Jack’s Blog

This year, as in most of the past ones, there have been several in-season coaching changes due, naturally, to losing.

In the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys fired Wade Phillips, whom many in the business think highly of, while many outside the business, e.g. fans, feel the opposite.  Naturally, the following week under interim coach Jason Garrett, the Cowboys won.  To most people (with anything other than an after dinner mint for a brain), this was a major indictment on the players - highly paid men who are, or at least like to refer to themselves, as professionals.  To go from losers to winners in one week has a whole lot more to do with effort and commitment than it does with changing the leader.  True, the head coach could have communication problems but to say professionals whose production during all those weeks previous to the win was because of one change is to greatly diminish the character of the squad members.

More recently, Brad Childress of the Minnesota Vikings was cut loose.  In this case, Childress acted as though he actually wanted to be relieved of his duties - and relief is probably what he is feeling.  This isn’t to condone the moves the former Vikes’ head man made.  However, it seemed to an outsider that Childress was exactly that from the start - an outsider.  It should be interesting to see how the Vikings fare this weekend.  The players are in a no-win situation.  If they come out on top, it will look like they weren’t giving their all for their employer.  If they lose, well, that’s why the situation is a “no-win.”

The NBA season is barely underway - about one-sixth of the year has passed - and already rumors of coaching changes  are in the air.  Paul Westphal of the Sacramento Kings is on the hot seat, although the Maloof brothers who own the ballclub are preaching patience.  They’re some of the more colorful owners, yet have incredibly loyal to the people of Sac-town thus far.

The other, more high-profile coach who is skating on thin ice is Eric Spoelstra of everyone’s new favorite team to hate - the Miami Heat.  Having Pat Riley as a mentor must be exhilarating but, given past history - and with the same franchise no less - he can’t be getting too comfortable.  Especially after Riley pulled off what no one thought was possible last summer by not only keeping Dwyane Wade from leaving, but coaxing LeBron James and Chris Bosh to take less money than they could have (although neither has to worry whether he’ll be able to pay the mortgage) to join D-Wade in South Beach.

Mid-season coaching changes usually don’t work although they may reveal a combination of how little respect the players had for their now departed head coach, how little they understood their responsibility, how little talent they truly have and how little character they possess.  The late, great Jim Murray once said regarding in-season coaching changes  - and this is loosely translated:

“No situation is so bad that it can’t be made worse by firing the head coach.”

Although I played football in high school and a couple years in college, I coached for a whole lot more years than I played.  Meaning in player vs. coach disagreements, let’s just say I think the coach is innocent until proven guilty - and that the player is guilty until proven innocent.  In most cases.  And I have plenty of examples to support my beliefs.

Insubordination is something that no coach can tolerate, mainly because it usually leads to poor team chemistry, which in turn leads to losses.  Which, in turn, leads to dismissal, usually of the coach.  In this case, the hammer came down on the player.

This past week the media and fans were regaled with yet another Randy Moss press conference and this one was the classic example of what Kevin Garnett claims he accused Charlie Villanueva of being - a cancer to his team.  The one skill Randy Moss possess that might be better than his ability to catch passes is that of dividing a team.  There’s nothing wrong with being highly opinionated but, as a member of a team, the timing - and location - of your criticism is vital.  Moss has no filter.

While what he said following the Vikings’ loss to the New England Patriots could very well be true, what possible good did he think it was going to do to express it in a post game press conference after his team just lost?  It was enough to upset his coach, Brad Childress, so much that Coach Chilly canned him a couple days later.  Why he didn’t pink slip his (now former) receiver on the spot is unknown because the move was apparently made without his owner’s consent.  In fact, if reports are true, and all indications are that’s exactly the case, Childress got rid of Moss without even informing his owner.

Talk about insubordination!  Childress, obviously, went with the “Ready, Fire, Aim” strategy and it looks like it might cost him his job.  It was reported that owner Zygi Wilf (what’s with this franchise -they have an owner who has the name like a cartoon character and a coach who looks like one) was talking to the Viking players to see if the coach still has the support of his players.  On that count, Childress certainly didn’t take a straw poll, as the fact that he doesn’t seem to have solid player backing (starting, but not ending, with Brett Favre) is no secret.

I’m not not sure what the Vegas line is for Childress lasting through this season, but if you were to bet he’ll keep his position, you’d face longer odds than Dan Gilbert being named “Owner of the Year.”

The old line still holds true:

“Before engaging your mouth in motion, make sure your brain is in gear.”