Not Qualified To Comment » Firing A Head Coach — A Bulls Christmas Eve Tradition

Firing A Head Coach — A Bulls Christmas Eve Tradition

December 23, 2009 at 9:15 am | Chicago Bulls
By: Stormin' Norman Disciple

bulls It’s almost Christmas Eve everyone, and I know I’m getting excited. I don’t usually celebrate Christmas, being that I’m a Jew, but this may be one of those rare years where I throw down with that long-haired carpenter and have a bit of eggnog to celebrate his birth (or death, not sure. Jewish, remember?). Anyways, my celebration has little to do with Jesus or Santa or anything else Christian. It has to do with a Chicago Bulls tradition. Since Phil Jackson left, the Bulls have hired some pretty bad coaches. Even though some have had a little success, overall it hasn’t been pretty. But on Christmas Eve that all changes (though I still wouldn’t bet on the Bulls or anything). Just think of me as your Ghost of Bulls Christmas Past as I take you back in time

Tim Floyd: Our first stop is December 24, 2001. On that Christmas Eve, an embattled Tim Floyd had the led the Bulls to a 45-169 from 98-99 through 00-01 and was carrying a beautiful 4-21 into the holidays during the 2001-2002 campaign. In all fairness to Tim, he wasn’t exactly working with the cream of the crop in terms of talent in the NBA, but he also wasn’t making lemonade out of lemons. After numerous fights with players and management (Charles Oakley is not a good guy to be in a fight with), he was forced to resign on Christmas Eve, bringing joy and happiness to all Bulls fans around the world.

Scott Skiles: And now, my friends, I want to take you forward to another great Christmas Eve. It was December 24, 2007, and all through the house, nothing was stirring, not even a mouse. Except for Bulls management of course, which apparently is at the office firing people instead of being with their families. Skiles had actually brought the Bulls back to the playoffs during back-to-back seasons, but after a string of ridiculous rules (no headbands was my favorite inane rule), and screaming at his players for his entire tenure, the team tuned him out. It was obvious he had to go, but no one could have possibly imagined how wonderful it would be to have Skiles firing gift-wrapped for Christmas like a beautiful present under the tree.

Vinny Del Negro: Now, my friends, I will be serving as the Ghost of Christmas Present. It is December 23, 2009. Vinny Del Negro is about a third of the way through his second season as Bulls coach. The results from his first season were mixed in that he took the Bulls to the playoffs but they seemed to win in spite of him instead of because of him. Now, in year 2, things have gone from bad to worse. His offense is incomprehensibly bad, stupid, or both. His rotations make little sense. His team won’t play cohesive defense even though they clearly have the talent to do so. And now as the team skids into the holidays with a 10-17 record and some really REALLY bad losses to Toronto, New Jersey, Atlanta, Sacramento and others, it appears that we may be getting another Christmas present from our friends in the Bulls front office. We can only hope.

So kids, make sure to leave cookies for Santa this year, but don’t forget to leave some extra ones for Jerry, John, and Gar. Hopefully if everyone is good we’ll get the firing we all desperately want.

[Sidenote: In all seriousness, as much as Vinny deserves to be fired, the Bulls are huge dicks. Who fires people on Christmas Eve? I mean maybe once, but a pattern of it? Terrible karma. Just terrible.]