Wednesday, December 17, 2008

為NBA教練一掬同情淚

p1_cheeks

(Source: NBA.com)

(原文寫於12月14日)

有時我會覺得,NBA教練是全世界最難拿到,卻最容易丟掉的工作。NBA開打五十天,五名教練捲舖蓋,如果我們也用同樣的速度換內閣,現在可能已經全部換過一輪。

十二月至今,先後有灰狼的韋特曼(四勝十五負)、暴龍的米契爾(八勝九負)和七六人的奇克斯(九勝十四負)丟官,十一月則早就有奧克拉荷馬市的卡里西摩(一勝十二負)和巫師的艾迪喬丹(一勝十負)陣亡。

其實這不是什麼新鮮事,只不過今年是來得又快又多。有那一年開季,媒體不是扳手指頭,等著看誰是最快被炒的教頭,然後好好分析一番?接下來,就是再分析誰會是下一個,或是誰誰誰如坐針氊。

說NBA教練是全球最好的籃球教練,或許不符事實,但應該也不致於錯得離譜。要當上NBA教練不是簡單的事,光是爬英文俗語說的「教練梯」就不知得爬上多久。除了戰術修養之外,當然也要有暢通的人脈,才有可能平步青雲。

很令人好奇的是,儘管每個人都知道,綽號「鯊魚」的前知名大學教頭塔堪尼安,1992年只撐了二十場就因為九勝十一負的戰績被馬刺老闆幹掉,也知道前史丹佛大學名教頭蒙哥馬利、現任孟斐斯大學教頭卡里派瑞等人在NBA的戰績都極其差勁,依然前仆後繼的前進NBA。

為什麼?因為NBA教練幾乎可以說是所有籃球教練的終極夢想,教練和球員沒有兩樣,都想進NBA,也都想要有NBA資歷,那就像是在職場上你曾待過微軟、雅虎、台積電一樣,即使待不久,至少會是個「重量級」的資歷。

但 NBA教練確實不是人幹的,你必須要有足夠的籃球素養就算了。而就像無數老NBA人曾說的,如果你的籃球修為是十分,那麼你必須要有十二分的人際關係和技巧。在NBA的世界裡,老闆比你大、總經理比你大,球迷比你大,甚至連球員也比你大。如果你認為能夠對球員大呼小叫,他們會對你言聽計從,那就是大錯特錯。

教練打不出戰績,肚子裡沒有料的例子固然是有,卻更經常是因為給某某球員上場時間不夠、全隊上場時間擺不平,或是獨厚某某大牌這些事件,導致球員根本無心效力,乾脆擺爛逼走教練。我想,十個教練裡至少有七人是因為無法贏得球員的效忠,被球員投下「賭爛票」而離開。

從這些教練的案例也可以看出,NBA球隊所謂的耐心根本就是謊話,否則八勝九負的米契爾就不可能因為一場慘敗而被摘掉烏紗帽。NBA球隊裡自老闆以下,每個人都在自保,包括總經理在內,教練自然是最好的下手對象。

長久以來,「他是個好人,他曾經是個優秀的球員,我們有著非常良好的關係,我很高興能和他共事,但是很遺憾,事與願違,成績並不盡理想,球隊邁向另一個方向的時候到了」這段話,簡直可以用「剪下─複製─貼上」的方式放在每一隊的新聞稿裡。

這一波教練被炒,只是證明NBA歷史有它的重覆性,而且,說句不客氣的,這些球隊最起碼比去年的公牛隊「人性化」一點──他們沒有等到耶誕節前夕才發佈解職令。這些堆積如山的烏紗帽,更讓你體會到,在爵士已經待上整整二十個年頭的爵士教練史隆,是多麼的不容易。

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Dec. 13-14 垃圾精選

[2008/12/13 - 2008/12/14]

  • 12/14 22:29, 2008
    引述 :『“We used to joke we were the Harvard of southern Nevada,” Tarkanian laughed of his legendary run at UNLV that featured a national title, four Final Fours and endless fights with NCAA investigators.

    So maybe now Harvard is the UNLV of eastern Massachusetts.』
    (標籤: 20081214 ncaa-basketball)
  • 12/14 07:22, 2008
    引述 :『Dionte Christmas, the reason for all the marketing puns, went out and showed the Temple faithful ‘tis might be the season to be jolly. He made them all forget about waiting for presents under the tree to celebrate. Each of his big baskets were reasons the fans could carouse on the court.

    Christmas scored a season-high 35 points, including three straight 3-pointers during a game-changing stretch that helped Temple upset No. 8 Tennessee 88-72 on Saturday.』
    (標籤: 20081214 ncaa-basketball)
  • 12/13 15:18, 2008
    引述 :『DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)—Walt Harris’ jumper with four seconds left in the third overtime lifted Stephen F. Austin to a 112-111 win over North Dakota State Friday, despite 60 points by NDSU’s Ben Woodside. Woodside also set school records for free throws made and attempted by going 30-for-35 from the line. He added eight rebounds and eight assists.』
    (標籤: 20081213 ncaa-basketball)




Saturday, December 13, 2008

Dec. 11 垃圾精選

[2008/12/10 - 2008/12/13]


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Dec. 7-10 垃圾精選

[2008/12/07 - 2008/12/10]

