I hate how honest, if sometimes harsh, appraisal has become throwing a player under the bus. If coaches only use coachspeak during press conferences or interviews, people complain. When they call a spade a spade, people complain.
I don't really have a problem with coach speak - I don't think how well a coach handles a presser has much to do with how good a coach he is. It's one thing to honestly critique the player. But snark adds nothing and looks like a coach doesn't have his players' backs. Now, I haven't listened to the Pitino presser, so I can't say whether he gave fair criticism or was just sounding off on one of his players.
I think Russdiculous aged him.
And just how is he a clown? Really dumb remark.
I think using all that Force lightning is taking its toll on Rick Palpitino
I prefer a coach be open and honest during a press conference. I agree that having a sarcastically bad attitude is uncalled for, but I've seen people complain about a coach simply saying, "So and so played terribly tonight. We can't win with him playing the way he did." People will say that's throwing a kid under the bus when it's not. I didn't see the presser either, my comment is mostly about the reactions I've seen to some of JB's comments in the past. I've seen him cross the line from time to time, but I think he's mostly just brutally honest. Personally, I hate coach speak. I hate when anyone being interviewed speaks in cliches instead of giving insightful answers to questions. It belittles the questioner and the audience.
"Aww, these kids today, with their MTV and hippity-hoppity music on the interwebs..."
Seriously, though- these kids grow up being idolized in AAU and then expect to go to a major program and lolly-gag their way to success.
Some kids need a kick in the butt, not just a pat on the back. Both Pitino and JB among many other HC's, have done this a long, long time- and I defer to their judgment on how to handle it.
IMHO, many posters are too thin-skinned & quick to dump on the tough love being meted out. The world used to be alot less wimpy then it is nowadays.
He's a great coach, and I could care less about what's in your book . Now if he sat on the bench picking his nose, you'd probably eat that up.
Fair enough, I'm OK with the quote you gave.
