Larry Brown has been talking to the Cavs while currently under contract with the Pistons. Still, I hear commentators sticking up for Brown saying, "That's just how Larry Brown is". But the same commentators were scolding Ron Artest for promoting his rap album during the season. The media has been all over Ron Artest, Rasheed Wallace, and basically the whole "Hip Hop" generation for being about "ME" instead of "Team". Every little thing people like Artest, and even Kobe Bryant, has done in the past, the media has crucified them. Kobe was innocent, and still is seen like a criminal in the eyes of many. Even Calvin Murphy was found innocent, and it's a possibility he'll never get his job back. All the while, Marv Albert's career is looking pretty darn good after his "episode" with the law a few years back. Larry Brown should be crucified by the media for even talking to another team during the playoffs, but I don't see as many people jumping up and down, waving they're fingers saying how Larry is a traitor, and how he's all about "ME" and isn't about "TEAM". Why? Because he isn't as easy a target as a "BLACK MALE" would be. He isn't a threat,he's "Larry Brown". Oh no, he's one of them, he should get healthy and take the job as Cavs GM. Is that all? Maybe a couple slaps on the hand for betraying his team during the playoffs, but that's it. I guess the media can identify with Brown more so than a, Stephen Jackson. Thats it, Good luck on you're new job as Cavs GM.
I agree he's gotten away to lightly with it, if he indeed is talking to another team. I havent been following it though, so i cant really comment. I think you have a point but i think its more the media crucifying young people and supporting or giving the benefit of doubt to older people. The media in general is a 40+ world with the real power being in the hands of people who are generally 50-70 yrs old, so i think its more a "kids these days" type of thing more than a "black people these days". Just my 2 cents worth....Larry Brown is overrated anyways. I'd take Pat Riley anyday.
Ron Artest = wanting to leave his team and do something right now that has nothing to do with basketball Larry Brown = wanting to continue coaching his team and the next year take another job So how is that similar?
Look at BOb Huggins at Cincinatti he got caught for drunk driving then pleads at a news conference and hes still coaching? IF that was Artest they'd be calling him a thug who has no respect for authority.
Bob Huggins is about to lose his job after this year. And after all he's done for that school, do you think that would have happened if he didn't get busted for the DUI? He's paying for it, but some are too blind to see that.
Doesn't matter hes a coach and he has to lead by example and thats not a very good example to set. He should've lost his job when he got busted. I see people forgive him but that could rub off on his players and that wouldn't be vary good.
Gimme a break. Larry Brown didn't leave the team in the middle of the season. He was approached for a job the FOLLOWING year, and he decided to plan for the future. It's no more a distraction than Reggie Miller deciding to retire was for the Pacers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 02civic:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree he's gotten away to lightly with it, if he indeed is talking to another team. I havent been following it though, so i cant really comment. I think you have a point but i think its more the media crucifying young people and supporting or giving the benefit of doubt to older people. The media in general is a 40+ world with the real power being in the hands of people who are generally 50-70 yrs old, so i think its more a "kids these days" type of thing more than a "black people these days". Just my 2 cents worth....Larry Brown is overrated anyways. I'd take Pat Riley anyday.</div> Actually, that's a good point. The age difference between the player and the media is a huge gap. They'd much rather crucify Artest, that Larry Brown anyday.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Gimme a break. Larry Brown didn't leave the team in the middle of the season. He was approached for a job the FOLLOWING year, and he decided to plan for the future. It's no more a distraction than Reggie Miller deciding to retire was for the Pacers.</div> Larry didn't leave the team, but he's negioating another deal while he's still under contract with the Pistons. That's horrible. Like I said, if it were Artest talking to the Pistons while he was in a Pacers uniform, the media would GO NUTS. Every time you would turn on ESPN, they would be trashing Artest saying he should be banned from the league. Instead, Larry is getting off rather lightly. Why? I let you answer that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Gimme a break. Larry Brown didn't leave the team in the middle of the season. He was approached for a job the FOLLOWING year, and he decided to plan for the future. It's no more a distraction than Reggie Miller deciding to retire was for the Pacers.</div> Yea but the Pacers knew about that during the season and Brown goes and does this in the middle of the conference finals.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dunkaholic32:</div><div class="quote_post">Yea but the Pacers knew about that during the season and Brown goes and does this in the middle of the conference finals.</div> Does what, exactly? He's not the one advertising this stuff to the media. Blame Chad Ford and ESPN for nosing around and creating the "distraction." They could have waited till after the playoffs to break the story, but they needed to have their scoop. And then, the media has the audacity to bash Larry Brown for creating the distraction. Brown was approached by the Cavs, and they offered him a great deal. There's nothing wrong with him wanting to take it. If he made his decision that he'll accept the job during the playoffs, its because Cleveland set that deadline. I just don't think its reasonable to blame him for that. And then ESPN's spies start citing anonymous "league sources" that Brown is going to Cleveland next year, and everyone wants to blame Brown for causing the distraction. It's ludicrous. If the Pistons let this story distract them from what they need to achieve on the court, they should only blame their own mental weakness.
