Re: Bird To The Celtics - Pitino To The Nets

[Josh Ozersky <josh_ozersky@yahoo.com>]

Pitino would never do this.  He has a very strong
sense
of who he is and how he's perceived, and for all his
capriciousness, etc. he has never done something truly
evil.  Leaving the Celtics for their division rival
after having built an expensive, long-term contracted
team would bring him the most shattering kind of
ignominy.  Anyway, why would he in a million years go
from the Celtics to another pro team?  Of all the
things I've ever heard him say, that's the one I
believe least.  If he leaves, expect him back at home
in college.  It's interesting that he won't say for
sure that he isn't leaving.  Boy, have we fallen
apart.

--- Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> Thanks to BSG for mentioning this intriguing
> story....
> 
> One thing I would tell Ian O'Conner, is that Pitino
> can resign all he
> wants,
> he still can't coach another NBA team until Gaston
> frees him from his
> contract,
> which if Gaston has half a brain will require a
> first round draft pick
> as
> compensation. Certainly a Win - Win situation for
> the C's...
> 
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Nets interested in Pitino
> By Ian O'Conner, Westchester Journal News 
> 
> NEW YORK - The New Jersey Nets have discussed
> launching another
> recruitment of Rick Pitino in event the beleaguered
> Celtics coach leaves
> Boston, a high-ranking official close to the
> YankeeNets organization
> told The Journal News. 
> 
> The official said Pitino was ''high on the list'' of
> prospective
> candidates to replace Don Casey, sure to be fired at
> season's end. 
> 
> ''The Nets have talked about going after him
> again,'' the official said.
> ''Rick said publicly he might resign after next
> season, but a lot of
> people think things are so bad for him in Boston,
> he'll leave this year. 
> 
> ''(The Nets) have new owners, but the organization
> remains very
> intrigued by Rick. He still has a lot of friends
> with the Nets. Just
> look at all the connections.'' 
> 
> Henry and Joe Taub, former majority owners who now
> hold a small piece of
> the team, are close to Pitino and led the two failed
> courtships of the
> coach in the spring of '96. Harvey Schiller, CEO of
> YankeeNets, was
> commissioner of the Southeastern Conference when
> Pitino won a national
> title for Kentucky. Lou Lamoriello, general manager
> of the team just
> bought by YankeeNets, the New Jersey Devils, was
> athletic director at
> Providence when Pitino took the Friars to the Final
> Four. 
> 
> George Steinbrenner, a partner with Nets owners Lew
> Katz and Ray
> Chambers, knows Pitino through their interests in
> the horse business and
> is said to admire the coach. John Parisella, one of
> Pitino's horse
> trainers and a man the Nets tried to use as a
> middleman in negotiations
> four years back, remains close to Nets general
> manager John Nash. 
> 
> Asked to comment on his team's interest in Pitino,
> Nets president
> Michael Rowe said: ''We have a coach. We won't
> address next year until
> this year is over with.'' 
> 
> Tampering rules prohibit NBA teams from contacting
> pro coaches under
> contract, and from commenting publicly on their
> desire to hire them. 
> 
> One NBA general manager said word of the Nets'
> interest in Pitino is
> ''going around the league.'' 
> 
> Pitino has said he'd search for another NBA job,
> rather than a college
> job, if he decides to leave the Celtics. 
> 
> Pitino just bought a $5.95 million home in Boston
> and has told
> associates he plans on giving the Celtics one more
> year. But he recently
> criticized the Boston fans, media and players,
> inspiring many league
> observers to conclude he's trying to clear a path
> out of town. He earns
> $7 million a year on a $50 million deal, but has
> been soundly criticized
> for his impetuous personnel moves, his losing
> record, and his failure to
> honor a guarantee that the Celtics would make the
> playoffs this season. 
> 
> Despite Pitino's problems in Boston, the Nets might
> be willing to pay
> him big money. YankeeNets is planning to start its
> own regional TV
> network and Schiller, a former executive with Turner
> Broadcasting, needs
> marquee talent for the Nets and Devils to compete
> against the MSG
> Network's Knicks and Rangers. 
> 
> Steinbrenner and the Nets aren't loathe to spend for
> name recognition.
> Last year, the Nets courted Phil Jackson. In '96,
> with Butch Beard still
> employed as coach, Nets owners met secretly with
> Pitino at the Pierre
> hotel in Manhattan, offering him $20 million, a city
> apartment for his
> wife, and mortgage payments on his Kentucky home.
> Weeks after Pitino
> rejected that offer, Nets owners met with him at a
> Cincinnati airport
> hotel, this time bidding as much as $30 million over
> five years, a deal
> Pitino eventually declined while on a golfing trip
> in Ireland. 
> 
> Now the Celtics would gladly release Pitino and save
> the balance on his
> $50 million contract. If Pitino resigns this year or
> next, there's
> widespread belief in the NBA that Boston owner Paul
> Gaston would attempt
> to hire Larry Bird as president and general manager.
> 
> 

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