Re: Walker won't work here... sigh

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

Maybe, just maybe, Rickky isn't capable of handling stars like Riley or
Jackson or other numerous coaches that have far better talent than we do.
He doesn't recognize talent, at least in the pro level, witness his moves.
Nor can he coach them when he has them. The coach should fine him heavily. 

Dan

At 02:35 PM 8/28/00 -0400, you wrote:
>I've been mulling this latest Pitino-Toine fiasco, and I've come to the
>conclusion (later than most, I guess) that it just won't work for Toine
>here. Certainly not with Pitino, and I'm not sure who Toine would fit with.
>Pitino values conditioning more than any coach in the league. It seems to me
>he doesn't demand a lot of Toine-he gives him a long leash in terms of his
>play, allowing Toine to do what he wants out there and play a lot of
>minutes, even when an argument could be made that he's hurting the team.
>Seems to me the only thing he has asked in return is a commitment to fitness
>and improving his body. Toine refuses.
>
>Now, maybe you don't agree with Pitino's personnel moves or even his
>"system," but can't we all agree that if you are the team's best,
>highest-paid player and team captain, you should be held accountable to the
>coach's fitness requests, even if you disagree with them? I know sports and
>the real world are two different things, but don't we all put up with and
>abide by policies in our own jobs that we don't agree with? Why should
>Pitino expect any less from Toine?
>
>I suspect any Toine trade at this point will yield disappointing returns. He
>remains one of the few players in the league capable of a triple-double any
>night, and that talent won't be easily replaced. But Pitino's hand is being
>forced. He has made no secret of the fact that he is reconfiguring this team
>to press and run more, putting an emphasis on quickness, speed, athleticism
>and conditioning. Is he going to allow Toine to undermine the effort he and
>presumably the rest of the players on the roster have put forth to make it
>happen? He shouldn't. Maybe you can make an argument that trading Toine at
>this point amounts to addition by subtraction. And if the package is O'Neil
>and Wells, great. Pitino has salvaged something out of a bad situation. 
>
>But if Pitino and Toine spend the season together, it could get ugly. Toine
>clearly is going to show up out of shape. Pitino clearly will be fed up if
>that happens. A lackluster Toine will mean another 35-win debacle, a good
>bye to Pitino and a rebuilding effort (probably without Toine). No, the best
>option for everyone is to do the deal now. Maybe Toine will turn into Chris
>Webber in a different environment. Or maybe Juwan Howard or Derrick Coleman.
>None of us really know, but it's clear it isn't going to work out in Boston.
> 
>Mark 
>
>