Great day for my friends at ESPN 1000 (they hate when we call them WMVP-AM (1000), but those are their call letters - I have a little more flexibility on the blog) in getting Jerry Reinsdorf and Avery Johnson today.
I thought the most interesting thing about the Reinsdorf interview wass that he said Mike D'Antoni may have been scared off from coaching the Bulls by a mandate to emphasize defense.
Reinsdorf also talked about the recent Sox controversies - Ozzie's rant, vows to quit, Dollgate - and said it was much ado about nothing and all the fault of my newspaper. Nothing new there.
Avery Johnson, meanwhile, said he is very much interested in the Bulls job and plans to talk to Pax today.
It was good stuff for the "Waddle and Silvo Show." Kidding, Silvy.
It's not that i don't agree with JR's mandate on defense or whatever, but it just makes everything that Paxson says he tries to do for the Bulls team meaningless. I wish I can just suggest that JR stay out of the teams' affairs and let his GM's do their job, but he's the owner so he can do what he wants I suppose. However, all these excuses and stories have to stop because the die hard fans can see through it. What's even worse is that he's STILL talking about the D'Antoni thing as if he now has a personal vendetta against him. Just move on and make a decision on another coach already! You lost out to the Knicks just like you lost out on other high profile negotiations in the last 20 years! Take some accountability for once, JR! JR lucked out on the flawed NBA Lottery and now I'm supposed to believe that he's a genius in running an NBA franchise? I don't think so and I'm not giving credit on the 6 Championships in the 90's to a man who "inherited" Michael Jordan on the team, not draft him.
Same goes with the White Sox controversies. Why even talk about it while your team is currently riding on an impressive winning streak? Amazing.
As for Avery Johnson... how CONVENIENT he decides to meet with the Bulls after finding out that we have the #1 pick in the draft. Like I've been saying LONG before the regular season ended for the Bulls, until I see someone with the coaching credentials like Johnson who will no doubtedly command an even bigger salary than D'Antoni, I don't expect the Bulls to hire this man. Sure hope I'm proven wrong though and if I am, I'll be the first to type it up on Roman's blog board reporting Avery Johnson as the next Bulls head coach.
"Dollgate - and said it was much ado about nothing and all the fault of my newspaper."
you think? why in the world would a stuggling newspaper have it's only female sports reporter make a big deal out of something so stupid?
BLOW UP DOLLS UNITE!!!!
JT:
JR should maintain more of a hands off approach, and give his GM's a little more latitude. and a bigger budget. I believe that his is the second largest market in the entire country, and he has two huge stadiums that he could fill for every game, if the proper product was offered to the ticket purchasing public.
As for the Sun Times struggles ... I'd really hate to see them fold. They are not so much competition for the Trib as they are an alternative; something that would be sorely lacking if they went under.
I buy both papers, and while the Tribune is the more substantial of the two on a daily basis, (on some days the times is about the size of a restaurant menu) But the Times is entertaining, has a few good columnists, (Jay Mariotti is not one of them) and it's an easier paper to read and navigate than the Tribune.
But it's all about circulation, advertisement, and demographics in this business.
Here's hoping that The Sun Times remains a viable source of news for many years to come.
Edgar, agree with everything, but the lottery comment. The NBA does it right with 1,000 balls floating and the scenarios are as close to a real life lottery as you can get. This way teams don't tank it just to get the #1 pick, I supported JR, not because he is a great owner, but he has done some good in Chicago in basketball and outside basketball. But I agree, he could do some more (like we all can.)