The Knicks are making coaching news again.
Kentucky Wildcats coach John Calipari defeated coach Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks on Monday in New Orleans and captured Kentucky's eighth national title.
2011
This time, it's the open flirtation with the hottest name, the latest headliner, the flavor of this month, John Calipari, coach of the recently crowned NCAA champions, Kentucky Wildcats. No, they haven't announced they are seeking to discuss the job with him. Not even an incompetent like James Dolan would be brazen enough to admit that kind of dalliance when his team has a coach, although interim, who is authoring a rally of sorts in this harebrained shortened mad dash of a season. The reports, however, would indicate that someone in the Knick organization has to be feeding information quite surreptitiously to the media concerning the quest for the next Red Auerbach.
Calipari has articulated all the right things. Indeed, why would he leave a national champion that, by the way, seems to have a similar one-and-done class on the way for next year's schedule? The Knicks are counting on the lure of an absurd amount of dollars, and the lingering displeasure Calipari must have about his one horrendous professional experience with the Nets. He's got to want to prove he can coach at the next level, right?
If Calipari is thinking clearly, he will stay as far away from the toxicity of the Knicks situation as possible. On the flip side, if there is a person with wisdom that can penetrate the penthouse over at Madison Square Garden, perhaps they could share the following information…it's not about the coach. The Knicks have chased away all manner of coaches over the last decade. The departures are conveniently bracketed by Jeff Van Gundy, who left on his own, and Mike D'Antoni, who did the same. This is unheard of in coaching circles. How many quit?
No, the changes have to start at the top. As long as James Dolan runs the Knicks, they will be a ridiculed, second-rate organization that can only attract good coaches with exorbitant money…see Larry Brown and his nearly $20 million buyout after one year of head-collisions with a Dolan-led front office.
Dolan must be convinced somehow he is the albatross, the difference between eventual success and certain failure. No coach can make that kind of difference.
Glenn Vallach has been a basketball fan, player, and coach during his lifetime and, as such, an ardent follower of the NBA even with all its warts. He have also been a New York Knick fan since the days of Howie Komives and Walt Bellamy, when he regularly boarded the IRT Subway at 180th Street in the Bronx for a trip to the Garden to see his heroes.
Sources:
- · Yahoo! Sports New York Knicks page
- · Yahoo! Sports Kentucky Wildcats page
- · Colin Fly, The Associated Press, Calipari now has championship credentials
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