Let him blame management.

[damekmo@teleport.com]

>Pitino would never step aside this coming year voluntarily. All the heavy
>lifting has been done the past two years. Pitino's rep has taken a hit. He
>wouldn't quit now when he would have a chance in the coming year to redeem
>himself.

He could do exactly what he did in New York, blame management. Maybe the
Celtics could come to some agreement with him. They give him a large chunk
of money and then sit back silently as Pitino is allowed to blame the front
office at his final press conference. He can blame the NBA rules for
slowing down the game...he can blame salary restrictions making it
impossible to build a winning team...he can blame all that stupid youth
coming out of college...he can blame Gaston, ML's signings...he can blame
Iverson's hair if he wants. He blames everyone else and his mystique is
still in tact. He'll get hired to rebuild the Clippers after they
self-destruct and writers in LA can talk about his perfect record of
rebuilding BU and Providence and Kentucky and.....the Celtics can hold a
press conference a week later, introducing their new head coach, Phil
Jackson. Who's gm? Who's quitting after this season? Bird...West...Cowens
is out there. Christ, the team gave Pitino the keys to the store, why not
give them to Jackson. Make him the new King. I know his resume doesn't
include BU, Providence and Kentucky...but I'm sure there's something
impressive there...who knows? If he doesn't want both jobs, ask him who he
wants to work with. Anyway...a little foresight...a large check here and
there...and free agents actually see a coach on the sidelines who might
make them work harder than they've ever worked before, but also someone
who's proven that all that work can get them something substantial in
return. Something other than an NCAA title.

Paul M.