Tomjanovich didn't step down all on his own -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Marc Stein ESPN.com It was widely known in NBA circles that Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander was not pleased with the team's inability to make the playoffs for a fourth straight season. Adding to his angst were an all-Texas matchup of San Antonio and Dallas in the conference finals, and Houston's forthcoming move into a new building in October. Rudy Tomjanovich, while regarded as a living legend after more than three decades with the Rockets, has been criticized in recent years for relying too much on the one-on-one skills of point guard Steve Francis and shooting guard Cuttino Mobley. Tomjanovich, whose season was cut short by bladder cancer, in recent weeks indicated that he was feeling increasingly better and eager to resume his coaching duties next season. That meant Alexander, if he wanted a coaching change, would either have to fire the face of the franchise or convince Tomjanovich to negotiate a buyout of his contract. It appears that Tomjanovich finally relented, agreeing to negotiate a settlement and then move to the front office. The possibility remained that health reasons might have forced Tomjanovich to leave the bench anyway, but that determination was to be made next month, when Tomjanovich will undergo a biopsy to assess his recovery from cancer. The Rockets are now free to pursue former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, who has already interviewed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. It's hardly a stretch, though, to suggest that the Houston job would be more attractive to Van Gundy, given Francis' more advanced stage of development and Yao's fine rookie season. Coaching James in his home state, with all the scrutiny he's likely to generate, could easily be viewed as the tougher job, albeit removed from the ultra-competitive Western Conference. For Tomjanovich, meanwhile, it was a hasty finish to a lifetime of success with the only team he has ever known. His coaching career, however, isn't necessarily over. After winning two championships and an Olympic gold medal, Tomjanovich will undoubtedly have the opportunity to coach elsewhere in the future if he wishes. http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/misc/1558508.html
I believe it, I mean, i read in the chron like this week that he was looking forward to the next season and waiting for another biopsy in 6 weeks. That's 2 legends in a row who didn't go out th way they should have. Depressing.
That's called an "opinion." While good points, you can't say it's true, and you can't say it's false.
Does anything ever go out the way it should? Jordan was supposed to go out a winner but came back and well..we all know what happened. Malone was supposed to retire as a Jazz and it looks like that isn't happening.
Of course Rudy was shoved out. Wasn't there an article in the Chronicle earlier this week that mentioned how great Rudy was feeling and how he was looking forward to coaching next year. Its hard to believe that he would do a 180 and change his opinion in less than a week or so. Oh well, its done with now. Time to move on.
I love Marc Stein. He is the best NBA report ESPN has IMO. However, I have to completely disagree with him. I don't believe it for a second. From Rudy: It was on his way to a meeting Sunday with Rockets owner Leslie Alexander to discuss his plans that Tomjanovich drove past Minute maid Park and saw fans strolling towards the Astros game. "That's the minute it hit me," he said. "I wanted to be one of them. I wanted to just go to a game and ejoy (and) not have everything hanging on the outcome." From Les: Rockets owner Leslie Alexander describedd what he wanted in a new coach, then stopped himself. Instead of a new coach, he said, he wanted his old coach. "Unfortunately," Alexander said, "Rudy is not available." "We spoke," Alexander said. "He said, 'The truth is, Les, I don't want to coach anymore. The doctrs told me stress could hurt me in the long term.' " -------------------------------------- IMO, this was all Rudy. He needed a break from the stress and wanted to get his health back. He has made this so clear by everything he has said. Saying that he was forced out is ludicrous.
Stein is right though he was a little more dramatic than he probably should've been. Here's how this happens: Les (and many fans for that matter) grows impatient with the team's struggles and is worries that young players aren't developing rapidly enough. He lets it be known sometime in the spring that if there are not significant improvements, there will be changes. Now, understand, this is being a good owner. Fans want a winner and if he wants the seats filled in the new building, he has to deliver that to them. No coach, other than Wes Unseld (who was coaching a HORRIFIC Washington Bullets team at the time) has survived four straight seasons missing the playoffs. It isn't like this should be a shock to anyone. Enter Rudy. Rudy gets sick and has to take a leave of absence. As a result, Les gives him an incomplete on the season. Would they have reached the playoffs with him coaching? We'll never know. However, Les still lets Rudy know that, assuming he is healthy enough to return, changes MUST be made to the roster and results will be manditory. Anything short of the playoffs next year means it will be time to clean house. Period. Again, that is Les doing his job, being a boss. If he did any less, we would probably all be pissed. Rudy, with words of his doctors telling him stress could exaserbate his condition fresh in his head, begins to feel the pressure of returning to coaching. He starts to wonder if it is a good idea to go through that facing the recovery still ahead of him. Unlike the pressure he put on himself to succeed, this is the realization that he must perform or risk being fired AND potentially losing the respect of fans, players and teams around the league. Remember that the same pressure to succeed after his return from "the punch" helped him to decide it was time to retire as a player. Who can blame him in either instance? He is a smart man who understands that his responsibilities off the floor, both to himself and his family, must outweigh his love of the game. He also knows that coaching issues could be a distraction to the team and he has NEVER wanted anything to take away from that. That is why he is such an admirable guy deserving of all the praise we can lump onto him. So, did Les force him out? In a sense, he did, but not in the way some might like to portray. He did what he had to do to convince everyone that they better put up or shut up. Rudy did what he had to do by understanding that pressure and honorably stepping aside both for himself and for the team. If you want to call that shoving him out, so be it, but this seems much more mutual than that.
Common men ......... so you did not figure out what Jonathan Feigen was trying to do? That article was strictly aimed towards Les Alexander and the fans. It was a "politically motivated" article/report. Negotiations between Rudy and Les was already in motion before that article was completed. The article was meant to make Les rethink somethings or possibly put some pressure on him. Rudy has some blame here. He is a great guy who just over worked and over achieved. He was burnt out too in spite of his confession of his rejuvenation. He gave Francis and Mobley way too much power. His assistant were mediocre too - they let him down when he need them most. He was also guilty of false sense of security - complacency. It is time for him to step back and get healthy physically and psychology completely. He is an icon and will always be around here. But ever good thing comes to an end often not the way you want it. He is our "Moses" - bringing us out of the Compaq center. Now we need a "Joshua" who will guide us to Canaan or rather the promised land (Downtown Houston). Interestingly, the same people Moses rescued from the hands of the Egyptians contributed to what caused him not to see the promised land. Who will be our Joshua? What qualities should Joshua have (see Exodus, Numbers in the old testament).
What do you mean this shouldn't be a shock to anyone! When the best coach ever in Houston is fired then that is something to be shocked about. Rudy is the Rockets. He is everything that is good and positive about this team. He is the Heart behind our championships! And if firing him doesn't shock you because you are happy to see him go because you want Van Gundy or Brown than say it, but don't try and sugarcoat it by trying to convince us that Les is a great owner for doing this. Les is just a man with lots of money. But Rudy is the best thing the Rockets will ever lose!
Old Man You are still suffering from Post Shock Syndrome (PSS). Most Psychiatric doctors can treat this illness providing that you have Medicare coverage (I suppose you do). Your opinion of my post will change with time and proper treatment. I guarantee that.
