| NBA - In The Paint |
| Pat Riley Does It Again |
| by Kenneth Watkins |
| Say it isn't so Pat Riley. You're not coaching the Heat again. |
Well congratulations Pat Riley, you finally got what you wanted. You're back on the sidelines coaching the team that you lead down the wrong path last time you were at the reins. You moved up to the front office and I will give you credit for drafting some really fine players and getting the big Shaq Diesel to come to Miami and make it his home.
Now you're telling us that Stan Van Gundy wanted to step down to spend more time with his family. Hey, Pat I was born at night but it wasn’t last night. I watchrf the press conference and it was nothing more than a publicity sham to make you look like the good guy in this. No one can look me in the eye and tell me you were innocent in all this. I can remember last summer when it was rumored you were going to replace him. Why didn’t you do it then? Simply put you felt the heat on your back and pulled back until you could find the right opportunity to construct this resignation.
Okay, Pat now that you're coach again what's your first order of business - lay down the law like you did last time you coached? If you remember, that year you finished in last place and had players wanting to get out of Miami so bad they were willing to pay their way out. Is Dwayne Wade going to listen to your rants and is Shaq going to put up with all the things that come along with your coaching? This isn't showtime like it was in Los Angeles, where you basically could do what you want. Players have changed a lot and they won't put up with the degrading attitude you bring along.
Now, I will give you the benefit of the doubt - maybe you have changed and your coaching has changed a lot since your last mutiny. They say people mellow with age and maybe that's true with you also. I will follow how you do and will keep the rest of my opinion to myself. I hope for the Miami Heat fans' sake you do the right thing and don't bring down a Miami Heat team that has a chance for great things.
I will admit you have a tough job ahead of you with all the egos on that team. Good luck Pat - you will need it. I guess somewhere in the stands Stan Van Gundy is smiling knowing this was all your doing. |
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