All star coaches

[Jamey Rallis <rallis@vgi.com>]

I was going to be silent, but why?

For those of you who've never coached an all-star game, but offer opinions
about people that are in a position to coach one (and called them names,
like arrogant, etc), here's something you might find interesting.
BTW, I've never coached an all-pee wee team, nevermind NBA all-stars,
so I'm not really in a position to understand it well, either.

I may have been sleeping through this, so maybe this was just a dream, but
several years ago a former all-star coach was being interviewed (or maybe
it was Rudy T. before or after he coached last year?) and he stated
clearly, coaching the all-star game is not a vacation.  He said something
about trying to keep up to 12 prima donas happy with their playing time.
He made it sound like 3 days of hell babysitting a room full of spoiled
brats, not a 3 day party of fun and relaxation.

Maybe I'm remembering this wrong, or exaggerated a bit, but I could see
where a "hick", ie someone that values competition over glamour like Bird,
might prefer a 3 day vacation with family and friends to 3 days of
babysitting a bunch of millionaire spoiled brats.  Just maybe.

So, how many of you would give up your 4th of July vacation to go to, say
Orlando and take 20 spoiled little 10 year-olds to Disney???  Guess it
depends on your personality, some might like it, some might like peace and
quiet.  Whichever way you choose, does that choice automatically make you
arrogant?

Anyway, before you bash people, look at it from their perspective if you
can.  Just because it would be a dream for many of us, it's not the same
for people in a position to do it.

-Jamey