On Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:22:16 GMT, Grey Matters
ya-who.com> wrote:
>>> And even though he's getting into the hall
>>>for his work as a college basketball analyst, Dick Vitale represents
>>>the Pistons as well. He was their coach for the 1977-1978 season
>>>(posting a 30-52 record) and for 12 games into the 1978-1979 season
>>>(posting a 4-8 record) before being fired by Bill Davidson. Probably
>>>the best thing Bill Davidson could have done for Dick Vitale as it
>>>eventually led to him getting the analyst job at ESPN.
>>>
>>
>> The year that Vitale coached was an absolute disaster. Not only was he
>> terrible coach Davidson was him talk him into trading for Bob McAdoo.
>> All the Pistons gave up was M.L. Carr and two #1 that turned out to be
>> McHale and Parish. McAdoo didn't play much because he was always
>> injured and was eventually waived. IIRC Detroit has a pretty high #1
>> that could have been used better then drafting John Long but it seems
>> Dickie V was more interested in having guys that played for him at U
>> 0f D. Personally I don't know what the fascination is with Vi tale.
>> IMO he is nothing more than a raging monotone screaming idiot.
>
>The Long pick wasn't bad. He was a decent player for a second rounder
>and a lot better than a bunch of guys picked ahead of him.
>
>The McAdoo trade, of course, we should never speak of again, or the
>memory of it may blot out the sun for all of Southeastern Michigan.
>
Well let's be fair here. McAdoo's best years as a pro in the NBA were
before he came to Detroit. He played in more games and logged more
minutes with the Buffalo Braves then he ever did with the Pistons or
anyone else afterwards. That's not to say he was at the end of his
career when he came to Detroit. He wasn't, but he never achieved the
same numbers with Detroit or the Nets or the Lakers or the 76ers that
he did with the Braves. He also played 52 games with the Knicks just
before coming to Detroit where he was getting 26.9 ppg. He never
averaged that many ppg again. His first season with Detroit he had a
21.1 ppg in 58 games. In his second season (1980-1981) in 6 games he
got only 12.0 ppg. He was traded to New Jersey where he played in
only 10 games with 9.9 ppg. His next best season in terms of games
and minutes played was his 3rd season with the Lakers (83-84) where he
played in 70 games and was scoring 13.1 ppg.
>At least Vitale admits he blew it for the Pistons: "I have nothing but
>the greatest respect for Mr. Davidson and the entire Pistons
>organization," Vitale said in an interview with The News this year. "Mr.
>Davidson made a commitment to me and gave me a great opportunity, and I
>have always felt that I let him down. But Mr. D. sent me into television,
>where I've spent the best 29 years of my life. I've never lost a game
>since."
>
>
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
>AID=/20080408/SPORTS0102/804080337/1127/SPORTS0102
Yeah, it was no doubt Dick Vitale was a horrible NBA coach. He took
everything too personal. You got to have armor for skin to be a
successful NBA coach.
Regards,
////
(o o)
-oOO--(_)--OOo-
"If we do not succeed, we run the risk of failure."
-- Dan Quayle
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Steve