You have to put yourself in Larry Brown's and Joe Dumar's shoes to understand this situation. You are Larry Brown, you have 3 years left on your contract to coach the Pistons. Your aging, and you have health problems, which could effect your ability to coach next season. You would like to move up within the organization, but it's going to be impossible to replace Joe Dumars. Possibly not being able to coach and definitely not becoming President/GM of the Pistons you explore some other options. The Cavs offer you $8 to $10 Million a year, plus the position of President/GM, while you take a year off of coaching to improve your health. If you're Joe Dumars, you have the power to prevent any team from talking to Larry Brown. However, Joe Dumars knows Larry Brown has been eyeing more control of the team, and getting more control means replacing you as President/GM. There is a strong chance Larry Brown cannot coach next year and fulfill the remaining 3 years of his contract. This year there are plenty of top quality coaches to pursue to replace Larry Brown including Phil Jackson, Flip Saunders, and Nate McMillan. By letting Larry Brown field other offers, Joe Dumars kills two birds with one stone. He can replace Larry Brown with a quality head coach, probably for less money, and not worry about his own job security.
IF he would've been smart and told the league sources to keep it under raps none of this would've started. 02civic makes a great point about age. They think that this "hip hop generation" as they call it, has no respect for authority and that we are disrespectful. In this case it's all about Brown having such a good reputation and if this was a coach like Mike Fratello in this situation in the conference finals the media would say that he has no right to do this to his team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dunkaholic32:</div><div class="quote_post">IF he would've been smart and told the league sources to keep it under raps none of this would've started. 02civic makes a great point about age. They think that this "hip hop generation" as they call it, has no respect for authority and that we are disrespectful. In this case it's all about Brown having such a good reputation and if this was a coach like Mike Fratello in this situation in the conference finals the media would say that he has no right to do this to his team.</div> If you want to blame Larry Brown for not being smart enough to keep the media away from the story, fine (though perhaps he did take steps to do that, but the story leaked anyways which is just as likely). But you can't blame him for being "disloyal." He didn't leave the team in the middle of the playoffs. Despite his age and health problems throughout the season, he's gutting it out on the sidelines and doing his job. He has every right to accept future job opportunities, particularly when Joe Dumars gave him permission to do so.
