Dick Vitale is an emotional tampon

Below are excerpts from a Dick Vitale article which laments the firing of Avery Johnson. It would seem that Vitale thinks that Basketball coaches should be retained no matter what happens. Teams or Team owners should be satisfied with a coach no matter why he was hired and no matter how much money these coaches demand in compensation and benefits. The Coach is always right. Even if they’re wrong. And should never be fired.

In the NBA, it is all about what happens today. If you don’t do well, just pack your bags because you’re gone. Go ask Avery Johnson, formerly the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. All he did in less than four full seasons was put up an impressive 194-70 regular-season mark.

When you are brought in to take a team to the next level and you fail to do so…

The problem is, his playoff record was 23-24. Dallas was on the verge of winning an NBA title, which would have made Johnson a hero. But after going up 2-0 against the Heat a few years back, the Mavericks won just three of their next 15 postseason games, ultimately leading to Mark Cuban’s decision to say bye-bye to his coach.

Exactly, no play off success…no big pay day. It’s not that difficult to figure out.

Johnson handled his firing with real class. He said there was no animosity between himself and the Mavericks, even believing that a change could be beneficial to everyone. Johnson did a phenomenal job in Dallas; his personality is so infectious. I feel his knowledge of the game is certainly special. He got the most out of his ability and did the same with his talent.

Unfortunately, life in the NBA can be unfair. It takes just a couple of poor performances in the playoffs to lead to the hook. Last year’s loss to the eighth-seeded Warriors was painful for the Mavs. Then following that up with a loss to New Orleans led directly to the dismissal.

Same as with the Tubby situation. Huge amounts of cash were being transferred to Avery Johnson’s bank account for one reason and one reason only.

WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!

He wasn’t being paid to have class. That’s something you do to make your mother proud. It’s not something for which one is paid.

Again. Johnson was being paid HUGE dollar amounts to WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. What about that is difficult to understand.

Dallas could not handle the unbelievable play of Chris Paul. So a man who won 60, 67 and 51 games over the last three seasons found himself unemployed. My friends, he will not be out of a job for long as several teams have openings.

Johnson will survive and he will not be kept down. He has spirit, energy and enthusiasm. Johnson has knowledge and knows how to communicate.

Who is trying to keep him down? Who is threatening Johnsons survival?

Again, he was being paid HUGE SUMS of money to take Dallas to the next level. He couldn’t quite do it. And over the past few years, he was heading in the opposite direction.

Again, I ask. Who is trying to keep him down? Who is threatening Johnson’s survival?

It is all about winning the gold trophy. If you don’t accomplish that lofty task, it is tough to survive. You can be Coach of the Year one season and then out of work the next. With the mega-dollars being thrown around, the owners certainly have a right to make changes when they desire.

Life in the big time is like a rollercoaster. Johnson has gone through a few bumpy playoff rides, but trust me … he will land on his feet and do just fine.

I’m glad that he’ll land on his feet. I just wonder why Dookie Vitale needed to pull off this puff piece. He dogs the owners out. Then excuses the failings of the coach.

If you take that big money, you take the risk of being fired. These coaches are well compensated. At both levels. College and Pro. It would serve Vitale well to remember that.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN’s first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.

There is a reason that Dick Vitale is no longer a College or Pro Coach. He wasn’t very good at it.

Avery Johnson is a victim of nothing. It’s laughable to state such a thing. He was well compensated. He had a good run. In the end, he fell short of the goals set forth by Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks. Like Avery himself stated, it was time for new leadership. Time for a change.

Dick Vitale is an emotional tampon. This opinion/puff piece was as worthless as most of the trash that he cruelly thrusts upon the unsuspecting world wide web.

Comments. Questions? Smart remarks…

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Tags: avery johnson, dallas mavericks, dick vitale, mark cuban

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