<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Doug Collins will not be returning for a second coaching stint with the Bulls. Collins and team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf mutually agreed during a Friday-afternoon phone conversation that the Bulls' coaching search, now more than seven weeks old, would continue without Collins. "I just knew over the last few days that Jerry was really struggling over whether or not to do this, and I didn't want Jerry to have those struggles," Collins told the Tribune. "I love him. And I didn't want him feeling that kind of angst.</div> http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,1622480.story LOL at the list of coaches at the end...I have a feeling none of those guys will be hired. Chicago Sports Media has no credibility any more.
What exactly was Jerry struggling over? His angst could well be about a dispute with Paxson over who to hire, or even whether to fire Pax and hire Collins as GM at the same time.
http://sportstwo.com/NBA/Story/NBA/2389480 Collins backs out of Bulls coaching search Friday, June 6, 2008 05:57 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Doug Collins will not be returning for a second coaching stint with the Chicago Bulls, according to a published report Friday. The Chicago Tribune reported Collins and team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf mutually agreed during a phone conversation that the Bulls' coaching search would continue without Collins. "I just knew over the last few days that Jerry was really struggling over whether or not to do this, and I didn't want Jerry to have those struggles," Collins told the newspaper. "This is absolutely mutual. When this first came about, there was a tremendous amount of excitement about this possibility. And I'm losing that. The feeling now is more, 'Should I do this?' Once I got to that point, it meant no. I always make decisions yes is yes, no and maybe is no." On May 29, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday that a deal with Collins would be announced "sooner rather than later." Collins coached the Bulls from 1986-89. He was fired in a controversial move by Reinsdorf despite taking the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals in his last season. After his dismissal, Collins kept a close relationship with Reinsdorf and current Bulls general manager John Paxson. Collins, who currently serves as broadcaster for TNT, also has coached Detroit and Washington in his career. He owns a 332-287 record, including a 15-23 playoff mark. Collins said Friday he would continue his broadcasting career with the cable network. Chicago, which was expected to contend in the Eastern Conference this past season, was a major disappointment, going 33-49 en route to missing the playoffs. The Bulls' tumultuous season included the firing of coach Scott Skiles in December. Interim coach Jim Boylan was let go at the conclusion of the campaign. One positive is that the Bulls own the first pick in the June 26 draft. That selection is expected to be either Memphis point guard Derrick Rose or Kansas State forward Michael Beasley. According to the Tribune, candidates to become the next Bulls coach include Chuck Person, Dwane Casey, Vinny Del Negro, Tyrone Corbin and Elston Turner. Paxson reportedly has little interest in Flip Saunders, who was fired as coach of the Pistons earlier this week.
Heh, I sort of called it. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"I just knew over the last few days that Jerry was really struggling over whether or not to do this, and I didn't want Jerry to have those struggles," Collins told the Tribune. "I love him. And I didn't want him feeling that kind of angst. "This is absolutely mutual. When this first came about, there was a tremendous amount of excitement about this possibility. And I'm losing that. The feeling now is more, 'Should I do this?' Once I got to that point, it meant no. I always make decisions yes is yes, no is no and maybe is no.</div> That really makes it sound to me like Collins saw the hesitation from Reinsdorf and decided he wanted no part of being a lukewarm hire. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"Jerry knows me well enough to know the only way I could do this is if I was totally engaged. And I just couldn't do that now."</div> Now, I take, to mean now that it's clear Pax and/or Reinsdorf have the enthusiasm for him I usually reserve for doing laundry. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Reached by telephone Friday, Reinsdorf said Collins' initially called the Bulls to help his former team find a new coach. "While Doug was following our coaching search, he knew it didn't seem to be going very well," Reinsdorf said. "Because of his friendship for John and me, he felt he needed to reach out and help us. That's why we started to talk.</div> Seems to be a bit of an admission that, in fact, the search is not just seeming to go poorly.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC @ Jun 6 2008, 08:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Seems to be a bit of an admission that, in fact, the search is not just seeming to go poorly.</div> But we still have no reason to be interested in Flip Saunders or Avery Johnson.....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rosenthall @ Jun 6 2008, 11:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC @ Jun 6 2008, 08:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Seems to be a bit of an admission that, in fact, the search is not just seeming to go poorly.</div> But we still have no reason to be interested in Flip Saunders or Avery Johnson..... </div> Of course not. Actually, the search has gone well. Acquisition is another matter.