your comparing rape to Larry Brown? Getting a DUI is a criminal act, other teams saying they want you isn't a crime. Think please, has Brown ever really done something so terrible like some of the players in the league have? It isn't a "terrible" thing it may not be the best but don't make it out to be as bad as some of these crimes player commit
This NBA racism thing is getting out of hand. It seems like just about everyday I come here and I?m seeing a new thread on the NBA being racist and it really it?s getting annoying. I see nothing in the NBA that?s racist. There?s a big difference between someone like Larry Brown than there is someone like Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant. Both Kobe and Artest have done something that effected their careers in a negative way. Artest had numerous suspensions smashed a camera, said some really dumb things, and went into the stands fighting fans in the crowd. By doing this, he is just asking to be killed by the media. They thrive off of clowning people so the best way to avoid this is t not putting yourself in the position to get clowned. Before Kobe had that incident, he was looked at as a role model and a perfect example to little kids. McDonald?s and other places supported Kobe because of his image and after Kobe was accused of raping that woman, it shattered his image and allowed him to be perfect game for the media to prey on. Regardless of whether he was guilty or not, committing adultery (especially if they look as good as Kobe?s!) would have gotten him into trouble one way or another. Larry Brown is I believe the only coach who won a championship both in the NCAA and the NBA and taking the Pistons to a championship in his first year gave him a ton of respect. Brown has said Detroit is what?s on his mind now and was furious when the media wouldn?t leave him alone about that despite being one of the best coaches the NBA has to offer. So as you can see, everyone is a victim of the media?s trouble. It?s been a nuisance to everyone not Black players, not White players, not Asian players, not Hispanic players, not people in the ?other? category etc. Depending on what you do, the media will always find a way to get at you. Some people put themselves in bad situations and are asking to be harassed by the media. It has nothing to do with race.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MrJ:</div><div class="quote_post">This NBA racism thing is getting out of hand. It seems like just about everyday I come here and I?m seeing a new thread on the NBA being racist and it really it?s getting annoying. I see nothing in the NBA that?s racist. ...</div> WOW i ead the 1st post by rock fan in this thread and i was gonna reply exactly the same. Give it up people move on and find a new topic to discuss.
Once again you people are making excuses for Larry Brown because he's "Larry Brown". What he's doing is just as bad as Ron Artest promoting a rap album, or Kwame Brown quiting on his team. It's actually terrible. Just imagine if this were Rasheed Wallace making a deal to join the Indiana Pacers in the MIDDLE OF THE PLAYOFFS, you think you or the media would be as nice about the situation? Yeah right. Race has everything to do with the situation. It's a shame you guys stick up for Larry Brown. If I were on the Pistons I would be pretty angry. Why not wait until AFTER the season to start talking to other teams, what gives Larry Brown the right to change the rules. My point in bringing up the Calvin Murphy, and Kobe Bryant legal problems was to show you the difference in media coverage. Marv Albert had his own legal problems, and stepped right in and continued his job without a peep from the media. Nobody on ESPN talks about how Marv dressed up in women's clothing. It's a HUGE double standard. My point is, why isn't Larry Brown getting ridiculed by the media. Why are you sticking up for him betraying his team, but disowning Artest for taking a vacation in the middle of the season. Both are wrong, but one's getting a free pass.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rockfan06:</div><div class="quote_post">Once again you people are making excuses for Larry Brown because he's "Larry Brown". What he's doing is just as bad as Ron Artest promoting a rap album, or Kwame Brown quiting on his team. It's actually terrible. Just imagine if this were Rasheed Wallace making a deal to join the Indiana Pacers in the MIDDLE OF THE PLAYOFFS, you think you or the media would be as nice about the situation? Yeah right. Race has everything to do with the situation. It's a shame you guys stick up for Larry Brown. If I were on the Pistons I would be pretty angry. Why not wait until AFTER the season to start talking to other teams, what gives Larry Brown the right to change the rules. My point in bringing up the Calvin Murphy, and Kobe Bryant legal problems was to show you the difference in media coverage. Marv Albert had his own legal problems, and stepped right in and continued his job without a peep from the media. Nobody on ESPN talks about how Marv dressed up in women's clothing. It's a HUGE double standard. My point is, why isn't Larry Brown getting ridiculed by the media. Why are you sticking up for him betraying his team, but disowning Artest for taking a vacation in the middle of the season. Both are wrong, but one's getting a free pass.</div> Are you reading other posts? You realize the Pistons had to grant PERMISSION first before anyone could approach Larry Brown. You need to step back and ask yourself why the Pistons would allow it, since they obviously feel it's NOT a distraction, why should you? BTW - You are sadly mistaken by the media supporting Larry Brown. He has been ripped apart in the Michigan media. He opened the paper to the headline readint "Larry the Liar."
