Callahan: Pitino Not Going Anywhere

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

      Boston Herald

      Pitino C's the future: Word of coach's departure greatly exaggerated
      Tunnel Vision/by Gerry Callahan <snips>
      Friday, November 5, 1999
      Firing away while hoping tonight Dana Rosenblatt beats some class into 
      Vinny Pazienza once and for all ... 
      Two-and-a-half years ago, Celtics owner Paul Gaston lured Rick Pitino away 
      from the University of Kentucky with a seven-year, $49 million deal. 
      Pitino became the highest-paid coach in the NBA, and he remains the 
      highest-paid coach in the NBA.
      When Pitino arrived, the Celtics had just completed an embarrassing 15-67 
      season, finishing 46 games out of first. The franchise had as much chance 
      as Dapper O'Neil of returning to glory. The fans and media pleaded with 
      Gaston to go for it, to write a blank check and hire the best available 
      skipper for his sinking ship. He got Pitino. It was one of the greatest 
      upsets in Celtics history.
      Now some of the same people who cheered Pitino's arrival are predicting 
      his imminent departure. As I understand it, this idea stems from the fact 
      that he got sick of commuting from Sherborne to Boston and placed his 
      suburban manse up for sale. He claims he's moving in town. I, too, find 
      this very suspicious because I have always enjoyed rush-hour traffic and 
      can't imagine why anyone would want to avoid it. The guy is probably only 
      sticking around now so he can steal office supplies.
      The truth is there are a lot more reasons for Pitino to settle into this 
      job than do his gypsy thing and blow town again. At the top of the list: 
      that $7 million per. I haven't read the contract, but I'm pretty sure he 
      doesn't get it if he quits. And they're still not paying coaches that much 
      in the ACC.
      Pitino is here for the foreseeable future, and unless you're a kid looking 
      for candy on Halloween, that's a good thing: Would you prefer, say, Dennis 
      Johnson? Rick Carlisle? John Calipari? Who, then?
      Pitino won 36 games in his first season in Boston, the second-best 
      one-season improvement in team history. Larry Bird's rookie year was the 
      best. Pitino had a forgettable, strike-shortened second season. He has had 
      one great draft (Paul Pierce), one so-so draft (Ron Mercer and Chauncey 
      Billups) and one wasted draft (trading their No. 1 in '99 to Cleveland 
      along with Andrew DeClerq for Vitaly Potapenko).
      As Year 3 begins, so does Pitino's program. Time to start the clock. He's 
      got two young stars, he's got the big men and the point guard he traded 
      for, and he's got them for a full season. He predicted the playoffs in his 
      third year, and when he gets Danny Fortson back, the Celtics may make a 
      run at them.
      Realistically, a team worth watching is always we can ask for, and two 
      games in, they certainly have been that.
      Let's hope Pitino sticks around and keeps it up. And let's hope next 
      Halloween, wherever he lives, he springs for a bag of candy. Success is a 
      choice, and so are Skittles.
     
      I love Walter, too. It's his tattoos I can't stand.
      Another forgotten accomplishment of the M.L. Carr era: As far as we know, 
      the coach always gave out candy on Halloween. Although one year, as I 
      recall, he gave out five-year, $30 million contracts.
      Monica Lewinsky in a Halloween costume strikes me as redundant.