never fought before. After a gutless move like that, at the very least he needed to stand up and fight whichever legitimate pugilist came after him afterwards. Instead Clune fled like a little girl playing cooties. Contemptible.
 
#11,305
#11,305
Vercingetorix said:
Pretty much. A professional goon who has no other skills like Clune isn't supposed to start beating the crap out of a rookie who's I believe literally never fought before. At the very least he needed to stand up and fight whichever legitimate pugilist came after him. Instead Clune fled like a little girl playing cooties. Contemptible.
Click to expand...

Sounds *****ish, not cool.
 
#11,307
#11,307
LWS says that of Martin left, the AD would pay what Cuonzo's current pay is, so right around $1.5M per year.

That would be bad.
 
#11,308
#11,308
Vercingetorix said:
As I said last night, if the stuff about the boosters' planes is true, then I don't see why anybody decent would come here.
Click to expand...

Pay fixes a lot of things.

I have no idea what the UT AD would do.

At this point, I would prefer to keep Martin.
 
#11,309
#11,309
zjcvols said:
Pay fixes a lot of things.

I have no idea what the UT AD would do.

At this point, I would prefer to keep Martin.
Click to expand...

I've obviously been on the FIRE HIM train all year but I'm heavily aware how close-knit the coaching profession is. If Cuonzo leaves now then my assumption is that the whole coaching world will be under the impression that he left because we f*** him, and I don't know how conducive that is to hiring the so-called right guy. At this point I'd rather just keep Martin a few more years too.
 
#11,310
#11,310
zjcvols said:
LWS says that of Martin left, the AD would pay what Cuonzo's current pay is, so right around $1.5M per year.

That would be bad.
Click to expand...

I don't understand why we're willing to build something like the Pratt Pavilion and then cheap out on salary. We might as well just shut down basketball if that's all we're willing to pay for a coach.
 
#11,311
#11,311
Vercingetorix said:
I've obviously been on the FIRE HIM train all year but I'm heavily aware how close-knit the coaching profession is. If Cuonzo leaves now then my assumption is that the whole coaching world will be under the impression that he left because we f*** him, and I don't know how conducive that is to hiring the so-called right guy. At this point I'd rather just keep Martin a few more years too.
Click to expand...

Same thought process. If UT goes after Ben Howland or Lawrence Frank, then yeah bye Cuonzo.

But UT would just hire somebody like Donnie Tyndall. No thanks at this point.
 
#11,312
#11,312
Vercingetorix said:
I don't understand why we're willing to build something like the Pratt Pavilion and then cheap out on salary. We might as well just shut down basketball if that's all we're willing to pay for a coach.
Click to expand...

I don't know either. In sports, you need to spend money to make money most of the time.

I don't know what Hart would do. I think Hart is doing fine here but if Cuonzo leaves, he has to hit a home run with basketball.
 
#11,313
#11,313
How do you hit a home run if the prevailing opinion in the profession is that Cuonzo got the hell out because the fanbase is still obsessed with Pearl and the boosters will screw you over the minute they sour on you? You can make it up with money, maybe, but we all know UT won't.
 
#11,314
#11,314
Vercingetorix said:
How do you hit a home run if the prevailing opinion in the profession is that Cuonzo got the hell out because the fanbase is still obsessed with Pearl and the boosters will screw you over the minute they sour on you? You can make it up with money, maybe, but we all know UT won't.
Click to expand...

I didn't say it would be easy. It would be extremely difficult.

Hiring a former NBA guy (Scott Skiles, Lawrence Frank, etc.) could help alleviate that, but then you have to pay big money.
 
#11,315
#11,315
The future you guys

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrCuJWOvUlk[/youtube]
 
#11,316
#11,316
The booster thing sucks, but college basketball coaching is a lot about money, moreso then even football. Why? I don't know, but it is. If UT is willing to shell out $2-3M, then those issue will be pushed to the side and won't be a big deal. But I just don't see that happening from the UT AD. I mean, you're Dave Hart, you have a decent ego, you've done this rodeo before, and you just had a guy who was the 10th highest paid coach who has produced top 4 SEC results and got you a nice tourney run. He probably thinks Cuonzo type guys are a dime a dozen. I don't think Cuonzo is great by any means, but he's still done an above average job here. It's not going to be easy to replace him.
 
#11,317
#11,317
One more thing.

The booster thing wasn't really a "Cuonzo needs to go a thing".

Apparently it was a "We want Bruce" power ploy to try and get Hart to get Pearl. The boosters were trying to make a statement.

It backfired.
 
#11,320
#11,320
zjcvols said:
I didn't say it would be easy. It would be extremely difficult.

Hiring a former NBA guy (Scott Skiles, Lawrence Frank, etc.) could help alleviate that, but then you have to pay big money.
Click to expand...

Dumb question coming up...


Before Auburn hired Pearl, a lot of Auburn people were on the "hire Chuck Persons" bandwagon because he played there and it would get fans interested. He has been an assistant coach and Head coach in Korea. Is there anyone UT could hire in that mold? Im not suggesting that happen, just wondering what Candidates there might be? Allan Houston is an assistant GM but not a coach and i highly doubt he would leave NY as the Asst GM.
 
#11,321
#11,321
The only former Vol BB player I know of who coaches is my childhood hero Howard Wood, who coaches high school girls in New York. Don't think that's going to happen.
 
#11,322
#11,322
Notorious B.E.N said:
Dumb question coming up...


Before Auburn hired Pearl, a lot of Auburn people were on the "hire Chuck Persons" bandwagon because he played there and it would get fans interested. He has been an assistant coach and Head coach in Korea. Is there anyone UT could hire in that mold? Im not suggesting that happen, just wondering what Candidates there might be? Allan Houston is an assistant GM but not a coach and i highly doubt he would leave NY as the Asst GM.
Click to expand...

There isn't anyone that comes to my mind right now other than Ernie Grunfeld, and he's never coached before. Same thing with Houston.

There is a couple coaches that have ties to UT, one being Lawrence Frank. He coached here as an assistant for a few years with Kevin O'Neill and loved living in East Tennessee. He showed some interest in the job, but he wanted one more shot at the NBA before going to the college game. He just got screwed in Brooklyn and became the scapegoat, and I've read that he is really tired of the NBA politic game.
 
#11,324
#11,324
zjcvols said:
There isn't anyone that comes to my mind right now other than Ernie Grunfeld, and he's never coached before. Same thing with Houston.

There is a couple coaches that have ties to UT, one being Lawrence Frank. He coached here as an assistant for a few years with Kevin O'Neill and loved living in East Tennessee. He showed some interest in the job, but he wanted one more shot at the NBA before going to the college game. He just got screwed in Brooklyn and became the scapegoat, and I've read that he is really tired of the NBA politic game.
Click to expand...

Do you think there's a legit shot at him? Not for 1.5 mil of course.
 
#11,325
#11,325
Notorious B.E.N said:
Do you think there's a legit shot at him? Not for 1.5 mil of course.
Click to expand...

Frank? Yes. I would love him. Some think his style won't work and that he wouldn't put in the time to recruit. I respectfully disagree with that notion.

Ben Howland would be the best fit for the program and bring exactly what Tennessee needs (winning pedigree, recruiting ties to the South, excellent strategist) and wouldn't have to put up with the BS that he did at UCLA.

I highly doubt that if Martin leaves (and I'm resigned to the fact that he will) Howland will even be considered.
 
New posts
Status
Not open for further replies.

VN Store



Back
Top