02/05 Morning Minute: So Long, Bobby

Wow, I have to apologize for the later post today.  It took me a while to get through all of the quality posts that went up yesterday.  I definitely recommend checking them out – especially the interview with Brian Cook.  Good stuff, regardless of allegiance.

What will likely be the biggest news today has nothing to do with Cleveland at all.  Bobby Knight calling it quits during the middle of the season – with March Madness right around the corner – is surprising to say the least.  Thankfully, the “unknown reasons” behind his leaving have been uncovered in a matter of hours: his son.

“My thinking was that for Pat [Knight] and for this team — most of which is returning next year — the best thing for the long run for this team would be for Pat and his staff to coach these remaining 10 games,” Knight said. “And (to) get an understanding, get a real feel for each other, be able to think over the course of the spring and summer going into next season about how people had played, how things had been done offensively or defensively, what could be done or couldn’t be done, what to stay away from, what to work on and develop that from a game standpoint as the coach in charge of everything rather than as an assistant coach.”

While this could possibly be the longest sentence in the history of journalism, it was good to have the air cleared before anyone could jump to conclusions.  Given Knight’s history of solid coaching, surrounded by controversy, the move makes sense from a long-term viewpoint.  Perhaps Bobby felt that Texas Tech would recind their plan to have Pat take over and decided to get ahead of the curve?  We will likely never know, but what we will have is the winningest coach in the history of NCAA basketball getting through his 900th win and calling it a career.  Any odds on when he’s offered another job?

A post from Tom Ziller (of SacTown Royalty fame) over at the FanHouse has a revamped NBA playoff system in place.  Instead of the whole eight-from-the-East, eight-from-the-West approach, he takes the top 16 teams and seeds them accordingly.  Cleveland (though labled the “LeBrons”) would draw a first round pairing against the Suns.  Winner takes on the winner of a Lakers-Warriors series.  Thoughts?

A great piece in today’s PD from Terry Pluto discussing the need to get this whole quarterback thing right.  I’m a big Pluto fan, and while some of this may come across as “well, duh” I think that some fans are minimizing how important this contract situation is.  You have the “sign at all costs” camp pitted against the “Let him go, we have Brady” camp.  Which one will prove to be right?  We’ll leave that up to Mr. Time.

As already previewed, the Cavs have a big game – at home – against the banged-up Celtics.  The injury bug is all over this game, but for some reason I have a feeling that its helping us out a bit if Kevin Garnett does not play.  Needless to say, we need this one.

And finally, an open letter to Tony Dungy, courtesy of Browns fans and Giants fans alike.

Have a good day, all.

[print_link]