  • 12/10 08:39, 2008
    引述 :『NEW YORK -- For the fourth straight year, and despite front office and player turmoil, the New York Knicks are the NBA's most valuable team. The Knicks are worth $613 million, according to Forbes' latest rankings, an increase of 1 percent over their 2007 value. Throughout the past year, the franchise has made many headlines off the court, ranging from former team president Isiah Thomas being found guilty in a sexual harassment lawsuit to guard Stephon Marbury's feud with management and coach Mike D'Antoni.』
    (標籤: 20081210 nba knicks sportsbusiness)
  • 12/10 08:39, 2008
    引述 :『Cai Liang and Muoneke had clashed on court as they wrestled for the ball. Cai, Liu and other members of the Sharks confronted Muoneke as he was leaving the stadium with his wife, three children and mother-in-law, the association said. Muoneke was hit by a water bottle, chased into a corner, and surrounded by Sharks players. The incident was captured on security cameras, and the footage was reviewed by the league.』
    (標籤: 20081210 global-basketball china)
  • 12/10 08:36, 2008
    引述 :『World governing body FIBA said Monday that its first annual club championship will be played in October 2010, offering $1 million to the winner. The inaugural tournament will feature eight teams, comprising the five FIBA continental champions—from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania— the runner-up from the Americas and Europe plus a team invited by the host city.』
    (標籤: 20081210 global-basketball)
  • 12/09 12:58, 2008
    引述 :『When you first speak to Chris Webber you get the sense that he really doesn't have the personality that is made for television. He is extremely polite, and well-spoken, but he doesn't have that "edge" that most television executives crave. When the camera's red light goes on, though, it's a different story. Webber seems to break out of his shell on camera, and isn't afraid to say what's on his mind. 』
    (標籤: 20081209 nba kings)
  • 12/09 08:59, 2008
    引述 :『MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin McHale is leaving the Minnesota Timberwolves' front office to coach the wayward team he assembled, returning to the sideline after Randy Wittman failed to turn around the rebuilding franchise. McHale stepped down as Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations on Monday, a position he has held since 1995, to become the coach after owner Glen Taylor fired Wittman. The job is not an interim one. McHale said he "plans on being here" for the long term and general manager Jim Stack and assistant GMs Fred Hoiberg and Rob Babcock will take over his executive duties for the remainder of the season.』
    (標籤: 20081209 nba wolves)
  • 12/07 10:44, 2008
    引述 :『Take a look at those numbers again. Just 20 games in, Deron, Boozer and co. have doubled Stock and Karl's career missed games. That is unreal.』
    (標籤: 20081207 nba jazz)

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Dec. 5-7 垃圾精選

[2008/12/05 - 2008/12/07]

  • 12/07 09:02, 2008
    引述 :『閻家驊坦言,SBL委員會原認為第6季SBL轉播權利金已確定為4900萬,ESPN卻以大環境不佳為由,提出再協商要求,令閻家驊、裕隆領隊江育誠、達欣領隊王才翔有種「受騙」的感覺。』
    (標籤: 20081207 tw-bball sbl sportsbusiness)
  • 12/06 23:41, 2008
    引述 :『「收視率只有0.2%,SBL沒有4900萬元價值。」奚聖林說,而且SBL委員會每次派出不同的人來跟他談,到底有沒有決策權也不清楚,以這幾年SBL的票房情況,如果再沒有電視轉播,情況將更加惡化。』
    (標籤: 20081206 sbl sportsbusiness tw-bball)
  • 12/06 23:37, 2008
    引述 :『But while the frenzy over LeBron James’s potential availability reached a peak last week when he visited Madison Square Garden, there is little being made of Kobe Bryant’s looming free agency: no salary-cap-clearing trades in his name, no media contingent awaiting his every word in every city.』
    (標籤: 20081206 nba lakers)
  • 12/06 23:29, 2008
    引述 :『The locker-room revolt against Stephon Marbury became official Wednesday night when Quentin Richardson criticized the veteran point guard for refusing to play against the Pistons and saying of Marbury, "I don't look at him as a teammate."』
    (標籤: 20081206 nba knicks)
  • 12/06 23:27, 2008
    引述 :『AUBURN HILLS - Stephon Marbury's refusal to play for the injury-depleted Knicks for the second time in six days will likely mean the end to his Knicks' career sooner rather than later.』
    (標籤: 20081206 nba knicks)
  • 12/06 23:27, 2008
    引述 :『Yes, the Knicks are No. 1 ... at making money. According to Forbes, the Knicks are the highest-valued team in the NBA. Just wait until they get LeBron in two years.』
    (標籤: 20081206 nba knicks)
  • 12/06 08:56, 2008
    引述 :『GENEVA (AP)—With NBA star Yao Ming offering a message of support, China entered its bid Friday to host basketball’s world championship in 2014. Italy and Spain also made presentations to the sport’s governing body. FIBA will choose the host nation in May. Turkey will host the next world championship in 2010. Spain won the 2006 event in Japan.』
    (標籤: 20081206 global-basketball)
  • 12/06 08:54, 2008
    引述 :『The Toronto Raptors fired coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday and replaced him with assistant Jay Triano, one day after an embarrassing loss at Denver. Mitchell led the Raptors to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and was honored as the NBA’s coach of the year for 2006-07. Toronto was off to a sluggish 8-9 start, due in part to injuries. Mitchell is the third NBA coach to be replaced this season. Oklahoma City fired P.J. Carlesimo and Washington dismissed Eddie Jordan last month.』
    (標籤: 20081206 raptors coaching)
  • 12/06 08:51, 2008
    引述 :『Former NBA and college basketball star Rodney Rogers is paralyzed as the result of an all-terrain vehicle accident, his college coach told the News & Observer of Raleigh-Durham, N.C.』
    (標籤: 20081206 nba)

Friday, December 05, 2008

Nov. 29 垃圾精選

[2008/11/26 - 2008/12/05]

  • 11/29 21:49, 2008
    引述 :『“I think July 1, 2010, is a very big day,” James said when the Cavaliers were in New York. “It’s probably going to be one of the biggest days in free-agent history in the NBA. So a lot of teams are gearing up to try to prepare themselves to be able to put themselves in position to get one of the big free-agent market guys.”』
    (標籤: 20081129 cavs nba)