So, while Larry Brown insists that he wants to remain with the Pistons, everyone else is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Based on how he allgedly courted the Cavaliers for their team president position while the Pistons were still in the playoffs, everyone's wondering when Larry Brown's going to announce he's leaving.
Only there's speculation that he won't go, no matter how much the team wants him to leave at this point, because of his endangerment of team chemistry (the players have apparently lost faith in him). Rather than go, he allegedly wants the team to fire him so he can get paid the remainder of his contract money and go to New York or somewhere.
I wish I could say I was surprised, but since I'm a Pacers fan I'm really not. I'll always be grateful to him for getting our current era of annual contendership off the ground, but I still think he's an ass for leaving after a disappointing 1996-97 campaign in which our injury-riddled team wasn't able to make the playoffs.
Since then he's bailed on the 76ers, and it looks like he's about to bail on the Pistons, a team that finally brought him the NBA Championship that had eluded him for so long.
Anyone who knows me knows I'm no fan of the Pistons (though I do respect them a great deal), but... who wants to be the first to light an effigy?
(edited by ekedolphin on 8.7.05 0300) “Hey, I'm bilingual! I speak Profanity and English!" --Charles Barkley, Inside the NBA, May 8, 2005
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Originally posted by Blanket JacksonAs a Knicks fan, you better HOPE Zeke's Master Plan works out, because Plan B might be to put himself on the bench. :)
As a Pacers fan I'll answer Frosty's question. Yeah, he did all right, considering that we were rebuilding and still didn't miss the playoffs. But to call his three years in Indianapolis an unqualified success would be overstating the case severely-- especially considering some of his boneheaded strategies in the 2002 first-round playoff series against Boston.
I'm thankful to Isiah for some of the things he did to help our team, but it's clear he wasn't the long-term solution, so I'm glad we've got Carlisle.
And now that I've mentioned Carlisle, this thread's talked about three former Pacers coaches, heehee. Maybe I should just mention the name Larry Bird so we're up to four.
“Hey, I'm bilingual! I speak Profanity and English!" --Charles Barkley, Inside the NBA, May 8, 2005
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"You can look the other way once, and it's no big deal, except it makes it easier for you to compromise the next time, and pretty soon that's all your doing; compromising, because that's the way you think things are done. You know those guys I busted? You think they were the bad guys? Because they weren't, they weren't bad guys, they were just like you and me. Except they compromised... Once." -- Jack Bauer
Not even sure why this is news yet, especially since it will all be moot if he stays with the Pistons. It's not even really a hot topic here in Detroit. Regardless, the Pistons hired him to get over the hump and help get a title. He did that - and the team was a much bigger reason the Pistons won than the coach. I could personally care less if he took a huge dump at center court of the Palace tomorrow and hopped on a plane to New York. He may be a douche, but he's a douche with a ring.
Sure, I would've liked to see the Pistons win the title again this year, but I'm not gonna say that all our title hopes ride with Larry.
And Kawshen, thanks for posting the logos. I had heard about the change but had not yet seen the new ones. Perhaps the Pistons can put an end to mascots like Hooper and Sir Dunks-a-lot now. Sheesh.
Ohhhhhhh, but rest assured Mason will NEVER go away. He will thrill Piston fans and annoy the rest for years to come. Just like the damn Bulls PA guy did for me....
I'm listening right now to the reputable local sports radio station, 1130 AM. This is certainly an interesting, twisted story and I thank god for this station and throwing in some good humor while discussing this nonsense.
That said, thank GOD I'm not a basketball fan or I'd be really pissed. Instead I'm only annoyed, as a Detroiter.
We're the middle children of history...no purpose or place. We have no Great War, no Great Depression. Our great war, our defining crucible, is a spiritual war.
So, though Larry Brown was becoming part of the problem instead of part of the solution, he wouldn't quit. So the Pistons bought out his contract and he still gets the money he would have gotten for coaching the Pistons, except he's not coaching the Pistons.
The man can play the system better than anyone I know.
And now he'll "informally" advise the Cavaliers until his "obligations" to the Pistons are clear, and then he'll make a shocking recovery~! and coach for another team. This guy really is a piece of work.
“Hey, I'm bilingual! I speak Profanity and English!" --Charles Barkley, Inside the NBA, May 8, 2005
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Originally posted by ekedolphinThis guy really is a piece of work.
