McNamee: Coaches wielding too much power
By Alex Mcnamee, Effingham Daily News, Ill. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
They trade in their uniforms for Dockers and clipboards, and move to the sidelines to coach up the next generation. Putting on the headset, calling the plays and giving the signs is still the most common path to a stable retirement -- even better than the latest trends involving television analysis and suing a league.
But the grace period between retiring and hiring is now far too short, especially for head coaches and especially in the
Kerr went from player to analyst to coach at a similar pace to his predecessor,
Fisher was playing in the conference finals, like, yesterday and today he's coaching the
Neither of these three men had coached a game in their lives before becoming head honchos for professional teams. Neither had
I'm not bothered by the career arcs of Jackson, Kerr or Fisher; at least, not yet.
I'm more than a little bitter about Kidd, who reportedly demanded his way out of the
Drew heard all the Kidd-to-
What did
This unfortunate "trade a coach" trend started with
It's silly no matter what, but Rivers is at least a much more respected gentleman of the league and earned his coaching chops through years of trial and error.
Kidd hasn't done anything to deserve what he's getting.
I refuse to accept the "great playing career" bit or the "well the
If I owned the
Kidd shouldn't have this power because he hasn't earned it and, even though I like Rivers, it's a shame that coaches know they have the option.
Players have the "opt out," free agency and no-trade clauses as options in their contracts. Many with disgruntled attitudes have forced their way out of a franchise before, but you don't see it with coaches.
It's hard to argue against players and coaches having similar rights, but what some of these new, young coaches need to understand is that players and coaches are held by different standards.
A discontent player forcing a trade isn't necessarily costing someone their job. Roster movement is so fluid in professional leagues that you don't think twice about it. But Kidd forced his way into a franchise that already had a head coach. There ought to be something on Drew's end that can prevent this from happening.
Maybe this kind of shady, back-door deals have always happened in the
The league is enabling coaches like Kidd by allowing this to happen. Former commissioner
This inexperienced coaching trend is popping up in other leagues, too.
But these other coaches aren't making ransom demands like Kidd. Even the Rivers to
It doesn't make a lot of sense how these untested former players are getting such high-paying head coaching jobs, but Kidd is taking it to another level.
Lost in all of this mess is the sad story of Drew, who lost a job.
Some bratty kid wanted to play house in Drew's arena and
The
Drew wasn't going to get fired in
He better show that he's worth something because he decided he wanted to make a big, dramatic exit.
I'll be the guy rooting against him.
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