Vinny Del Negro: Smarter than we thought?
If this get up didn't hurt Vinny's coaching career, then this episode with Pax won't either.
Stormin Norman aptly wrote in this space earlier this week that the Bulls were trying to build a shady case to fire Vinny Del Negro. Well today the news broke that Bulls management went further than just trying to question his in-game management skills or refusing to publicly support Vinny Del Negro with reporters.
Reports have John Paxson confronting the coach in the locker room after the March 30th game against the Phoenix Suns when Joakim Noah played beyond his organizational set minute limits.
The Tribune reported that Paxson allegedly grabbed Del Negro’s tie (not the hair John!) and shoved him twice in his chest.
ESPN Chicago downgraded the contact, claiming Paxson “poked him with jabs to the chest”. Paxson then challenged Del Negro to a fight before being restrained by assistant coach, Bernie Bickerstaff.
Last month during their tilt against the Houston Rockets, the Bulls players all laughed after one of the players suggested they “Win this for Vinny!” when Del Negro was ejected for arguing foul calls. It’s unclear whether the Bulls players will rally around their coach in this last week and hopefully, into the playoffs. But what is clear, is that in showing restraint, Del Negro saved himself for being fired for cause (although you could argue that his coaching coming out of timeouts may constitute “for cause”) and kept his reputation clean for his inevitable job search in his future.
*UPDATE: Charles Barkley, quickly becoming the Joe Rogan of the NBA (fight analyst/mediocre comedian/mediocre actor), admitted that no one would want to see a Vinny Del Negro v. John Paxson fight in the first place. But if a fight happens? “Vinny will whup his ass.”*
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Comments
Comment from Scotty
Time April 14, 2010 at 8:09 am
Chris Bosh, that’s who.
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Comment from Stormin’ Norman Disciple
Time April 14, 2010 at 5:46 am
This is wayyyy worse than the conspiracy I thought it was. At least a conspiracy takes some thinking. What free agent wants to come somewhere with this kind of mess?