Doc the Demon?

[Tom Murphy]

Wow! Kim, are you wearing X-ray specs? Because you seem to have read a lot more into what was written than was actually there: Doc "an actively evil megalomaniac"?!?

I think having an incompetent coach who refuses to have set rotations, who says one thing when his actions seem to speak to another, and seems to enjoy putting as many different line ups on the court as possible can in itself be sufficient to erode a player's confidence. No one wrote anything even remotely describing Doc as "an actively evil megalomaniac."

If you've ever had the misfortune to have a bad boss who thinks they know more than they actually do and refuses to assess their subordinates on the basis of data but rather 'personality' then you should be able to understand my point that an superior's incompetence can be sufficient to demoralize a team, particularly as that boss grows frustrated. If you've never experienced such a situation - and it sounds like you haven't - then you are a fortunate individual.

I think we both agree Doc is a poor coach. I guess where we differ is how much damage such a poor coach can inflict on the progress of young players who obviously need mentoring. It sounds as if you agree with Danny that Doc can't do too much damage. And maybe, if Ric Bucher's statement about Doc being gone gone gone after this season, maybe that won't be to far from the truth. 

As I see it, time is of the essence, even or perhaps especially with young, impressionable players. But then, perhaps with the state the team is in now, we would not be able to attract the right coach under the current circumstances - partly because whoever that coach is, they have to have the respect of the vets but also fulfill the developmental needs of the youngsters. Either way, however, it is hardly a vote of confidence for Doc to say that he is not "an actively evil megalomaniac" ;?)