Agreed. I used to think maybe he just had no patience for losing teams, or maybe he wasnt even doing it on purpose, right? He just kept getting recruited by teams that were better than the team he was already working for or something. Except THIS TIME, the Pistons were only 1 game away from winning a SECOND title in as many years!
If I was a GM, why would I hire this guy for any length of time? Larry Brown, in and of himself, isn't an automatic championship. At some point, the headaches just aren't worth him.
You wanted the best, you got... Out of Context Quote of the Week.
"I'll understand if you all just threw up in your mouths reading that..." (Reverend J Shaft)
Originally posted by Reverend J Shaft a few hours before the story brokeNot even sure why this is news yet, especially since it will all be moot if he stays with the Pistons. It's not even really a hot topic here in Detroit.
Boy, that changed quickly...
Let me be the first to say "Good riddance!" I will never forgive LB for taking the Pistons to their first championship in 14 years and almost winning another. Even though the Pistons (and half the free world) knew what they were getting when they hired him, I am shocked - simply SHOCKED - that he is leaving after two years. Even though fans and players alike were begging him not to go after last year's championship, when most of the local media was speculating he might go elsewhere, I'm simply appalled that the Pistons were manipulated - no, FORCED - to buy out the rest of his contract.
As Brown was the main reason why the Pistons won, I am saddened to see all hopes of a championship leave with him. Oh, the humanity!!! (sniff, sniff)
The Knicks president is expected to meet with the Hall of Fame coach as soon as tomorrow and is prepared to offer Brown a five-year contract worth between $50 million and $60 million, which would make him the highest-paid coach in NBA history. The Knicks are optimistic that they could have a deal in place by next week.
Maybe LB should just do what Phil did. Take a year off and THEN come back for the eight-figure salary.
Not surprised at all Zeke is willing to give a nomad with failing health a contract like this.
(edited by CRZ on 20.7.05 1253)
"The way I feel right now, I'd trade my mother if the right deal came along." -- Isiah Thomas.
Originally posted by KawshenNot surprised at all Zeke is willing to give a nomad with failing health a contract like this.
Would it be possible for Zeke to add a clause to LB's contract that says he can only get bought out for X dollars if he leaves early and only after Y amount of years, or maybe nothing at all if he leaves early (for a non -health-related reason)? And if so, would LB go for it? Cause if I was the GM/president of a team looking to hire LB, that's what I'm talking about.
Holy shit! Only Zeke would be dumb enough to pay any coach, let alone Larry Brown with his history of getting bored with teams, that kind of money. Granted, Brown's a great coach, but the Knicks have a lot more problems than he can solve by himself.
And if the Knicks miss the playoffs this year, I guarantee you you'll hear speculation already. And I wouldn't be too surprised if Larry pulls this shit again, forcing Zeke to fire him or buy out his contract so that, all in all, he gets paid $50 million for one year of work.
I'm not saying "BANK ON IT~!" or anything, but just wait and see.
Also, after four years of Larry Brown coaching the Pacers (granted, it was a few years ago, but nevertheless), it'll be odd seeing him on the Knicks sidelines.
“Great. He spends skill points on Perform (Kazoo), and now I have to make a Knowledge (Limits of My Own Sanity) skill check." --Roy Greenhilt, The Order of the Stick
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Originally posted by New York TimesLarry Brown, the Hall of Famer and NBA world champion, has agreed to coach the New York Knicks .
"He's made his decision that he wants to coach the Knicks," Brown's agent, Joe Glass, said yesterday. "Now it's up to the Knicks and myself to come up with an arrangement that works for both parties."
By assuming the helm of a club that has been spiraling downward for the better part of a decade, Brown has taken on what may be the most challenging assignment of a career that spans three decades.
Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island watching the hometown Knicks, Brown now becomes the 22nd head coach of the New York franchise.
Brown agreed in principle to the Knicks’ offer and negotiations could be completed on Wednesday. The team intends to make an announcement by Thursday barring any unexpected holdups.
...
While precise deal parameters remain unknown, Brown is expected to earn $10 million to $12 million annually for three to five years.
I think I'll just wait and see as far as this goes.
"The way I feel right now, I'd trade my mother if the right deal came along." -- Isiah Thomas.
I went 6 and 2 in the first round. Shockingly good for me East: Nets vs. Celtics: Boston in 7 Pistons vs. Iverson: Philadelphia in 6 West: Lakers vs. Spurs: Los Angeles in 7 Kings vs. Mavs: Dallas in 7. Sorry Zed
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