Sorry Ewing haters, it's gonna happen. It'll be a good thing so just deal with it. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36720-2003Jun9.html?nav=hptoc_s Van Gundy Nixes Wizards For Rockets By Steve Wyche Washington Post Staff Writer NEW YORK, June 9 -- Former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy notified the Houston Rockets this morning that he will accept their head coaching job, leaving the Washington Wizards still searching. The Wizards interviewed Van Gundy last Wednesday and hoped to hire him as coach and, possibly, president of basketball operations. However, Van Gundy joined former Philadelphia coach Larry Brown, now coach of the Detroit Pistons, in spurning the Wizards for teams with more recent success and better players despite the lure of both jobs and a possible salary of about $7 million per year. There were reports today that Washington only had offered Van Gundy the coaching job, left vacant when the Wizards fired one of Van Gundy's good friends, Doug Collins. However, league sources said Van Gundy had the opportunity to oversee player personnel and to coach the Wizards. Washington was said to be optimistic that it could land Van Gundy, in part because Van Gundy and his wife were concerned about moving their family from New York to Houston, a source said. Shortly after notifying the Rockets of his decision, Van Gundy called Wizards owner Abe Pollin to tell him he was taking the Houston job, a source said. Van Gundy was finalizing contract terms and is expected to be officially named coach soon. The Rockets agreed to give the Knicks unspecified compensation for Van Gundy because he remains under contract with New York until July 31. Once he is under contract with Houston, two league sources said, Van Gundy will try to hire Wizards assistant coach Patrick Ewing, whom he coached in New York. The Rockets have not requested permission to speak to Ewing, whose contract runs out at the end of this month but if they do, Washington will allow him to speak with Houston, a Wizards spokesman said. Former Portland coach Mike Dunleavy, former Pistons coach Rick Carlisle and New Jersey Nets assistant Eddie Jordan, a Washington, D.C., native, are the best-known remaining coaching candidates. The Wizards have already inquired about interviewing Carlisle and Dunleavy and a league source said Washington is expected to request permission to speak with Jordan once the Nets finish playing for the NBA Championship against the San Antonio Spurs. The Wizards are one of three teams with official vacancies, along with Philadelphia and Toronto. Atlanta and the Los Angeles Clippers have interim coaches but the Clippers have already interviewed Carlisle and Dunleavy. The New Orleans Hornets hired former Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd today to replace Paul Silas, who recently was hired to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers. Washington also is in search of a president of basketball operations, a position left vacant when Pollin opted not to rehire Michael Jordan to his former executive post following Jordan's retirement as a player this season. With General Manager Wes Unseld set to take an indefinite leave of absence after the June 26 draft, the Wizards' approach was to hire a basketball operations boss before hiring a coach. The Wizards have interviewed former Maryland star Len Elmore and Pollin said he has spoken to others about the top basketball decision-making job. Boston Celtics General Manager Chris Wallace and Nets Director of Scouting Ed Stefanski, both of whom have interviewed with the Trail Blazers about their vacant general manager post, also are possibilities. The Milwaukee Bucks continue to deny the Wizards permission to interview General Manager Ernie Grunfeld, who has one year left on his contract.
I never was a big Ewing fan, but he was a decent center in his day. I don't know what kind of coach he is, but he worked for some pretty good coaches...maybe it rubbed off.
It's not as if he is going to be Van Gundy's top assistant. He'll work with Yao and Cato and they'll be better for it, imo. Especially for Yao who is going to have to learn a whole new system again just a year after joining the team. Ewing will be able to give him some good one on one quality time.
I am no big Ewing fan either, but come on don't you think he was a little better than decent. I mean the man could play, not at the level of the Dream, but he was a great player.
I'll post what I posted about PE in the Elie thread I hope P Ewing doesn't become an asisstant coach. Just what Yao needs, advice on where to get the good lap dances at the Gold Club. "The girls danced, started fondling me, I got aroused, they performed oral sex," Ewing said. "I hung around a little bit and talked to them, then I left." link
RRG, I just didn't enjoy watching his game. He had a good game, but I just didn't like how he played. Guess Dream spoiled me.
Ewing would definitely help Yao, he's a HOF center with a sweet tough and was a physical big man, something Yao needs to work with. I'd like Moses to be able to work with him, but I think Dream's game is the closest to Yao's then Ewing or Moses so definitely bring in Dream for some serious work.
Ewing helping the rockets, hey lets just bring in Stockton to help Francis. I guess it wont hurt Yao. He will be the leading rusher in the NBA(traveling for the slow pokes) and he will learn how to blow shots at the end of games. Please with the insanity. I like mario but not this old fart!!!!!!!
Somebody please post a couple of facial shots so we can see Ewing's and Yao's lower jaws side by side. If aliens arrive eons in the future and dig up these two bones, they'll think dinosaurs still walked the earth.
Check this out... ...very interesting. The New York Daily News reported Monday that the Knicks asked the Rockets for a second-round draft pick and a guarantee of at least two exhibition games that will bring Houston center Yao Ming to Madison Square Garden http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=vangundyrockets&prov=st&type=lgns
Hilarious! I don't hate Ewing at all. I just can't visualize him sitting on the Rocket bench. Can anybody? I mean, is that bizzare or what. He might make a very good coach for our big guys, but I can't wrap this picture around my head to where it makes any sense at all. I'm at a loss. That's it... flabbergasted.
well, ewing has some experience and wisdom he can pass to yao and cato. but, imo, i would rather have moses malone or olajuwon to coach yao. but, ewing is not a bad pick. he is part of the 50 greatest players of the league.
